Book Description
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.
But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?
Customer Reviews:
BEST SHOPAHOLIC BOOK YET!.......2007-09-23
I absolutely LOVED this book...I thought it was her best book yet! it kept me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book!
library material - weaker than the first books.......2007-08-23
In my opinion, this is not the best Kinsella's work, even though it has enough funny moments to keep you entertained. And it's not even because Becky didn't "grow up", as some other reviewers suggested. In the real life, women understand what had happened to them only after the baby is born, and so many of us just love to be not practical when it comes down to "baby stuff". So, I wasn't bothered by the fact that Becky continues to behave as if she is still 14 years old (that's certainly part of the charm, and one of the reasons for me to read these series).
It's simply that in "Shopaholic & baby" the humor of most situations wears down, the plot follows the main line of the previous books, with the variation of Luke's ex-girlfriend coming to the scene... and some of these "funny" situations actually made me cringe because of their absurdity.
In addition, I began to be annoyed by the fact that Luke is so absolutely perfect and understanding. Sophie Kinsella attempted to make him less perfect with all this "affair" story, but somehow it did not work for me - any normal guy that I know would immediately see the difference between friendship and flirt... and probably be more than a little upset about his wife's 16 offshore overdrafts!
I was able to re-read the first books in the series, when I needed to relax and rewind, but not this one. I suggest borrowing the book from the library and waiting for the next installment.
Shopaholic & Baby.......2007-08-23
Just finished reading Kinsella's latest enstallment for Becky Brandon (nee: Bloomwood). Was as funny and entertaining as all of the other books in the series. If you're a fan of Becky Brandon, I'd suggest reading this latest additon.
Typical for the series.......2007-08-16
I enjoyed the first few Shopaholic books. But this one I started to get a little annoyed with the main character. Hasn't she learned her lesson YET? How can anyone be that much of an idiot with money? Well, maybe there are people out there like that, sadly. Anyway, the book was entertaining at times. I am probably just tired of the series.
Nice read.......2007-08-13
I love the Shopaholic series, I like Becky. I like how she is obssed with shopping, celebrity OBGYN and La Mer products.
This book is no different than the former ones, very fun to read.
Amazon.com
If you've ever paid off one credit card with another, thrown out a bill before opening it, or convinced yourself that buying at a two-for-one sale is like making money, then this silly, appealing novel is for you. In the opening pages of Confessions of a Shopaholic, recent college graduate Rebecca Bloomwood is offered a hefty line of credit by a London bank. Within a few months, Sophie Kinsella's heroine has exceeded the limits of this generous offer, and begins furtively to scan her credit-card bills at work, certain that she couldn't have spent the reported sums.
In theory anyway, the world of finance shouldn't be a mystery to Rebecca, since she writes for a magazine called Successful Saving. Struggling with her spendthrift impulses, she tries to heed the advice of an expert and appreciate life's cheaper pleasures: parks, museums, and so forth. Yet her first Saturday at the Victoria and Albert Museum strikes her as a waste. Why? There's not a price tag in sight.
It kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn't it? You wander round, just looking at things, and it all gets a bit boring after a while. Whereas if they put price tags on, you'd be far more interested. In fact, I think all museums should put prices on their exhibits. You'd look at a silver chalice or a marble statue or the Mona Lisa or whatever, and admire it for its beauty and historical importance and everything--and then you'd reach for the price tag and gasp, "Hey, look how much this one is!" It would really liven things up.
Eventually, Rebecca's uncontrollable shopping and her "imaginative" solutions to her debt attract the attention not only of her bank manager but of handsome Luke Brandon--a multimillionaire PR representative for a finance group frequently covered in Successful Saving. Unlike her opposite number in Bridget Jones's Diary, however, Rebecca actually seems too scattered and spacey to reel in such a successful man. Maybe it's her Denny and George scarf. In any case, Kinsella's debut makes excellent fantasy reading for the long stretches between white sales and appliance specials. --Regina Marler
Book Description
Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better....
Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it—not any of it.
Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank—letters with large red sums she can't bear to read—and they're getting ever harder to ignore.
She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something....
Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.
Sophie Kinsella has brilliantly tapped into our collective consumer conscience to deliver a novel of our times—and a heroine who grows stronger every time she weakens. Becky Bloomwood's hilarious schemes to pay back her debts are as endearing as they are desperate. Her "confessions" are the perfect pick-me-up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Download Description
Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better...
Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it -- not any of it.
Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank -- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read -- and they're getting ever harder to ignore.
She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something... just a little something....
Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life -- and the lives of those around her -- forever.
Sophie Kinsella has brilliantly tapped into our collective consumer conscience to deliver a novel of our times -- and a heroine who grows stronger every time she weakens. Becky Bloomwood's hilarious schemes to pay back her debts are as endearing as they are desperate. Her "confessions" are the perfect pick-me-up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance.
Customer Reviews:
Pick this up if you're shopping for fun chick lit.......2007-10-03
"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is a funny, mindless book about Rebecca Bloomwood, a rather silly girl who works for a finance magazine in London and spends about five times as much as she makes. Becky just can't say no to piles of magazines, heaps of designer clothes, and dozens of frothy cappuccinos. It doesn't take long for Becky to run up some pretty huge debts, but instead of dealing with her financial problems head-on, she opts to use the avoidance tactic by telling creditors that her dog died, tossing her monthly statements into the trash bin, etc. Eventually Becky decides to cut back on her spending, but somehow her "responsible financial plan" ends up costing her even more money. Unfortunately for Becky, she can't hide from her problems forever, and eventually the unhappy creditors literally drive her into hiding. But of course, books like these almost always have happy endings, and things miraculously come together for Becky in the end.
I enjoyed reading this book: it's light, humorous, and fun. Becky's crazy rationalizations are pretty hilarious, but after a while I got a bit tired of how completely dense she could be about everything. It was also very obvious how the book would end pretty much from the start. Still, Becky made me laugh, and her outlandish situations and slightly over-the-top love interests were very entertaining. Overall, if you're looking for fluffy chick lit, this book is definitely up your alley, but it really doesn't amount to much more than that.
I don't get it........2007-09-22
As I have lately been enjoying the chick lit genre, I decided to give this book a try. It sounded silly, but I figured if Kinsella was able to follow it up with several more Shopaholic books, she must be on to something. I finished this book 2 weeks ago, and I'm still trying to figure out why, exactly, this book is such a hit. I found Becky very hard to relate to. Yes, like many 20something women, I've had credit card issues. But Becky's pathological lying to her family, friends, and herself, wasn't amusing. There were so many times in this book where I realized that a situation was supposed to be funny, but it instead just made me a little bit sick to my stomach. I would have greatly enjoyed the fairy tale ending had it happened to any other character, but I couldn't root for Becky. She didn't deserve it.
Loved this book!.......2007-09-09
I read this book a while back and I had never heard of the author, or even the book as a matter of fact..i was just walking around a bookstore and it caught my eye, and bought it because I though it could be really fun..
Well I was not disappointed, I absolutely loved it!! It was so much fun, I fell in love with the character, Becky is so much fun and I can certainly identify with her (in some aspects), mostly the way a lot of women will justify a purchase..it's hilarious!
So entertaining, romantic, fun, lighthearted, I couldn't stop reading it, it was my first Kinsella book and I am reading my 5th book from her (Shopaholic Ties the Knot).
I have already read Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, The Undomestic Goddess, Can You Keep a Secret? and of course Confessions of a Shopaholic..they were all sooo much fun, but it all started with Becky's 'Confessions..'
You HAVE to read it..I heard there will be a movie soon..enjoy!
I didn't love Becky..........2007-09-05
I love, love, love Bridget Jones. I'll pick up either of those books and reread favorite parts when I need a laugh, I've bought them as gifts, etc. So I thought that I'd love this, too. I know I'm in late in the game on this author/series, but I just had never picked it up.
In some ways I should love this, because it is SO like Bridget - too much so, in my opinion. I know Bridget's based on Pride & Prejudice, and any story can be, but it seems like there are an awful lot of similarities in these two books. The rich, aloof man who might be nice, the publishing heroine who's a little daft, the money issues... Part of me felt like saying, "Hey, get your own ideas." And no, they are not exactly the same, but...
At any rate, I can't quite figure out why I DIDN'T love this book. I think the problem is that I felt Becky to be a little more mean-spirited with her daftness, or a little more just plain dumb than dizzy, or something. At any rate, I just didn't love Becky, the heroine, making it fairly difficult, then, to love the book.
Maybe I'm just too fond of Bridget and my view of this as a knock-off has colored my opinion - if I'd not read Helen Fielding's novels I might have liked this more. I really don't know. I know there are more installments, and I can't decide if I'm going to try another one or not.
Fun and Funny.......2007-09-03
I really enjoyed this book, actually it's the first of the group of the Becky Bloomwood books, but I read it last. Get it and read it.
Book Description
Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership.
Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake.
But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?
Download Description
Sophie Kinsella is a former financial journalist and the author of the bestselling novels Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister and Can You Keep a Secret? She lives in England, where she is at work on her next book.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
I loved this book!!.......2007-09-09
I love all Sophie Kinsella's books!!
This was a great one, I read it in 3 days, I couldn't stop. It was a lot ot fun and has a great message..a complete rollercoaster ride..Great new character, you HAVE to read it!! You will love it too!
similar to others, but still a fun read.......2007-09-08
Sophie Kinsella's novel, The Undomestic Goddess, is a formulaic but fun-filled twist on Kinsella's previous stories. Firmly in the chick lit genre but possessing more wit and laugh-out-loud humor than most others in that category, The Undomestic Goddess can most closely be compared to Kinsella's other books, including her first and most well-known novel, Confessions of a Shopaholic.
The story revolves around Samantha Sweeting, a highly driven attorney living the legal dream at one of Britain's most prestigious law firms. In line to become the firm's youngest-ever partner, Samantha is rudely booted from the company when a small filing error costs a client millions of pounds. In a panic-stricken daze, Samantha flees London to get away from the repercussions of her mistake and knocks on the door of a spacious mansion when she gets off the train several cities later.
The couple who lives there believes Samantha is an applicant for a full-time housekeeping position and employ her on the spot before she can protest. Unfortunately, Samantha knows nothing about cooking or cleaning after years of slaving to climb the ladder of corporate success. How Samantha finds happiness, love, and the domestic skills to pull off such an undertaking is a hilarious mess of misunderstandings.
A former financial journalist, Kinsella is famous for her Shopaholic series and known for her endearing portrayals of clever yet slightly neurotic women. She also wrote the novel Can You Keep a Secret?, currently her only other non-Shopaholic work.
As always, Kinsella's skill with the written word is unparalleled in her genre. Although, like her other novels, The Undomestic Goddess follows the mishaps of a quirky young woman who digs herself deeper into her lies and cover stories before pulling through in the end, it is no less of a gem to read. Kinsella's ability to convey common thoughts that every woman has in a way that makes the reader laugh out loud never gets old.
While some of Samantha's ploys over the course of the novel are rather ludicrous and nearly cross the line of believability, the funny and touching writing makes up for them. Samantha is lovable as a heroine, and the supporting characters are often humorously endearing. The love plot is subdued but sweet, and Kinsella does an excellent job of weaving humor and romance together for a believable relationship.
Kinsella delivers another winner with The Undomestic Goddess, a predictable but never boring piece of chick lit. Sweet as cotton candy but with enough bite to hook the reader until the very end, The Undomestic Goddess is perfect for anyone who wants to put away the heavy reading and have a purely fun fiction experience.
Fun, Light Read.......2007-08-31
I read this book for a light read and was not disappointed. Had a few chuckles along the way which I appreciated.
Great Book.......2007-08-22
I love this book. I could not put it down. This is a PLEASE READ!! :)
Sophie Kinsella is a comedic genius.......2007-08-03
I can not say enough about this author. It doesn't matter if the plot is inplausible. She is genius and hysterical! All of her books are wonderful. They take you away and are quick reads. I would love to see them in movies. The characters are rich and complicated. Must reads!
Book Description
With the same wicked humor, buoyant charm, and optimism that have made her Shopaholic novels beloved international bestsellers, Sophie Kinsella delivers a hilarious new novel and an unforgettable new character. Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:
Secrets from her mother:
I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.
Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.
Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks.
I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.
From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.
Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.
I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.
Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.
But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from
the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Good but not as great as the Becky Bloomwood's.......2007-09-03
I had a hard time not trying to compare this book with the Becky Bloomwood series because there were some likenesses. It's a good book and I enjoyed it.
disappointing to say the least............2007-08-27
I honestly have to say this is one of the worst books I have ever read. Don't get me wrong - I loved the Undomesticated Goddess (LOVED IT!!!), but this book pales by comparison. I am truly confused by the many 5 star reviews here. I would have given this a zero if it was possible. I have read hundreds of these type books, and this one was by far the worst.
The book started out great. I had some really good laughs and I got excited that this would be another great read. The story turned south really fast. I continued to read on because this book had received so many 5 star reviews here that I had hopes it would improve, sadly to say it just got worse and worse. When I finished I was so disappointed.
I didn't feel any attachment at all to any of the characters, especially not Jack. Actually the only one I felt something for was Connor. I felt bad for him especially since Emma lies to him and then dumps him like yesterdays trash. She starts dating the boss where they both work in front of all Connor's co-workers, how humiliating for poor Connor!!!! He was the only `nice guy' I saw in this story and Emma dumped him and treated him like he was nothing to her. Am I supposed to like a character that cheats and lies to her boyfriend then dumps him and dates someone else the very next day?? Did I miss something here? I am also not sure how she could be in love with Jack after just two meetings and no communication (no sparks - no anything) The only thing that connected them was a bunch of silly secrets she shared with him on the plane. He actually came off to me as a weird type rather than a love interest type.
There are just too many bad things about this book. The characters are undeveloped (those that were well developed where not important to the main story line at all), the `secrets' where nothing to get all in a huff about sharing BIG DEAL, Jack seemed like a stuck up jerk and not a serious love attraction, Connor got dumped while she ran around behind his back, Jacks secret he hide in the end was ridiculous .....it goes on and on in the BAD department.
I would not recommend this book at all. It's no secret that this book was a big floop!
chicklit at its best.......2007-08-19
i looved this book! i just had to keep reading. i felt so bad for her, how humiliating that would be!! ahh but definitely addicting! i've reread it a few times so it's definitely worth trying!
Top Notch.......2007-08-13
Sophie Kinsella is probably one of the best authors around in her genre today. Can You Keep a Secret? was a fabulous diversion from her shopaholic series character where I always find myself slightly annoyed at the protagonist for her decisions, this time around the main character is easier to like. She spills all her secrets to unbeknownst to her, her future boss, thinking they were all crashing to their deaths in a plane. They live and she learns he is her boss and she regrets telling her secrets. But we all can see that he is a good secret keeper. The book is a light and funny read as he teases her a bit without the knowledge of those around them and she is terribly embarrassed about telling him that when her friend comes over saying that they are going to fax some papers they are really in fact going to do nothing. And he just smirks when this situations arises in front of him. You all can predict the end as these books al tend to be predictable. Anyone who reads these types of books will delight in this romp.
Very Average Chick Lit.......2007-08-06
I have just been introduced to "chick lit" and thought that this one might be enjoyable, reading all the numerous 5 star reviews; however, while it was cute, it wasn't by any means 5 star material! I think that pretty much ALL the characters were under developed. The reader doesn't get a real sense of who any of these character are. I also think that the relationship between Emma and Jack is also VERY under developed. So they have two horrible dates and suddenly they are madly in love?? Give me a break. I also found myself saying many times throughout the book, yeah, right, like that would really happen. Some times her writing went a bit over board and like someone else mentioned in their review, why would you tell a complete stranger all the little, embarassing details about yourself just because you think that your plane is going down. And who would sit there and listen to all of it, not saying a word??? A bit farfetched, ya know? All and all, it was a quick, light read that consumed my time when I had nothing better to do.
Book Description
“This expensive, glossy world is where I’ve been headed all along. Limos and flowers; waxed eyebrows and designer clothes from Barneys. These are my people; this is where I’m meant to be.”
–Becky Bloomwood
Universally beloved by readers, Sophie Kinsella’s national bestseller,
Confessions of a Shopaholic, introduced the irrepressible one-woman shopping phenomenon, Becky Bloomwood. Now, in this hilarious follow-up, Becky and her credit cards are headed across the Atlantic....
With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru thriving, Becky’s biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend. And worse, figuring out how to “pack light.” But packing takes on a whole new meaning when Luke announces he’s moving to New York for business–and he asks Becky to go with him!
Before you can say “Prada sample sale,” Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury department stores.
Surely it’s only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society. Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky’s bills miles away in London.
But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line!
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan–but will she have to return it?
Download Description
"This expensive, glossy world is where I've been headed all along. Limos and flowers; waxed eyebrows and designer clothes from Barneys. These are my people; this is where I'm meant to be." --Becky Bloomwood
Universally beloved by readers, Sophie Kinsella's national bestseller, Confessions of a Shopaholic, introduced the irrepressible one-woman shopping phenomenon, Becky Bloomwood. Now, in this hilarious follow-up, Becky and her credit cards are headed across the Atlantic....
With her shopping excesses (somewhat) in check and her career as a TV financial guru thriving, Becky's biggest problem seems to be tearing her entrepreneur boyfriend, Luke, away from work for a romantic country weekend. And worse, figuring out how to "pack light." But packing takes on a whole new meaning when Luke announces he's moving to New York for business -- and he asks Becky to go with him!
Before you can say "Prada sample sale," Becky has landed in the Big Apple, home of Park Avenue penthouses and luxury department stores.
Surely it's only a matter of time until she becomes an American TV celebrity, and she and Luke are the toast of Gotham society. Nothing can stand in their way, especially with Becky's bills miles away in London.
But then an unexpected disaster threatens her career prospects, her relationship with Luke, and her available credit line! Shopaholic Takes Manhattan -- but will she have to return it?
Customer Reviews:
Becky Bloomwood is Back!.......2007-07-20
The first book in this series, Confessions of a Shopaholic, was so enjoyable that I decided it was time to pick up the second book, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. And I was not disappointed!
Becky Bloomwood is back, she has her successful job on Morning Coffee, her handsome boyfriend,Luke Brandon, and things are looking up. However, there is still that matter of her overdraft and her shopping habit. While she's juggling all of her normal issues, Luke invites her to New York City for 2 weeks while he works on expanding his Communications company to the states. Now imagine Becky in the world of sample sales, Barney's, Saks 5th Avenue & Bloomingdales - equipped with American money as opposed to pounds. All equal an enjoyable sequel.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series. This is a great light hearted quick fun read!
Excellent read, with plenty of laughter!!.......2007-07-20
I bought this book for my girlfriend who is a huge fan of Kinsella's. When reading there was never a time she wasn't laughing or sharing something funny that was happening in the story. I'm an avid reader myself and I have found this book a delight to read. I may even read the others in her series!
If you liked Confessions, you'll like this one........2007-07-19
It was a cute book. No better or no worse than Confessions of a Shopaholic.
What took me so long?.......2007-07-17
What took me so long to find this author! I needed a book to take with me for a week at the beach, searched for something fun and light and finally picked up this book and purchased it.
I could hardly put it down, I laughed out loud and my family wanted to know what was so funny, I finished the book and handed it off to my daughter.
I compare this book to a I Love Lucy type character (Becky) in the year of 2007. Get it and read it!
Genius!! LOVE IT!.......2007-06-22
I didn't think I would get into this series--but I have! This one I liked even more than the first. It is a funny, cannot put down book. I cannot wait to see what Becky gets herself into each chapter! The ending is perfect as well! READ!!
Amazon.com
Wanting to understand the most fundamental questions of the universe isn't the province of ivory-tower intellectuals alone, as this book's enormous popularity has demonstrated. A young girl, Sophie, becomes embroiled in a discussion of philosophy with a faceless correspondent. At the same time, she must unravel a mystery involving another young girl, Hilde, by using everything she's learning. The truth is far more complicated than she could ever have imagined.
Book Description
This elegant CD-ROM will take you on an interactive journey through the history of Western philosophy, from its beginnings in ancient astronomy and myth up to twentieth-century existentialism. The philosophical adventure is built around a series of exchanges between a naturally curious young girl and her anonymous teacher, in which the user must participate. The pedagogical value of this interaction is complimented by the CD-ROM's Reference Band, a philosophical map providing eight film summaries of particular historical epochs and 28 text summaries of the work of major philosophers. The CD-ROM is available on its own, or can be combined with the #1 international bestselling novel, Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder--an excellent and affordable combination for introductory classes.
Customer Reviews:
OR PHILOSOPHY FOR DUMMIES.......2007-09-26
THIS BOOK WAS CHOSEN FOR A BOOK CLUB READ. I WAS SCEPTICAL. I WAS FANTASTICALLY SURPRISED. IT WAS EXTRAORDINARILY EASY TO READ. IT MADE ME WANT TO TAKE A PHILOSOPHY COURSE JUST FOR THE DISCUSSION. THIS WRITER CAME UP WITH JUST THE RIGHT HOOK TO GET ANY READER THROUGH WITH A MINIMUM OF EFFORT. THE STORY LINE IS EXCITING, FAST, AND WELL WRITTEN. WHAT A RIDE!!
Sophie's world.......2007-09-19
What could we say about the "Sophie's world"? It's trully increadible, for anyone who hadn't taken any advanced philosophy lessons. Reading it beguins as a magnetical curiosity (both because of the novel and the philosofical lessions in it) and ends almost as a reading addiction.
I cant believe I finished this..........2007-09-18
Unlike other reviewers who dislike this, I read this of my own accord. I thought a novel might explain to me how a non-believer views the world rather then simply reading a list of rules in a biased text book.
Unfortunatley I assumed the main chara would come to a conclusion of who created the universe. I suppose that would be too controversial. What a shame. I would rather people flame this book for simply disagreeing rather then boring them to death.
This book does make it's point though, philosophy is alot of talk with no conclusion. You spent a LONG time learning only to find out it was all for naught, just like this book.
Beautiful!.......2007-09-01
What a wonderful book! We are truly extraordinary beings, and this book will show you this. Prepare yourself to embark on an exciting journey of the mind--you'll come back a different person. The author will take you on a journey to the minds of the past philosophers, and in the process, within your own mind. You'll find out that it is easier to ask philosophical questions than to answer them. Philosophy is not something you can learn, but perhaps you can learn to think philosophically.
A "philosopher" really is one who loves wisdom. The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder. Babies have this faculty. But as they grow up the faculty of wonder seems to diminish. A philosopher never gets quite used to the world. To him or her, the world continues to seem unreasonable, bewildering, and enigmatic. To illustrate, a child is sitting on a baby chair having his breakfast. Suddenly, he sees his father float in mid-air. At the same time his mother sees her husband floating in mid-air, drops the dishes on the floor, and screams. Why is that? To the child, seeing his father float in mid-air is exciting but nothing unusual. After all, everyday he witnesses something new. To his mother, however, it is an impossibility to have a person float in mid-air. She is a creature of habit, stuck in a certain reality. A child's reality is unlimited and ever expanding, just like a philosopher's world. The world is also floating in space!
Because man thought it was so astonishing to be alive, philosophical questions arose on their own accord. By philosophy we mean the completely new way of thinking that evolved in Greece about six hundred years before the birth of Christ. Until that time people had found answers to all their questions in various religions and myths. Greek philosophers attempted to prove that these explanations were not to be trusted. The philosopher Xenophanes, who lived from about 570 B.C., said that men have created the gods in their own image. "They believe gods were born and have bodies and clothes and language just as we have. Ethiopians believe that the gods are black and flat-nosed. Northern Europeans imagine them to be blue-eyed and fair-haired. If oxen, horses, and lions could draw, they would depict gods that looked like oxen, horses, and lions!" So philosophy gradually liberated itself from religion.
What is the origin of the universe? At some point something must have come from nothing. But that notion was soon changed to `something cannot come from nothing', therefore all that is always existed. This meant that there is something of everything in everything. Once it is accepted that nothing can change, that nothing can come out of nothing, and that nothing is ever lost, then nature must consist of infinitesimal blocks that can join and separate again. This was the theory of Democritus, and for this reason he is today credited with being the inventor of the most ingenious toy in the world--Lego. The world consists of blocks, just like Lego blocks, that can join and separate again and form unlimited forms. Today we know this to be true. DNA is such an example.
Socrates said that the wisest is he who does not know. He said, "One thing I only know, and that is that I know nothing." The essential nature of Socrates' art lay in the fact that he did not appear to want to instruct people. On the contrary he gave the impression of one desiring to learn from those he spoke with. So instead of lecturing like a traditional schoolmaster, he discussed. Similarly, Socrates saw his task as helping people to "give birth" to the correct insight, since real understanding must come from within. And only the understanding that comes from within can lead to true insight.
A philosopher is constantly striving to achieve true insight. Let's examine the following analogy presented by Plato: Imagine some people living in an underground cave. They sit with their backs to the mouth of the cave with their hands and feet bound in such a way that they can only look at the back wall of the cave. Behind them is a high wall, and behind that wall pass human-like creatures, holding up various figures above the top of the wall. Because there is a fire behind these figures, they cast flickering shadows on the back wall of the cave. So the only thing the cave dwellers can see is this shadow play. They have been siding in this position since they were born, so they think these shadows are all there are. Imagine now that one of the cave dwellers manages to free himself from his bonds. The first thing he asks himself is where all these shadows on the cave wall come from. What do you think happens when he turns around and sees the figures being held up above the wall? To begin with he is dazzled by the sharp sunlight. He is also dazzled by the clarity of the figures because until now he has only seen their shadow. If he manages to climb over the wall and get past the fire into the world outside, he will be even more dazzled. But after rubbing his eyes he will be struck by the beauty of everything. For the first time he will see colors and clear shapes. He will see the real animals and flowers that the cave shadows were only poor reflections of. But even now he will ask himself where all the animals and flowers come from. Then he will see the sun in the sky, and realize that this is what gives life to these flowers and animals, just as the fire made the shadows visible. The joyful cave dweller could now have gone skipping away into the countryside, delighting in his new-found freedom. But instead he thinks of all the others who are still down in the cave. He goes back. Once there, he tries to convince the cave dwellers that the shadows on the cave wall are but flickering reflections of `real' things. But they don't believe him. They point to the cave wall and say that what they see is all there is. Finally they kill him. What Plato was illustrating in the `Myth of the Cave' is the philosopher's road from shadowy images to the true ideas behind all natural phenomena.
Many philosophers believe that the search for God is natural to all men. Sartre believed that life must have meaning. It is an imperative. But it is we ourselves who must create this meaning in our own lives. To exist is to create your own life. Swami Vivekenanda, an Indian who was instrumental in bringing Hinduism to the west, once said, 'Just as certain world religions say that people who do not believe in a personal God are atheist, we say that a person who does not believe in himself is an atheist. Not believing in the splendor of one's own soul is what we call atheism.
In `As You Like It' Shakespeare writes:
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.
Spinoza says that God did not create the world in order to stand outside it. No, God is the world. He believed that God--or the laws of nature--is the inner cause of everything that happens. He is not an outer cause, since God speaks through the laws of nature and only through them. For example, does a lion decide to become carnivorous? Can a lion suddenly decide to become vegetarian? Similarly, do humans have freewill? For that matter, does God exist in the first place, or is God a creation of our mind? Hume gives us a theory. According to him, an 'angel' is a complex idea. It is a false idea which must be immediately rejected. Why? Have you seen a human being before? Of course you have. Have you seen wings on birds before? Of course you have. Have you seen wings on a human being? According to Hume, none of us have. In this case we have to admit that the brain has done a good job of cutting and pasting together all on its own. Each element was once sensed, and entered the theater of the mind in the form of a real impression. Nothing is ever actually invented by the mind. The mind puts things together and constructs false 'ideas.' But Hume emphasizes that all the elements we put together in our ideas must at some time have entered the mind in the form of simple impressions. For example, a person who has never seen gold will never be able to visualize streets of gold.
Are we living in a world of dreams? Is the whole world made off spirit, and thus nothing solid? Let's say you hit a table with your fist. You had a sensation of something hard, but you didn't feel the actual matter in the table. In the same way, you can dream you are hitting something hard, but there isn't anything hard in a dream. We exist only in the mind of God. So 'to be or not to be' is not the whole question. The question is also who we are. Are we really human beings of flesh and blood? Does our world consist of real things--or are we encircled by the mind. According to some philosophers, we are spirit, and nothing in our world is solid! Novalis said that 'the world becomes a dream, and the dreams become reality.' The English Romantic poet Coleridge expressed the same idea; saying something like this: What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful Flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hands. Ah, what then?
We live in a complicated and mysterious world. If an overgrown child draws something on a piece of paper, you can't ask the paper what the drawing is supposed to represent. Similarly, we are like the paper, with events drawn on us. But what do these events signify? What is the truth behind life? According to Kierkegaard, rather than searching for the Truth with a capital T, it is more important to find the kind of truths that are meaningful to the individual's life. It is important to find 'the truth for me.'
You and I also began with the Big Bang, because all substance in the universe is an organic unity. Once in a primeval age all matter was gathered in a clump so enormously massive that a pinhead weighed many billions of tons. This 'primeval atom' exploded because of the enormous gravitation. It was as if something disintegrated. When we look up at the sky, we are trying to find the way back to ourselves. Beautiful! Now you know why you look up at the sky when you are in search of God!
But what is this earthly substance? What was it that exploded that time billions of years ago? Where did it come from?' These questions concern us all very deeply because we ourselves are of that substance. We are a spark from the great fire that was ignited many billions of years ago.
In case that spark has extinguished in your life, this book will rekindle it. Read this book--you'll love it!
Kinda creepy in places........2007-08-29
Take an "introduction to Philosophy" textbook, chop it up, and insert a creepy stalker novel in-between the chapters.
Freud would have a field day with this novel, which is presented as a dream in a dream.
I don't know if 15 year olds would actually read the textbook parts. I found it useful as a refresher course.
Book Description
There’s never been a better excuse to buy a new dress...or two.
The irresistible heroine of
Confessions of a Shopaholic and
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is back!—in a hilarious tale of mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, and one blushing bride who just can’t say no to saying “I do.”
Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything...
Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky’s head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown. While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one. Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?
Download Description
There's never been a better excuse to buy a new dress... or two.
The irresistible heroine of Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is back! -- in a hilarious tale of mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, and one blushing bride who just can't say no to saying "I do."
Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She's become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan's West Village, and her new next door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she's been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything...
Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky's head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky's overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum's frilly old gown. While Luke's high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can't seem to turn down either one. Can everyone's favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?
Customer Reviews:
Good book - easy vacation read.......2007-09-23
This one is easy to read, put down and pick up again and continue. Fun and light - good reading for the gym! One of the best in the series.
Pure Fluff.......2007-09-09
Before anyone discredits what I say, I'm over 14, so don't think I have no clue what this book is about. I totally knew what this was about-not much! (It's just waaaay easier to use this than the main review feature)
The book has a simple plot-girl gets engaged, girl starts planning wedding, conflict, solution, et cetera.
Becky Bloomwood gets engaged to her boyfriend of about two years, Luke. Apparently, his mother's a jerk. Becky's parents begin to plan a white-trash wedding, Luke's mother plans a 'high-class' wedding as she calls it. Trust me, the way it sounds, it's just a way to make a bogan appear to have class. Both weddings are being planned for June 22nd. Becky is so entranced by the Bogan Party she can't tell her future mother-in-law no. And her friend Suze (who, quite grossly, likes to keep it in the family-she marries her cousin and gets pregnant) keeps telling her about the White-Trash Nuptuals, and Becky feels so bad that Mum is going to all this trouble, she can't bring herself to tell her it's canceled. What's a spoiled, poor little rich girl to do?
First, what grown woman is incapable of planning her own wedding? I've never had a wedding, but I do know many girls who don't need their mom to do all the planning, nor their fiancees. In the book, 'Bex' as she's called, is given every opportunity to tell both women, "No, I don't want this." And yet she never does. Her favorite part of getting married is registering-at about four different shops.
Becky was cute in the first book, I was practically laughing every page. Now I just think, "Wow...what an irresponsible bimbo. Can't she do anything right?"
This is a library book, definately. It's also very light, so if you need a book to do a report on or something to choose for book-club, this isn't it. This is more like a, "Oh, yeah, I needed somethin' fluffy to read by the pool!" Frankly, if you choose this for book-club, the only thing you'll be discussing is Rebecca Bloomwood's immaturity.
~Kinga
Shopaholic ties a slip knot.......2007-08-14
This was my first and last Shopahilic book I have read. The plot was dim. The only reason I read the book all the way to the end is because I was hopping something bad would happen to Becky. I really hope other Shopahilic book aren't' dim as this one, but I am not reading any other Shopahilic books to find out.
Good but not as funny as Takes Manhattan.......2007-07-26
Although this is a good book and fun to read, with all the wedding planning and goof-up's, it's not as funny at Shopaholic takes Manhattan. Now I have to read ALL of them, oh what a problem to have.
no more love for becky.......2007-07-23
i adored the character of becky in the first books but now, oh my god, what a mess, she is very immature, and sorry to say this but plain stupid, she does not deserve luke, shes lucky she got herself a rich husband, i was hoping to see something else, not this, big dissapoinment, sorry.
Average customer rating:
- it's hilarious
- Fun and Enjoyable
- Does she ever learn?
- Great series....but this book isn't to standard
- Shopaholic makes me laugh
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Shopaholic & Sister
Sophie Kinsella
Manufacturer: Dell
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Similar Items:
-
Shopaholic Ties the Knot
-
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
-
The Undomestic Goddess
-
Confessions of a Shopaholic
-
Shopaholic & Baby (Shopaholic)
ASIN: 044024191X
Release Date: 2006-11-28 |
Book Description
Sophie Kinsella has conquered the hearts of millions with her New York Times bestselling Shopaholic novels, which feature the irresistible one-woman shopping phenomenon Becky Bloomwood. Now Becky’s back in a hilarious, heartwarming tale of married life, best friends, and long-lost sisters (and the perils of simply having to own an Angel handbag!).
What’s a round-the-world honeymoon if you can’t buy the odd souvenir to ship back home? Like the Chinese urns and twenty silk dressing gowns Becky found in Hong Kong…the five kilim rugs from Turkey…the splendid hand-carved dining table (and ten chairs) from Sri Lanka…the, um, huge wooden giraffes from Malawi (that her husband Luke expressly forbade her to buy)…
Only now Becky and Luke have returned home to London and Luke is furious. Two truckloads of those souvenirs have cluttered up their usually immaculate loft, and the bills for them are outrageous. Becky’s even maxed out on her second secret credit card, and she doesn’t have a new job yet!
Luke insists she go on a budget. And worse: her beloved best friend Suze has found a new best friend while Becky was away. Becky’s feeling rather blue—when her parents deliver some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky is thrilled! She’s convinced her sister will be a true soulmate. They’ll go shopping together, drink cappuccinos together, have manicures together, and watch their favorite videos together.
Until she meets Jessica for the first time and gets the shock of her life. Surely Becky Bloomwood’s sister can’t…hate shopping?
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
Sophie Kinsella has conquered the hearts of millions with her New York Times bestselling Shopaholic novels, which feature the irresistible one-woman shopping phenomenon Becky Bloomwood. Now Becky's back in a hilarious, heartwarming tale of married life, best friends, and long-lost sisters (and the perils of simply having to own an Angel handbag!).
What's a round-the-world honeymoon if you can't buy the odd souvenir to ship back home? Like the Chinese urns and twenty silk dressing gowns Becky found in Hong Kong…the five kilim rugs from Turkey…the splendid hand-carved dining table (and ten chairs) from Sri Lanka…the, um, huge wooden giraffes from Malawi (that her husband Luke expressly forbade her to buy)…
Only now Becky and Luke have returned home to London and Luke is furious. Two truckloads of those souvenirs have cluttered up their usually immaculate loft, and the bills for them are outrageous. Becky's even maxed out on her second secret credit card, and she doesn't have a new job yet!
Luke insists she go on a budget. And worse: her beloved best friend Suze has found a new best friend while Becky was away. Becky's feeling rather blue—when her parents deliver some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky is thrilled! She's convinced her sister will be a true soulmate. They'll go shopping together, drink cappuccinos together, have manicures together, and watch their favorite videos together.
Until she meets Jessica for the first time and gets the shock of her life. Surely Becky Bloomwood's sister can't…hate shopping?
Customer Reviews:
it's hilarious.......2007-09-21
I enjoyed a lot reading this book and actually it was the first one I had read among all Shopaholic series. In book, the story deals with all sort of emotion and human relationship including the romance, family hood, friendship, sadness, nostalgia, sisterhood and so forth. Even though the book is often considered as chick lit or something like that, I think the themes and settings in this book are very meaningful and captivating.
Fun and Enjoyable.......2007-09-03
As usual, Becky Bloomwood is fun and enjoyable, you can never go wrong with any of the books in this series. I'm glad I found this author.
Does she ever learn?.......2007-08-03
I am a big fan of Becky Bloomwood. I loved her first three books, Shopaholic, Manhattan, and Ties the Knot. However, this book was not as good as those. I am, sadly to say, starting to get a little annoyed at Becky. Does she ever learn her lesson? Her and I are the same age, yet she continually repeats the same offenses and covers them up with lies. Why Luke stands by her is beyond me, which only perpetuates her childish behavior. Like I said, I enjoyed her first three adventures, but with Sister, I feel that Kinsella only wrote it to continue the series without coming up with anything really fresh and new.
Great series....but this book isn't to standard.......2007-07-20
I absolutely love the "shopaholic" series. As a shopaholic myself, I lose myself in them and I feel almost as if she is an extension of me (a far extension)
This book, however, was not up to the standard of the rest of the books. I've read "Confessions", "Takes Manhattan", "Ties the Knot", etc and while this book was entertaining, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the others. Worth a read though
Shopaholic makes me laugh.......2007-05-12
While Shopaholic & Sister is not the best of the series it is good enough. The book is another delightful escape into a fantasy life which, despite potential or temporary despair, always concludes with a sunny ending. The characters are well drawn. For serious readers like me, it is nice to take a break from depressing themes and insert a Shopaholic book once in awhile.
Book Description
The reluctant bride ...
Lady Portia Derring has an impeccable pedigree ... and not a penny to her name. Sister to a duke, this impoverished bluestocking reluctantly travels to Yorkshire to meet the wealthy earl her family insists she wed. Meeting him, however, is as far as she will go. Refusing to be a sacrificial lamb on the altar of matrimony to satisfy her brother's debts, this determined lady will do everything in her power not to gain a proposal. After all, she has plans of her own ... and they don't involve matrimony.
The unwilling groom ...
Known as Mad Moreton to everyone in Yorkshire, Heath lives a life as untamed and wild as the moors. After all, he has a family reputation to live down. The bad blood that runs in his veins is more than enough reason to swear off matrimony. Not even the outspoken, infuriating Lady Portia will succeed in trapping him. Bright eyes and tempting smile aside, he will resist the chit ... even if it kills him.
Customer Reviews:
LuuUUved it!.......2007-08-24
I just loved this easy read, I know, I know the Grandmother shouldn't have kept the "secret." Hey, do you have the same old ladies in your family as I do in mine? They keep the stupidest secrets and I can't imagine this not being plausible. Other then that...no complaints (actually that wasn't a complaint, just an observation from another reviewer's complaint). Again, just a good easy read and can't wait for her next one. Just an AUTHOR REMINDER...WRITE EPILOGUES!!! I like them and I HATE when an author is, well, I have to say it...out of ideas or can't think beyond the finale "love scene."
more like this, please.......2007-08-16
I would be so happy if there were more romances like Too Wicked to Tame. It had everything I like in a romance and none of my no-nos. The heroine, Portia, was feisty but always likable. She didn't want to give up her freedom to be married but she just couldn't resist her rescuer, Heath. I don't think many women would have been able to resist him either. He was delicious!! He had a reason for not marrying, as well. But, as this is a romance we all know neither one is going to stay unmarried.
This book didn't have a whole lot of extra stuff going on. I liked that. It allowed time for Heath and Portia's story to remain front and center. There were some little snippets about Heath's sisters, probably setups for future stories. I would like to read more about these two girls.
To sum up, this was a very pleasant book with a likable heroine and a yummy hero. This author has a very pleasant, readable style. I look forward to more from her.
fantastic.......2007-07-11
i loved it. It was a wonderfully written novel that kept me enthralled.
It is not to be missed. I will certainly be keeping a watch for any of Sophie's upcoming novels.
Highly recommended.
OKAY 6+ STARS - BIG TIME!!!!!!.......2007-07-05
I guess I should have started with her first book but I am glad that I grabbed this one instead. From the moment that Simon rescues Portia meandering under a torrential downpour on the road after a carriage accident, completely covered in covered in mud, the book catapults you into voraciously devouring every page at warp speed!
The developing story, gives you plenty of clues as to what's has happened and what has made Simon and his family shy away from marriage and from not wanting to ever replicate the past from what happened with his parents. But as you all know, this is a ROMANCE novel and all romance novels end well and all indiscretions, peccadilloes, innuendos, wrong doings and mistaken beliefs are all put to rest in the end - specially if a story is well written, with depth of emotion and with a script that makes it a page turner.
Portia's love for books is insatiable and when she discovers Simon's library, under a layer of dust and shut off from anyone's access she is undaunted with Heath's attempts to make her leave his home. There is no way she is going to be put out when she can avail herself of a plethora of unread books, just waiting to be dusted off and read!
With an awesome plot, witty and humorous dialogue and the sexual tension throughout building to a crescendo, (the actual sexual encounters are pretty much - EN FUEGO!!!!!!!), this book is really, really good! The secondary characters are endearing and well developed. All in all, I loved this new writer and will undoubtedly be awaiting future novels. "Too Wicked to Tame" is a pleasure to read. I am sure you will share my sentiments.
weak plot.......2007-06-14
Book is about a poor but titled lady who needs to wed to get her family out of debt, and a gentleman who's very wealthy, but sworn to never wed because of the 'madness' that supposedly runs in his blood.
This was not a bad read, but I felt disappointed given where it could have gone. The writing is great with witty lines, but the plot is weak and I'm not sure about the characters, not sure what's so great about them aside from their being gorgeous and having chemistry. The part I felt most unbelieveable is that the Grandmother knew the secret, but would rather have the family of 3 marriage-eligible children live as semi-outcasts than reveal the truth. The ending was a bit too much of a cat and mouse chase. I just felt the plot and characters had potential, but unrealized...
Book Description
This is a completely new in-depth field guide to the 1,070 bird species, including North American migrants, found in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua. More than 180 species are endemic to this region and the book details their appearance, voice, habitat, behaviour (including nests and eggs) and distribution. Range maps are included with species accounts, and introductory essays give essential background information, with special appendices summarizing useful information on the avifaunas of various offshore Pacific and Caribbean islands. The Guide's striking illustrations include 71 colour plates and 39 black-and-white drawings, based on the authors' field experience and in many cases detailing plumages never before illustrated. Authoritative and up-to-date, this is an essential reference work for every birdwatchers' collection.
Customer Reviews:
OK, but not great........2007-06-16
As many have said, kind of big and bulky for a "field guide". Lacking pictures of shore birds, sea birds, etc. Has good info as far as habitats, etc.
results of clinical field trial.......2007-03-23
This is the definitive text for any even halfway serious birder in the region covered. Although a bit heavy to lug around in a backpack (especially if you are carrying a spotting scope as well), it is an indispensable reference once you get back.
Note: It does not have illustrations of many birds that are found in the US, so I was very glad that I had brought Sibley's Guide along as well. Between the two, I was able to identify with confidence nearly every bird I saw. If I had had only the smaller field guide, I would have been making a lot of educated guesses.
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico .......2007-03-18
The book has a lot of information on the birds and their habitat. Illustrations of the birds are restricted to the "plates" section.
Almost Excellent.......2007-01-03
This book is excellent for a trip to Mexico; however be warned, some of the most common birds are not pictured in the plates. While all of the species not found in the US have colorful plates, there are no plates for waterbirds such as gulls and no plates for the warblers or flycatchers other than endemics; however, there are descriptions and location maps for all birds found in Mexico. If you visit during migration, and have trouble remembering fall plumage distinctions on migrating warblers, be sure to bring a Sibley or Peterson guide along with you as well!
Packed with information --not user friendly.......2006-09-20
A large volume, not easily used, in the field. The authors presume a good knowledge of North American birds--so you need a Sibley in addition. Unfortunately carrying the Sibley will remind you of how much more difficult to use this volume is.
It lacks any drawings of NA birds such as Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Whistling Ducks, Arizona Woodpeckers, Blue-Headed Vireo, Purple Gallinule, numerous sparrows, etc.
Almost no attempt to separate diagnostic marks from more general field marks.
The information on endemics is in here,organized in the Petersen style, plates separated from descriptions and maps. And it is exhaustive in depth.
But as a field guide it badly needs to be reworked in the Sibley fashion or Sinclair's Birds of Southern Africa.
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Shopaholic & Sister
Baby Proof
