Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

Amazon.com

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

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Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Hardcover
Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

* Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him.
* When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists.
* Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards.
* Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius.
* Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother.
* The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'.
* Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children.
* The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them.
* Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it.
* Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge.
* Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming.
* Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone.
* Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager.
* Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape.
* Dumbledore's confession to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* The introduction of the Horcrux.
* Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur's answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles.
* Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling's most ingenious inventions.
* Fred and George Weasley's Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!"
* Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator.
* The effects of Felix Felicis.

Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child. Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author. Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer.

A Few Words from Mary GrandPré

"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.

Customer Reviews:

Weird, Wacky and Wonderful !!!.......2007-10-16

How can you go wrong with this?

A must purchase for you, your children and grand children!

Love it!

Never understood the hype.......2007-10-15

My review and rating, here, are for the entire series.

I've never understood the hype. Several years and several thousand pages (granted, quick-reading pages) after I embarked with HP on his many many strikingly repetitive adventures, I must weigh in with ambivalence. On the one hand, one can only marvel at the number of kids (not to mention "kids", myself among them) who have flocked to Rowling's books. On the other hand, one can't help but feel -- OK, I can't help but feel -- that the HP series amounts to so many empty calories. Next to the likes of Tolkein, LeGuinn, and Lewis, to name a few of its literary precursors, Rowling's achievement pales in all but page count -- a wildly excessive, woefully underedited page count. I'm glad I read the HP books for two reasons: having done so, I am marginally more culturally literate (by the standards of late 20th/early 21st century western culture) than I would be had I not read them, and I am also better able to relate to/converse with my nephews (huge HP fans, all). But I'm also glad the series is, finally, a wrap. It was way too much of a so-so thing.

Everything you would want in a Potter book.......2007-10-14

Although I do think this is close to, if not the best book, it seemed to me that it was rushed at the end, perhaps she had a deadline with the publisher. I think some things could have been fleshed out a little more, but this was still very enjoyable and she did mange to wrap up nearly everything. If you bought any other Potter books, you will buy this one.

Outstanding performance.......2007-10-14

Jim Dale, who reads/preforms all of the Harry Potter audio books, is an extremely talented reader. He does realistic voices for each of the different characters, in varying accents (English, Scottish, etc.) that are incredibly genuine. I've read all of the books at least twice, but I feel like I get so much more (if that's possible!) out of the audio versions because Jim Dale's acting is so accurate. His inflections and timing are perfect, and he is very articulate. I listen to the HP books over and over in my car on the way to work, and (after at least 50 combined playings) have yet to get sick of them. A must have for all HP fans and lovers of literature.

is it really the end? sadly, yes.......2007-10-14

It was really upsetting to hear about all the spoilers floating around the internet, and I'm sure JK Rowling wasn't exactly pleased with it either. People like to ruin things for others, or maybe people just have nothing better to do than pretend to hate something so they can torture us all.

But I digress. Hearing spoilers before the book came out didn't ruin it's impact on me, and it surely didn't impact sales any. It would be completely ridiculous to not read this book if you heard spoilers, especially after everything that we Harry Potter fans had been through. Six other books, five movies, so much merchandise that I'm surprised my room hasn't caved in or collapsed from my collection. It really is fantastic to be a Potterhead, isn't it? Really, a lot of people may not understand it, but they honestly don't know what they're missing out on.

Now, onto the book. Obviously, I loved it. Each and every chapter. I gobbled the entire thing down in ten hours or so and literally could not stop until I had absorbed each word. In that ten hours, it was an obsession, an addiction, one of those things I desperately needed for my life to be complete. And I quite literally mean complete. Complete is such a taunting word, however. The end of something like this is always going to be eagerly wanted, but what happens when you finally get it and come to terms with the word complete? And over? Finished? No more? I don't really know. It's still hard to believe that so much time has gone by. In a way it almost feels like it's still July and there are people sporting Hogwarts apparel left and right.

I loved each and every character in Deathly Hallows, and even if the fates of them all weren't entirely eagerly received from me, I still love them. It was the ending I wanted. I mean that both with the actual plot of Harry, that involving him and Voldemort, but also with my favorite pairings that I was desperately CRAVING to just get it on already. This explains why I'm in the majority who like the epilogue. This is a work of sheer genius. JK Rowling knows how to write a novel, and there will never be anything like the Harry Potter series again (so stop trying, people). I wish there could be 70 books instead of just 7, but I suppose it's time to let Harry finally enjoy that peace he'd been wanting all his life.

The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

Average customer rating:

...and so is this book
Ranks up there with Common Sense, Uncle Toms Cabin, The Femine Mystique
Embracing Business Globalization's Irreversibility
What a good boy am I
My opinion is flat

The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Thomas L. Friedman
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0374292795
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Amazon.com

Updated Edition: Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim in The World Is Flat, as in his earlier, influential Lexus and the Olive Tree, is not to give you a speculative preview of the wonders that are sure to come in your lifetime, but rather to get you caught up on the wonders that are already here. The world isn't going to be flat, it is flat, which gives Friedman's breathless narrative much of its urgency, and which also saves it from the Epcot-style polyester sheen that futurists--the optimistic ones at least--are inevitably prey to.

What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected": the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution that have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This in itself should not be news to anyone. But the news that Friedman has to deliver is that just when we stopped paying attention to these developments--when the dot-com bust turned interest away from the business and technology pages and when 9/11 and the Iraq War turned all eyes toward the Middle East--is when they actually began to accelerate. Globalization 3.0, as he calls it, is driven not by major corporations or giant trade organizations like the World Bank, but by individuals: desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well. (He doesn't forget the "mutant supply chains" like Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways.)

Friedman has embraced this flat world in his own work, continuing to report on his story after his book's release and releasing an unprecedented hardcover update of the book a year later with 100 pages of revised and expanded material. What's changed in a year? Some of the sections that opened eyes in the first edition--on China and India, for example, and the global supply chain--are largely unaltered. Instead, Friedman has more to say about what he now calls "uploading," the direct-from-the-bottom creation of culture, knowledge, and innovation through blogging, podcasts, and open-source software. And in response to the pleas of many of his readers about how to survive the new flat world, he makes specific recommendations about the technical and creative training he thinks will be required to compete in the "New Middle" class. As before, Friedman tells his story with the catchy slogans and globe-hopping anecdotes that readers of his earlier books and his New York Times columns know well, and he holds to a stern sort of optimism. He wants to tell you how exciting this new world is, but he also wants you to know you're going to be trampled if you don't keep up with it. A year later, one can sense his rising impatience that our popular culture, and our political leaders, are not helping us keep pace. --Tom Nissley

Where Were You When the World Went Flat?

Thomas L. Friedman's reporter's curiosity and his ability to recognize the patterns behind the most complex global developments have made him one of the most entertaining and authoritative sources for information about the wider world we live in, both as the foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times and as the author of landmark books like From Beirut to Jerusalem and The Lexus and the Olive Tree. They also make him an endlessly fascinating conversation partner, and we've now had the chance to talk to him about The World Is Flat twice. Read our original interview with him following the publication of the first edition of The World Is Flat to learn why there's almost no one from Washington, D.C., listed in the index of a book about the global economy, and what his one-plank platform for president would be. (Hint: his bumper stickers would say, "Can You Hear Me Now?")

And now you can listen to our second interview, in which he talks about the updates he's made in "The World Is Flat 2.0," including his response to parents who said to him, "Great, Mr. Friedman, I'm glad you told us the world is flat. Now what do I tell my kids?"

The Essential Tom Friedman

From Beirut to Jerusalem
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
Longitudes and Attitudes

More on Globalization and Development

China, Inc. by Ted Fishman
Three Billion New Capitalists by Clyde Prestowitz
The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs

Globalization and Its Discontents by Joseph Stiglitz
The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli
The Mystery of Capital by Hernando de Soto

Book Description

The World Is Flat is Thomas L. Friedman’s account of the great changes taking place in our time, as lightning-swift advances in technology and communications put people all over the globe in touch as never before—creating an explosion of wealth in India and China, and challenging the rest of us to run even faster just to stay in place. This updated and expanded edition features more than a hundred pages of fresh reporting and commentary, drawn from Friedman’s travels around the world and across the American heartland—from anyplace where the flattening of the world is being felt.

In The World Is Flat, Friedman at once shows “how and why globalization has now shifted into warp drive” (Robert Wright, Slate) and brilliantly demystifies the new flat world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering scene unfolding before their eyes. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, he explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; how governments and societies can, and must, adapt; and why terrorists want to stand in the way. More than ever, The World Is Flat is an essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.

Download Description

The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist gives a bold, timely, and surprising picture of the state of globalization in the twenty-first century

Customer Reviews:

...and so is this book.......2007-10-10

Though it has become an immensely popular book, Friedman's work is fairly shallow and simplistic. It is important to remember that this is a world analysis written by a journalist, not by a political economist or any type of economist or political scientist. His views are oversimplified and his support relies heavily on anecdote, making his 600-pager about 400 pages too long. We read it for a poli sci class and proceeded to tear it apart intellectually.

Ranks up there with Common Sense, Uncle Toms Cabin, The Femine Mystique.......2007-10-10

One of the greatest books ever written. Everyone in America should read this book. Every teacher in America should read and teach Frieman's lessons. Every parent should read and help prepare their children for the world that is coming. Every student should read and begin to prepare for the world they are going to face. This is the most important book of our times, bar none.

Embracing Business Globalization's Irreversibility.......2007-10-10

This is easily the most relevant book written on the new realities of business globalization, its irreversibility, and the practical consequences to our future. Friedman does an excellent job describing the numerous factors that led up to our current global economy including the ongoing fall of communism, the advent of the personal computer, and the ubiquity of the Internet. His historical review and assessment is fascinating and it sets up the reader to understand the context for his theories and practical applications. Friedman delves into numerous industries, businesses, personalities, case studies, technologies, psychological factors, and sociological factors. Although he covers numerous business, technological, and economic concepts, his writing style is very engaging and entertaining, using many personal examples and narratives, thereby holding the reader's interest. Rather than bemoaning some of the common perceived negative consequences of a global economy (such as US auto workers losing jobs to overseas cheaper labor) Friedman helps the reader to understand business globalization's irreversibility. In so doing, he describes many personal, practical, and business strategies for thriving in this new environment. Friedman is realistic and compassionate concerning the changes and the challenges. He states, "the great challenge for our time will be to absorb these changes in ways that do not overwhelm people but also do not leave them behind. None of this will be easy. But this is our task. It is inevitable and unavoidable" (pp. 46-47). As Friedman unfolds his strategies, he gives the reader a broader, global perspective that is filled with hope and excitement. Whether as a CEO, a business student, or a brand new professional embarking upon a career, this book is insightful, practical, and essential reading.

What a good boy am I.......2007-10-06

Reading this book is like watching someone else's kids open their Christmas presents from relatives they don't really know. I'm not sure how the author can possibly be so fascinated by technology and yet know absolutely nothing about it at the same time, but his endless diatribes about the miracles of PayPal and Microsoft Word are beyond laughable, and I was pretty much in shock when he started citing howstuffworks-dot-com as a technical reference on fiber optics and SOAP. What editor told him that this was OK?

So enamored with his own cleverness is he that Mr. Friedman dedicates several pages to explaining the book's title, even though a single sentence would have sufficed. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop after the first chapter; rather than make a point and move on, he has to point out the fact that he just made a point and tell you what a wonderful point it was just in case you missed the point. It's like hanging out with that one friend who sits around smiling and pointing to his hindquarters after he rips one off at the dinner table.

If you want to learn about globalization and are not old enough to remember the first light bulb, go read "No Logo" instead. This is horrible, irrelevant geriatric babbling.

My opinion is flat.......2007-10-03

When a book has had over a thousand reviews, what can I possibly say that hasn't already been said? So I will keep it short and not so sweet.

No one will read this book, or any of the updates, for "fun." Do you NEED to read it? Yes, it contains some important economic concepts and realities, but it's a bit overlong. I'd say it could be cut in half, so skim through some of the numerous "interviews," repetition of central points, and endless advice and encouragement. The global pie is getting bigger and better, but the competition for piecies of that pie is heating up. Smart, ambitious, creative people will thrive; slow, lazy, dull people will languish, and everything inbetween. For too long many Americans have been sitting on their laurels and the day of reckoning is near. Heed this warning: Put down your TV remotes, game controllers, and iPods, and start working like your life (or lifestyle) depended on it. Get your rear into some serious gear, and don't balk at the notion that you should be an "expert" in at least three different, unrelated fields. Does this scare or excite you?

In so many interviews with foreign entrepreneurs, we are told (or reassured) that no matter how much of the "mundane" work is performed by countries other than the U.S., America's creative and innovative spark is still unsurpassed: All the world looks to America to lead the way into the future. I'm not sure. A lot of that "mundane" work was high level and highly paid, and why should we expect that America will continue to dominate in creativity and innovation? The truth is, we're in for a flattening of living standards, and from the perspective of the relatively high American standard of living, it will seem like a drop in standards until we reach another equilibrium (who knows how long that will take?). In any case, the reassurances about the talents and abilities of Americans seem at odds with other parts of the book, such as Bill Gates feeling "terrified at the American work force of tomorrow."

If you're already working hard at becoming an expert in three fields, then you probably don't need to read this book. Indeed, you probably don't have time to read it, or to read and write Amazon reviews, for that matter.

Average customer rating:

A Fine Start
Likable hero, but weak writing style
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Has everything a good book should!!
The Dresden Files - How did I miss these????

Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Jim Butcher
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451457811
Release Date: 2000-04-10

Book Description

Harry Dresden--Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play too well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Start.......2007-10-16

I'll admit it - I only started with The Dresden Files in print because I saw the television show. I'm one of those dirty, terrible members of the unwashed masses that found their way into this long-running series through the back door. I know, I know - hurl your invectives, if you must - but here's the thinking from a guy who's a reasonably active reader and a viewer of the show.

To start, the quick run down, for newcomers - Harry Dresden is a detective in Chicago who also happens to be a reasonably powerful wizard. The series is fantastic enough to please most enthusiasts, I would expect, and if you're a fan of detective/mystery/noir-style pulp fiction in general, this is a good place to start a foray into fantasy. Obviously, if you don't cotton to fantasy in general, you'd probably be best advised not to bother with this book, and probably not anything you can link to from the page you're on.

Okay - we've got that clear, so now down to the meat. The book, evaluated by itself, is a pretty strong piece, particularly for the early end of a writer's catalog. While the series makes liberal use of somewhat stock-ish characters and concepts, I, at least, was totally expecting that. The novel is done, after all, in the style of a detective yarn, and you're going to have to utilize some archetypal characters and situations in order to make the whole "detective" part work so that the fantasy can work in comfortably. The only fault I think you could find in that area is the fact that there aren't really many characters in this novel that are particularly appealing. Everybody has some sort of negative baggage that makes them just a little bit less than likable, which kind of subdues the amount of fun you can have with the book as a simple exercise in casual reading on an airplane.

The story, such as it is, has been done before, and that is to be expected. What makes the plot original is the (to my knowledge) unique injection of the supernatural into the tried-and-true formula, to generally great effect. Reading this book, I was immensely entertained and it kept me turning the pages, and in the end, that's really all you can expect.

Fans of the television show should probably be satisfied with the novel, if they're not familiar. Some things are different (Murphy and the reporter are somewhat muddled and confused with one another in the show, and there's no omnipresent foil, as with Bob in the show, but otherwise things correspond pretty evenly), but on the whole, the feel and qualities of the book should please readers who enjoyed the show, but never had an opportunity to read this the first time through.

Final recommendation: this is a great bit of casual reading. It's not Shakespeare, which is good, because Shakespeare is work, and this kind of book isn't supposed to take that much effort. Anybody who's seen the show and wants to get into the original, or any fans of any genre this touches looking for a light read, or anybody who sees the paperback in the airport, I would readily recommend this book to.

Likable hero, but weak writing style.......2007-10-13

I thought Harry was a great hero, extremely engaging with good depth, but that the other characters were very flat and one-dimensional - even cliche. Also, Butcher's writing style is weak. He starts so many sentences with "I" it distracted me from the story, used a lot of cliched expressions and had Harry giving himself lame pep talks all the time. Maybe Butcher's writing style matures in the other books? It's a very popular series, so I'm thinking maybe someone started editing his work in the later books...

Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1).......2007-10-11

I watched the Dresden files on the Sci-fi channel and really got into the series, so went looking for the books. I really enjoyed this book and have just started the 2nd book. I plan on ordering them all.

Has everything a good book should!!.......2007-10-09

This book has everything that a good book should. It has action, thrills, the ocult in a very believeable and down to earth situation. It also makes you want to just up and shake Harry from time to time!!! I loved it!!!

The Dresden Files - How did I miss these????.......2007-09-30

A few weeks ago I ended up purchasing book 1 of the Dresden Files, Storm Front, deciding I would give it a chance. I believe I was reading a Christopher Golden Book (The Veil or the newest Menagerie Book) and saw something in the back about Butcher's books. Oh my gosh, I could not believe when I started reading the books that I missed out on them for so many years. From the first pages, I was hooked and looked forward to purchasing EVERY other book in the series. I haven't watched the show based on the books yet, but if it is 10% as good as this series, I'm all over it! If you like books about the modern world with hidden underpinnings of the supernatural, please give the series a try, you will not be disappointed!

Average customer rating:

Not All That
Excellent Intro
Love it or Hate it and I hate it
Excellent learning style
Theory AND Practicality!

Head First Design Patterns (Head First)
Elisabeth Freeman , Eric Freeman , Bert Bates , and Kathy Sierra
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596007124

Book Description

You're not alone.

At any given moment, somewhere in the world someone struggles with the same software design problems you have. You know you don't want to reinvent the wheel (or worse, a flat tire), so you look to Design Patterns--the lessons learned by those who've faced the same problems. With Design Patterns, you get to take advantage of the best practices and experience of others, so that you can spend your time on...something else. Something more challenging. Something more complex. Something more fun.

You want to learn about the patterns that matter--why to use them, when to use them, how to use them (and when NOT to use them). But you don't just want to see how patterns look in a book, you want to know how they look "in the wild". In their native environment. In other words, in real world applications. You also want to learn how patterns are used in the Java API, and how to exploit Java's built-in pattern support in your own code.

You want to learn the real OO design principles and why everything your boss told you about inheritance might be wrong (and what to do instead). You want to learn how those principles will help the next time you're up a creek without a design pattern.

Most importantly, you want to learn the "secret language" of Design Patterns so that you can hold your own with your co-worker (and impress cocktail party guests) when he casually mentions his stunningly clever use of Command, Facade, Proxy, and Factory in between sips of a martini. You'll easily counter with your deep understanding of why Singleton isn't as simple as it sounds, how the Factory is so often misunderstood, or on the real relationship between Decorator, Facade and Adapter.

With Head First Design Patterns, you'll avoid the embarrassment of thinking Decorator is something from the "Trading Spaces" show. Best of all, in a way that won't put you to sleep! We think your time is too important (and too short) to spend it struggling with academic texts.

If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect--a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, Head First Design Patterns will load patterns into your brain in a way that sticks. In a way that lets you put them to work immediately. In a way that makes you better at solving software design problems, and better at speaking the language of patterns with others on your team.

Customer Reviews:

Not All That.......2007-10-10

The authors miss the point on pg 139 in their description of Dependency Inversion. They say, "It suggests that our high level components should not depend on our low level components; rather they should both depend on abstractions". The real point of the pattern, if you read Robert Martin original description of the pattern, Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C# (Robert C. Martin Series), is that neither should depend on the other. No concrete dependency and no abstract dependency; independent. The description these authors offer does not describe dependency inversion; it instead displays the weakness of dependency on abstractions Mr Martin wrote about in his original description of the pattern. The only dependency should be the object(s) or data passed between them but the authors fail to make this point. Mr Martin's book is brilliant.

Excellent Intro.......2007-10-07

Easy to read and follow.

All the examples are in Java and I'm not a Java programmer, but I can understand the examples.

This books is not a pattern catalog. Only the fundamental patterns are presented.

An excellent place to start learning about design patterns.

Love it or Hate it and I hate it.......2007-10-03

I just felt the strong urge to write a review. I usually don't write reviews. My opinion about this book is either you will love it a lot or hate it to the core. I hated it. Their writing style is not conventional. So please go to a book store and read a few pages and see if you like this style of writing. Even though when I first read, I thought I liked it, I realized I don't like this style of writing for a technical book

Excellent learning style.......2007-09-26

I think the book is great for learning what it was written to teach. I found it easy to read and stay in its pages for a longer period of time. If you've read computer related books you know what I'm talking about. I would definitely recommend this book if you ware getting into design patterns and want to get a rock solid foundation. One consideration though, you really need to know something about Java or C#. If you are completely unfamiliar with OOP languages altogether, you might want to tackle that subject before this one.

Theory AND Practicality!.......2007-09-25

I flipped through this book to get a feel for how it will differ from other design patterns works. I immediately realized that the authors are taking a very accessible approach to teaching readers about patterns.

On an individual basis, the text is very accessible. It is written in an easy-to-read style. Instead of avoiding technical jargon, the text improves understanding and retention by coupling technical terms with humorous anecdotes and quips. This approach gives the feeling that design patterns are within reach (and they are) of even readers new to the concepts. It also serves as a built-in mnemonic tool.

The structure of pattern delivery seems to be intentional as well. In the rare case where a pattern is referenced without yet being described, it is almost always in the context of how the current pattern will prove useful in other scenarios. As such, the reader never feels lost. In fact, quite the opposite affect occurs. Readers should feel like they are following a logical approach to learning patterns.

Although it may seem, from the above comments, that the book is elementary, I assure you that even seasoned developers will find the book useful. Even if you know the material extremely well, you may find that the authors' descriptions are useful when teaching junior developers on your teams.

The book layout, like the rest of the book, is broad-reaching. Obviously, it is an instructional work. More than that, however, the book is also a teaching tool. It can easily be adapted by educators and trainers for classroom-style and one-on-one teaching. The book also serves as a workbook. There are exercises and notes pages throughout each chapter. Finally, the book serves me as a reference work as well. If I remember the gist of a pattern but not the specifics, it is easy to find examples and canonical references.

I absolutely love this style. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn patterns, refresh their existing patterns knowledge, or just take in a proverbial "breath of fresh air" to the stiff writing style of other books covering complex topics. I also feel that any of the "Head First" books are worth consideration. They provide accessible formats that promote learning.

I have to close this review by concurring with the authors in their note to the "Gang of Four". Seriously, when are we going to see another book? :)

The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try (Test Prep series)

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Passed easily!
If I had used this book first time I would have passed at frst try.
PMP Reference
Great book to pass the exam

The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try (Test Prep series)
PMP, Andy Crowe
Manufacturer: Velociteach
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Project Management | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

PMP Exam | Project Management | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Certification Central | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Project Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0972967311

Book Description

This self-study guide for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam from the Project Management Institute contains everything project managers need to pass the PMP Exam, including 44 processes, and 592 inputs, tools, and outputs. Exam topics are covered and insider secrets, complete explanations of all PMP subjects, test tricks and tips, hundreds of highly realistic sample questions, and exercises designed to strengthen understanding of PMP concepts and prepare managers for exam success on the first attempt are provided.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-10-07

I've read this and many other PMP study guides and here is my opinion. I passed the PMP exam but NOT due to this book. The main disappointment I have with this book (and a few others) is that it is organized according to the knowledge areas, whereas the PMP exam specifications by PMI are organized according to the process groups. Also it makes more sense to study project management by process groups because this approach is closer to the real life experience: initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing. If I need to look at the project management body of knowledge organized according to the knowledge areas, I would rather look at the PMBOK Guide. The exam study guides should follow the exam specifications, and should not be a mere re-run of the PMBOK Guide. Also, there is no mention of the exam objectives in any chapter. It reads like more or less a re-run of the PMBOK Guide without any consideration of the exam spec. Other drawbacks of the book are the following:
1.Questions are too easy and not close to the real exam questions
2.For most of the topics the coverage is at very much surface leve, no depth. The adequate explanations and depth are missing.
3.Lots of typos and errors
So, don't use it as a primary source for your preparation. It's ok as a secondary source.

Passed easily!.......2007-09-14

Not sure whether this book was the reason for me passing or the PM PowerTrac CBT tool by Management Concepts (the company I work for has multiple licenses for this). I didn't really do much of the sample questions, I left that to PowerTrac; the content is pretty good though and is readable. I think the key to passing is to understand the structure of the questions and do a few example exams. All in all, my preparation for the exam was about a month, and I wasn't very disciplined either!

If I had used this book first time I would have passed at frst try........2007-09-05

Yes I passed the exam at second attempt. One reason the exam has gotten tough do not expect the question to be as easy as those that are in exercise or simulation exam. For every question you really need to know the fundamentals(as per PMI principles!!). That leads to my second reason for failing, I used much popular Rita Mulacahy's PMP exam prep book. The real problem started when I used the even more expensive PMP fast Track by RMC, each simulation test question answer confused me further. I took the PMP exam and I answered most obvious question with wrong answer. My friend suggested me to forget all other material and focus on this book. This book clearly explains the fundamental behind each knowledge area followed by Input - tools & technique - output of process within this knowledge area. If you understand and remember these gudelines thoroughly you are ready for the exam. If you are lucky and get many math questions you can score up to 70% easily. One more book which helped me was Paul Sanghera's PMP in depth, if you are an IT professional then you may find reading paul's book quiet enjoyable. Good luck.

PMP Reference.......2007-08-26

A great resource for explaining why the answers chosen in their sample exercises are correct or incorrect. This book help to solidify the readers understanding of the PMBOK.

Great book to pass the exam.......2007-08-17

I took PMP earlier this week and pass on the first try. This is a great book, easy to understand but it has its own drawbacks. My exam was really tough. I hardly had any math questions and all the exam questions were really lengthy with lengthy answers unlike the practice questions that appear as excercise and final exam. It was like mini reading comprehension on each question. So expect to see much harder questions that what is in the book. Good thing is that with PM experience and reading this book from begin to end, it will not be a problem to pass eventhough there will be many questions outside of this book. I don't know if the exam is getting tougher day by day or it was just my luck to see those kinds of questions.

Average customer rating:

Great book, great way to learn
Excelent Book with Innovative Approach to Learning
Great Tutorial Guide for Beginning Java Programmers
Head First Java, 2nd addition is a must have.
Good book for beginners

Head First Java, 2nd Edition
Kathy Sierra , and Bert Bates
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0596009208

Amazon.com

It has taken four years, but with Head First Java the introductory Java book category has finally come of age. This is an excellent book, far more capable than any of the scores of Java-for-novices books that have come before it. Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates deserve rich kudos--and big sales--for developing this book's new way of teaching the Java programming language, because any reader with even a little bit of discipline will come away with true understanding of how the language works. Perhaps best of all, this is no protracted "Hello, World" introductory guide. Readers get substantial exposure to object-oriented design and implementation, serialization, neatwork programming, threads, and Remote Method Invocation (RMI).

Key to the authors' teaching style are carefully designed graphics. Rather than explain class inheritance (to cite one example) primarily with text, the authors use a series of tree diagrams that clarify the mechanism far more succinctly. The diagrams are carefully annotated with arrows and notes. Also characteristic of the unique teaching strategy is heavy reliance on exercises, in which the reader is asked to complete partial classes, write whole new code segments and do design work. Though there's little discussion of why the exercises' correct answers are what they are, it's clear that the practice work was carefully designed to reinforce the lesson at hand. If you've waited this long to give Java a try, this book is a great choice. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Java programming language for people with no Java experience, and even people with no programming experience at all. Key concepts read like a list of Java features: Object oriented design, variable type and scope, object properties and methods, inheritance and polymorphism, exceptions, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), network connectivity, Java archives (JAR files), and Remote Method Invocation (RMI).

Book Description

Learning a complex new language is no easy task especially when it s an object-oriented computer programming language like Java. You might think the problem is your brain. It seems to have a mind of its own, a mind that doesn't always want to take in the dry, technical stuff you're forced to study.

The fact is your brain craves novelty. It's constantly searching, scanning, waiting for something unusual to happen. After all, that's the way it was built to help you stay alive. It takes all the routine, ordinary, dull stuff and filters it to the background so it won't interfere with your brain's real work--recording things that matter. How does your brain know what matters? It's like the creators of the Head First approach say, suppose you're out for a hike and a tiger jumps in front of you, what happens in your brain? Neurons fire. Emotions crank up. Chemicals surge.

That's how your brain knows.

And that's how your brain will learn Java. Head First Java combines puzzles, strong visuals, mysteries, and soul-searching interviews with famous Java objects to engage you in many different ways. It's fast, it's fun, and it's effective. And, despite its playful appearance, Head First Java is serious stuff: a complete introduction to object-oriented programming and Java. You'll learn everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics, including threads, network sockets, and distributed programming with RMI. And the new. second edition focuses on Java 5.0, the latest version of the Java language and development platform. Because Java 5.0 is a major update to the platform, with deep, code-level changes, even more careful study and implementation is required. So learning the Head First way is more important than ever.

If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect--a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. You'll see why people say it's unlike any other Java book you've ever read.

By exploiting how your brain works, Head First Java compresses the time it takes to learn and retain--complex information. Its unique approach not only shows you what you need to know about Java syntax, it teaches you to think like a Java programmer. If you want to be bored, buy some other book. But if you want to understand Java, this book's for you.

Customer Reviews:

Great book, great way to learn.......2007-10-11

The authors have a wonderful way of presenting the material so that it is memorable. This is a great way to get up to speed on Object Oriented Programming and on Java.

Excelent Book with Innovative Approach to Learning.......2007-09-26

I found this book to have a very interesting and efficient approach to help memorize the content. Pictures and labels in or near the picture makes it fun and easy to read unlike other boring 600+ page technology books. I would recommend it.

Great Tutorial Guide for Beginning Java Programmers.......2007-08-25

This book is just plain FUN and easy to read, whether you plan on becoming a professional Java programmer or just want to know what "object-oriented" programming is all about. It is filled with humor and plain language explanations of Java concepts, including loads of examples. Its greatest value, in my opinion, is as a tutorial approach to Java newcomers.

Head First Java is NOT a good reference book though, so don't buy it if that's what you need! The index is missing many common references to ordinary Java concepts so it is difficult to look up how to do something and find instructions, unless it's something extremely mainstream.

That said, this is by far the best book I've ever seen of its kind. If you have the time to actually read through the book and do the exercises, you will come away with an excellent foundation in Java programming. Each exercise (most of which are games) begins with a conceptual explanation, followed by a "prepcode" version (the program written in a combination of English and actual code), and finally as a real Java program. The authors have gone to the trouble of labelling each line of "real" code with an explanation of what it does. They have anticipated users' questions and answered them. They occasionally leave bugs in a program deliberately, so that you can see the error message and then receive a thorough description of why it occurred and how to fix it. Excellent!!!

Head First Java, 2nd addition is a must have........2007-08-16

I'd like to say a few words about Head First Java, 2nd Edition by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates. Teamed with their publisher, "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", they were extremely successful at producing a book of high technical value, worthy entertainment, and having the virtues of a true certification aid.

Technical value: From learning the core fundamental Java features to truly understanding the inner working or Stacks and Heaps, you'll find this book a valuable reference regardless of the assignment or task you are working on.

Worthy Entertainment: Most books put you to sleep, this book keeps you awake. From parameterized duck sizes to polymorphic hippos, the book is filled with entertaining diagrams, examples and exercises. One will find him/herself revisiting the chapters just for the fun on it.

Certification Aid: Sun Microsystems lists this book as a "Supporting Material" for their Sun Certified (Java) Associate for the Java Platform Exam (CX-310-019). As president of the Tech Center Java User Group, supporting the field of aviation in Southern New Jersey, I can vouch for members of our group who have achieved this SCJA certification with assistance from this book, including myself. Our group gives Head First Java, 2nd Edition a total of (5 out of 5) Stars.

All in all, I consider this Head First Java, 2nd Edition's a must-have. Its catalog page is at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/hfjava2/ and its retail price is $44.95.

Robert J. Liguori, President
Tech Center Java User Group

Good book for beginners.......2007-08-08

Great book to read if you are new to Java. I like the way they explain the concepts which makes it easy to understand. Its best to start learning Java with this book.

Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (Head First)

Average customer rating:

A good book is made of good stories - and that is the case
Could be only 30 pages; has good topics
Great Book, very easy to learn
for the beginner's beginner
Good Book, Bad Title

Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (Head First)
Brett D. McLaughlin , Gary Pollice , and Dave West
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596008678

Book Description

"Head First Object Oriented Analysis and Design is a refreshing look at subject of OOAD. What sets this book apart is its focus on learning. The authors have made the content of OOAD accessible, usable for the practitioner."

Ivar Jacobson, Ivar Jacobson Consulting

"I just finished reading HF OOA&D and I loved it! The thing I liked most about this book was its focus on why we do OOA&D-to write great software!"

Kyle Brown, Distinguished Engineer, IBM

"Hidden behind the funny pictures and crazy fonts is a serious, intelligent, extremely well-crafted presentation of OO Analysis and Design. As I read the book, I felt like I was looking over the shoulder of an expert designer who was explaining to me what issues were important at each step, and why."

Edward Sciore, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, Boston College

Tired of reading Object Oriented Analysis and Design books that only makes sense after you're an expert? You've heard OOA&D can help you write great software every time-software that makes your boss happy, your customers satisfied and gives you more time to do what makes you happy.

But how?

Head First Object-Oriented Analysis & Design shows you how to analyze, design, and write serious object-oriented software: software that's easy to reuse, maintain, and extend; software that doesn't hurt your head; software that lets you add new features without breaking the old ones. Inside you will learn how to:

Use OO principles like encapsulation and delegation to build applications that are flexible
Apply the Open-Closed Principle (OCP) and the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) to promote reuse of your code
Leverage the power of design patterns to solve your problems more efficiently
Use UML, use cases, and diagrams to ensure that all stakeholders are communicating clearly to help you deliver the right software that meets everyone's needs.

By exploiting how your brain works, Head First Object-Oriented Analysis & Design compresses the time it takes to learn and retain complex information. Expect to have fun, expect to learn, expect to be writing great software consistently by the time you're finished reading this!

Customer Reviews:

A good book is made of good stories - and that is the case.......2007-09-23

I have already read quite a lot of Head First Series books. I have to admit that I have already been a little bit tired by almost the same pictures in all the Head First books. So after long pause I have decided to open the book. I was positively surprised I have found very good stories explaining main aspects of OOAD in real world. You can read the book even on sundays afternoon instead of some novels. It teaches you OOAD basics (and even a lot more) by nonintrusive method. Before reading the book I recommmend to think about Head First Design Patterns too.

Could be only 30 pages; has good topics.......2007-08-30

I have read this book after Head First Design Patterns and I expected a similar level, but I am disappointed a little. This book has good topics and it is good for start, but I think that the useful information in it could be told in 30 pages instead of almost six hundred.

Great Book, very easy to learn.......2007-08-25

I already know the family Head First and this one specially is very important in every Object Oriented developer. Very easy to study and learn with this book.

for the beginner's beginner.......2007-07-15

I was quite disappointed with this one. Way, way too much fluff. I kind of liked the "fluff" on the Head First Design Patterns - because design patterns is a hard topic and it helped. But for this one? Gosh, that doggy door use-case example got _really_ boring after 50 pages, I was withering in pain. This book is for the absolute beginner. Professionals and CS grads might want to stay away from this.

Good Book, Bad Title.......2007-06-29

Fine enough book, but in case you were hoping for a book on Business Systems Analysis and Design using Object Oriented Techniques... this is not it. Should be Re-named to "Head First Object-Oriented SOFTWARE Analysis and Design in Java". Did this book really need to be so programming language dependant??

Average customer rating:

Great Book with Good Examples
SLOOOOOOOOWWWWWW
Great!
The Complete Book .
A Book that Really Delivers

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML
Eric Freeman , and Elisabeth Freeman
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 059610197X

Book Description

Tired of reading HTML books that only make sense after you're an expert? Then it's about time you picked up Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML and really learned HTML. You want to learn HTML so you can finally create those web pages you've always wanted, so you can communicate more effectively with friends, family, fans, and fanatic customers. You also want to do it right so you can actually maintain and expand your Web pages over time, and so your web pages work in all the browsers and mobile devices out there. Oh, and if you've never heard of CSS, that's okay - we won't tell anyone you're still partying like it's 1999 - but if you're going to create Web pages in the 21st century then you'll want to know and understand CSS.

Learn the real secrets of creating Web pages, and why everything your boss told you about HTML tables is probably wrong (and what to do instead). Most importantly, hold your own with your co-worker (and impress cocktail party guests) when he casually mentions how his HTML is now strict, and his CSS is in an external style sheet.

With Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML, you'll avoid the embarrassment of thinking web-safe colors still matter, and the foolishness of slipping a font tag into your pages. Best of all, you'll learn HTML and CSS in a way that won't put you to sleep. If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect: a visually-rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, this book will load HTML, CSS, and XHTML into your brain in a way that sticks.

So what are you waiting for? Leave those other dusty books behind and come join us in Webville. Your tour is about to begin.

"Elegant design is at the core of every chapter here, each concept conveyed with equal doses of pragmatism and wit." --Ken Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Disney Online

"This book is a thoroughly modern introduction to forward-looking practices in web page markup and presentation." --Danny Goodman, author of Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Guide

"What used to be a long trial and error learning process has now been reduced neatly into an engaging paperback." --Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine, Inc.

"I love Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML--it teaches you everything you need to learn in a 'fun coated' format!" --Sally Applin, UI Designer and Artist

"I haven't had as much fun reading a book (other than Harry Potter) in years. And your book finally helped me break out of my hapless so-last-century way of creating web pages." --Professor David M. Arnow, Department of Computer and Information Science, Brooklyn College

"If you've ever had a family member who wanted you to design a website for them, buy them Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. If you've ever asked a family member to design you a web site, buy this book. If you've ever bought an HTML book and ended up using it to level your desk, or for kindling on a cold winter day, buy this book. This is the book you've been waiting for. This is the learning system you've been waiting for." --Warren Kelly, Blogcritics.org

Customer Reviews:

Great Book with Good Examples.......2007-10-14

Great book, especially for a beginner. There are actually 3 projects that you work on through out the book and they are clear and easy to understand. My intent was to use this book for an HTML class I teach and when I emailed the publisher for a copy of the book to review for adoption I was denied as they do not waste their time with middle school and high school classes. They must be unaware of the fact that kids in grades 7-12 are the ones studying about computers and web design more than adults.

SLOOOOOOOOWWWWWW.......2007-10-08

I TEND TO CRITISIZE THOSE WHO SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT A BOOK, BECAUSE A BOOK SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR JUST BEEN OUT THERE, BUT I COULD NOT LET THIS ONE SLIP BY.
THIS BOOK IS EXTREMILY SLOW, YOU OPEN A GRAPHIC IN PAGE 5 FOR INSTANCE AND SEE THE SAME GRAPHIC IN PAGE 267 WITH THE SAME BLOCK SCROLLED TO THE RIGHT THIS TIME. THE AUTHOR WORKS WITH A PORTAL UGLIER THAN THE ONE EBAY HAS.
THE FIRST LIKE 270 PAGES TALKS ABOUT HTML WITH A COUPLE OF TAGS REFERED OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NICE SITES YOU SEE OUT THERE.
VERY SHALOW CONTENT, (NOT EVEN THE JOKES ARE WORTH THE BOOK)
SORRY GUYS, NOW I CAN SLEEP BETTER AT NITE.

Great!.......2007-10-07

I hate reading...I really do. I'm a junior and I wanted to learn HTML, so I turned to this book(ironically). The best decision I have ever made regarding "learning" a skill. This book is funny, interesting, an there is never dull moments. It's very informative and has loads to do. Recommended!

The Complete Book ........2007-10-04

If you are newbie, then this book is a MUST !! Excellent,Funny and definitely not a boring one !!

A Book that Really Delivers.......2007-10-03

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML is well crafted to give you full insight into how and why these technologies work. In addition it holds your attention with interesting and useful tutorials. I have recommended this book to a number of other people. The Head First & Head Rush series really integrate all of the learning styles into their books to create a better learning experience than most of the classes that I have attended thru high school, college and grad school. GREAT JOB!!!

Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)

Average customer rating:

Chicken scratches vs. Detailed Storyboards
of moderate interest to readers of video magazines
Mind-opening, even if you aren't interested in directing
Useful, pleasurable
Learning the Rules Before You Break Them

Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
Steven Katz
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Direction & Production | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0941188108

Amazon.com

Film Directing Shot by Shot offers a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Steven D. Katz walks his readers through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. Katz believes that one of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our three-dimensional reality and the two-dimensionality of the screen. He covers the number of technical options filmmakers can use to create a satisfying flow of shots, a continuity that will make sense to viewers and aptly tell the film's story. Katz provides in-depth coverage of production design, storyboarding, spatial connections, editing, scene staging, depth of frame, camera angles, point of view, and the various types of stable compositions and moving camera shots.

Book Description

A complete catalogue of motion picture techniques for filmmakers. It concentrates on the 'storytelling' school of filmmaking, utilizing the work of the great stylists who established the versatile vocabulary of technique that has dominated the movies
since 1915. This graphic approach includes comparisons of style by interpreting a 'model script', created for the book, in storyboard form.

Customer Reviews:

Chicken scratches vs. Detailed Storyboards.......2007-08-19

I have used this book numerous times for my teachings in which students go through the process of making a short film with certain limitations being imposed. It is part of a process that I call "fast filmmaking". I like the examples that Katz presents, specifically that it is not the quality of the drawing, but how the drawing communicates the director's vision to the rest of the crew. I will usually have a student "explain" their storyboard to the class, and it is amazing how a few chicken scratches can give as much details as a fully detailed storyboard. Kudos to Katz for explaining the creative aspect of directing, and Michael Weise Productions for publishing these types of books.

of moderate interest to readers of video magazines.......2007-08-13

as a long-time reader of videographer's magazines, I didn't find much of interest in this book. If I were new to the trade, I'd probably have found it more useful. For that reason, I gave it a rather high rating of 4 stars

Mind-opening, even if you aren't interested in directing.......2007-06-30

I've worked in the graphics design business for years, but more recently I've grown interested in working with video, primarily shorts and documentary work. I was looking for a book that could help teach me the "language" of motion and visual storytelling, and this book fit the bill. In fact, I found it to be incredibly inspiring as a student of art in general. It's extremely well-written, chock full of practical examples, and contains numerous time-worn techniques as well as cutting-edge experimentation. One funny thing: since it was written a few years before the desktop digital video revolution began, it talks about some of the difficult aspects of shooting which are now in many ways moot. But it's good to hear about the history of the craft.

If you have any interest in all in shooting, directing, or producing any kind of motion picture, show, or short, you'll definitely want to buy this book. However, be forewarned: you'll never be able to watch movies the same way again. You'll begin to pick up all the subtle nuances of filmmaking without even realizing it, so don't feel bad if you have to force yourself to re-engage with the actual story as you're watching!

Useful, pleasurable.......2007-05-07

I'm a college student, not at film school, who makes videos as a serious hobby. I thought this book was much better than other titles in the same market, because it's so specific. Instead of telling you what anyone with common sense knows, like "keep continuity" and "composition can affect the mood of a scene," this film lays it all out in detail. I recommend this for everyone who wants to improve. Even if you're not particularly interested in storyboarding, you'll learn how to think about your sequences in advance much better.

Learning the Rules Before You Break Them.......2007-01-13

Even though many of the great filmmakers may have not utilized storyboards, every one of them has pre-visualized their films.

Pre-visualization is the essence of what it means to be a director. A director can only be effective if he/she properly prepares for each scene. Even if one does not have every shot precisely planned out, they will still have an idea of the look and the flow of the process.

There are certainly many people who feel directing should be intuitive, that there should be no structure to the process or else creativity is stifled. This is a valid point from the perspective of the artist.

What is wonderful about this book is that it gives extensive insight into WHY one should cover a scene in a certain way. Directing as a profession requires a certain amount of preparation and PROOF that you have a handle on the film. Producers want reassurance that you have a vision worth pouring tens of millions of dollars into. Armed with the ability to properly express yourself in regard to your vision, you will have a much easier time convincing others to follow you.

So, in the end, if you are interested in studying the language of film and the methodology behind classic film composition and editing, then this book and the accompanying Film Directing: Cinematic Motion are essential.

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

Average customer rating:

Gracie's review of Junie B. Jones - Dumb Bunny
Yes to Junie B.
A very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age
Kids Love Junie B.
Hilarious tale

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Barbara Park
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0375838090
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza!

Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results?

Customer Reviews:

Gracie's review of Junie B. Jones - Dumb Bunny.......2007-09-19

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

I love all of Barbara Parks books about Junie B. Jones. I think they should make a movie of this book. I think this is the funniest of all the Junie B.books. If you have a little girl who loves to read or be read to, I cannot recommend all of the Junie B. books enough.

Would make a great addition to any Easter basket! This book is a little better than cheater pants!

Yes to Junie B........2007-07-24

My daughter has the whole collection she love keeping up with Junie B. I have not read a book in it's entire but from what I've read she is a very curious, funny little girl. I recommend this book and all the others also. My daughter was hooked after the 1st Barbara Parks books and althought she is older now she still cracks up laughing when reading. Totaling entertaining!

A very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age .......2007-06-05

After more than 25 books, Barbara Park's series about a very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age (and the writing ability to go with it) is still going strong. So I suspended my disbelief and read JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY to my six-year-old.

In this adventure, the rich girl in class, Lucille, invites everyone over to her mansion to participate in an over-the-top Easter Egg Hunt that will result in a play date in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool. Lucille wants her boyfriend Sheldon to win, but Junie B. and her arch-nemesis May (the original "dumb bunny" in the title until Junie B. gets something of a comeuppance later on) are ready to pounce, pound and scrabble their opponents in order to get a dip in that grand pool.

There is a lot of falling down and Batman-type expletives (WHOOSH! SMASH!), and the kids are none too nice to each other until Junie B., in a sudden acknowledgment of good judgment, makes a quick and well-appreciated sacrifice to save the day. We laughed at some of the pratfalls, and Lucille's annoyed Nanna character was amusing as well. Junie B. shares the stage with a lot of different people, but she is clearly the star of the show, the story told from her point of view.

Whether humiliated in a pink bunny suit or gloating over her lack of selfishness, Junie B. thinks in capital letters with lots of exclamation points and writes in her journal about what she has learned. The journal entries are cute and engaging, and spell out the moral of the story without being too pointed, which we appreciated.

If this is your first Junie B. foray, it might be helpful to go back and read some of the earlier books first to relax into her strange environment. Otherwise, DUMB BUNNY certainly will offer fans of the series more of what they have come to expect from this little girl and her friends.

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Kids Love Junie B........2007-05-14

My daughter love this series. It's a little hard for me to read due to the poor grammar and name calling. Let's face it though most first graders have poor grammar. There are worse things that she could be reading. We have all of these books and they are well loved.

Hilarious tale.......2007-04-14

Barbara Park's JUNIE B. FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY provides another excellent first grader tale: this taking place at Easter and telling of an Easter egg hunt with an unusual prize. But Junie B. gets stuck wearing an impossible costume and a series of mishaps might prevent her from her goals in this hilarious tale for grades 4-6.

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