7 Weeks to Safe Social Drinking: How to Effectively Moderate Your Alcohol Intake

Book Description

7 Weeks to Safe Social Drinking is based on the Drink/Link Moderate Drinking Program which has helped thousands of drinkers to control drinking and drink less since 1988. Over 60% of the drinkers who have completed this program have cut their drinking in half and over 80% have significantly reduced their alcohol consumption! You'll learn to modify your drinking habits and attitudes, overcome alcohol craving, drink less and prevent alcoholism on your own at home - no meetings, belief in a higher power or professional help are required.

First, you define safe social drinking and learn five healthy drinking guidelines. Then, each week you learn new clinically-proven strategies and techniques to help you stay within the guidelines you learned the first week. How to manage drinking desire, pace your drinking, pre-plan for drinking occasions and learn from your slips are all covered. By the end of the program, alcohol is less important to you, you're drinking less and enjoying it more!

Customer Reviews:

Best Book To Improve Drinking Habits!.......2007-07-31

This is the best book I've read about moderate drinking and how to get there.

Most of the time I don't have a problem with alcohol but sometimes it takes
over and I drink too much. I have found the suggestions in this book invaluable,
especially pre-planning my drinking behavior with the tips in the program,
eating while I'm drinking and watching the clock to slow down my drinking.
That's just for starters. Cornett gives lots of tips and also works on your
attitude about alcohol and its importance in your life.

I think this book could change the world and have given it to friends who
drink too much.

Not for hard drinkers.......2007-05-17

The book is well written and includes good guidelines to follow if you are not a serious drinker.

Problem Drinker or Alcoholic? It Doesn't Matter!.......2006-07-04

I don't know if I was a problem drinker or alcoholic. I don't care - I'm not into labels. But I do know I wanted to drink less and become less dependent on alcohol. And 7 Weeks helped me. One message in the book is you've got to take responsibility for your drinking instead of chalking it up to genes or a bad childhood or whatever. Another message is you can change if you want to. And Cornett gives concrete tips to cut down.

Who care if you're a "problem drinker" or "alcoholic"? If you want to drink less and have a healthier relationship with alcohol, 7 Weeks is for you. I'd pay twice the price for this book if I had to do it all over again.

A Winner for Anyone Questioning Their Drinking.......2005-11-30

This book has been a lifesaver for me. For years I enjoyed social drinking without problems, but the last couple of years I've questioned if I was drinking too much. This program showed me how to pace my drinking, how to make a drinking plan in advance before I started drinking(which really worked)and how to stick to my limit fairly easily. It also made alcohol less important to me - a huge step in the right direction to get back on the healthy social drinking path again. I recommend this book to anyone questioning their drinking. It's a straightforward approach to drink less and drink appropriately.

Loved this book!.......2005-08-11

I wish I had discovered this book 10 years ago. It spelled out how to achieve moderate drinking. It was easy to follow and best of all it worked for me! There are only a few books out that cover the subject of changing drinking behavior. One is filled with stats, boring and hard for me to stay interested in. Another one was too general - no specifics to help me manage drinking. 7 Weeks held my interest and gave specific tips to keep alcohol consumption down and to beat problem drinking.

From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking

Average customer rating:

PERSONAL TOUCH AND HOPE TO THIS EPIDEMIC DISEASE
Great resource
A Must Read!!
Selected as Book of the Quarter
A Must Read for Every Parent and Teen!!

From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking
Chris Volkmann , and Toren Volkmann
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451219090

Book Description

ALCOHOL: The number one drug of choice for America's youth.

Throughout his college years, Toren Volkmann partied like there was no tomorrow. And like so many parents, his mother, Chris, overlooked Toren's growing alcohol problem. But when he graduated, Toren realized that he had become a full-blown alcoholic with a college diploma.

Written from the viewpoints of both mother and son, this is a riveting, enlightening, and heartbreakingly true story of a family that was able to confront the fear, pain, and denial that threatened to destroy them-and survive the epidemic of teenage drinking that is putting America's future at risk.

Customer Reviews:

PERSONAL TOUCH AND HOPE TO THIS EPIDEMIC DISEASE.......2007-07-05

I found this to be extremly informative , seeing both sides of bing drinking and the perceptions of the family as well as the Alcoholic. I read this while my son (who also asked for help) was in rehab for his 21st birthday. He is now reading my copy. I found I could identfy with alot of the thoughts/situations as well as the codependent/alcoholic behaviors. As I work on my codependence and my son works on his sobriety I strongly encourage anyone with a teen/young adult afflicted with this disease to read this book.

Great resource.......2007-05-14

As a high school counselor and child of an alcoholic I found this to be a great resource both personally and professionally. Your candid account of your journey for information and for recovery has already given me insights to help my students and their parents.
Thank you both,

A Must Read!!.......2007-01-04

This book was very educational and informative. A MUST READ for anybody struggling with alcoholism or who has a loved one struggling with the disease. Very realistic and honest.

Selected as Book of the Quarter.......2006-12-22

From Binge to Blackout by Chris Volkman and Toren Volkman has been selected by the board of directors of Parents Helping Parents, Inc. (www.parentshelpingparents.info) as the book of the quarter .

Our organization selects books that will give families a fresh and unique insight into the disease of addiction and this book does a fantastic job of educating families through the shared experiences of the mother and son.

Respectfully,
Pat Nichols, Chair
Edmond Ok Chapter of Parents Helping Parents, Inc.

A Must Read for Every Parent and Teen!!.......2006-12-12

This is a must read for every parent to read and share with their teens and discuss as a family. Chris and Toren Volkmann approach the issue of teen substance use like no other authors have; with parent and child both sharing an honest look at their family's experience of witnessing Toren's movement from recreational drinker to recovering alcoholic. Their approach of looking back at their own actions, reactions, family history and beliefs is precisely what provides the important insights and information parents need to know when facing their own child's experimentation or addiction. Drawing information from substance use research and recovery they offer very real and practical suggestions including lists of questions, and discussion starters to help parents begin a proactive method for educating their families about the real risks and long-term risks associated with underage drinking/substance use. Read it, pass it on to your friends and add it to your book group reading list!!

Average customer rating:

Jhaeman's Review
A MUST READ!
Super Reader
Classic Spike, a dash of Dru some Punk rock and a Foxy Black Slayer
Excellent

Blackout (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Keith R. A. DeCandido
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416919171

Book Description

THE DARK IS COMING. . . .

New York City in 1977 is vampire heaven. Serial killer Son of Sam is often blamed for their hits, and a citywide blackout gives them free reign of the streets, allowing them to get away with murder. Spike and his beloved Drusilla are in the Big Apple taking advantage of the situation, as is Vampire Slayer Nikki Wood, who has hunkered down with her son, Robin, in a Times Square apartment where she thinks they'll be safe.

But no matter where she goes, Nikki has to watch her back. Spike has only one thing on his mind: to slay a slayer. Adding to Spike's list of challenges is a corrupt local vampire community that catches wind of his presence, and when they start messing with him, things get bloody interesting.

Customer Reviews:

Jhaeman's Review.......2007-09-27

BLACKOUT

By Keith R.A. DeCandido (2006)

RATING: 5/5 Stakes

SETTING: Mostly prior to Season 1, brief Season 6

CAST APPEARANCES: Spike, Drusilla, Buffy, Nikki, Robin Wood, Roger Wyndham-Price

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Leroy Hawkins (pimp vamp); Reet Weldon (vampire crimelord); Bernard Crowley (Watcher); Arthur Landesberg (detective); A.J. Magnuson, Olaf Manguson, Marty (theater operators)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "New York City in 1977 is vampire heaven. Serial killer Son of Sam is often blamed for their hits, and a citywide blackout gives them free reign of the streets, allowing them to get away with murder. Spike and his beloved Drusilla are in the Big Apple taking advantage of the situation, as is Vampire Slayer Nikki Wood, who has hunkered down with her son, Robin, in a Times Square apartment where she thinks they'll be safe. But no matter where she goes, Nikki has to watch her back. Spike has only one thing on his mind: to slay a slayer. Adding to Spike's list of challenges is a corrupt local vampire community that catches wind of his presence, and when they start messing with him, things get bloody interesting."

REVIEW

Blackout is exactly the sort of book the Buffy novel line should be publishing: a well-written, well-researched novel that fleshes out an interesting and under-explored event in the show's mythology and fits nicely into continuity. In this case, the event is the death of Nikki Wood at the hands of Spike in 1977, first depicted in the classic Season Five episode Fool for Love.

DeCandido spent a lot of time researching New York circa 1977 and it shows. The reader gets a clear sense of a city on the edge and simmering in the summer's heat. He draws, in a respectful way, on movies of the time period like Shaft and Cleopatra Jones to place Nikki in the role of an urban folk-hero, a clear way of distinguishing her from Buffy's suburban California lifestyle. We get a much clearer sense of how Nikki lived and why "it's the mission that matters" even though she has a young son at home. Her Watcher, Bernard Crowley, is also depicted well.

Although Nikki's primary foe (a vampire crimelord named Reet) is fairly average, things are always exciting when Spike is around and DeCandido does a good job of handling his persona. Less well-portrayed is Drusilla, admittedly a difficult character to write for. Minor complaints aside, this is by far one of the best Buffy books and a must-have for readers interested in Nikki Wood or Spike.

A MUST READ!.......2007-08-26

This is a GREAT novel of Spike's run-in with Vampire Slayer Nikki Wood, with ties to BTVS Season 4. Spike in this novel is soulless. Also, Mr.DeCandido gives us a great view of 1977 NYC: Blaxploitation meets Punk Rock head on. Add the Buffyverse to this potent mix and this makes for excellent reading for Buffy and Spike fans alike! Highly recommended!

Super Reader.......2007-08-06

A definite change of pace, as DeCandido tells the story of the Slayer, Nikki Wood.

"As for the coat--hell, baby that was her look. You didn't mess with the look. Besides, she used the coat to cover he moves, like Batman did with his cape in the comics. In fact, that was how she saw herself: as Cleopatra Jones and Batman all rolled up in one cool package."

This Slayer is different, as she learned late, and has a child. It seems like DeCandido uses the child, Robin, to write a love letter to his comic geek childhood growing up in New York.

Nikki's mortal problem is that Spike is in town, with a big head, and getting annoyed when the Ramones aren't on at CBGB's and being annoyed by local hood vamps.

At the end, we see Robin's motivations for moving to Sunnydale to become a principal.

Classic Spike, a dash of Dru some Punk rock and a Foxy Black Slayer.......2007-06-18

This book has two major story arcs. Spike visiting New York sans Drusilla for bit, taking in the Punk clubs and eating the punk rock chicks and hunting down the slayer. ( oh but that is fun to read) And Nikki Wood's life as a Slayer. Very intresting facts are learned about her and of course by doing that Robin Woods life as a small child is revealed.

Great 1970's history in New York!!!!!

It builds up slowly, every so slowly Spike watching and learning about this new slayer. He admires her moves, appreciates how she has different techniques than the other he killed. He is planning to confront her.

Dru arrives and once again we see that deep caring and crazy in love guy Spike is.... And then the finale... but it's not exactly what you think, well except he finally does "have one good day."

If you like that long leather coat, you'll love the explanation about it in here. If you like the 70's and wondered about Nikki... go for it! I loved hearing about her. If you are a Spike fan( not Spuffy) You need to get this book.

I am a Spike fan and I loved this one!!

Excellent.......2007-01-06

This was an excellent book. This book did a classic job of displaying Spike's brutality in his pre-Buffy days as well as the cunning of Nikki Wood.

Emergency and Backup Power Sources: Preparing for Blackouts and Brownouts

Average customer rating:

Emergency and Backup Power Sources: Preparing for Blackouts and Brownouts
Michael Frank Hordeski
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0849339081

Book Description

Emergency and Backup Power Sources: Preparing for Blackouts and Brownouts provides invaluable information on emergency and backup power sources, as we deal with an aging power distribution system that often fails to provide reliable power. The massive power outage in the summer of 2003 that affected eight states and parts of Canada exemplifies the importance of this topic. You will find much useful information on the types of systems that can take over during power interruptions, such as standby power systems that employ batteries, kinetic energy storage, fuel cells, reciprocating engines, and turbines. Topics include power disturbances and interruptions, spikes and noise, sags and surges, surge suppression, voltages regulation, load management, power quality issues, reliability and maintainability, comparison of operating costs, environmental issues, blackout planning, emergency procedures, and more.

The Alcohol Blackout: Walking, Talking, Unconscious & Lethal

Average customer rating:

"Knowledge is POWER"
Intent vs. Memory
A good attempt to demystify alcohol induced blackouts
The Alcohol Blackout
Good content, absolutely nonsensical conclusions!

The Alcohol Blackout: Walking, Talking, Unconscious & Lethal
Donal F., M.D. Sweeney , and Robert A. Liston
Manufacturer: Mnemosyne Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0974794309

Book Description

The first book ever published on the subject, Dr. Donal F. Sweeney reveals what an alcohol blackout is. The alcohol has blocked memory formation, reducing the victim to an unconscious state in which he does not know who he is or what he's doing. Yet, his pre-blackout memory remains, allowing him to walk, talk and appear to function while in an unconscious state. He is thus a menace to himself and others. Dr. Sweeney tells how to recognize the unconscious state, what to do about it and how to prevent blackouts.

Customer Reviews:

"Knowledge is POWER".......2007-08-06

A MUST read for anyone involved with an Alcoholic! Sadly, this is how many people lose their lives because of someone else's addiction and being in a lethal relationship......this book reveals how deadly an alcohol blackout can be! I would recommend anyone involved with an alcoholic to read, professional or nonprofessional.

Intent vs. Memory.......2007-07-16

The serious flaw in Sweeney's argument appears to be his understanding of the activity of the brain during the period of time known as 'blackout'. As a family member who has frequent contact with an elderly uncle who has been drinking since the age of 17 and suffers from blackouts, I feel that I have learned far more from that experience than I did in grad school studying the psychology of addictions. My uncle appears to be functioning normally, speaks well, smiles at the right moment, gives advice and pays the tab at the bar. Gets himself home too ! He also rages in a way that isn't congruent with his image of himself as a peaceful man. He also beats anyone who crosses him, maybe it was he who poisioned the dog ? He doesn't do these things in his moments of sobriety. He doesn't recall anything, he cannot tell you any details from the evening unless they occurred before he became intoxicated. He knows he went to the bar with his buddy Dave, and talked to a couple from Texas, but after that.... Scary. I'm afraid of him. No impulse control. The thoughts we all have, unkind, angry, possibly violent; we realize that acting on them is not a choice we want to make, because of the consequences. He just acts on them. Not always, but enough times that a wise person will give him a wide bearth.

A good attempt to demystify alcohol induced blackouts.......2005-11-17

What happens when one consumes alcohol? Several things can happen. A sense of euphoria, a high, then loss of coordination, blackout, passout etc. All other stages except blackout are well understood and are well documented. Common people also are aware of almost all these stages but when it comes to blackout, it seems that the knowledge and awareness is rather low. Dr. Donal F. Sweeney, M.D., a board certified doctor of internal medicine, chest disease and addiction medicine, set out in this book to fill this gap in the knowledge. Together with Robert A. Liston, a former newspaperman and magazine journalist, Dr.Sweeney deals with a complex subject in a faily clear and cogent manner.

The authors define what is a blackout and explain what factors probably cause the blackout, the difference between a blackout and a fadeout, the difference between a blackout and a passout, the probable mechanism of a blackout and its implications in the legal systems of a country. They forcefully argue the need for further research into a subject that is not well undestood by the community of scientists (including doctors and psycologists, psychiatrists etc.), lawyers, police and the judges. A good number of cases involving alcohol induced blackout are presented. The difference between immediate memory and short term memory is crucial in understanding the phenomenon of alcohol blackout. The case of Henry, who was operated for epileptic seizures and was left with only immediate memory and no short term memory made interesting reading. The parallel between alcohol blackout and Henry is really striking. The comparison between drug induced blackout and alcohol blackout is also interesting, esp. because of the difference in terms of the type of memory and duration affected.

While the treatment of memory and its formation and the description of brain anatomy and the role of neurotransmitters etc., may need rereading and or additional reading (for which the authors do supplement the book with a list of resources), the subject matter and its treatment is not beyond the understanding capacity of an educated layman.

Dr.Sweeney is frank and forthright in his views on the subject and while he is no lawyer, his analysis of Paul Cox's case, made me think that he could have made an excellent lawyer or detective if he ever wanted! I feel that he would make an excellent expert witness now for many cases of alcohol blackout related crimes.

The print quality is average and the editing could be better. You will be able to check out the contents, excerpts etc., at a local book store or at Amazon and similar on-line bookstores and so will be able to make a fairly quick decision to buy the book or not.

I would strongly recommend this book to you if you need to deal with the problem of alcohol blackout in any capacity, including as a friend, a policeman, a lawyer etc.

About myself: I am a physicist and a metallurgist, not a medical man. Thus I am a lay reader as far as health books are concerned. I have tasted alcohol out of curiosity but luckily came of a possible addiction at an early stage. I never experienced a blackout myself. However, I have taken up this book because I am interested in health (partly because of my own health challenges) for long. I have studied Homeopathy, Biochemic (Schussler's) Tissue Remedies, Bach Flower Remedies, Reiki (I am a certified Usui Reiki Master Healer), Crystal Healing etc. I would strongly advise you to seek the advice of a health professional when trying to understand and implement any knowledge gained from books.

The Alcohol Blackout.......2004-11-24

As a licensed drug & alcohol counselor with 17 years of experience in the field, and a prevention professional, I found the book fascinating, though a bit repetitive in parts.
I enjoyed this book and must also say that I disagree with some of the doctor's review above, though I respect his professional opinion.

I do not agree with some ideas in the book that appear to be leading to the conclusion that those in blackouts should not be held accountable for their behavior. However, I see it as entirely possible for someone to have only immediate memory and long term memory and to form intent, then to lose it almost immediately due to lack of memory. This process could then repeat over and over again. This could also create a dangerous situation wherein an individual who is in the midst of an activity can simply "go with the flow" of what is already happening.

What I disagree with is that someone who is normally passive or non-violent would suddenly murder someone when in a blackout, or beat their partner in a blackout. It is the same principle in hypnotism, one can't be forced to do something one would normally be completely morally opposed to.

The ideas set forth in the book are fascinating. The idea that a blacked out person is basically as compromised as a person with no short term memory is a very important one. Factors that add to blackouts are also very helpful, and might be able to be used to help prevent blackouts in some people. In addition, ways to recognize someone in a blackout was also very important. I have witnessed this type of behavior, and therefore found it very interesting to hear theories about why it happens.

It only took a few days for me to receive this book, so perhaps shipping problems mentioned above have been fixed.

In general, I would recommend this book as interesting and important, especially as it calls for more research.

Negatives: the type is annoying to read. The book can be repetitive in parts.

Good content, absolutely nonsensical conclusions!.......2004-08-28

I have studied the effects of drugs, including alcohol, on the brain for nearly three decades now. I have followed the scientific literature on blackouts since my undergraduate years. Dr. Sweeney is absolutely correct when he asserts that alcohol blackouts (gaps in memory that occur when people drink too much) are understudied and that they occur more often than most people think. However, his assertion that people experiencing a blackout don't know "to come in out of the rain", that they don't know where they are, what they're doing, that they are unconscious, can't think, make decisions, form intent, etc., is absolutely bizarre and does not fit with what people who really do study blackouts (check the literature -- Dr. Sweeney is not one of them) have been writing for years.

There are tons of stories in the literature, and discussed in the book, about people who do all kinds of intentional, voluntary, acts during blackouts. People have conversations, buy drinks, drive cars, commit murder, have sex, travel long distances... without memory of these acts when the buzz wears off. How in the world could they do this without the ability to form intent!? Do people accidently buy drinks, start fights, or get behind the wheel of a car? How Dr. Sweeney could use these examples and then assert that people can't think or make decisions during blackouts is beyond me.

In the book he drives home his opinion that because someone can't make new memories they can't form intent! So, Dr. Sweeney, does that mean that every criminal in prison that claims they can't remember committing the crime should be set free!? Memory formation and goal-directed behaviors are governed by different parts of the brain and are NOT in any way related!!! Bizarre!

I gave the book two stars because it is well-written and includes some interesting stories. I have read other books written by the co-author, James Liston, including one called "The Edge of Madness", about the US prison system. Excellent book. I like his writing style, which is one of the only things that saves Alcohol Blackouts from being a total waste of money. It took several weeks to get it through Amazon and it was not worth the wait!

If you're interested in a perfect example of how people can take scientific findings and use seriously flawed logic to arrive at truly ridiculous conclusions, this is a must read. If you want to know the truth about alcohol blackouts, avoid it. Unfortunately, there don't appear to be any other books on the topic at this point, so there aren't any alternatives. I recommend going to a medical school library and making copies of the classic studies done on this topic in the past thirty years. Look up the name "Goodwin". I have enjoyed them and I think any serious scholar would, too.

Average customer rating:

Blackout- A Joyfully Recommended Title
A good SUSPENSE novel, but not a Romantic Suspense.
Another Great Book by Annie Solomon
Blackout
Good read

Blackout (Warner Forever)
Annie Solomon
Manufacturer: Forever
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446616311

Book Description

A month ago Margo Scott was a book dealer with family and friends. Now, suddenly, she can't remember the last four weeks of her life, everyone close to her has disappeared, and she's the prime suspect in a murder. When an intruder attacks, she responds with lightning-quick moves she has no memory of ever learning. Undercover agent Jake Wise has her in his sights and can't decide if this mysterious woman is an assassin or a pawn. Is he tempted to protect her because she's innocent or because he's falling for her? Thrust together, these two loners realize that trusting each other is their only hope of survival. Because the good guys and the bad guys have one thing in common. They all want Margo Scott dead#151;the sooner, the better.

Customer Reviews:

Blackout- A Joyfully Recommended Title.......2007-08-13

Margo Scott wakes up in the middle of the night, disoriented. She `s acting on autopilot, doing what feels right and normal, but she can't remember things, like her sister's phone number or where she's been for the past month.

Frank Temple asked Jake Wise to go undercover and watch Margo. Frank is murdered before he can tell Jake why he's watching her though and now Jake wonders if Margo could be the one who killed him.

Margo is desperate to figure out what happened to her life, the police suspect her of murdering Frank Temple and Jake keeps mysteriously appearing wherever she goes. The more she discovers, the more danger she is in and what she finds out isn't pretty. Now she's running for her life and Jake is running with her.

Black Out had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end; the action and suspense never let up. Along with non-stop excitement there is a sensual and moving romance between Jake and Margo. Jake is sexy and tough and he's great to and with Margo. Margo is a warrior; she amazed me. With a fantastic cast of characters and thrilling storyline Black Out is impossible to put down.

Nannette reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A good SUSPENSE novel, but not a Romantic Suspense........2007-01-18

Annie Solomon does it again with her latest novel Blackout. Pulling the reader in from the very first page with non stop suspense and intrigue.

Margo Scott has lost a month of her memory and maybe even more. She has military skills, but no recollection of being trained by any organization. Her profession as a bookseller living in her deceased Aunt's home appears to be nothing more than a cover. Now, a man she does not remember ever meeting is dead, and Margo is the prime suspect in the investigation.

Jake Wise thinks he is doing a simple surveilance job when he is asked to keep an eye on Margo. That is, until his boss turns up dead and all the evidence points to his charge. Every question in his mind is only answered with another question. Margo's only memories are of her cover persona. If Jake wants the truth, he will have to break down Margo's resistance and work with her to find the killer. Even if every clue points back to her.

Billed as a Romantic Suspense, it falls short on the romance. The author fails to show any real emotion between the characters other than a tight friendship mixed with sex. There is no Happily Ever After Ending, but left more with the hope for one eventually. This novel should be billed more as a fiction with a strong emphasis for the suspense, which never lets up. For that I gave it 5 stars. The author keeps the plot moving with plenty of new clues to pose even more questions.

My only complaint is that there was no climactic ending, no surprise reveal and no emotional connection to the characters. I believe the author made an attempt at it, but fell short of successfully pulling it off. Therefore, I only gave this book 4 stars.

Is it worth buying?
Yes. If nothing more than being a good suspense novel, Blackout will keep the reader glued to the pages.

Another Great Book by Annie Solomon.......2006-07-17

With the release of BLACKOUT, Annie Solomon continues to firmly define her place as one of today's top romantic suspense novelists.

I have to admit that my favorite part of this book was the kick-butt, knife-wielding heroine, Margo. Even in the depth of her confusion over who she might be--murderer, federal agent, or innocent bookseller--she has a takes-no-prisoners attitude that makes her an enjoyable read. She's just tough enough to go it on her own, but human enough and smart enough to know when she does need help.

Jake is the perfect partner in crime. He's strong, funny and nice. He's even man enough to admit to be impressed with her knife skills.

The pacing, as always in a Solomon novel, is perfect. The material is fresh, and there are enough bad guys wandering through the book to make it interesting, but not so many that the plot becomes convoluted and implausible. Most importantly, though, this is a really enjoyable story, and readers should plan to finish it in one setting.

Blackout.......2006-07-06

Annie Solomon gets the reader hooked in the very first chapter which is a single paragraph. Solomon has an uncanny ability to put the reader into the storyline to experience what her characters are experiencing. I picked this book up on a lark and found myself reading it on the way to the checkout. Classified as a Romantic novel it could easily qualify as a mystery.
Her descriptive phrases add punch to a plot that continues to build suspense. The heroine has had a loss of memory and is trying to recall her life and who she is when she discovers that everyone she talks with wants her dead, for different reasons. I'd recommend this book to aspiring authors who want to learn the mechanics of a successful novel. There is a wealth of style and skillful storyline in this book. Annie Solomon has taken an old plot and breathed new life into it. Great read!

Good read.......2006-06-04

This was my first book by Ms. Solomon. For most of the book, I felt confused and couldn't understand why things were constantly happening to Margo. I actually felt as she did and I thought it was creative that the author wrote the story in such a way that the reader would share the same feelings as the characters. Definitely will read more by this author.

Average customer rating:

Not the Best Barnard
WOW
Ughh....ooooffff!!! ....YUCKITY-YUCK-YUCK!!
One of Barnard's best stories
An excellent psychological thriller!

Out of the Blackout
Robert Barnard
Manufacturer: Felony & Mayhem
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1933397322

Product Description

With the Nazis bombing London on a nightly basis, many working-class families sent their children to the comparative safety of the countryside. When the Blitz ended, the families came for their kids . . . but no one ever came for Simon Thorn. His name appears on no list of the evacuated children. And none of his meager belongings offer any clues to his origins. Now an adult, newly moved to London, Simon is puzzled by an odd sense of familiarity when he walks down certain streets. He remembers his years of terrible nightmares nightmares that would cause him to wake up screaming, terrifying his bewildered foster parents. And he resolves, once and for all, to find out where he originally came from . . . even as everything he uncovers suggests that, really, he doesnt want to know. Widely praised for his deliciously, maliciously witty mysteries, the multi-award-winning Barnard takes a decidedly different tack in this fascinating novel of wartime London and the dark side of identity.

Customer Reviews:

Not the Best Barnard.......2007-06-27

One of the pleasures of reading a Robert Barnard mystery is his sly, moderately malicious and very funny social commentary on modern British life. In this book, however, his characterizations of the bad guys are really bitter and vicious, and his hero has no coherent motivation to pursue the course of conduct he does.
That said, the depiction of children being evacuated from London to the country without their families is marvelous, and the writing is excellent, as usual. Fans of Barnard will want to read this book, but it is not a good introduction to his work for anyone else.

WOW.......2006-12-26

This was the first Robert Barnard books that I purchased & read,. It was so good, tht over the years we have boght & read every one of his novels.We just started his lates Dying Flames.
Mr. Barnard has such a fantastic writing style, you cannot put hia books down. We look forward to every one of his & Simon Brett's noverls as MUST reading material.

Ughh....ooooffff!!! ....YUCKITY-YUCK-YUCK!!.......2006-05-05

Spleggheeetthhh.!!!!!...Yuck....did I say "terrible" already?? Sheez, this book is bad...I just don't know what came over me to even start reading it. What a sham of a plot...I think I read the same thing before in an old issue of TRUE magazine. G-yuckkk!
Do yourself a favor...stick some needles in your eyes instead of reading this tripe.

One of Barnard's best stories.......2006-03-01

This is one of my favorite Robert Barnard books - and he is my favorite writer. His plots are never ordinary, and his characterizations very shrewd, as one editorial review put it. You can't help caring about his characters, and the plots are engrossing and keep you reading until the end of the book.

This story is subtle and builds slowly to a surprise ending that is very satisfying. I can't decide what is best about Barnard's writing - the character development, the plot lines, the way he sets the reader down in the scene and makes the sights and sounds very real, the way he understands his characters and is often fondly amused by them, while also being cynically witty at their expense. His protagonists seem like real people you would like to know. When he writes about an awful person you are in no doubt about how awful that person is. Also, which is very satisfying, he knows the English language and grammer, and uses them well. So many popular novels are written by people who aren't really sure about their own language, and the editing can be pretty sloppy. Not so here - the writing and editing is elegant.

An excellent psychological thriller!.......2005-10-20

This book is a bit of a departure for Robert Barnard. The story is really quite different. It's a story about a small boy who is evacuated out of London during the blitz. He's a scared little boy with what appears to be a made-up name, but he is taken in by a loving couple who treat him like their own, and who raise him to adulthood. But when Simon is back in London as a man, he feels the need to try to find his original family. He uncovers a thoroughly detestable family that he knows he was part of, but he has to find out where exactly he fit in. He unovers an old murder that he actually had been a witness to as a small boy. The way that Barnard unfolds the plot in this story is wonderful. It's like peeling an onion - after one layer there are many more layers underneath, with more secrets and revelations.

Moderate Drinking - Naturally!: Herbs And Vitamins to Control Your Drinking

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This Book Cuts Alcohol Cravings Without Prescriptions!
Brilliant! Why hasn't anyone written about this before?

Moderate Drinking - Naturally!: Herbs And Vitamins to Control Your Drinking
Donna J. Cornett
Manufacturer: People Friendly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Alcoholism | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0976372037

Book Description

Moderate Drinking - Naturally! is the first and only book to examine how alternative medicines and natural herbs, vitamins and lifestyle tips can be used to help you control your alcohol craving and consumption. What remedies do nutritionists, Western herbal, Chinese, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic practitioners prescribe to problem drinkers to reduce their drinking desire so they drink less? Moderate Drinking - Naturally! answers these questions and more.

You'll learn how nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and commonsense lifestyle changes can conquer your craving, elevate your mood and promote physical, mental and spiritual balance so you no longer feel the need to drink alcohol. A breakthrough for drinkers, alcohol abuse and healthcare professionals worldwide!

Customer Reviews:

This Book Cuts Alcohol Cravings Without Prescriptions!.......2007-07-31

I am so happy I came across this book at amazon. It's the only book I've
found that talks about how other alternative medicines and other cultures
view alcohol abuse and how to treat it. I was thinking about getting
prescription medication to cut the desire to drink but after reading this
I don't need to. There are lots of herbs to do that at the natural food
store. I've read Cornett's other book, 7 Weeks to Safe Social Drinking:
How to Effectively Moderate Your Alcohol Intake, and she always covers
interesting things.

For me the vitamin and supplement part was the best. It talks about things
you can buy over the counter to cut craving. The Chinese and Ayurveda
medicine parts were really interesting too.

I realize this is only one take on problem drinking. But if you take these
suggestions in the book, along with her program in her other book to
improve your drinking habits you can cut craving and consumption without
prescription medicine.

Brilliant! Why hasn't anyone written about this before?.......2006-07-21

I'm a drinker who has struggled on and off with booze for years and I'm ecstatic someone has finally written about a more organic approach to problem drinking. This book gave me a different perspective. I was especially interested in how chinese and ayurvedic medicine treat drinkers and the concept of "balancing" my life so booze becomes less important and I drink less.

This book opened my mind up. I guess no ones written about alternative medicine to address alcohol abuse because the disease concept and AA are so deeply ingrained in the US.

Blackout: World War II and the Origins of Film Noir

Average customer rating:

Tantalizing Theory
Thorough, detailed, insightful and scholarly
A historical and theoretical study informed by careful primary research
Outstanding. Highly Recommended. Excellent Book.

Blackout: World War II and the Origins of Film Noir
Sheri Chinen Biesen
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0801882184

Book Description

Challenging conventional scholarship placing the origins of film noir in postwar Hollywood, Sheri Chinen Biesen finds the genre's roots firmly planted in the political, social, and material conditions of Hollywood during the war. After Pearl Harbor, America and Hollywood experienced a sharp cultural transformation that made horror, shock, and violence not only palatable but preferable. Hard times necessitated cheaper sets, fewer lights, and fresh talent; censors as well as the movie-going public showed a new tolerance for sex and violence; and female producers experienced newfound prominence in the industry.

Biesen brings prodigious archival research, accessible prose, and imaginative insights to both well-known films noir of the wartime period -- The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and Double Indemnity -- and others often overlooked or underrated -- Scarlet Street, Ministry of Fear, Phantom Lady, and Stranger on the Third Floor.

Customer Reviews:

Tantalizing Theory.......2006-09-27

Yes, Shari Chinen Biesen has detonated a landmine in the field of film noir studies with her contention that, far from being a postwar movement, noir is totally tied up with actual conditions of the war being felt and fought during Hollywood studio production; so we might come to see the heyday of film noir as not the release of OUT OF THE PAST, nor any of the location-dominated "March of Time" inspired docudramas, but much earlier on, with the filming of THIS GUN FOR HIRE with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.

She invites us to attend to the way WWII scared the daylights out of Los Angeles and curtailed social activity through a literal blackout in which the previously iconic klieglights were darkened "for the duration," while West Coast citizens and government officials and conspiracy theorists worried about how soon the Japanese would attack southern California by bomber or submarine or from within.

Secondarily the arrival of so many talented artists from Nazi-dominated Europe gave film a darker cast, both in front of the camera and behind. She points to STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR, THE MALTESE FALCON, PHANTOM LADY, and DOUBLE INDEMNITY as beneficaries of this process. With the top male stars in uniform, like Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Taylor, the studios had to improvise and invent a new sort of cinema, one in which their female stars would henceforward be paired with freaks--old men, foreign men, little boys--the refuse of the draft. This was a time when an actor like Albert Dekker, Orson Welles, Peter Lorre, Laird Cregar, George Sanders, could dreeam of Hollywood stardom; when super short actors like Alan Ladd were suddenly magnified; when gay actors who'd been declared unfit for military service could become huge box office draws, their heterosexuality reinscribed by press flacks; and older men found their stardom artificially extended by a decade or more (William Powell, Ronald Colman, guys like that.) A few remaining tall, handsome, young and heterosexual men remained employable--John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, becoming stars no little thanks to the vacuum around them. And they were talented too, of course.

And women moved behind the camera too, as editors, producers, writers: Joan Harrison, Catherine Tunney, Harriet Parsons, Virginia van Upp, Leigh Brackett. As BLACKOUT progresses towards the end of the war in 1945, we relive a strange moment in history in which Hollywood once again hardened itself for the invasion--the re-entry into their midst of all the returning vets, stars, writers, directors and miscellaneous personnel--who would put these trends on fast track and bring them outdoors.

Thorough, detailed, insightful and scholarly.......2006-09-14

"Blackout" is subtitled "World War II and the Origins of Film Noir," and Sheri Chinen Biesen, an assistant professor of radio, television and film studies at Rowan University, delivers the goods in this scholarly book. At the end of World War II, a large backlog of American films suddenly became available overseas. The French, seeing these films for the first time "all at once" instead of over a period of years, noticed a "dark" trend in them that had not been especially obvious to their American producers. French critics coined the term "film noir" to describe what they saw as virtually a new genre in filmmaking.

Films noir typically (but not exclusively) featured hard-boiled private detectives, alluring but deadly "femmes fatale," stories told in flashbacks, complex plots, unconventional camera angles and stark black-and-white photography. Many of them involved crimes gone wrong, double- and triple-crosses, murder and mayhem, and the nastier side of human relationships. "Blackout" shows how these characteristics arose from the political, social, cultural and material conditions that existed in America during World War II. For example, films noir are "dark" because: a) lights were in short supply, b) power was rationed, and c) the West Coast (where most films during the War were made) was blacked out nightly because of the fear of Japanese submarine attacks. Many film noir stories took place at night, because the Government prohibited daytime photography that could accidentally include defense installations--thus eliminating most of the favored movie-making locations in Southern California. Relationships between men, serving overseas in combat, and women, who now did many of the previously male-dominated jobs on the Home Front, changed during the War, and films noir could not help but reflect these changes.

One of the most fascinating aspects of film production in World War II was the interaction of the movie studios with the Production Code Administration (PCA). "Blackout" describes in detail how the PCA enthusiastically carried out its "responsibility" of censoring screenplays that the studios presented to it in order to obtain the important "seal of approval." For example, the PCA banned "excessive drinking...references to sex, suggestive dancing, [and] any condoning of divorce..." from the screenplay for "Phantom Lady." This is just one very minor example. One wonders not only how films made under the heavy hand of PCA censorship could be very good (which many are), but indeed how any meaningful films could possibly have been made at all.

"Blackout" covers the evolution of film noir trends in great depth. It focuses on genre classics such as "Double Indemnity," "This Gun For Hire," "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Murder, My Sweet" and "Laura," but it also covers many other films. The text is detailed, readable and thoroughly footnoted, although I did find it somewhat repetitive in parts. For example, the point about location filming restrictions is similarly made many times. "Blackout" may be heavy going in some places for readers with just a casual interest in the subject, but it is nevertheless an excellent primer on the development of a uniquely American film style.

A historical and theoretical study informed by careful primary research.......2005-12-10

This volume stands out as one of, if not the, best book in English on film noir, a movement previously largely defined mostly through stylistic analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation. It differs from traditional approaches, offering background which the other books fail to include. By relying on historical sources and context, Biesen indicates noir's rise with the social and most particularly production circumstances brought about by World War II. None of this has been treated before, in any detail, and many of her points are original (such as the impact of realism on film noir). Demonstrating how actual wartime life and daily constraints led to the genre will be one of the ways this book will be important for historians of all types for this era and its culture. The book is simultaneously accessible yet sophisticated, vital and engaging, and is written to attract the widest possible audience.
The primary research mines lodes of information too often overlooked in film studies, demonstrating the manner in which such sources as censorship and studio publicity may enhance a critical and theoretical examination. Biesen demonstrates a familiarity with the films and supporting documentation which are the source of the book's assertions. Unlike so many studies marked by excessive theoretical speculation and cursory historical research, this book combines a wide range of examples with a determination to remain rooted in the evidence they offer.
Biesen merges close interpretation of individual films, production history, censorship records, publicity, critical response, audience reception, the star system, industry history, and genre analysis. Most studies use only two or three of these possibilities, and the author is to be commended for the depth and breadth of research.
Endemic of this exhaustive research is the usage of reviews beyond Variety and the New York Times, the indexed, reprinted journals which are as far as most studies go--although neither offer representative reviews. Few scholars have mined such treasures as the film pressbooks, especially with such fruitful results.
So too, Biesen's arguments have been carefully thought through; for instance, I was pleased to see the connections between noir and the espionage genre made, similar genres whose relation is too often overlooked. The role of female executives in producing noir was surprising. The linkage between realism and noir was a brilliant insight, and a case convincingly made by the author, one which will profoundly change conceptions of the genre. The relevance of HUAC in ending noir was also enlightening.
I was relieved to see, too, that the author knows to interpret documents, not simply taking them at face value. For instance, noting when filmmakers blithely disregarded censorship instructions will change conceptions of the role of censors.
I strongly and without reservation recommend this book.

Outstanding. Highly Recommended. Excellent Book........2005-10-30

Outstanding. Highly Recommended. Excellent Book. A fascinating, engaging, innovative and original work. A fine account of film noir and 1940s Hollywood filmmaking, film censorship and propaganda, and wartime conditions in America's movie capital during World War II. Ample noir stories of Los Angeles, Raymond Chandler, Humphrey Bogart, James M. Cain, Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Alan Ladd, Peter Lorre, Howard Hawks with hardboiled crime, venetian blinds, swirling cigarette smoke and smoldering seductive femme fatales like black widow Barbara Stanwyck, Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth. A rich provocative study. Terrific and enjoyable read for film buffs, cineastes, film critics, movie fans, industry insiders, cultural historians, researchers and cinema scholars, and an insightful and compelling look at the unexplored history of film noir and wartime Hollywood in the 1940s. Biesen's Blackout is quite a find, a must-read book on film noir. Wonderful revelations and essential reading for lovers of film noir.

In the Dark: The True Story of the Blackout Ripper

Average customer rating:

Like It Is

In the Dark: The True Story of the Blackout Ripper
Simon Read
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0425212831

Book Description

In 1942, London faced a reign of terror unknown since Jack the Ripper.

The nightly air raids had darkened London's neon dazzle but not its urge to live it up. With death a daily possibility, drinks and sex were everywhere. But one man had other urges. Over a five-day period, "The Blackout Ripper" murdered with a lightning-fast ferocity that stunned and baffled investigators. He left few clues in his bloody wake-until a slip-up revealed his true identity, and shocked a city that thought it had seen it all.

Customer Reviews:

Like It Is.......2006-11-20

Simon Read strikes again...

John Douglas, author of Mindhunter and one of the agents who started the FBI's Behavioral Profiling Unit, once said that serial killers shouldn't be treated like celebrities. Rather, they should be given sneering nicknames and treated like the scum they are. Simon doesn't give "The Blackout Ripper" any derrogatory nicknames, but he doesn't give the guy any breaks, either. And that's what I love about this book.

So many true crime novels give a dramatic spin to the murderer. They're given a status far beyond what they deserve, elevated to the ranks of purest evil rather than pointed up as the dregs they are. You get a "poor darling" sense as horrible childhoods are excavated for some reason why such a nice, quiet guy happens to be such a sadistic [...].

Simon doesn't deliver that kind of schlock. What he gives you is unvarnished reality. He writes in such a way that you can feel the old London pavements under your feet, cringing fear as you become a citizen dodging not only Luftwaffe bombs but also the killer taking full advantage of blackout conditions to live his sick fantasies. You get to meet this [...] face-to-face, and you get to stare into the all-too-human face of inhumanity. The book creates a total atmosphere. You will end up feeling the grinding despair of people dealing with two very overwhelming situations, and you will get to see not only the worst predations of a man, but the amazing things ordinary people can do.

There was a war on. They shouldn't have had to deal with a murderer on top of it. But they did. And Simon gives them the rare gift of telling it just like it was, making sure those extraordinary ordinary people will not be forgotten.

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