Product Description
Monica Ali's stunning second book is a collection of stories set in the Alentejo province of Portugal, linked by characters and by a vivid sense of place and time.

Teresa is a beautiful young girl from the village who is supposed to marry a suitable man from the same community but who wants to see the world. Vasco is a café owner who is losing business to the new internet café down the road. The unseemly, dysfunctional, but strangely riveting Potts are a family of ex-patriots, trying to cobble a life together, at odds with one another until they run into trouble on the outside. We also meet several English tourists: a young couple engaged to be married and confronting each others weaknesses and idiosyncrasies for the first time, and an older woman imagining a new life, fantasizing about never returning home. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Sexy D/s novel
Loved this book!Laura is a girl after my own heart--shy and a bit reserved in public, but her mind is often occupied by lurid sexual fantasies about people she knows, or embellishments of the spanking scenes in the 1950's adventure romances she likes to read.Soon after she begins to fantasize about being dominated and spanked, she starts getting mysterious emails from someone only identified as The Controller.Although she's shocked, she's also turned on and can't resist fulfilling his requests, which become more and more daring.Eventually she does find out who it is, and the second half or so of the book is about the development of the dominant/submissive relationship between them.

If you enjoy spanking, punishment, and the dominant/submissive aspect of BDSM I absolutely recommend this book.Plenty of sexy scenes of punishment and submission, but nothing too very extreme.While I don't necessarily mind if the characters in erotica don't have a lot of depth, that wasn't the case with Laura.She was interesting and lovable and I really identified with her, and I enjoyed that aspect of the book as well as the sex scenes.You get to see her from the time she gets curious about spanking through the development of a full-fledged D/s relationship.A very sexy fantasy...I really enjoyed it and will read it again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful Pictorial History of Santa Monica
Great gift for those who are newly arrived or have lived here in another life. Many of the photos are very rare.

The area has a rich history that is capturered in these photos. Highly recommended .

If You Know Santa Monica, Get This Book
I grew up in Santa Monica, lived there from the early 50s to 1980. In those days, much of the early history of this wonderful town was still clearly visible. Ernest Marquez has done a wonderful job in writing about the evolution of this beautiful area. For me, he brought back many pleasant memories of my childhood in this town. Marquez has a fine way with his words, and has spread the stories among a nice large collection of photographs. The pace of this book between text and photographs flows nicely. I did not expect to read it cover to cover, but indeed found myself looking forward to reading another chapter every evening before bed. The book is in a quality binding, with good quality paper, and excellent reproduction quality of the photographs. This book is definitely the best one of several books currently available on Santa Monica.

Stunning Pictures
Oh, what a beautiful collection of our history here in Santa Monica. One is transported through the century of adventure, discovery and fun as the community grows and changes shape. I felt that I could be there, back in time, if just for a few minutes, with several of the photographs... and the excellent copy. Great to see the original Flash Gordon, Buster Crab, when he was just a swimmer at the beach, like one might be today. Thank you for publishing this collection. ... Read more

Product Description
What Jade Morgan wants: for her parents to get back together. Instead her dad proposes to his new girlfriend, who has the nerve to ask Jade to be a bridesmaid. Like that'll ever happen. Her new boyfriend, Terrence, thinks she should give her future stepmom a chance, try to get to know her. Yet Jade barely knows Terrence—who is cute and cool, but is seriously hiding something. He's busy all the time and he won't invite her to his house. Yeah, something is definitely up. But sometimes friends, family and boyfriends do things that make you really jaded about life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

About Jade, But....3.5
Jaded by Monica McKayhan is a novel about a young girl named Jade. She is sixteen, lovely and comes from a good family. However, she is becoming jaded about the situations in her life. Her parents are divorced, though they live in the same apartment building and seem to get along just fine. The only person unable to accept the change is Jade and it is affecting her attitude. To make matter worse, she discovers her dad is planning to marry, Veronica, his girlfriend of a year. Without really knowing the situation, Jade assumes it is a bad deal for everyone, but, the truth is it is just bad for her. It is all about Jade. The bright spots are her friends, Indigo and Tameka. The brightest spot, however, is her boyfriend, Terrence, who she calls Chocolate Boy.Terrence really likes her but his plate is full with his home life. Will he be able to maintain his responsibilities and keep Jade as well?

Even though Jade is the central person in this young adult novel, Terrence, is by far the most likable and well-rounded character. He is a young man who takes care of his brother and sister when his drug-addicted mother goes missing. He also works full-time and is a good student while literally maintaining a household. The one bright light in his life are his feelings for Jade. But he is convinced if she discovers the truth she will leave him as others have done. Can he be right? Or will Jade prove to be a keeper?

Jaded is a good, young adult novel that can be appreciated by all ages. I recommend it to readers who love a fast moving book with a message.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

... Read more

Product Description
The eight essays included in this volume examine the dominant narrative of Texas history and seek to establish a record that includes both Mexican men and women, groups whose voices have been notably absent from the history books.



Finding documents that reflect the experiences of those outside of the mainstream culture is difficult, since historical archives tend to contain materials produced by the privileged and governing classes of society. The contributing scholars make a case for expanding the notion of archives to include alternative sources. By utilizing oral histories, Spanish-language writings and periodicals, folklore, photographs, and other personal materials, it becomes possible to recreate a history that includes a significant part of the state's population, the Mexican community that lived in the area long before its absorption into the United States.



These articles, originally presented as part of the Hispanic History of Texas Project's first conference held in conjunction with the Texas State Historical Association's annual conference in 2008, primarily explore themes within the field of Chicano/a Studies. Divided into three sections, Creating Social Landscapes, Racialized Identities, and Unearthing Voices, the pieces cover issues as diverse as the Mexican-American Presbyterian community, the female voice in the history of the Texas borderlands, and Tejano roots on the Louisiana-Texas border in the 18th and 19th centuries.



In their introduction, editors Monica Perales and Raul A. Ramos write that the scholars, in their exploration of the state's history, go beyond the standard categories of immigration, assimilation, and the nation state. Instead, they forge new paths into historical territories by exploring gender and sexuality, migration, transnationalism, and globalization. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (48)

Like a Palahniuk book without the plot
I realize this book was pushed by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, Survivor) because Drake is in his writers group.That being said, she does an admirable job trying to steal his style.However, the plot doesn't really go anywhere.Where Chucks characters often change the world, her clown is looking for a missing rubber ducky.I'd say this book is more for kids if it wasn't for all the clown sex included.It's short enough that you can read it without getting too angry so read this if you are on a plane I guess.

Finally found it... Maybe I anticipated too much
After having seen this recommended to me multiple times because of my interest in Chuck Palahniuk's books, I finally found it in the library; shame it's not on Kindle, but I got around to it eventually.After reading the description of the book and noting that Palahniuk wrote the introduction, I was excited to start another mind-altering trip, this time in clown shoes.Perhaps I was expecting a little too much, but the book was definitely worth the read and I sped through the first half of it.I laughed out loud several times during that first half, though the humor started to get repetitive and the soap opera of the main character's unrequited love grated on me a bit.

That said, I enjoyed the somewhat normal circumstances and good intentions progressing to ridiculous situations.When Monica Drake comes out with another book I will definitely read it and would recommend this book.

Fun book.
This was a fun book, but not the greatest.It was told from a female point of view and that was a bit different for me.I did still enjoy it and had absolutely no trouble finishing it.I doubt I'll ever read it again, and not sure I'd recommend it to too many friends.However, if you're interested in dark comedy type books you'll probably enjoy this one.

Fails to Deliver...
I bought Clown Girl about two years ago, purely off an Amazon `similar purchases' recommendation. I read a few of the reviews from other readers and found this book has a few connections to Chuck Palahniuk, my (almost) favorite author. For example, manyfans of his also enjoyed this novel, and Chuckeven wrote the introduction.So I gave it a shot. (brief summary below but no spoilers)

It opens with a girl named Nita (in costume she is `Sniffles the Clown') performing on a hot city street for a bunch of pestering, sticky-fingered children. The story is told from her perspective. She faints from heat exhaustion and is taken to the emergency room, and ends up being okay, but this incident kinda spring-boards the rest of the book.

You come to find that Nita is never out of costume, that she constantly wears big clown shoes, face paint, and an ever-shifting array of over-sized colorful clothes. Hence the title, right? A few ridiculous situations ensue; multiple run-ins with an attractive, golden-haired cop, pot-growing roommates who constantly threaten to kick her out for bringing trouble (and cops) around the house, her two associate clowns, Crack & Matey, who speak nothing but of money and wanting to move away from entertaining children and on to "one-on-one" shows for men (yes, it is what you think).

Unlike Palahniuk, most of the darker or racier moments in the book are only implied or mentioned and then moved away from, whereas Chuck likes to get into the gritty, disgusting moment with a magnifying glass and smear your face in it. However, in many ways, this book seriously seems just like an inferior knock-off Palahniuk novel. The humor is very similar. The attempt to be edgy and satirical is similar. The dialogue and ridiculousness of the characters is similar. But it's not as good, not by far. Drake probably resents being so closely related or compared to Palahniuk, as I would if I were her, but the similarities are impossible to deny.

There were many, many things that were overwhelmingly frustrating to me about this book. First and foremost, the lead character is annoying as all get out, she's not likable! From start to finish, she makes stupid, stupid decisions that only worsen her situation, and when she gets in a tough spot, her nervous reaction is to tell jokes! She also obsesses over things she loses because her whole life and worth is tied up in them (namely; her boyfriend Rex, her dog, her rubber chicken, and the pee funnel she is supposed to collect with from the hospital... I know, stupid right?). Surely this was intentional by the author, and does have some small part in the character's transformation by the end, but it was so much to wade through that I found myself not wanting to continue the story, but rather hoping the whole time that it would get better, and just get over.

Drake is a good writer as far as one-liners and the occasional beautiful sentence goes. The book is not without it's moments of cleverness and charm, and the idea of the book itself is actually pretty original and humorous, but there is just something about the story that consistently feels amateur. It tries too hard to be edgy, funny, ridiculous. I think I see what the author is shooting for, but the execution of it leaves a lot to be desired. In Drake's defense, this is only her first novel. We'll see what she does from here.

A Great Read!
I believe the author was done a disservice when Clown Girl was compared to Chuck Palahniuk and Katherine Dunn's Geek Love. Drake's work stands on its own two feet.

I give this book 5 stars for being different. I can not think of another character in literature that I can compare to Nita our pregnant and determined professional clown. This book is a character study as a Nita uses professional clowning as a way to shield herself from interaction with other people. This is not a weird book as much as it is a serious look into why people try and hide themselves away from the world.

If you have read the best literature out there and sometimes just get bored with cliche characters then I say grab Clown Girl.

Personally request: Monica Drake writes nothing like Chuck Palahniuk and this book it rightly or wrongly nothing like Geek Love. You'll have to make this purchase without famous names to lean on :) ... Read more

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Product Description
When a damaged tapestry is discovered in a small-townchurch closet, needleworkers join to stitch together the clues whichlead to a crafty crime.

"Entertaining...Fans of JessicaFletcher will devour this book."-Rendezvous

3rdNeedlecraft Mystery-includes a free cross-stitch pattern! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A light read
The story was interesting but a bit long.It would have made a good short story.

No need to ask "whodunnit"
This was the first Needlecraft Mystery that I figured out before the book was halfway done. While it's still well-written and entertaining, I did find it a bit transparent (and, at the same time, confusing!). There were a lot of new characters introduced, and I had trouble keeping them and their stories straight. All the same, a great read.

Well-plotted cozy mystery with needlecraft theme
This is my second book in the series, and I think I liked it better than the first that I read (Cutwork).This is definitely a women's mystery (or men who do needle crafts).Set around Christmas time in frozen Minnesota, the plot involves an incomplete and mildewed tapestry found in a church.The tapestry was clearly the work of the previous rector's wife -- she died of a heart attack and didn't finish it -- and he suffered a severe stroke and is in a nursing home.Betsy, who has inherited a needlecraft store in this cozy little Minnesota town (you can really picture it from the descriptions), is asked to contribute some wool to complete it.When she goes to inspect it, she notices some unusual details that intrigue her.

Shortly afterwords, Betsy ends up stuck in a ditch -- is it an accident?If not, what's going on?

I look forward to reading more in this series.This was a book that whenever I had to put it down and go to work, I looked forward to getting back to.

An Old Tapestry Brings New Clues
It's the Christmas Season and everything should be cheery.Betsy Devonshire is still recovering from the murder of her sister Margot and is trying to get into the Holiday mood by immersing herself in her work at Crewel World, the needlecraft shop that Margot had left her.She also left Betsy several million dollars, but the estate is still being settled.

Things are really buzzing a Trinity Episcopal Church, where renovations are underway.Hidden away in a room, they come across a huge tapestry that had been completed by Lucy Abrams, wife of theformer rector, Keane.

Just before retiring, Keane had collapsed from a major stroke and Lucy had a fatal stroke as she tried to help him up from the floor.The current rector of the church, John Rettger is thinking about naming a room after the Keane, who now resides in a nursing home, unable to move or communicate.

It's decided that along with naming a room after Keane, they will restore the tapestry and hang it on the wall as a tribute to the late Lucy.Betsy volunteers to donate all the supplies necessary to repair the tapestry and while looking it over, (Worrying because she hadn't anticipated there would be so much work, or that it was so big), she notices little icons sewn onto the tapestry.Betsy wonders if they have some meaning and copies several of them down and borrows a book of Icons for John Rettger to try and decipher them.

Deciphering icons doesn't seem as important when Betsy has an accident while driving in a blizzard and having to spend the night in a freezing car, where she learns the important lesson of why people in Minnesota always have a survival kit in their car.When it's discovered that the brake line was cut, Betsy starts to worry, and then when she suffers arsenic poisoning and her building catches on fire, she begins to wonder if someone is trying to kill her.

There's no lack of suspects.Maybe Joe Mickels has decided to get her out of the building once and for all.Then there's Hal "The Pig" Norman, Betsy's ex-husband, whose last coed girlfriend turned him into the college and he's now jobless and homeless and swears undying love for Betsy andreally, really wants to get back together with her.Does the fact that she is about to inherit millions have anything to do with it, and what about the will she had written shortly after their marriage where she left everything to him.Was that still valid.

Or did it have something to do with the tapestry?Especially when all Betsy's notes and then the tapestry itself disappears.Would she be able to solve this mystery before she finally ends up dead?

Highlights:

The supporting characters are wonderful Jill Cross & Mike Malloy, who are police officers.The Monday Bunch - a group of needle crafters,who get together on Monday's in Crewel World to do needlework.Even Joe Mickel is likeable.

Goodwin - her full time employee who knows everyone and everything and has an obnoxious boyfriend John.


Hal "The Pig" arriving at Betsy apartment with a Christmas Tree. (I was reading this part at breakand couldn't quit laughing.My office mates thought I was nuts).

Lowlights:

The mystery.No murder.The reason behind the attempts on Betsy's life are lame.There was no reason for anyone to know the mystery that was trying to be hidden and a few words to Betsy would have stopped everything.It just seemed ridiculous.

But I enjoyed the book right up to the ridiculous ending, so it's not a waste of time.

Have already started Unraveled Sleeve.

The Appeal is in the Subject Matter
This book is appealing to stitchers, but not so much for real mystery fans. It's a passable book, not totally predictable, but in some areas seems a bit forced. Still, as big fan of needlework, it's always exciting for me to read about it, particularly to see it combined with a cozy mystery. ... Read more

Product Description

A young lady in disgrace should at least strive to behave with decorum...

Customer Reviews (10)

Meet more of the Darcy family
While this was not quite as satisfying as 'The Other Darcy', it could be that my heart lies with Fitz and Elizabeth and it's they who I really love to read about.But, given that, this is a delightful book; a typical comedy of errors that would be great on stage, where we witness the girlish behavior of two 17 year olds, Georgianna, Darcy's beloved sister, and their cousin Clarissa.The story starts out at Rosings where the Darcy family and cousins are staying for six weeks (imagine the horror of it!) with the all-superior Lady Catherine and her poor 'imprisoned' daughter Anne; oh and we again meet the odious Mr. Collins who is at his oooozing best!The story takes off from there where boy sees girl, girl sees another boy, girl overhears both boys (recall Darcy behind the pillar?), the season...and the fabulous scrapes into which the girls tumble.This author really captures the essence of the times, as well as our much loved Jane, while at the same time telling a story that is as old as time.I look forward to more of Monica Fairviews tales; hopefully again engaging the Darcy's and the Bennets.

An Austen Inspired Treat!
This is author Monica Fairview's second Pride and Prejudice sequel and the first I've read.I expected that I would enjoy it, based on the synopsis, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did.In short, Monica Fairview has a new fan in this reader.

Ms. Fairview's writing is warm, engaging and utterly captivates the reader.I was transfixed by the story from the opening paragraph until the last line.Ms. Fairview takes Jane Austen's existing and much beloved characters - - Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana - - and even those a little less beloved - - Caroline Bingley, Lady Catherine, Anne deBourgh and Mr. Collins - - and entertwines them with new characters Robert Darcy, Clarissa Darcy, Frederick Darcy, Percy Channing and Henry Gatley, among others.

What I loved most about these new characters is not only how vividly Ms. Fairview sketches them out but how I could easily imagine them being Jane Austen's own creation.In this way, Ms. Fairview stayed true to the essence of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen's vision.

In Pride and Prejudice, Georgiana is very much a secondary character who is primarily given life through her brother's story and personality.In The Darcy Cousins, Georgiana very much comes into her own and I thoroughly liked her.She is an enjoyable person, both a socially proper young lady of wealth and status and a determined and spunky fighter.

Her American cousin Clarissa Darcy is a pleasing addition to the roster of Austen inspired characters.The fact alone that she raises Lady Catherine's ire makes her a real jewel and I got a chuckle out of how many of her missteps and faux paus were attributed to her American upbringing.Clarissa's backstory made for an interesting read and I hope that Ms. Fairview will continue her writing with a book on Clarissa's continued story.

Henry Gatley was a wonderful hero and I was happy with the parallels between Mr. Gatley in this book and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Throughout the book I was rooting for Mr. Gatley and hoping that all the fictional characters would like him (even love him) as much as I did.

If there was any part of The Darcy Cousins that I would change it would be Elizabeth's personality, which I felt was a bit underdeveloped and missing that wit and verve that was so spectacular in Pride and Prejudice.However, Georgiana and Clarissa being major characters and so well developed eradicated any true disappointment I may have had.

All in all, I devoured this story and hated for it to end.It was a joy to read and I often found myself lost in this incredibly good book for a splendid week.Has any producer thought to snap up film rights because in my opinion, The Darcy Cousins would make a fun and entertaining miniseries.

I would highly recommend The Darcy Cousins for anyone who appreciates not only Jane Austen sequels but also historical fiction.

Lori Hedgpeth
Psychotic State Book Reviews

Another enjoyable Monica Fairview novel
"The Darcy Cousins" is Monica Fairview's follow-up novel to the previous "The Other Mr. Darcy", reviewed on my blog, The Calico Critic last fall.Once again we return to Regency England and the social circles that include the Darcy family of "Pride and Prejudice".Robert and Caroline Darcy are again a part of the story, but theirs is not the main focus this time.In this installment, another American cousin, Clarissa Darcy joins Georgiana Darcy in their first Seasons as young ladies available for courtship.Multiple dashing (and not so dashing) suitors cross their paths, which makes things interesting throughout the novel.Anne de Bourgh also has her own story line, making some decisions that will affect the entire family in one way or another.

As in Fairview's previous novel, the language of "The Darcy Cousins" holds the flavor of the original Pride and Prejudice, but is a bit more readable.The main characters are once again navigating the intricacies of Regency life, searching for love, security and general happiness for all.While a few moments of villainy emerge, most of the plot is driven by relational issues, misunderstandings and mystery.There are several moments that are reminiscent of other Austen works, such as Sense and Sensibility or Emma.It's all very well within the style that Jane Austen exhibited in her storytelling.

While "The Other Mr. Darcy" remains my favorite of the two novels, I enjoyed "The Darcy Cousins" very much.The characters were enjoyable, the plot always kept a reasonable pace and I enjoyed seeing how the characters grew as people.In particular, by the story's conclusion 18 year-old Georgiana is no longer the same 15 year-old girl we met in "Pride and Prejudice".She indeed comes into her own as a woman.

Although "The Darcy Cousins" is a sequel to "The Other Mr. Darcy", I didn't feel that it was necessary to read Book 1 in order to appreciate Book 2.Knowing the first installment was helpful and aided me in understanding a few plot points, but readers beginning with this title will have no trouble immersing themselves in the tale.Cousins can for the most part stand on its own.

I'm so pleased that Monica's previous novel was successful enough to bring about "The Darcy Cousins".Due to some other literary obligations, I had to put "Cousins" down and return to it several times before completion.However, each time that I returned, I was always glad to dive back into the story, as it was consistently an enjoyable read.I certainly hope that Ms. Fairview goes on to bring us another chapter in the life of the Darcy family.

****

This title was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. Other than an honest review, no other obligation was required.

Delightful Darcy Sequel
What a lark!
As I have mentioned before I came to Jane Austen late in life and was very happy that I decided to read all of her books. I completely understand why they have stood the test of time; love is love after all. And the pursuit of love is a universal topic in novels. What makes a book great is the HOW in the boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy marries girl plotline. Austen was a master - her dialog was witty and sharp and it transcends time.

Many authors have decided use Austen as a base for a new novel. Some well, some not so well. Monica Fairview has extended the life of Pride and Prejudice VERY well. While the book is about Mr. Darcy's cousin Clarissa we again fall into the lives of stuffy Lady Catherine de Bourgh, uptight Mr. Collins and of course Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy and to my delight Georgina.

I always liked Georgina and it's nice to see her story continued in such a lovely way. Of course there are trials, tribulations and oh! scandal along the way but the writing is light, happy and while true to Austen's style it does have a tone all its own.

I really enjoyed it and hope to find Ms. Fairview's other book The Other Mr. Darcy

Darcy Cousins
I really enjoyed this book, so much so that when it was stolen out of my car before I finished it I bought another copy so I could finish it.Well written and I especially liked getting a glimpse of a grown up Georgiana Darcy.Characters were well defined and consistent.All around good read. ... Read more

Product Description
Please, don't call it a guidebook
Because there's so much more to Santa Monica than its hotels and hamburgers, Hometown Santa Monica explores the Bay City and her neighbors like no traditional guidebook can. This new sibling of the bestseller Hometown Pasadena is like having a dyed-in-the-wool local-- four of them, actually-- introducing you to the most interesting people in town, telling you the most fascinating stories, and whispering in your ear where to find the best antiques store, oceanview restaurant, art gallery, quiet bookstore or convivial coffeehouse. Hometown Santa Monica looks deep inside the culture of one of the country's most beautiful and influential cities to reveal a community pulsating with nature, history, intelligence, fashion and fame. Take a neighborhood walk to marvel at the architectural diversity; when you ve had enough of city life, head out for a Santa Monica Mountains hike or a Venice surf session. From Malibu to the Marina and everywhere in between, Hometown Santa Monica will unlock the insider secrets of the Bay Cities.
Of course, there s more
A wealth of intelligent and engaging features, including:
-- Thinking Hard at the Think Tanks, an exercise in the cerebral with smart folks at Santa Monica s famed think tank, RAND
-- Life Among the Rich & Famous, a witty primer on dealing with the region's countless celebrities
-- Bookish by the Bay, a look at the city's rich literary scene past and present
-- Colorful Q & As with a local notables in every chapter. Who better to discuss the city's literary side than Brentwood's own Doug Dutton of Dutton's Books? Or to talk about the mountains than Joe Edmiston, director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy? Or to dish on being famous than movie star and Santa Monica shop owner Mary Steenburgen?
-- Vivid full-color photographs and art, including a cover painting by Ethel Fisher
-- Foreword by Santa Monica novelist April Smith, author of North of Montana. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Impressed.
I believe this is my first review for a book on Amazon.I have bought many books over the years and some were pretty good but none ever commanded a review from me.This book has and is everything I could ask for in a guide to Santa Monica.I almost didn't even consider this book because it had no reviews and I was unable to search inside the book.Luckily, I was able to search inside this book elsewhere on the internet and was pleased at what I saw.

I am planning on moving to Santa Monica later this year and from skimming this book, it has almost everything I ever wanted to know and then some.The authors have an unique way of creating a guidebook and I hope they get recognized for it because this is exactly how one should be written - from the locals point of view. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

methodologically creative, topically vital, and a pleasure to read
Professor Toft has written a book I would assign to students of ethnic conflict, comparative politics, strategic and security studies, and international relations theory. She has identified the key reason some disputes escalate to violence while others do not: issue indivisibility. She tells you when different sorts of actors are more or less likely to treat an issue as indivisible in much the same way a geologist might tell you where an earthquate of magnitude seven or greater is most likely to occur. The idea is not to predict a specific earthquake, so much as to tell you why you need to take special measures in some places (along fault lines) more than others. The case studies alone are worth the price of the hardcover edition, but students and policy makers alike will find the theoretical material clear and widely applicable to many of today's important conflicts; ranging from religiously-inspired terrorism and civil wars, to interstate disputes and bargaining problems more generally. Some critics of this book have complained that a few of its key observations are obvious; akin to saying (again, keeping with the geology metaphor) "earthquates happen along fault lines" or, "when earthquakes happen, those living on fault lines get hurt." But this is nonsense. Professor Toft's analysis explains something much more interesting: why do some people living near the epicenter of a magnitude seven earthquake get wiped out, while others remain relatively unscathed? That'sneither obvious nor trivial. Do you want to understand why the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lasted so long? Why Russia is still in Chechnya and why the conflict there is getting worse by the day? Want to understand why Islam is so often involved in civil wars since World War II as compared to other religions? Issue indivisibility explains key aspects of each these conflicts and this book is a must-read for those citizens, scholars, intellectuals, policy makers, or just plain thoughtful people who want to understand these conflicts and who are interested in designing responses that can end on-going violence and prevent (or at least lessen the damage) future violence.

interesting study, but not terribly well explained
This book is useful, especially for its case studies of the conflicts in Abkazia and Ajaria (separatist regions in Georgia). The thesis, that geography--land itself--is central to ethnic conflict, seems fairly obvious when one is discussing state and national borders, but Toft strangely asserts that it is her original idea!

Overall, the book is useful to those interested in the particular case studies. Too jargony at times, the writing is occassionally repetitive. It is a thin book, and some additional case studies would have been welcome.

Overall, a flawed but still appreciable contribution to the literature on ethnic conflict and separatism. ... Read more

Product Description
Matthew Acciaccatura of Teaneck, New Jersey, begins his freshman year at NYU in the fall of 1995 with one goal in mind: to become cool. A former high school outcast, used to lumbering the hallways alone in oversize turtlenecks, Matt seems an unlikely candidate for such a transformation. Yet by dint of effort he lands the coveted position of promoter at one of the hottest clubs in New York in the heyday of rave music and Ecstasy. However, as “Magic” Matt rises to fame, portents of tragedy begin to appear, literally in the margins of the story. Footnotes from one Dr. Hans Mannheim, an imprisoned German academic obsessed with Matt’s dangerous trajectory, suggest that Matt is not as in control of his destiny as he might appear….

A gorgeously written archetypal tale of self-discovery (and self-deception) and a love letter to the enduring possibilities of New York City, The Answer Is Always Yes will keep readers guessing until its explosive climax. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not your typical freshman misfit book
Matthew Acciaccatura of Teaneck, New Jersey wants more than anything to be cool. He enters college at NYU with a new sleek build and the "right" clothes and is determined to get in with the cool kids. But when the cool kids, and even the nerdy kids, still ignore him it seems things will not change--until he is discovered by a club owner and hired as a promoter -- now the cool kids are hoping to befriend Magic Matt!

This start out as another book about a misfit, scholarship student trying to fit in at his first year as college . . . but then it took off in a totally original and unexpected direction. Also, unusual were the footnotes and comments throughout the book from German sociologist, Hans Mannheim. At times they were annoying but I liked how they made sense at the end. I highly recommend this book.

Monica Ferrell, I have so been there
I am one year older than the protagonist of this book and although I did not go to school in NYC, believe me, I have so been there with the club kids and that whole "underground" mid-90's college scene.So this was a trip down memory lane as well as a thoughtful, simply great book.But, caveat: I loved it; my best friend loved it; my best friend's (60-something) mother put it down after 30 pages and said "I guess you had to be there."So if you didn't go to college in the mid-90's, you may not like it as much.Then again, I think if Mrs. Best-Friend-Mom had given it a chance, she would have had a lot more insight into her daughter's college days. :)

The Question Is Always Why
This book is quite an intimate tale of the rise and fall of a NYC club promotor in the mid-90's. It's quite similar to the story of Michael Alig and James St. James (club kids/celebutantes) of the same era, except without all the sparkles and glitter. Murder and drugs are here, along with a dueling narrative, which has its pluses and minuses. Overall, an interesting tale that held my attention, yet ultimately, made me aware that I enjoy more sparkles and glitter (as seen in "Party Monster" by James St. James) when I'm reading about NYC nightlife. Still, Ferrell is a tremendous talent with a knack for making the reader feel every emotion of every character in every scene.

A Good Book
The story is dramatic, everything is described in detail. But there is not too many exciting moments for me. Good for a relaxing afternoon reading.

A Fresh Take on the Freshman Year
What a great first novel!

I was captivated in particular by the voice used throughout the book.The narrator, while distinct from the main character Matt, also speaks as his inner voice / consciousness - and what an inner voice it is.Rich, clouded, driven by a desire to be cool.A deep character is portrayed in the very transitional first year of college. ... Read more

Product Description
By day, Monica Holy's life looks like millions of others. She paints, jogs, talks to friends, and worries about her children. Monica's nightlife is a different story. Since birth, she has entered extraordinary worlds of consciousness through the portal of lucid dreams. While there, she conducts souls to the other side and to the light, teaches, guides, and heals. She enters those non-ordinary realities not just to explore them, but to work on behalf of the human community. In Fringe Dweller on the Nightshift, she eloquently recounts her psychic and spiritual work with the troubled dead, the newly dead or those about to die - especially children - to provide emergency relief. She also brings back messages from the world beyond this one, by offering each and every one of us inspiration and ideas for honoring our feelings and connecting to the divine expression of all that is. Ultimately, we will all see The Grid (chapter 10): the invisible reality beyond our five senses that underlies all physical form as we know it. Fringe Dweller on the Nightshift combines cosmic adventure with down-to-earth practical information - part art, part memoir, part philosophy, part guidance, this book is a work of the heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Waste of My Reading Time
Anyone who has done any amount of reading has read some books that made them wonder how that particular book ever got published.This is one of those books, in my opinion.I found it dull and uninteresting from start to finish.I agree with another reviewer that the title is also misleading. I've read many books in this genre, and this one is difficult, if not impossible, to swallow.

Authentic and Brave Revelation
It's a sign of the times that a book like this has been published by a large publishing house. The author, Monica Holy, is an ordinary woman and yet she has extraordinary abilities to move through alternative states of consciousness. She accesses these other states primarily through the dream state, and Fringe Dweller is her attempt to describe how she assists people from within this state who are both living and passed, or passing. She calls herself "an afterlife paramedic" since she is usually called to intervene in situations that are urgent, with no forewarning and no one to explain what is required or to translate the non-ordinary into something that she can understand.

After decades of not understanding her bizarre but innate nocturnal events, and on the edge of collapse, Holy found some direction and mentoring in the physical plane to get her re-grounded. Once she accepted her gifts and reoriented her purpose, guides and "co-workers" from her dream state introduced lessons and schooling for navigating through astral realities during, which continue to this day.

This book is an authentic and brave revelation; the author pioneers a landscape that is unfamiliar to most of us, but that we suspect exists in some form. In this regard, it is human consciousness that is now on the fringe of understanding more fully, thanks to Monica Holy.

Thought provoking
If you are a seeker, this is a good book for you. It can open your mind to new possibilities and higher thought. Although I had no concrete idea of what this book would include, I was surprised at the content. I think the "Afterlife paramedic" phrase is a bit melodramatic. I would describe thismore as experiences from an afterlife guide and/or healer. Very interesting experiences. After I finished reading it the first time, I had to start reading it again immediately. I lack one chapter being finished, and I have the feeling that I will read it for the 3rd time.

Fringe Dweller on the Night Shift: True Stories from an Afterlife Paramedic
This book is absolutely fascinating! The author's teachings on intuition and positive/negative energy management, via her life stories, offer an excellent alternative to businesspeople like me, in a world where we don't know who to rely on any more.

If you find it difficult to engage in your own life, because of the complexity and lack of spirits in today's work, finances, and relationships, this is a book for you.Artists, and anyone interested in metaphysics will find a lot of new resources in this book. It is refreshing to finally read something that is not just a new interpretation of what has been written before.

I am finding in the author's interpretation of her paranormal experiences many tools to understand day-to-day life. This is not a how-to book, but rather a very intelligent, and well-written description of her journey into her dreams. That makes it more interesting, human, and unpretentious. Dreams, as a tool to understand our reality is nothing new, but the way the author selflessly exposes her experiences in understanding her paranormal life in the dream world, is definitely inspiring.

Her accomplishments in guiding people's spirits across and the way she shares her understanding of her work, makes defining work and one's life mission much more meaningful. It offers a concept that is much more tangible than what I have heard of before, and it helps one's move beyond money and material worries, without taking us away from staying on top of business. It adds a new dimension to spirituality.

In her book, Fringe Dweller on the Night Shift, Monica Holy is leading the way into a new understanding of the afterlife. Well worth the money and the read! I have been recommending it to all my friends.

DIVING INTO OTHER DIMENSIONS
Monica Holy "lets it all hang out" in this highly personal memoir of her life as an astral traveler, warping though other dimensions, performing healing and rescue on the "night shift."In doing so, she either touches you with the sincerity of her words, or reading these stories, so far from ordinary experience, may leave you wondering if she is simply a nut job.

Her descriptions of the other realms fit with reports of other astral wanderers, but her activities cover a larger range than is usual with such accounts. The author acknowledges that her paranormal experiences don't seem to fit any of the usual labels - medium, psychic, shaman, mystic, etc. It was her guides (astral beings) who called her a "fringe-dweller," and that is the label she prefers. She tells us she began to sense other dimensions from an early age, but she grew up in a place (small Canadian town) where there was no information about paranormal happenings. Because she did not know about others like herself, she could not place herself in some niche of normality. She was left with the feeling that she was not like those around her; she was different. But as she took on the duties of a rescuer during nighttime sleep, she became aware of others like herself. She wrote this book to let others having similar experiences know that they are not alone.

Even if you are not aware of going to other dimensions in your sleep, Holy's book is still a good read. Each chapter describes aspects of her experiences and each is accompanied by an artistic depiction (the author's own art work) of what she has seen and felt. She is not unique in the belief that we visit the astral world in our sleep, or that we receive help from spirit guides. One of the stranger tales is that her work on the "night shift" is an actual job, which came with a "contract" to perform these duties. But even this idea reminds me of the stories in the works of Brazilian medium Francisco Xavier. In particular, in the books "Nosso Lar" and "The Messengers." The near-earth astral world is apparently structured much like ours. Those who go there after death do find themselves with jobs to perform. This first stop is a way station, and they remain there only for a while.

The author does not claim to know all about life after death, and only tells us what she has seen and felt. She tells us that we have multiple lives and they are all happening together, at least in other dimensions that do not function like our material world. As you go beyond the first astral layer, you become lighter and capable of traveling huge distances in an instant. The author visits Mars and looks down on the remains of an ancient civilization. This, during a break from her duties (not your usual coffee break!). Although she emphasizes that love is what ultimately makes the universe (didn't you always know that "love makes the world go round..." ), there are also dark places in the astral world. Spirits do not always find the light; some are mired in their own darkness and will need help to move on. If you want to know more about astral travel, look into the works of Robert Monroe.

The author does not talk about God, but rather calls the creation point the Source. The many dimensions are held in what she calls the "grid" which she has seen or perceived on a few occasions. It is literally made of a web of energy. It is interesting to me that in these accounts of the world of spirit, people do not say they see God, but do say they see many spirit entities who are all around us. Holy gave me some new concepts too - the "push-thought" (influencing a living person by pushing helpful thoughts to them) and the "jump-in" (occupying their consciousness for a brief time in order to provide immediate help).

Are the experiences this author describes "real," or are they hallucinations or some type of mental illness? She tells us she has worked with counselors who have declared her mentally healthy. Her descriptions are not unlike other astral travelers, so unless you think all such experiences are bogus, I suggest taking her descriptions at face value. Have you never had dreams that seem more than silly fantasies woven around the day's events? Have you never gotten a message that seemed to come from somewhere outside yourself? Modern science does not accept the legitimacy of the spirit world, so it does not know what to do with spirit communication except label it as "crazy."I cannot say for sure what these experiences are or what they mean, but I personally do not think they represent mental aberration. Monica Holy has let us into her most personal experiences, and, regardless of your final conclusion about them, they add to our store of knowledge about who we truly are.
... Read more

Product Description

This best-selling text uses cognitive psychology research to inform and improve classroom instruction.

The new edition is keenly focused on the applications of cognitive psychology specific to education, teaching and learning. The text is accessible and readable; includes a superior, extensive and authoritative section on motivation; and applies the most current research on cognitive psychology and motivation to classroom teaching and student learning. Readers will begin by reading about the basic principles of cognitive psychology, and later move onto the role of beliefs and motivations in cognitive processes and learning. Additionally, readers will explore cognitive and motivational research focused on teaching and learning in specific content areas; the application of psychology to teaching and learning; and the features of cognitive psychology most relevant to education. Furthermore, the text offers superior, extensive and authoritative coverage of motivation not found in comparable texts on the market. Written for those interested in the applications of psychology to teaching and learning, including pre-service and in-service teachers, as well as other educators, support staff, counselors, and administrators who wish to build a deeper understanding of psychology’s applications to education, this text will not disappoint in its goal of teaching how to apply the latest research and theory to practice, as well as instruction how to design educational interventions that engage and motivate all students.

Customer Reviews (3)

Not the best description of the book for the price
In talking with peers, I paid too much for this book for the condition it was in. I would have said it was in low fair, maybe even poor condition.

This Book is Outside the Zone of Learnability!
If you want to learn about brain-based learning, there are easier books to read.Yes, I learned a lot by reading it, but each chapter took me 2 hours to read.My classmates agree.Many times, I'd have to read it aloud to understand it. I've been to college; later I returned for a certification in education; and now I'm getting my masters.This is the hardest book I've ever encountered!

Cognitive Psychology and Instruction
This book is a "must-read" for teachers!It contains the latest research on cognitive psychology for those teachers who want to step up their teaching abilities and give their students the added zip that they need to be successful in the classroom!The book is easy to read and easy to understand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

pleased
when i recieved the book it was damaged alil but i am enjoying it thank u ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Very interesting book
This book is well-written. It seeks to explain why the state was rolled back further in the US and the UK than on the European continent in the 1980s: the author argues this happened because the state played a significantly more influential role in the US and the UK economies in the 60s & 70s than the state did in France and Germany, prompting a more severe backlash against statism in the US and the UK. As far as academic books go, Prasad's work is eminently readable, even for general readers with an interest in the topic.

too academic to be more than boring
I was very disappointed with this book to the point of sending it back for a refund. It is a typical product of the retrograde condition of current US academia, roughly the equivalent of "Great Square Inches In Art." There remains a potential for interconnecting a great deal of related material, but it simply failed to address the more insightful possibilities of the the general topic. ... Read more

Product Description
A fully revised and expanded edition of this landmark work.

This is the authoritative volume on the impact of death on the family system. Therapeutic guidelines are offered for working with the mourning process and resolving long-term complications. New chapters address such topics as spirituality, traumatic deaths, and stigmatized losses. A new section offers reflections by prominent family therapists on their own legacies of loss. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Book is great but shipping took too long
The book is informative, true to life, and packed with great examples of people who have suffered through family loss and how they have dealt with it.I have recently lost loved ones and purchased the book out of curiosity and because I am seeking knowledge about the reactions and psychological trauma that my family has to deal with.I am very happy with the book, however, I am not pleased with the amount of time it took to receive it-one month.Please review your association with the seller-kedevoe for future business.

Spirituality, gender, suicide and other traumatic deaths
Here's the fully revised, expanded classic on the impact of death on families, using the editors' dual framework to outline issues of recovering from loss and how a family's loss affects different generations and relationships. New chapters unique to this second edition of Living Beyond Loss: Death In The Family add discussions on spirituality, gender, suicide and other traumatic deaths, as well as discussions of loss in different cultures.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Fun
I read a number of Monica Hughes' books back in 1999 because she is the favorite author of a friend. Though some were harder to find, I enjoyed all I could lay my hands on.

This is another wonderful book by Monica Hughes. It is about some Irish space tramps, Mike and Moira Flynn, a father and daughter and his attempts to swindle a backwater planet. He ends up leading the world with their pseudo god, the robot guardian.

It was a wildly fun book to read and is part of the Isis cycle. Well worth tracking down for the young readers in your life.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)

Great Fun
I read a number of Monica Hughes' books back in 1999 because she is the favorite author of a friend. Though some were harder to find, I enjoyed all I could lay my hands on.

This is another wonderful book by Monica Hughes. It is about some Irish space tramps, Mike and Moira Flynn, a father and daughter and his attempts to swindle a backwater planet. He ends up leading the world with their pseudo god, the robot guardian.

It was a wildly fun book to read and is part of the Isis cycle. Well worth tracking down for the young readers in your life.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)

I couldn't put it down!
This was one of the best books by Monica Hughes has ever written! I love the way she carries the story, much like her other books! I couldn;t stop reading once I started it! For any of you that hears about this-read it! It will me nost definately worh it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Incredible Story
I have always wanted to learn more about St. Augustine, however his Confessions was quite intimidating. This book is a very easy read and tell the story from St. Monica's birth until her death.I only wish that it had ended at St. Augustine death instead.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more