White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)

Book Description

A sensational addition to the Dresden Files adventures-from a USA Today bestselling author.

Professional wizard Harry Dresden is investigating a series of deaths in Chicago. Someone is killing practitioners of magic, those incapable of becoming full-fledged wizards. Shockingly, all the evidence points to Harry's half-brother, Thomas, as the murderer. Determined to clear his sibling's name, Harry uncovers a conspiracy within the White Council of Wizards that threatens not only him, but his nearest and dearest, too...

Customer Reviews:

Best yet.......2007-10-08

Any series featuring a single main character runs a risk of getting stale, following a formula. I'm delighted to say that has not only NOT happened with White Knight, it's the best book yet.

Harry Dresden grows emotionally. His relationships with his brother and Murphy change and develop in both heartbreaking and heartwarming ways. And the main plot gets more exciting and more engrossing in each book, something that rarely occurs. My only complaint (as usual) is that it will be so long before the next book!

Great as always!.......2007-09-22

Jim does it again! Harry Dresden continues to grow and evolve as a character. Fast paced and I couldn't put it down!

Dead or Disappeared.......2007-09-21

White Night (2007) is the ninth Urban Fantasy novel in the Dresden Files series, following Proven Guilty. In the previous volume, Harry fetched Molly Carpenter back from Arctis Tor, with a little help from his friends. He took her back to her family, but she decided to turn herself in to the White Council for violations of the Fourth Law.

At the trial, the Merlin arbitrarily convicted her of using black magic and sentenced her to death. Harry pointed out that the Gatekeeper hadn't yet cast his vote. Then Ebenezar McCoy arrived with survivors of the Warden training group accompanied by Molly's father Michael. Merlin reconsidered his verdict and Molly became Harry's apprentice.

In this novel, Sergeant Murphy has a probable suicide, but she rides a hunch and calls in Harry. He checks out the scene and casts a spell at a particular place on the wall. The notation "EXODUS 22:18" appears and Karrin knows the victim was murdered.

Suddenly, Murphy strikes out with a foot sweep and a young woman -- little more than a girl -- becomes visible and falls to the floor. Harry's apprentice Molly hasn't done as he told her and now she has a few bruises and pains to remind her to obey her master. Not that she is going to pay attention, but one more lesson won't hurt . . . much!

Harry does congratulate her on the invisibility spell, but points out that both he and Sergeant Murphy had noticed a few out-of-place sounds and smells. Molly needs to put in some extra practice, but she is improving. Molly goes home happy, but aching in several places.

In this story, Harry and Murphy find other victims around Chicago and elsewhere. Most of the Chicago victims belong to a witch group known as Ordo Lebes, which Dresden translates in his correspondence course Latin as "Order of the Big Pot". Karrin, however, suggests that a better interpretation would be "Order of the Cauldron". But one victim does not belong to this order.

Harry also discovers that one of the Ordo Lebes is Helen Beckitt, whom he has had problems with in the past. Although she cooperates with Harry and Murphy and doesn't even deny her prison record, Dresden just can't bring himself to trust her. When he discovers that she works for John Marcone, both Harry and Murphy become suspicious of her behavior.

Harry meets another old acquaintance on this case. Elaine had been his first girl, but they had parted after Harry killed their mentor. While the White Council ruled that the killing was in self-defense, Elaine was already gone. Yet she had not forgotten him and even followed his career path as a consulting wizard.

This story also has a minor side plot involving the fallen angel Lasciel. The shadow of Lasciel residing in his mind provides some useful services, such as translation of dead languages, but is still trying to seduce him to the evil side. It occurs to Harry that such seduction can go both ways and he treats "Lash" as an almost trusted friend. Some surprising changes occur.

While Harry doesn't really like being a Warden of the White Council, he hasn't considered it as a handicap. Then a mysterious Grey Cloak is noticed as somehow involved with the dead witches and everybody is afraid to tell Harry. And his brother Thomas is often observed with these victims shortly before their death or disappearances. Being an enforcer for the Council is bad enough without the paranormal community wondering whether you are responsible for these passings.

Highly recommended for Butcher fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of preternatural creatures, paranormal individuals, and strange happenings.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Another winner.......2007-09-17

The Dresden File books have maintained their quality and readability. This one is no exception. Love the way these stories play out.

Love harry but need more Bob the Skull.......2007-09-05

I love this series and enjoy the way it is going. Harry is amusing and this one does not disappoint. I do miss Bob the Skull. He was not featured as much in this one and i miss that... just my own personal quirk.

Average customer rating:

NIGHT
Night
Chilling and Incredible
A powerful and compelling account of a horrific time
This book is burned in my memory

Night (Oprah's Book Club)
Elie Wiesel
Manufacturer: Hill and Wang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374500010
Release Date: 2006-01-16

Amazon.com

In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust and the genocidal campaign that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish only great literature achieves. It marks the crucial first step in Wiesel's lifelong project to bear witness for those who died.

Book Description

A New Translation From The French By Marion Wiesel

Night is Elie Wiesel’s masterpiece, a candid, horrific, and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. This new translation by Marion Wiesel, Elie’s wife and frequent translator, presents this seminal memoir in the language and spirit truest to the author’s original intent. And in a substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate dedication to ensuring that the world never forgets man’s capacity for inhumanity to man.

Night offers much more than a litany of the daily terrors, everyday perversions, and rampant sadism at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; it also eloquently addresses many of the philosophical as well as personal questions implicit in any serious consideration of what the Holocaust was, what it meant, and what its legacy is and will be.

Customer Reviews:

NIGHT.......2007-10-03

This new translation of NIGHT is not just a book, it's a gift. A gift of Elie Wiesel's memory, memory of such horrific atrocities committed against him, his family, and others. We can use this gift as a tool to evolve as a human race - or not.

Night.......2007-10-02

This book was both wonderful and disturbing. The translation was smooth and easy to read. The body of the book gives a further glimpse into the terrors of that war, and the suffering people had to endure; especially children. I finished this book in less than a day, and when I was done, I was able to appreciate my life even more, and be grateful for everthing I have.

Chilling and Incredible.......2007-10-01

This book is very scary filled with all of Mr. Wiesel's experiences in the concentration camps during the Holocaust. The book covers from when the man, Moishe, warning them about the coming German soldiers to the undefinable ending.

What Mr. Wiesel saw during this time was what most people don't even dream of seeing. He even saw a father getting killed by his own son for a small crust of bread. What he went through is horrific.

This book may be one of the most touching books you may ever read. It is amazing how this man went through all this without freaking out. This book will deepen your sadness for the Jewish people and it will increase your hate for the man named Hitler.

A powerful and compelling account of a horrific time.......2007-09-29

First of all, let me say that this is the very first book about the Holocaust I've ever read. I've seen documentaries about the holocaust, images, and newspaper articles, but I've never read a first-hand account until now. This book completely blew me away. I read it continuously over 2 days and learned about determination, love, loss, cruelty, compassion, and of the lucky few who survived. Like many, I had some idea that the holocaust was about gas chambers and furnaces used to kill and cremate human beings. I had no idea, however, of the many other hardships imposed on the Jews during the Holocaust, both before, leading up to, and - for the lucky few - after the mass killings. I'd recommend this book without reservation to anyone interested in learning about this horrific, brutal period of human history, as told with great honesty by someone who lived through it. As Elie Wiesel writes, "we must never forget". -5/5

This book is burned in my memory.......2007-09-29

This book is a must read, especially for young people, as we move further away in time from the Holocaust. It is very well written; you almost feel like you are right there beside the author enduring all the emotional and physical pain that he felt. This book chronicles the author's life from a young child until the day he was released from a concentration camp. He describes his living conditions in the camp, the behavior and attitude of the prison camp guards, and his relationship with other prisoners around him. He also recalls how his father died right before his eyes. This book brought tears to my eyes more than once.

Average customer rating:

A Classic!
Best bedtime book ever!
Classic.
Classic Favorite!
Love this book

Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Manufacturer: HarperFestival
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0694003611

Amazon.com

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two. (Picture book)

Book Description

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic!.......2007-09-30

I give this book as a baby shower gift or a birthday gift to my friends' kids who are 5 and under. It's a sure favorite.

Best bedtime book ever!.......2007-09-28

I first had this book read to me at a public library when I was 4. I never owned it growing up, but I would borrow it and force my parents to read it to me.
I bought this book for my dear friend who is about to give birth as I write this for her little one. I think it is an integral part of the bedtime routine and it can be fun to have your child say goodnight to their room as well.

Classic........2007-09-24

This book is a classic and my daughter has enjoyed it for many months. She is now old enough to point out the cats and mouse etc and the story is a darling one. We have bought this book many times for family and friends.

Classic Favorite!.......2007-09-17

I have read this book to my baby nearly every night since she was born. I was using an old paperback copy I had, but my 7 month old wants to turn the pages herself. So glad it's available as a board book. It's a timeless classic and a favorite.

Love this book.......2007-09-10

A great beginning to my grandson's library. I bought this for his first birthday.

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands

Average customer rating:

TOO FUNNY!!!
Hilarious, fast read
The title really IS misleading
Let's here it for Chelsea Handler!
Fragments Of My Life A Sex Fiction

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands
Chelsea Handler
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582346186
Release Date: 2005-05-12

Book Description

In this raucous collection of true-life stories, actress and comedian Chelsea Handler recounts her time spent in the social trenches with that wild, strange, irresistible, and often gratifying beast: the one-night stand.

You've either done it or know someone who has: the one-night stand, the familiar outcome of a night spent at a bar, sometimes the sole payoff for your friend's irritating wedding, or the only relief from a disastrous vacation. Often embarrassing and uncomfortable, occasionally outlandish, but most times just a necessary and irresistible evil, the one-night stand is a social rite as old as sex itself and as common as a bar stool.

Enter Chelsea Handler. Gorgeous, sharp, and anything but shy, Chelsea loves men and lots of them. My Horizontal Life chronicles her romp through the different bedrooms of a variety of suitors, a no-holds-barred account of what can happen between a man and a sometimes very intoxicated, outgoing woman during one night of passion. From her short fling with a Vegas stripper to her even shorter dalliance with a well-endowed little person, from her uncomfortable tryst with a cruise ship performer to her misguided rebound with a man who likes to play leather dress-up, Chelsea recalls the highs and lows of her one-night stands with hilarious honesty. Encouraged by her motley collection of friends (aka: her partners in crime) but challenged by her family members (who at times find themselves a surprise part of the encounter), Chelsea hits bottom and bounces back, unafraid to share the gritty details. My Horizontal Life is one guilty pleasure you won't be ashamed to talk about in the morning.

Customer Reviews:

TOO FUNNY!!!.......2007-10-01

So I noticed a lot of people bashing this book for Chelsea being a pill-poppin tramp who only loves vodka and sex... and she WAS, but I found this book hilarious!!! I am in my late 20's and found this book to be extremely funny, witty and courageous (because Lord knows I wouldn't write about my past sex life for all my family and friends to read!)

I laughed nearly the entire book - especially about the S&M guy who wanted to be "smacked". HAHA!

Good job Chelsea! You continue to make me laugh and I'll def pick up another one of your books! See you on E!

Hilarious, fast read.......2007-09-20

One of the funniest, laugh out loud books ive ever read. It's become a favorite gift to give to my girlfriends!

The title really IS misleading.......2007-09-06

This book really is about Chelsea's "near misses". Instead of gloriously detailed sex-capades, her writings were more about her trying to weasel out of sex related situations. Reading it, I had a hard time believing that her character was even having sex at all. There was all this fluff concerning wild and crazy conversations/situations that would ultimately lead up to the 'come back to my room?' moment, which would then be quickly followed with her chickening out and having to find a less than tactful means of escape. I was left thinking that her character would be the type to walk around shouting 'I'm a slut! Come on boys!', when in reality all she would do is kiss. Not very promiscuous. The entire book was impersonal and, at times, had struggled to remain witty. It was surprising to find that by the last five or six pages, Chelsea actually began to write in a more biographical style where you began to feel some sort of raw emotion from her, which had been refreshing after two-hundred pages of emptiness. I don't regret having read it, I'm just a little sad with the money wasted purchasing it.

Let's here it for Chelsea Handler!.......2007-08-30

While I am a fan of Chelsea's stand up I found reading it and hearing it in the voice of hers I'm familiar with even more entertaining. Not all the jokes I've heard live on her show have the kind of punch that the material in this laugh out loud book does. It's a great book if you want to have a really good time and also have the freedom to put it down after each chapter/story. You can use this book as your light pick me up reading between deeper, darker, heavier reading.

Just so we're clear this book will teach you nothing about sex. It is in no way "erotic". Chelsea is merely offering up her sex life as comic material that is truly unique!

Fragments Of My Life A Sex Fiction.......2007-08-29

Love Your Book Chelsea Handler!!!

Lets get together for a drink!!!!

Henry Joseph Rychlicki Author of

Fragments Of My Life A Sex Fiction By Henry Joseph Rychlicki

A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah

Average customer rating:

The only liberal Haggadah you will need
Most User-Friendly Haggadah
Refreshing new Haggadah
The Best to Date
This will get you out of a rut

A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah
Joy Levitt , and Michael Strassfeld
Manufacturer: Reconstructionist Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0935457496
Release Date: 1950-01-01

Book Description

A Night of Questions is a unique four-in-one Haggadah that includes outlines for customizing a Seder for the people present at the table. The four menus include a Seder for young children, a Seder for older children with adults, a Seder for groups of diverse backgrounds (including those who are not Jewish), and a Seder focusing on the role of women.

The Haggadah also features special color-coded graphic icons that highlight the different types of readings such as kavanot, which are introductions to the text that set the tone for the text, and readings for children. Readings and songs are drawn from a wide variety of sources, representing the diversity of the Jewish community and the world in which we live. Accompanying the text is compelling new artwork by Jeffrey Schrier, which itself serves as a commentary on the Haggadah liturgy.

Customer Reviews:

The only liberal Haggadah you will need.......2007-05-11

This year we had 25 to Sedar, so I ordered extra copies.
If you are looking for a liberal hagaddah, it has tremendous breadth and depth.

Most User-Friendly Haggadah.......2007-03-26

I have somewhere between 20 and 30 different Haggadot. A Night of Questions is not only one of the richest and most thought-provoking in my collection... it is also the most user-friendly. It's the only one that has a table of contents that breaks down the Maggid section into its familiar parts (4 Children, Dayenu, etc.) The outlines of 4 different types of seders in the back of the book are very helpful. There's something here for every one. The commentaries address the hard questions that are likely to arise in the minds of those who are really thinking about what we are saying, such as: "Would it really have been 'enough for us' had we come out of Egypt and not been given the Torah and not come into the Land of Israel?" IMPORTANT NOTE: I see that Amazon is showing this as 4-6 weeks delivery. I know that they are available from the publisher and you'll have them in time for Passover. Check out www.jrf.org."

Refreshing new Haggadah.......2007-03-25

This Haggadah has wonderful, contemporary discussions and presentations. The illustrations are beautiful.

The Best to Date.......2003-03-03

I have conducted sedorim (seders) for over 30 years and have used five different haggadot. This is the BEST! It explains, offers excellent commentary, provides choices in the kind of seder one might have, as well as providing frameworks for designing your own. I have used it for 2 years now and get rave reviews from the people who attend my sedorim.

The cd of the music of Pesach which is available, is a favorite as we prepare our home for the holiday.

It sure beats "Manishewitz".

This will get you out of a rut.......2003-02-13

Seders too often fall into a routine, with everyone slogging through the Hagaddah by rote. This is a lively, thought-provoking Hagaddah that will broaden and deepen your appreciation of Passover. It certainly has for my family.

Average customer rating:

Cute but too short
a great book!
Delightful!
No more tears at bedtime!
All Time Favorite Board Book

The Going-To-Bed Book
Sandra Boynton
Manufacturer: Little Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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Accessories:

JumpStart Baby

ASIN: 0671449028

Amazon.com

For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly book is just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is the undisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animals watches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one big tub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine an elephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), and finally say good night.

The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock
and rock
and rock
to sleep.

Boynton's inimitable animal characters have graced the pages of scads of picture books over the years. She has an extraordinary knack for knowing what appeals to small children: simple rhymes, goofy animals in goofy settings, and sweet, comforting stories. This book, along with her many other board-book titles (Moo, Baa, La La La!, But Not the Hippopotamus, and others) will surely remain a favorite. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.

Customer Reviews:

Cute but too short.......2007-10-10

I am forever searching for bedtime books because we rotate them out at night and it is always good to find new ones. I was really excited by reading the reviews of this one as we are big fans of Boynton. It is a cute book, but I think it is too short. Perhaps my daughter just likes to have a little more time reading before going to bed but I really wish it was just a few pages longer like some of her others.

a great book!.......2007-10-02

my daughter loves this book! we used to read a different story each night, but we have been stuck on this book for a couple of months, now. the story is fun and the pictures are bright, cute and great for kids to look at. it is the perfect length and works great for our night time reading ritual.

Delightful!.......2007-09-19

This book is utterly delightful! I bought it 3 years ago for my youngest son and it was hands down his favorite book. We read it so much that we still recite it by heart. Sandra Boynton has a way of writing books that not only delight the child, but it's infectious! (My little 1 year old daughter who is fascinated by belly buttons- also adores The Belly Button Book by the same author.) The Going To Bed Book is an absolute must for snuggly, silly bedtime routines (that actually are looked forward to!) with your little ones. It sits right next to another old favorite of ours...Goodnight Moon. =0)

No more tears at bedtime!.......2007-09-18

Send you child to bed laughing for a change, with this wonderful, fun-filled, silly, bedtime book! Great for baby sitters, too! Author/Illustrator

All Time Favorite Board Book.......2007-09-11

My kids and I love this book. We all have it memorized now after reading it for so many years, now we just quote it together for memory. I love to give this as a baby present.

A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah

Average customer rating:

An activity filled book
More than one way to set up a Haggadah
To make the Seder more understandable and meaningful
Make this your seder's haggadah & your guests will thank you
A Different Haggadah

A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah
David Dishon , and Noam Zion
Manufacturer: Shalom Hartman Inst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0966474007

Book Description

A Different Night(180 pages)is a family participation haggadah for all Jewish denominations and levels of knowledge that offers stories, discussions, explanations, readings, songs, activities and games. The art work is eclectic from Chagall, Rembrandt and Ben Shahn to cartoons. It features 20 illustrations of the 4 children including the 4 daughters. The language is accessible and directions complete and it offers both a short and a long seder guaranteed to be fun and intelectually stimulating for adults, teenagers and children. Recommended by rabbis of all denominations, it has become an enormous best seller. The enormous variety of activities offered allow one to tailormake seder so that every year produce new Jewish memories.

Customer Reviews:

An activity filled book.......2007-05-17

This book has many good ideas to use, but must be reviewed well before the sedar night and gleaned down. It was difficult to use it with another more standard haggadah, but it was not meant to be used in that manner.

More than one way to set up a Haggadah.......2007-04-06

I purchased "A Different Night" because my set of "Children's Haggadah"s were ruined and my children had grown enough to appreciate a more advanced seder. I skimmed through the Haggadah in the week before Pesach to get a feel for this seder (which I definitely suggest). It is crammed full of lots of interesting readings, side bars, pictures and discussions. It has a symbol next to the "must do" sections. On the opposite page (and sometimes the next few pages) are readings, digressions, stories, further prayers, and pictures or cartoons. You can just do the "must do" sections for a 1 hour seder, or throw in a reading or two between these to add more interest. In this way, you could have a different seder every year and never get bored! One thing we discussed a lot were the pictures, especially the 20 or so fine art depictions of the Four Sons. It has transliteration and translation for most of the Hebrew. Only 2 criticisms - (1) There was not a "reading" of the story of the Exodus. The Haggadah expects you to tell it from memory? or use the 60 second "play" for the kids to tell the story like an interview. (2) There were many pages between the Four questions and the answers to the questions. And the answers were hardly the traditional answers. I think they missed the boat on that one. Overall very enjoyable modernized Haggadah with lots of options.

To make the Seder more understandable and meaningful .......2005-04-22

This Haggadah is a valuable contribution. It aims to help promote the inter-generational dialogue which is an essential element of the Seder. It provides clear and alternative answers to the principal questions ordinarily discussed in the 'Magid' section of the Seder. It also provides colorful ilustrations some of which are in cartoon form . It also provides historical knowledge and background which make studying the work a true learning experience. And though it is directed at an English speaking American readership it has a world- view centered on the redemption in the land of Israel. It too includes much Midrashic material.
I am hoping that this Haggadah will help enrich our Seder this year as I expect it will enrich the Seder of many others.

Make this your seder's haggadah & your guests will thank you.......2003-04-15

You cannot go wrong with A Different Night from the Hartman Institute as your official seder haggadah. This haggadah claims to put forth a lively dialogue between parent and child, and it does just that. The explanations, commentary, and ease-of-use make this one of the best haggadot on the market. The personal reflection sections will help you turn your seder into a family renewal ceremony and will keep even the most apathetic guest from boredom.

My favorite part of this haggadah is its collection of the many artistic representations of the Four Children, giving you a beautiful art-filled haggadah that can be used at the seder table. You could easily spend half your seder discussing the artists' interpretations.

In typical Hartman Institute fashion, this haggadah is well assembled, pedagogically effective, and extremely leader-friendly. It will be well worth the investment to 86 your standard edition Maxwell House free haggadot and make this your haggadah-of-choice.

A Different Haggadah.......2003-03-08

It would be too easy to state what Noam Zion and David Dishon have done, or potentially done, the content and variety available for one Seder. This particular Haggadah is crammed with all sorts of information and stimulus. That is both a compliment and a criticism. Unfortunately, while it is jam-packed with lots of good things, the amount of information can be distracting or, worse, a turn off. Additionally, while everything is organized along the lines of the traditional Seder, it's not always easy to find some of the extraneous information. Additionally, the large number of inserts can frustrate or just plain annoy a reader. Nevertheless, there are many positive things to say about this Haggadah. First, the variety of information probably means you will never have to buy another Haggadah again, or at least not another leader's assistant. There are enough activities to be fresh every year. Second, the text and Hebrew transliterations are fluid and easy to read. The two authors have gone all out to produce this Haggadah, and it shows in the quality of the work and the price of the volume. That in mind, you may want to buy one copy to serve as an idea catalyst and a less expensive Haggadah for general use. It is well worth the price to buy one and those with larger budgets will benefit from additional copies.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Average customer rating:

Light read
Awesome book!
How the mind works
Inside a Different Kind of Head
An insightful novel.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400032717
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com

Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.

Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca

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Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order, and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.

And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.

"Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy."
    IAN McEWAN, AUTHOR OF ATONEMENT AND AMSTERDAM

"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon's funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out."
    ARTHUR GOLDEN, AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA

"The Curious Incident brims with imagination, empathy, and vision -- plus it's a lot of fun to read."
    MYLA GOLDBERG, AUTHOR OF BEE SEASON

Customer Reviews:

Light read.......2007-10-10

Light, pretty easy ready. Mark does a great job of narrating from an autistic teen's POV. However, that was about it for me. Didn't get too wrapped up in the actual story line, I just enjoyed the frame of reference.

Awesome book!.......2007-10-09

Mark Haddon is skilled at narrating from the point of view of Christopher, an autistic boy. The story of Christopher's investigation weaves in math and numbers. Personally, I love math, and I finished this book in 2 days during a busy weekend! This book is great for all readers: light and amusing.

How the mind works.......2007-10-07

"It was 7 minutes after midnight." Every detail matters in the solution of the mystery of the neighbor's murdered dog, which is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. That's partly because the detective on the case is Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy with autism, a penchant for numbers, a genius for math, and a determination to solve the mystery and write a book.

Clues abound, but Christopher's strictly literal view of the world prevents him from seeing or understanding them, even as he records them. In his mind, metaphors are "lies," and phrases like "raining cats and dogs" and "you'll catch your death from cold" are incomprehensible nonsense. As the story behind Wellington's death unfolds, Haddon masterfully gives the reader the clues that escape Christopher while allowing him to pursue the more logical details he does understand and to get help with the more subtle ones.

Along the way, Christopher offers insight into the autistic mind and people's reaction to it. While he cannot read emotions or pick up on verbal cues and body language (unless they are explained to him; for example, he knows that a raised voice may indicate anger), his mind processes details the average person would miss. While we might see cows and some flowers in a field, he knows how many cows, he can draw each of their individual patterns, and he can name the species of flowers.

Just as Christopher doesn't understand why everyone won't or can't notice these important details, the people he encounters, while quickly picking up that he is different, can't figure out how and adjust themselves. His working-class father tries to, but his understanding of his son seems limited to an intellectual rather than an emotional one. He knows that Christopher hates to be touched and is wise enough to develop a hand signal that signifies love in lieu of a hug, but he doesn't understand at an emotional level the pain that touch causes his son. Not surprisingly, he can become frustrated when Christopher can't behave in the normal way. If Christopher's perception is limited by autism, his father's is limited to what he knows and can see. He cannot feel what it's like to be Christopher any more than Christopher can figure out that his father's quiet, slow speech indicated tightly controlled anger.

As Christopher works on the mystery and his book, he learns how to do things he may not have thought possible; for example, he survives the ordeal of going to a crowded train station and traveling alone. More significantly, he learns how to twist and withhold the truth when necessary. When his father makes him promise not to do something, Christopher rationally determines what he can and cannot do within the very literal sense of the promise, thereby breaking it in spirit. As he pursues his investigation, he seems to grasp that he is on questionable ground according to his own standards, even as he senses that the mystery is important enough to justify his rationalizations. By the end, he can say with pride and with some truth, "I can do anything."

Haddon uses a simple technique to convey the linear, mathematical nature of Christopher's mind and thought process; as the story builds, Christopher begins many if not most of his sentences with "and." "And I bent down . . . And I walked after him . . . And someone said . . . And I said . . . And the man . . . And then I heard . . ." The use of "and" not only sounds genuine, but it is also additive--that is, mathematical. For someone who squares numbers in his head to stay calm, "and" is one way to manage the sensory and emotional overload he encounters in his quest to determine the killer.

Only someone who is autistic can say whether Haddon has captured the thought process and emotions accurately. Even if The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is not a complete insight into the autistic mind, it is a valuable one, and a reminder that not everyone sees the world we see in exactly the same way we do.

©Diane L. Schirf
7 October 2007

Inside a Different Kind of Head.......2007-09-30

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is a fascinating novel about an autistic teenager who runs away from home. The story is narrated by the disabled teen himself, so the reader is immersed in a world of bizarre obsessions and pointless details, where other human beings are question marks and math problems are a safe haven from the onslaught of unfiltered perceptions. The book is unsentimental -- the narrator never "outgrows" his autism and his parents are hapless and selfish -- yet it succeeds in expanding our minds and deepening our conception of humanity. It does so by giving a vivid human voice to a mentally disabled person. No one who takes the message to heart will ever dismiss a lost soul holding his hands over his ears and groaning in a crowded public place as a "freak."

That said, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is not a conventional novel. Since the narrator is autistic, all of the descriptions are flat, the characters are undeveloped, and the dialogue is stenographic. There are long passages like this:

"Then I imagined a red line on the floor and I walked over to the wall where there was a poster which was a list of places to go and it was alphabetical and I saw 'Willesden Green' and it said '$2.20' and then I went to one of the machines and there was a little screen which said 'Press Ticket Type' and I pressed the button that most people had pressed, which was 'Adult Single' and '$2.20,' and the screen said 'Insert $2.20' and I put three '$1 coins ' into the slot and there was a clinking noise and the screen said 'Take a Ticket and Change' and there was a ticket in a little hole at the bottom of the machine and a $.50 coin and a $.20 coin and a $.10 coin and I put the coins in my pocket and I went up to one of the gray gates and I put my ticket into the slot and it sucked it in and it came out on the other side of the gate." ['$' has been substituted for the 'Pound' sign.]

I'm sure this monotonous passage, so filled with meaningless literal details, faithfully recreates the way autistic people perceive the world. But while writing like this can be justified as verisimiltude, it started to eat into my enjoyment of the book after 100 pages or so. The bottomline is that "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" probably works better as phenomenology than as fiction. But it should definitely be read.

An insightful novel........2007-09-26

Mark Haddon does a good job of writing as an autistic child. You really feel like you know what it is like to be in Christopher's mind. A few parts were a little boring, they went into a lot of description about nothing interesting, but that's Christopher's mind at work. You can forgive the boring parts because it's all part of how Christopher thinks. Well done!

Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books)

Average customer rating:

This quickly became my 3 year olds FAVORITE book!
the power of imagination
PURPLE POWER
such a classic! great book.
Son loves this book

Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books)

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064430227

Amazon.com

"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.

Crockett Johnson's understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold's quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a path...

And thus begins one of the most imaginative and enchanting adventures in all of children's books. The creative concept behind this beloved story has intrigued children and kept them absorbed for generations, as page by page unfolds the dramatic and clever adventures of Harold and his purple crayon.

Customer Reviews:

This quickly became my 3 year olds FAVORITE book!.......2007-08-04

We love books and I try to provide my daughter with many good quality and age appropriate stories. She LOVES this book! It's an easy read and is completely adorable! I would highly suggest adding this book to your collection!

the power of imagination.......2007-07-16

This was one of my favorites as a child. I can't count the number of times I read this book, then got out my crayons and drew my own worlds.

I've been reading this book to my son since he was two weeks old. The simple illustrations captivated his attention, and he would lean against my chest, stare at the pictures, and listen to my voice. Such a precious moment. He briefly lost interest when he was concentrating on getting where he wanted to go, then came back around to it. Sometimes he'd carry it to me saying "weed, mommy." He's four now, and we still enjoy reading it together.

It's been wonderful to see his reactions change as he gets older. This is one of those stories with many layers, so children of all ages will find something new. Such a fabulous book.

PURPLE POWER.......2007-06-27

I wasn't too sure if my Kindergarten students would enjoy this story, but they were very excited about it. They were totally engaged in every page. It's a great book for teaching sequencing. I followed up the story by having each child draw in purple crayon only, their adventure. Instead of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" they put their name in the title. It gave them an opportunity to use their imagination, just as Harold had done. This 50th Anniversary story has stood the test of time.

such a classic! great book........2007-06-27

I loved this book as a child and love reading it to my son now. It's such a delight. Great book!

Son loves this book.......2007-06-14

We recently purchased this book for our 2 1/2 yr old son. This is the first book that after reading to him, he has said, "Read it again!" We read this at least three times in a row the first night.

Harold uses his crayon to bring his imagination to life and take him on an adventure. He wants to take a walk in the moonlight, so he draws a moon and a path...later he needs something to eat, so he draws his favorite pies...he can't eat all the pie, so he draws animals to finish the pie...

It really is an adorable book and does a great job of capturing the child's imagination.

Universe w/Student CD & Starry Night CD: featuring Starry Night Backyard 4.0/Deep Space Explorer

Average customer rating:

"Universe" Astronomy Textbook
Great introduction to astronomy with well thought out steps
Descriptive Astronomy for the Astronomy Student
Quality of the delivered product.
Fabulous In-Depth Intro to Astronomy

Universe w/Student CD & Starry Night CD: featuring Starry Night Backyard 4.0/Deep Space Explorer
Roger Freedman , and William J. Kaufmann
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0716769956

Customer Reviews:

"Universe" Astronomy Textbook.......2007-09-30

It was very easy to order and the price was the same as my bookstore at school. The only thing that made it more expensive was the shipping and then it took about 5 days to get to me. When I received it it was in a very solidly sealed box that I couldn't open without a knife. When I finally opened it, the back cover of my "soft" textbook had poke holes all over it from where I tried to open the box on the back seam.
The book itself is well written with great pictures of the cosmos.

Great introduction to astronomy with well thought out steps.......2006-11-05

This textbook is well written with well thought out sequence of topics and its bundled softwares are superb. It expounds the items of astronomical subject in clear unambiguous words arranged in logical order requiring only a modest mathematical skill, well suited for a freshman student for science requirement as well as an intelligent and curious lay reader. The content is quite up-to-date; more remarkable for its online companion for prompt updating for currency. For instance, in barely 2 months after new definition excluded Pluto as a planet, the webpage supplement already informs its reader of it. Included exercises and problems are thorough and complete, and thus allowing students to critically refine their grasp of the preceding topics. There are a few minor errors which are easy to be discovered by a reader, and how to access additional websites and CDs are not clear enough in the preface to the student. I base my review only on the first 5 chapters that was covered in my first academic quarter of study. However. browsing the subsequent chapters to the end lend me confidence that the quality has been maintained.

Descriptive Astronomy for the Astronomy Student.......2006-06-11

Most introductory astronomy texts take the descriptive approach and subject the student to very little mathematics. Such tomes assume that the student is taking the course to fulfill a core science requirement or to satiate non-technical interest. This text is a rare exception to this rule.

Throughout the book simple explanations of the scientific phenomena discussed are detailed using algebra and trigonometry. Basic formulas are illustrated and ample problems are given to drive home the mathematical nature of astronomy. This text is perfect for the freshman or sophomore science major who requires a deeper knowledge of astronomy than a non-mathematical text could provide.

Make no mistake, the text can be used easily in a general astronomy class that requires no math prerequisites. However, for the physics or astronomy major who is just starting her study of the subject, this text is the perfect blend of description and mathematics. It would also make a fine introductory graduate text for elementary and high-school teachers who wish to pursue a master's degree.

The software on the enclosed CD-ROM disks makes visualizing the concepts presented within the text much easier. If one's physics department doesn't have access to a planetarium the software offered remedies the problem quite nicely.

Quality of the delivered product........2006-02-21

While the reason for buying the book was met (required text book for university study) the condition of the delivered item was very substandard. When the book arrived it was bent and creased and the front cover had been "pushed" in such a way that it was starting to come away from the spine. The book was not secure in its packaging and was able to slide around inside the box scuffing both front and back covers. I would not be happy if this happened to a $20 book let alone a book that cost me AUS $135.

I will seriously consider next time I need a book whether I will get it from Amazon.com . The amount of money I saved was not worth the damage that occured to the item.

Not Happy!!!!

Fabulous In-Depth Intro to Astronomy.......2005-10-12

I'm an amateur astronomy nut, and have read several dozen books on astronomy, cosmology, etc. This is probably the most clear, in-depth, understandable treatment of astronomical issues that I have ever read. Be it stellar evolution, stellar death, theory of relativity, black holes, galactic evolution -- you name it -- this book presents the research clearly, and explains tough to explain issues in terms I can understand. Bravo! My only complaint is that it's a bit heavy on Solar System research (first half of the book); I found the last half more to my interest.

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