Men who aren't interested in marriage can easily trick you into thinking that they are. The List identifies subtle red flag behavior immediately so you won't be fooled again. For example, did you know that:
A man who constantly sends e-mails/text messages is less likely to marry you than a man who simply calls every night? (And that sometimes it is okay to wait by the phone?)
Other books tell YOU how to act. The List tells you how HE will act if he is going to marry you. With The List, you will never have your time wasted or your heart broken again. You will be closer to marriage than ever before.
Customer Reviews:
A must read !!! especially for women ... no matter age.......2007-03-08
It is excellent... is educational.. it help you bring up your self esteem ( in case you have a problem !!) One should not waste a minute in any relation that is going nowhere. It is easy, it is fun... and make you realized how many mistakes you have made before.
Thanks,
Marlene Alén
this overthe hill 40 years old is bunk!!.......2007-01-11
all i have to say about the old and spent thing at 40 years old..is that on my 40th birthday i was out with one of my suitors who has turned into one of my very dear friends..he was 21 the day of my bday and kept asking all the other boys to guess my age..the boy i eventually decided to date exclusively.. turned 24 a month after i turned 40..we began dating when he was 23..this entire 40 year old thing is sheer nonsense..i look like a child but have the wisdom of a woman..my bf and i never fight..because it takes two to tango..and i am too wise for it..i will be curious to see how marriages based on this book fare..seems to me they will be marriages based on Fear..not on love..if you are over 40 ..might i reccomend another book..try.. women who love younger men..you will enjoy it..my mom gave it to me for Christmas. i have never begun dating a man over the age of 24..and i know boys very well..good luck to those girls who are trying to get an american man under 40 to commit..especially one who is in his twenties..unless he is a Religious boy..it is Not going to happen in this day and time..unless he is an ugly loser boy..just my opinion..this book is written by dreamers..
The basic idea is good, I suppose.......2006-12-19
But I would have dumped my husband 30 days after meeting him if I were following "the List", and well, I think he's a pretty great guy, so that would have been a shame!
I bought this because of the (what I thought was) ridiculous sub-title, as I've been trying to encourage a friend of mine who suffers from the "Oh geez.. I'm 30 and I'm not married and don't have a boyfriend and never meet anyone..." stuff. I needed some ideas on how to eloquently say "guys aren't this complicated, if he's not calling, let's not over-analyze..." So I bought this and read it in hopes of being able to give her some somewhat more thoughtful and sensitive advice.
I like the perspective of -if he's not going to call, he's not "the one" so don't worry about it and don't wait, because even if he finally does call, you'll have to say "no" to a date...if he's not that into you, he doesn't deserve you.
But as with many commercial successes, this is a bit overly simplistic, and really best "used" only by women who are more interested in the destination rather than the journey. I can understand that if the journey includes being led-on and disappointed, it is best avoided, but personally, I kind of liked my journey with my now-husband. Neither of us fell in love within 30 days, and to be honest, I wasn't looking for, and didn't think of him as "marriage material" from the get-go: which is probably why we had so much fun and I never worried about any of these list items. I can recall several times when he didn't call everyday, or times that he chose his job or friends over me for a night or a weekend here and there. And -gasp- I did the same! Somewhere along the line we both realized that it was more than just fun, and now we have our slightly dysfunctional "fairy tale" ending. But and I'm pretty sure that he would have failed on every list item within the first 30 days of knowing each other. I'm just excited to share this book with my friend- maybe not so much for the strict "rules" but for the perspective.
And also- come to think of it, I really wouldn't recommend this book to any women under... 30 or so. Because until she's had time to play the field and has dated a few guys who are kind of jerks or players, she'll likely to not appreciate a "List Man" and might tend to think that he is a total putz.
The Rules written another way.......2006-11-14
I'm an avid reader of books on dating, men, relationships and comparable subject matter. Now, these authors have their hearts in the right place. I'd love to be able to tell if a man I'm seeing is going to be "the one" in 30 days or less. I don't like to waste my time. However, I don't like putting people into boxes which is what this book does-put men into boxes. It also makes women such as myself (a women who is having the most fun in her life at 38) feel like an outdated hag if she's older than 30. Tsk, tsk.
The authors take you through the steps from him making the first move through the proposal. Some of the actions "list men" should demonstrate kinda freak me out. He should call me every day? He should pretty much give up his hobbies to spend time with me? If he doesn't call me within 24 hours after our first date to ask me out for our second date he isn't going to mary me? Within four weeks he should talk about marrying me? How on earth can you get to know each other in that short amount of time and haven't the authors heard of obsession, the 'honeymoon' stage of a new relationship???
I'm not discrediting all of the authors' principles but some things are possibly immature and for the younger reader. I was a very different person at 23 than I am now. I didn't date at that age but I know I would have wanted a man to behave differently than I want him to now. I believe in going a tad bit more slowly and taking the time to get to know one another. I wonder how many of the "list" relationships are still together or ended in divorce? Maybe that will be another book.
True but watch for the trap..........2006-10-13
I found the book fascinating and consider the list to describe exactly what a man will want to do with the woman of his dreams.
Being a mathematician at heart (worked as physical chemist for a few years before going to medical school), I'm fascinated by methods that reduce something complex (like "will this man marry me" and "should I marry him") to something easily measured with a real number...like "how many hours from time of meeting until first phone call."
This book describes such a method...reducing complex decisions into very simple, measurable behaviors. The model would work in most cases and rapidly help a woman find a man who can see her real beauty and who appreciates and values and cares for that beauty with devotion, creativity, and fun.
There is a trap however that I describe below (in the discussion part of this page) which would make a "list man" not follow the list even if he's looking into the eyes of a woman who's more beautiful to the core than any woman in his dreams...even if he aches to follow the list.
Don't know that I've offered (in the discussion below) the best way to avoid the trap but I'm sure plenty of bright women and men will offer better ways.
From a man's point of view, I think the book is useful in this way: if I don't find this list easy to follow (either because I don't want to follow it or because the woman seems freaked out and not ready for the list or for me if I follow the list) then I'm probably not with a woman who's going to be a deep and extended lover of my soul.
Even if you're not looking for marriage, I think the list works as a simple way to measure devotion and desire and the capacity for devotion and desire.
Average customer rating:
- Entertaining if nothing else...
- Not the greatest,,but better than most.
- Wow, I never thought I'd like this, it's for gay guys too!
- A Must Read Book
- Hilarious Bisexual Fun!
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The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe: Quips, Tips, And Lists for Those Who Go Both Ways
Nicole Kristal , and
Mike Szymanski
Manufacturer: Alyson Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Love & Romance
| Relationships
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General
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Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics
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Bi America: Myths, Truths, And Struggles Of An Invisible Community
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The Best Of Both Worlds: Bisexual Erotica
ASIN: 155583650X |
Book Description
Double your chances for a date this weekend with the ultimate handbook. Organized by experience level, this no-holds-barred, irreverent guide is for anyone-bisexual, queer, pansexual, or none of the above-who wants the best of both worlds. Increase your Bi-Q now!
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining if nothing else..........2007-06-12
This is a funny read and has some good facts and information for both old and new Bisexuals, but the quizzes could have been better or left out completly.
Some of the questions for the quizzes were too broad, since some of us have never been in situations they pertain too.
I did think that they focused more on the sex issues then the mind/soul/community issues, but it was informative nonetheless.
However, I had great fun reading the book and could tell that the authors worked hard to acheive a good balance of sobriety and humor to make it entertaining instead of sterile.
I am actually looking forward to another book by the authors, if they decide to make one!
Not the greatest,,but better than most........2007-03-20
I liked the book. It was a fun read and had some very insightful parts. Not to be taken too seriously,,,but for those who are just coming out..a good thing to have in your arsenal.
Wow, I never thought I'd like this, it's for gay guys too!.......2007-01-21
Who'd think that a dyed-in-the-wool gay guy would get so much out of a book called this. It's not a great title, because it limits who's going to pick it up, but geez, it's funny. I laughed out loud a few times and called a few of my friends to read sections of it. It's a humor book, and it has a lot of facts in it too.
Like every gay guy, I've had my share of relatioships with supposedly straight or bi guys who I always think are going to leave me for a girl, and they often do. Well, I wish I had that funny contract at the back of the book about what to fill out for my partners. I love it. Like the section that limits your partner's "other partner" to leaving one foot on the floor at all times, or not leaving a toothbrush over at the house.
I'm most fascinated about the celebs they have talking to them, and also the scientific research, good and bad about bi people. I didn't knw there was so much about it, and so much confusion. I love the animals section, where everything from snails to whales show incidents of going both ways.
Even if you're not promiscuous, or if you're straight, or gay, of if you've ever wondered or wandered the other way, you'll find something enjoyable in this. It's a perfect bathroom book, to pick up and read while sitting there. I've bought three copies for guys who wll at first get offended, but I've marked the pages they should read. Thanks Nicole and Michael for a good laugh.
A Must Read Book.......2007-01-10
This is a great read for ANYONE. Don't be intimidated by the title. It's not just for Bisexual folks. It's funny and has some great "tests" to take on sexuality.
Hilarious Bisexual Fun!.......2006-11-22
This book is totally hilarious! It's a light-hearted fun read that kept me laughing all the way through. I love the description of the professional bisexual activist, the cute quizzes, and everything in between. I kinda wish that one of the intro chapters had been turned into a concluding chapter instead, but that is a minor criticism.
We bisexuals have so many books on theory, biphobia, bi representation, and tons of other much-need, but not necessarily fun, topics. This is the bi humor book I've always wanted to read.
Amy André
www.amyandre.com
Average customer rating:
- Wonderful
- Books, Books, Books
- A page turner...
- A Book Lover from Birth
- For real pundits and book lovers
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A Passion for Books : A Book Lover's Treasury of Stories, Essays, Humor, Love and Lists on Collecting, Reading, Borrowing, Lending, Caring for, and Appreciating Books
Rob Kaplan
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Books
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A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books
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Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction
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A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World
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Among the Gently Mad: Strategies and Perspectives for the Book Hunter in the 21st Century
ASIN: 0812931130
Release Date: 2001-01-23 |
Book Description
"When I have a little money, I buy books. And if any is left, I buy food and clothing."
--Desiderius Erasmus
Those who share Erasmus's love of those curious bundles of paper bound together between hard or soft covers know exactly how he felt. These are the people who can spend hours browsing through a bookstore, completely oblivious not only to the passage of time but to everything else around them, the people for whom buying books is a necessity, not a luxury.
A Passion for Books is a celebration of that love, a collection of sixty classic and contemporary essays, stories, lists, poems, quotations, and cartoons on the joys of reading, appreciating, and collecting books.
This enriching collection leads off with science-fiction great Ray Bradbury's Foreword, in which he remembers his penniless days pecking out
Fahrenheit 451 on a rented typewriter, conjuring up a society so frightened of art that it burns its books. This struggle--financial and creative--led to his lifelong love of all books, which he hopes will cosset him in his grave, "Shakespeare as a pillow, Pope at one elbow, Yeats at the other, and Shaw to warm my toes. Good company for far-travelling."
Booklovers will also find here a selection of writings by a myriad of fellow sufferers from bibliomania. Among these are such contemporary authors as Philip Roth, John Updike, Umberto Eco, Robertson Davies, Nicholas Basbanes, and Anna Quindlen; earlier twentieth-century authors Christopher Morley, A. Edward Newton, Holbrook Jackson, A.S.W. Rosenbach, William Dana Orcutt, Robert Benchley, and William Targ; and classic authors such as Michel de Montaigne, Gustave Flaubert, Petrarch, and Anatole France.
Here also are entertaining and humorous lists such as the "Ten Best-Selling Books Rejected by Publishers Twenty Times or More," the great books included in Clifton Fadiman and John Major's New Lifetime Reading Plan, Jonathan Yardley's "Ten Books That Shaped the American Character," "Ten Memorable Books That Never Existed," "Norman Mailer's Ten Favorite American Novels," and Anna Quindlen's "Ten Big Thick Wonderful Books That Could Take You a Whole Summer to Read (but Aren't Beach Books)."
Rounding out the anthology are selections on bookstores, book clubs, and book care, plus book cartoons, and a specially prepared "Bibliobibliography" of books about books.
Whether you consider yourself a bibliomaniac or just someone who likes to read,
A Passion for Books will provide you with a lifetime's worth of entertaining, informative, and pleasurable reading on your favorite subject--the love of books.
A Sampling of the Literary Treasures in A Passion for Books
Umberto Eco's "How to Justify a Private Library," dealing with the question everyone with a sizable library is inevitably asked: "Have you read all these books?"
Anatole Broyard's "Lending Books," in which he notes, "I feel about lending a book the way most fathers feel about their daughters living with a man out of wedlock."
Gustave Flaubert's Bibliomania, the classic tale of a book collector so obsessed with owning a book that he is willing to kill to possess it.
A selection from Nicholas Basbanes's A Gentle Madness, on the innovative arrangements Samuel Pepys made to guarantee that his library would survive "intact" after his demise.
Robert Benchley's "Why Does Nobody Collect Me"--in which he wonders why first editions of books by his friend Ernest Hemingway are valuable while his are not, deadpanning "I am older than Hemingway and have written more books than he has."
George Hamlin Fitch's extraordinarily touching "Comfort Found in Good Old Books," on the solace he found in books after the death of his son.
A selection from Anna Quindlen's How Reading Changed My Life, in which she shares her optimistic view on the role of reading and the future of books in the computer age.
Robertson Davies's "Book Collecting," on the difference between those who collect rare books because they're valuable and those who collect them because they love books, ultimately making it clear which is "the collector who really matters."
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful.......2007-09-12
This book is so much fun to read. This is a must read for anyone who loves books and who, like me, continues to buy books despite not having enough time to read the ones already owned. If you fit that description you will repeatedly see yourself in the quotes, anecdotes, and stories presented within this book.
Books, Books, Books.......2005-11-29
This anthology celebrates the physical book, not the idea of books, or reading books, or writing books. There is something special about shopping for books, whether in a used bookshop, a megastore, or at the library. It is really a different pleasure than the actual reading of the book.
I found this book in my local used bookshop, in the new arrivals section. The paperback cover is a bit curled where someone opened it and left it. Someone marked the lists of great books, indicating which they had read, or perhaps which they hadn't yet read. I didn't mind the marks, in fact I enjoyed comparing notes with this unknown reader.
In addition to the lists and the cartoons, and the biblio-bibliography (not a misprint), I enjoyed many of the articles and essays, especially the more recent ones. A favorite was Harold Rabinowitz's (one of the editors) story of the day his friend didn't win the Pulitzer Prize.
I agree with another reviewer who wished that a few women had been included among the contributors here, there is an atmosphere of gentlemen's club here. And I'm afraid I really don't understand the compulsion to collect books. I love to read, but once I've read a book, out it goes. Of course, there are a few exceptions: if I am sure I'll want to read it again (unfortunately, most of those are library books), or if I want it for reference. Most books are not hard to find and I don't see any reason to keep a book for years on the offchance I'll read it again. If I eventually do decide to reread it, I can easily find another copy.
With that in mind, having enjoyed A Passion for Books, I will take it back to the used bookshop and trade it in for credit.
A page turner..........2003-05-16
Harold Rabinowitz and Rob Kaplan have compiled a wonderful collection of stories, essays and poems that anyone with a passion for books is sure to find wonderful.
Ray Bradbury, in his foreword, helps to explain this passion...
Including contributions from current and previous writers who have explained their passions for books, this collection is witty and intelligent, and perhaps a bit over-the-top for those who do not share a similar passion.
Umberto Eco explains both how to organise a public library, and how to justify a private one. On the former, suggestions such as exceeding complex call numbers, mysterious locations of books and periodicals, and the attitude of librarians to patrons...These would seem enough in themselves to justify a private library, but Eco has yet a further purpose. A private library ensures that one can discern in visitors if they have a sufficient feel and appreciation of books...Further comment showed astonishment, in that my reviews (several hundred strong by that point) didn't include many 'cheap' books, but where all 'high priced hard backs' -- I do confess that a larger proportion of my income goes toward book-buying, but then I consider, I will keep these books all my life...Even the cost of a volume (and thankfully, most of my books are only half that amount), amortised over time, becomes a very good deal indeed; far less expense in time and petrol than running to the library to then be disappointed because the volume isn't there.
However, one of the sticky issues of having a private library becomes lending privileges. Christopher Morley wrote a wonderful thanksgiving to one of his returned books...
Rabinowitz and Kaplan include such treasures as an Ode by Petrarch, entitled My Friends, which takes some careful reading to tell that it is an ode to books, and not to people. The editors include various top-ten lists (Norman Mailer's ten favourite American novels, W. Somerset Maugham's ten greatest novels -- these two lists share one book in common, namely Herman Melville's Moby Dick) and various top-one hundred lists. Various essays on the history of book writing and book production are included to give a sense of substance to the mystery that is the love of books.
For any bibliophile, this book is a necessity.
A Book Lover from Birth.......2003-03-05
Although I do not consider myself obsessed with books, I have loved reading since I figured out how. Even when I was in elementary school, I frequently got in trouble for reading during class. Thankfully, with age this hasn't changed. I prefer reading to every other pasttime, and I just don't get people who don't like to read.
I purchased this book sight unseen completely on the basis of its title; I was not let down. I think that the authors/editors did an excellent job of compiling essays, articles, and lists, about the greatest pasttime a person could have; unfortunately, it will never take the place of night baseball. I found several of the articles highly amusing, especially the one story about a man willing to kill for one particular volume. I also found quite a few good reading recommendations through this book. A PASSION FOR BOOKS should not be read straight through like an average novel; it is meant to be absorbed little by little so that the same passion starts to sink in.
You must remember that the title is A PASSION FOR BOOKS, not A PASSION FOR READING. This book is all about books -- good ones, bad ones, weird ones -- and the people who adore them. It extols the virtues of books.
For real pundits and book lovers.......2002-09-13
I could not put this book down, I treasure the stories and content. The way I got to look into others live that also love books made me feel a part of a family that had this special content to contend with. I recommend it as light reading, bedside, to children, to read front to back non-stop or any other possible way. Any way it is read does not matter cause its there to be read and that is what makes it all that much more wonderful. It fuel my passion to read more that ever. I am a happier person for having this in my collection, for having read it and for having giving it to others to read.
Average customer rating:
- Three out of Four Ain't Bad
- 3 out of 4 are good.
- What a dissapointment this collection was!
- Worth buying only for the Kleypas novella.
- Hit and Miss Christmas Anthology
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Wish List
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Anthologies
| Romance
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Kleypas, Lisa
| ( K )
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ASIN: 0843951028 |
Customer Reviews:
Three out of Four Ain't Bad.......2007-08-14
I loved the final story by Lyndsay Sands. It was funny, witty, and quite a cute story. Don't expect steamy love scenes. Everything is very low key and hinted upon. The third story by Claudia Dain did not hold my attention at all. I was waiting for it to be over. Lisa Kleypas wrote a beautiful story of a sister's love for her brother. Lisa Cach's tale was nice as well.
3 out of 4 are good........2007-02-03
I always have high expectations with Kleypas and she didn't disappoint. Kleypas' story was by far the best of the four. I liked the characters and the chemistry between them was great. I would give her story 4 1/2 stars.
Cach is a talented writer. I like stories about average looking characters finding love. I thought that the romance was sweet and I liked the exchanges between the two main characters. I've never read any of her books, but after reading this sample, I probably would purchase one of her books. I would give her story 3 stars.
Dain's story is one of the worst in any anthology ever published. The characters and storyline were boring. I really struggled to finish the story. It was torture. I give it 0 stars.
The romance in Sands' story was cute. I liked the characters and the back story. I give her 3 stars.
What a dissapointment this collection was!.......2006-11-27
With all of the "big names" in this anthology, I expected to find at least one story that was worth reading and keeping. But to my dissapointment, none of them were.
I had high hopes for Lisa Klepas' story I WILL, given that it had won a RITA award. Reading this made me wonder what other awful stories this must have been up against, because I was so disgusted. Granted, Kleypas is talented, but she never seems able to refrain from doing something truly revolting with her characters. When the heroine basically rapes the hero while he's handcuffed to a bed, I was so sickened that this book almost flew across the room. Just because a man is physically aroused doesn't mean he should be ignored when he repeatedly says no. Forcing someone to have sex with you is rape, no matter who does it or under what circumstances. Now I remember why I no longer buy books by Kleypas; this isn't the first time she'd used the disgusting lie of romantic rape in her stories. One star for this story, only because no stars isn't an option on Amazon.
Lisa Cach's PUDDINGS, PASTRIES, AND THOU was more a story about the heroine constantly stuffing her face than it was about romance. Seriously, every time we encounter the heroine, she's pigging out on something. It was just ridiculous. Not only was she always eating (and I mean ALWAYS), but she was constantly using food as a comfort whenever something stressed or upset her. Can you say eating disorder? This is not romantic. And I read romance for a developing relationship, not to read about food. It could have been an interesting story about an poor gentlewoman hoping to marry so that she no longer has to rely on the grudgingly given charity of her relatives, but instead, it was just a story about a gluttonous woman chowing down on everything in sight. Two stars.
The next story was Claudia Dain's UNION. It was so boring. I couldn't get more than twenty pages into it. There are a ton of characters to keep track off, and none of them are at all interesting. Okay, so the basic story is that the heroine is coming out in society and needs to marry. Only, she has no wish to marry an English gentlemen. She considers herself Irish, and wants to marry an Irish man. Unfortunately, the heroine came across as more of a spoiled child than a woman I could cheer for. And the hero wasn't anything special. He was just taking up space. I never got to the "pitchcapping" torture scene (mentioned by another reviewer), but I'm glad I didn't, as I don't like to read disturbing, graphic violence that keeps me awake at night. Two stars.
Lynsay Sands' ALL I WANT had the most promise. In this story, the heroine is attempting to save her family from debtor's prison. Her father is gambling and drinking all of their money away and won't stop. Since women are not allowed in the gambling establishment, she dresses in her father's clothes and sneaks inside, determined to make her father listen to reason. But of course, her ruse is discovered and pandemonium ensues.
Seems interesting, but the author wasted her talent by falling back on the old romance cliche of "big brawny hero kisses the heroine to shut her up while they're having an argument" scene. And this is basically right after they meet. Arrrgh! I am sooo sick of this contrived scene. It's overdone, and stupid in the first place. As if any woman alive wouldn't smack a guy's face if he tried to do that to her. I will probably try one of this author's full-length novels, as it's obvious she has talent and could write an enjoyable book, if only that talent was properly used. But this novella was very dissapointing. Two stars.
Romance anthologies are usually a hit-or-miss situation. This one was a complete and total miss. There are far better Christmas romances out there. See my list "Christmas romance books worth reading" for a list of my keepers and re-reads. As for WISH LIST, I recommend that you either borrow it from the library, or skip it altogether.
Worth buying only for the Kleypas novella........2006-10-27
Out of the four stories in this anthology, the only one that makes it worth buying is Lisa Kleypas's story, "I Wish". She manages a wonderfully emotional story within the confines of a novella.
Lyndsay Sands's story has a great premise, and starts out well, but fades by the end. It's almost as if it were longer and she was forced to edit it down to the point that the ending seemed abrupt and unsupported.
The Lisa Cach and Claudia Dain stories were ok, but not memorable. In addition, Dain's story contains a flashback scene involving "pitchcapping", imagery which some readers may find disturbing .
Individually, my ratings for the stories are:
Kleypas: *****
Cach: ***1/2
Dain: **1/2
Sands: ***
Hit and Miss Christmas Anthology.......2006-06-12
First, I must say, it is extremely difficult to review an anthology. Usually, there are only 1 or 2 stories worth reading, and it's hard to rate a book because of this fact. Secondly, it must be very hard for an author to write a story that pulls the reader in, has likeable characters, and carries a good plot within 100 or so pages. However, a good author can accomplish this. This anthology is no different. Kleypas and Sands deliver with their stories, the other two authors are mediocre at best. Get this book at a garage sale, or check it out at the library. It is not worth the listed retail price because of the weakness of Cach and Dain's stories.
Kleypas - "I Will" - Lord Drake, a ne'er-do-well aristocrat, finds himself disinherited from his dying father's will. He gets the title and the lands, but not the money. He must convince (blackmail) respectable Miss Caroline Hargreaves to pretend a sham courtship, fooling his father into believing he has given up his dissolute lifestyle. Kleypas' characters are likeable, especially Caroline. Drake makes a good reformed rake, and the evil character is truly evil.
Cach - "Puddings, Pastries, and Thou" - Vivian Ambrose is a poor spinster, dependent on whichever relative needs her services. When her great-aunt, who treated Vivian as a lowly unpaid servant, dies, she is passed onto her distant cousins, the Twitchens. The Twitchens spoiled daughter, Penelope, immediately takes a dislike to Vivian, thinking Vivian will cause a pall to her first Season. However, this unlikely pair form a truce and agree that Vivian must be married off before Penelope's London season. Penelope has in mind Richard Brent, who has a scandalous past, making him ineligible for marriagable young ladies. Brent could have been written as an admirable hero of the story, but he is portrayed as someone who thinks too much about what others think of him. He appears to have a low self esteem, and is very self-conscious to the point of being pathetic. The author paints Vivian and Brent as two average to below average looking people who have colorless lives. Vivian is written as a woman with an eating problem. It's not difficult for this reader to predict that Vivian will be quite obese within the next few years, Brent may want to re-think his choice.
Dain - "Union" - Union was by far the worst story ever written in an anthology that I have read. Clarissa Walingford is being pressured by her many brothers to marry. She knows she must choose a groom, but she does NOT want to marry an Englishman. She wants to marry an Irishman, or at the very least, an Englishman who owns an estate in Ireland. Even though this is repeated several times through the story, Dain continues to batter the reader with the fact that Clarissa wants to live in Ireland. Okay, we GET that. She meets Henry "Beau" Wakefield, Lord of Montwyn. Beau, himself, is on the hunt for the perfect wife. At Lindley's, (Clarissa's brother), insistence, Beau meets Clarissa and decides immediately that she is the one for him. These characters are extremely unlikeable. Clarissa comes across as a selfish, spoiled, conceited brat. Beau is painted as an egotistical, arrogant, conceited nobleman. These characters deserve each other, the reader comes to hope that there was a pre-nup signed, for the marriage will not last. There will be too many people in it: Clarissa, her ego, Beau and his ego. I don't know what the editors were thinking to add Dain in this mix. If this story is a good representation of her work, I will not be buying any books from her in the future.
Sands - "All I Want" - Prudence Prescott's father is drinking and gambling his family into the poor house. All her mother wants for Christmas is for her husband to stop gambling, and Prudence's mission is to make this wish come true. She attempts to confront her father at his favorite gambling den, Ballard's, and meets the infamous owner, Lord Stockton. Needless to say, sparks fly - leading to a fun and hilarious story. I chuckled through much of this story - Sands has a great sense of humor. Prudence and Stockton are great characters, people who the reader will be rooting for all the way to the end. There is real chemistry between the hero and heroine. Great plot, good characters, good story. I will be looking for Sands' books from now on.
Average customer rating:
- cool
- WOW!!
- Awesome Book!
- Wasn't On My To Do List, but...
- Lights, Camera, ACTION!!!
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Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To-Do List
Janette Rallison
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction
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| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
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ASIN: 0802789919
Release Date: 2005-08-11 |
Book Description
A PC school principal turns West Side Story into a comedy of errors.
Sixteen year-old Jessica dreams of Hollywood fame, and when Jordan moves into her small town, she dreams of him too. He’s a movie star’s son, and hey, he’s gorgeous to boot. Jordan has always wanted to get out from the shadow cast by his superstar father, but now that he and his mother have moved so far away from LA, how can he get his divorced parents back together? Jessica convinces Jordan the way to get his father to come for a long visit is to be a part of the school play. And if she’s “discovered” in the process, all the better. Things go wrong when she lets Jordan’s secret identity slip, and grow even more disastrous when the principal tries to change West Side Story into a gangfree, violence-free, politically correct production.
In the same romantic and sharply witty spirit of Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throws, Janette Rallison delivers another comic gem that teen readers are sure to love.
Customer Reviews:
cool.......2006-11-17
I wasn't expecting this book to be that great, but it was. The characters are very realistic. It's about a young girl who wants to be a star. She broke up with her boyfriend, but then wants him back. Meanwhile, a new boy shows up. Turns up that he is the son of a big movie star. Find out more! It's really good!
WOW!!.......2006-10-13
I used this book for a book report, now im not into reading much but this book was the best one i have ever read. I love to act so it was a great book for me. it took me about two weeks to read it but wonderful book. If your doing a book report there are lots of charaters. Ilove that book
Awesome Book!.......2006-07-17
There is simply no other way to put it-- this book is hilarious. I was lying on my bed reading it and laughing out loud! If you love humor with a touch of everything else this book is perfect. It ends off perfectly. At first I thought the book looked a little babyish, but it was just sooo awesome. Enjoy!
Wasn't On My To Do List, but..........2006-06-02
I almost didn't read this book because of the cover. Sounds horrible, I know, never judge a book by it's cover. But the girl on the cover looked about eleven years old and it didn't seem very interesting. But I read the back, and I thought, maybe I'll read this sometime. So I put it aside, and then one day I picked it up, and started reading, and I didn't stop until I was done.
This is a cute book about a girl named Jessica (who is still in highschool, but NOT eleven years old!) who wants to act. Then a guy named Jordan moves to her town, and... actually, you should read the book.
What I thought when I first picked up the book was that it would be poorly written. On the contrary, I found the writing to be funny, the heroine to be funny and smart. I appreciated everything that happened, and the honest way the author wrote the book.
It was a good read. The only thing that was wrong with it was it's length - I wanted more. :)
So I guess the morale was never to judge a book by it's cover - you may be pleasantly surprised.
Lights, Camera, ACTION!!!.......2006-03-09
Did you ever think that a good book would start with two identical Honda Civics? I know one that does! Read Janette Rallison's book Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To-Do List to find out how. It is about a talented, young actress named Jessica. At her school, they are putting on a version of Romeo and Juliet and she is determined to get the lead. When Jessica realizes that a new boy at her school is really the son of the famous actor Christopher Hunter, she gets very excited and comes up with a plan to meet him. This book is an exciting page turner! Pick it up and you won't be able to put it down! So join Jessica, and the rest of the club! Lights, cameras, ACTION!
Book Description
Moms and dads will welcome the loving, insightful, and to-the-point wisdom found in Lists to Live By for Every Caring Family. Each of the eighty lists compiled by three successful and respected authors offers encouragement and tender advice for today's parenting challenges. This isn't another trivia book; Lists provides new inspiration on how to love, teach, understand, uplift, and communicate with children in topics such as "Helping Your Child Succeed," "Pray for Your Children," and "Four Ways to Encourage Your Kids." Parents will cherish each nugget of truth in this latest, timeless collection of Lists to Live By.
Customer Reviews:
An interesting book of lists for a family who has children.......2001-10-02
I believe one of the most important thing you can do for your child is to communicate and spend time with him/her frequently to develop a strong and healthy bond. Some of the lists are about effective discipline, communication, ways to love your child, activities for the whole family, getting to know your teen and lots more.
Books:
- Tantra in Practice
- Thai Massage: Sacred Body Work (Avery Health Guides)
- The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R))
- The Best Things to Do in New York City: 1001 Ideas
- The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors
- The Complete Guide to Doors & Windows (Black & Decker)
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction
- The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine
- The Gefilte Variations: 200 Inspired Re-creations of Classics from the Jewish Kitchen, with Menus, Stories, and Traditions for the Holidays and Year-Round
- The Japanese House: Architecture and Interiors
Books Index
Books Home
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