To Kill a Mockingbird

Amazon.com

Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up.

Like the slow-moving occupants of her fictional town, Lee takes her time getting to the heart of her tale; we first meet the Finches the summer before Scout's first year at school. She, her brother, and Dill Harris, a boy who spends the summers with his aunt in Maycomb, while away the hours reenacting scenes from Dracula and plotting ways to get a peek at the town bogeyman, Boo Radley. At first the circumstances surrounding the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, barely penetrate the children's consciousness. Then Atticus is called on to defend the accused, Tom Robinson, and soon Scout and Jem find themselves caught up in events beyond their understanding. During the trial, the town exhibits its ugly side, but Lee offers plenty of counterbalance as well--in the struggle of an elderly woman to overcome her morphine habit before she dies; in the heroism of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he knows is right; and finally in Scout's hard-won understanding that most people are essentially kind "when you really see them." By turns funny, wise, and heartbreaking, To Kill a Mockingbird is one classic that continues to speak to new generations, and deserves to be reread often. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

"When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.... When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out."Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up.Like the slow-moving occupants of her fictional town, Lee takes her time getting to the heart of her tale; we first meet the Finches the summer before Scout's first year at school. She, her brother, and Dill Harris, a boy who spends the summers with his aunt in Maycomb, while away the hours reenacting scenes from Dracula and plotting ways to get a peek at the town bogeyman, Boo Radley. At first the circumstances surrounding the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, barely penetrate the children's consciousness. Then Atticus is called on to defend the accused, Tom Robinson, and soon Scout and Jem find themselves caught up in events beyond their understanding. During the trial, the town exhibits its ugly side, but Lee offers plenty of counterbalance as well--in the struggle of an elderly woman to overcome her morphine habit before she dies; in the heroism of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he knows is right; and finally in Scout's hard-won understanding that most people are essentially kind "when you really see them." By turns funny, wise, and heartbreaking, To Kill a Mockingbird is one classic that continues to speak to new generations, and deserves to be reread often. --Alix Wilber

Customer Reviews:

To Kill A Mockingbird.......2007-10-08

I read this book in my English class before I saw the movie, and I must say I was amazed enough to actually continually read this novel as opposed to going to the cliff notes. It is rather engaging, and Gregory Peck, although giving one of the greatest performances of all time, did not give Atticus Finch the justice he well deserved.

Highly recommended.

Significant and Memorable.......2007-09-30

This ever-popular, Pulitzer prize-winning novel is written from the first-person perspective of "Scout," a young girl growing up in a small, segregated Alabama town during the Great Depression. I did not read any descriptions of the book before I began it, so it was fascinating as I began to realize what it was about. Its gentle, childlike, Tom Sawyer, heart-of-America cadence drew me in, but provided a counterpoint to the hypocrisy, racism, and bigotry that was revealed in the town little by little.

The writing itself, of course, is excellent, telling the story subtly but powerfully - or perhaps the power is in its very subtlety. In my opinion, this is not the most compelling book I've ever read on this issue, but it is significant and memorable.

bought to kill a mockingbird.......2007-09-27

i bought the book to kill a mockingbird. it was in excellent condition. the price was also very low.

Loved Loved Loved!.......2007-09-23

Anyone who gives this book a chance will absolutely love it! It starts out with childhood memories of Scout Finch that seem to be completely unrelated, but Harper Lee cleverly weaves them together to make a great novel. The novel's point of view is unique and is probably what makes this book a classic. The story is seen through the innocent eyes of a six year old, but is being retold by an older, more mature woman. This allows the novel to have more mature language and ideas, but everything is seen through an innocent child's eyes. It's the best of both worlds, and I promise you, you'll be in tears by the end. It's a heart wrenching novel, and though it may sound repetitive, you'll love this book if you read it!

Perfect-pitch storytelling.......2007-09-12

The recollections of a young girl in a small southern town during the depression. Harper Lee adopts a near pitch-perfect voice of 'Scout' Finch as a narrator thinking back over the events and able to summon the 8-year old Scout to help tell them.
Thought often subtle, Lee keeps her eye on the subject of bigotry - bigotry of race, sex, class, education, family - and, through Scout's eyes, shines a spotlight on its cruelty and shows how the seeds are being planted for tidal changes that are on the way.
It's hard to imagine a better storyteller.

Average customer rating:

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills
I thought artificial additives were bad, now I *KNOW* how bad they are!
What your eyes opened?
evidence from the autopsies
Everyone needs to read this book

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills
Russell L. Blaylock
Manufacturer: Health Press (NM)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Toxicology | Pharmacology | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0929173252
Release Date: 1996-12-01

Customer Reviews:

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills .......2007-09-29

What you don't know CAN kill you! This is a must read, if you are pursuing good health, despite the FDA and Big Pharma desire to keep you chained until death.

I thought artificial additives were bad, now I *KNOW* how bad they are!.......2007-09-23

As a health enthusiast I was aware of the dangers of artificial sweeteners, MSG and other man made nasties but it was not until I came across Blaylock's Excitotoxins that I *UNDERSTOOD* just how big a factor they are.

Learn just how many different ways the industry hides excitotoxins under a conveniently confusing array of names. I am grateful for the extra choice Blaylock has empowered me with every time I purchase groceries.

I read that a minority feel that this book implies that excitotoxins are the only cause of the possible ailments / diseases. I did not get this impression at all. I felt their point of view was narrowed, and their logic too simple. Like saying you can drown in the ocean, therefore the ocean causes drownings. Yes the statement is true but you can also drown in fresh water, oil, or a big enough container of diet soda (excitotoxins included).

This is a great book. I am certain it has extended and increased the quality of my life.

What your eyes opened?.......2007-06-27

This has been a very helpful book and very easy to understand. I have several friends who have health problems and the doctors are unable to find a cause. After reading this book and seeing that allergies to many foods could be the cause I informed them about the glutamates in foods and they are now getting better by eating a diet that does not have additives. I suffer from psoriasis and it is clearing up since I changed my eating. This book has been a God send.

evidence from the autopsies.......2007-06-12

First of all, did you know that "natural flavor" is a code word for MSG or monosodium
glutamate? What do you know about "hydrolized protein"? Could it be that "hydrolized protein" is also a code word for MSG? How does vitamin C and E protect the brain from free radicals?

Dr. Blaylock is a retired neurosurgeon. He has studied the brains from many people and has linked excitotoxons to brain damage. Unlike some books where they "derive" all types of equations and formulas and other nonsense, Dr. Blaylock has studied the actual autopsies. This is important because the information presented in this book is from actual specimens, study groups, and people admitted to hospital.

A review of this book coud not possibly tell you how important it is. You need this book to understand the dangers of excitoxins. You should also be aware that the brain can "rewire" itself after is had been damaged. However, by the time a person shows signs of brain damage, the brain is usually damaged beyond the point of repair or
to be stabilised. You need this book for you well-being.

Everyone needs to read this book.......2007-05-14

The contents of this book are helpful to everyone. It contains information that will be helpful to all people that want to live healthier lives and protect their children from a disrupted future. We have been given choices in our life and this book will help you make better choices by the things that you eat. Know what you eat and what it is made of.

Average customer rating:

The best audio book I have heard!
Spacek is Special
To Kill a Mockingbird
Sissy Spacek is Impeccable
Great for classroom or personal pleasure!

To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Manufacturer: Caedmon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060888695
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Harper Lee's classic novel of a lawyer in the deep south defending a black man charged with the rape of a white girl

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It won the Pulitzer Prize, has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. Most recently, librarians across the country gave the book the highest of honors by voting it the best novel of the twentieth century.

Performed by Sissy Spacek

Customer Reviews:

The best audio book I have heard!.......2007-10-07

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is my all time favorite novel. It the my "go to" book that I typically do read at least once a year during an unexpected wait in an ER etc. I purchased this audio book because I drive in my work and I wanted to see if I liked it compared to the last one I tried several years ago where the narrator was so southern I could not understand her. All I can say about Sissy Spacek is that she hits this one out of the park. I was captivated from beginning to end. I give this audio book a A +++.

Spacek is Special.......2007-09-02

Sissy Spacek draws from her Texas roots and does a subtly superb performance of Harper Lee's masterpiece of coming of age in an age of intolerance - Alabama during the Great Depression. Harper-Collins did a superior job of producing and packaging this all-round classic, must have addition to your library.

For more information about Nelle Harper Lee and how "To Kill a Mockingbird" came to be, I also recommend Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

To Kill a Mockingbird.......2007-08-12

As a reader, it's difficult for me to listen to someone else's interpretation of words. This is an exceptional effort by Sissy Spacek. The flavor & nuance of Harper Lee's intention (I believe) are captured and enhanced. My thanks to both women!

Sissy Spacek is Impeccable.......2007-06-27

After reading To Kill a Mockingbird in high school and college, and starting Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, I decided I needed a refresher, so I checked out this audio book from my local library. Sissy Spacek's reading is absolutely wonderful. Her Southern accent is spot-on, soothing, and not at all over-the-top. Her tone is soothing and lovely and the story and characters shine through. If you have a long commute or just enjoy audio books, this is a definite must!

Great for classroom or personal pleasure!.......2007-05-21

Sissy Spacek does a wonderful job reading Harper Lee's classic. She has a light Southern accent that makes you believe you are listening to Scout. If the performance weren't enough, the price and the packaging make it all worth the while. The tracks are evenly spaced, and they are well catalogued on the CD jackets. Definitely a pleasure all around!

Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

Average customer rating:

Perfect book on an intriguing subject
Contract Rifles
Pelton Explores the Rise of Military Privitization
Fascinating read that explores the implications of private security forces
Bull's Eye!

Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror
Robert Young Pelton
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Iraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1400097819
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Book Description

Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used.

Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.

Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.

The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect book on an intriguing subject.......2007-09-22

I bought Pelton's 'World's most dangerous places' a few years ago. I'm always interested in the shady world of mercenaries, contractors and hired guns so of course I wanted to buy this book as soon as it was out. And it was spot-on. This is a very well written book, it gives you a no-nonsense look into the world of the contractors and after you have read it, you know a lot more about the matter than the average newsreader. What I liked most was the parts about Sandline and Executives Outcomes. Definetely a must-read if you want to know something more about contractors and 'mercenaries', or better put: the difference between those two. I recommend it highly.

Contract Rifles.......2007-08-13

Robert Young Pelton's Licensed to Kill is a book well worthy of the time invested in reading it. Pelton illuminates the world of modern private security contracting both from the inside and from an historical perspective. He draws a distinction between the security contractor, who is essentially a defensive fighter, and a mercenary, who undertakes offensive actions. The reader meets individual contractors and a few of the men behind the organizations. Tales of trial by fire mix with broader-perspective cautionary tales about where the trend in security contracting may be headed and the gray zone between the private security company and the mercenary army. Pelton's work offers valuable perspective on a phenomenon that has erupted since the start of the War on Terror and which deserves serious attention.

Licensed to Kill is many things at once. Pelton's book is a jigsaw puzzle of personal experiences with contractors on the ground, small-picture stories about individuals in the post-9/11 world of gun-for-hire opportunities, and big-picture stories that serve to frame the pre- and post-9/11 world of security contracting. A literary critic might argue that Licensed to Kill is a postmoderist work that lacks central direction or a single message. I believe that Pelton's book is a creditworthy effort at giving a human face to security contractors while creating a context for the world in which the War on Terror contractor operates.

At the personal level, Pelton devotes several chapters to his experiences in Iraq and North Carolina with contractors. Based on his subjects, Pelton to enjoys the closest contact with the American company Blackwater--one of post-9/11 private security success stories and one of the big winners of the outsourcing of security in Iraq. Pelton describes the Blackwater people in detail. The reader is imparted the knowledge that these are real people. The author sees most of them as men of (surprisingly) complex motives: they want to fight for their country; they want to support wives, children, etc.; they don't want to put up with the Big Army's bureaucratic nonsense; they want better pay than an Army junior enlisted man gets for putting his life on the line; they fear they have no other skills, so they want to earn a living marketing what they have; many are too old to go active duty, anyway; they crave the high that comes from danger.

As a mid-thirties National Guardsman and junior NCO who served in Baghdad in 2005, I understand the men Pelton describes reasonably well. Pelton describes a run down Route Irish to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) and back to the Green Zone. I've made that run more than once myself. Although I find Pelton's description a touch dramatic, he's very authentic when he describes the hazards of the situation. I understand completely why these men hate the Big Army way of doing business. Soldiers in Iraq--NCOs included--are treated like irresponsible children, forbidden any sort of liberties, and subjected to the attentions of bored sergeants major who think the insurgency will be defeated by proper uniforms and correctly-laced boots. The contractors Pelton describes have found a way to get into the fight while avoiding the Army's less-attractive aspects. Many of my fellow soldiers talked about trying to come back as contractors so they could make twice as much money (or more) and be treated like men into the bargain. Pelton gives the reader an idea of who the contractors, mostly prior military, really are. Seemn through Pelton's eyes, contractors are not predominantly bloodthirsty raiders looking to spill as much innocent blood as possible. They are men being paid to carry a rifle to accomplish specific tasks and trying to survive while doing it.

Pelton is clearly in the trenches with the contractors physically and sympathetically. He acknowledges as much, so we are free to take his anecdotal experience as exactly that: anecdotal.

That much said, Pelton is not a mindless promoter in Licensed to Kill. He raises questions about the legal framework of contracting. To whom do the contractors really answer? Soldiers are clearly representatives of their nation, and they are held to well-published standards of conduct. Contractors, though as former soldiers may be guided by the same moral and ethical compass as their uniformed brethren, are not bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Pelton points out that contractors exist in a sort of legal and ethical limbo. This, Pelton claims, is what the US government wants. When a contractor messes up and is called to task for it, the US government can claim that the contractor does not represent the policies and intent of the United States. The contractor can be dismissed out of hand, Pelton tells us, and the government thereafter washes its hands of the whole thing. Deniability, the author claims, is one of the chief virtues of the contractor and, by extension, one of the chief moral pitfalls. What does it say about the United States of America when we engage disposable men to fight for our causes? Soldiers are expendable in that their lives may be sacrificed to accomplish a mission. However, soldiers receive a host of benefits and long-term investment as part of their service. Contractors receive pay and nothing more. Currently, they are mostly immune from legal consequences in Iraq; but when and if they do start to be charged with crimes for their activities, the US government can give them up with a clean conscience--no harm, no foul to the government. Compare this to the fallout associated with Abu Ghraib and other poor conduct by American troops, and one can see the allure of disposable, deniable contractors. Whether or not the rest of the world will buy the argument that the actions of contractors do not reflect on the government sponsoring the contract remains to be seen. Pelton's point is that the US government has been entranced by the prospect and is likely to remain so until circumstances invalidate the idea.

Pelton devotes some narrative to the world of security contracting prior to 9/11. The main point of doing so seems to be to illustrate the fact that while private security contracting is by no means a new activity, the War on Terror has completely transformed contracting and contracting companies. He also points out that the more mercenary activities of private contracting that occurred in the 1990's still exist as possibilities in the 2000's and beyond. Pelton tells us that the leadership of Blackwater in particular is interested in building a force larger, more capable, and much more powerful than the armies of a number of Third World countries. Pelton seems assured that the Blackwater leadership assumes a priori that a Blackwater army would be used only in support of American foreign interests and that this fact creates a satisfactory moral and ethical framework for the use of said force. At the same time, Pelton raises the question of what will happen when the bounties of the War on Terror cease to provide satisfactory employ for the growing mass of men and companies under arms by contract. Men like the men Pelton describes in detail in Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Carolina may find that having decided to live by the rifle in their post-military careers they are unable to resist bending their codes of conduct to take jobs that are neither entirely in nor out of line with American foreign policy and interests once the ratio of contractors-to-contracts starts to become more competitive. (Sooner or later, this will happen. The market makes it inevitable.) Where in the gray zone between security contractor and mercenary will these men then operate? This is no academic question. As Pelton points out, it is a reality being rushed along by the decision of the US government to privatize much of the security force of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Licensed to Kill is a worthy read. The men are real. The world in which they operate is filled with dangers, rewards, and uncertainties. The national policies unfolding today lead us down a road fraught with hazard and paved with the bodies and rifles of security contractors and those they have been engaged to fight. Pelton provides the reader with an interesting, informative read. Whether one agrees with him or not, Pelton paints a fascinating picture and raises important questions.

Pelton Explores the Rise of Military Privitization.......2007-08-13

Robert Young Pelton has been reporting from global hotspots for the past 15 + years. His record of reporting from far a field is impeccable, including stints in Afghanistan, Columbia, Kashmir, Algeria, and now Iraq. Having long been acquainted with private military contractors throughout his travels, Pelton ventures to Iraq to experience first hand the move towards privatization in the US military.

Pelton spends the majority of his time in Iraq with the controversial Blackwater USA; making runs along the "highway of death" between Baghdad Airport and the Green Zone. He gives a good description of the life of a military contractor in one the world's most dangerous zones. Pelton refrains from painting a too glorified picture of contractor life, and seems more to concentrate on the motivations of men working in the field.

Pelton also describes the history of the military contractor beginning in the early 1980s with such firms as the South African Executive Outcomes, and the British Sandline. He illustrates both the perceived benefits of private military intervention, such as quelling the RUF in Sierra Leone, to the not so clean interventions in Equatorial Guinea sponsored by the wealth-seeking interests of international business and finance.

All in all, I think Pelton does an excellent job refraining from the political bias which clouds much of the recent work on military contractors. Licensed to Kill serves as a readable description of the unstoppable move towards the expansion of private military contractors, and provokes thought and discussion on this new Pandora's Box.

Fascinating read that explores the implications of private security forces.......2007-08-07

This book reflects on the history and modern evolution of private security forces, their influences on the war on terror and the implications of the acceptance of private security forces in society's future.
Beyond just a dry assessment of private security contractors in Iraq, Pelton, adds dramatic personal narratives of his interactions with security contractors, aptly painting a picture of their experiences in Iraq.
This is a must read for anyone interested in the blurring of the line between the military and privately fielded armed forces, which raises interesting questions regarding the US Military's self-sufficiency, the allegiances of private forces, the skill-drain occurring in the armed forces and the future of warfare.

Bull's Eye!.......2007-05-22

In his book, Licensed to Kill, Robert Young Pelton hits the bull's eye with a sweeping, crash course in the explosive growth of private security contractors.

Thrust from the sweltering groins of Africa, Papua New Guinea and other trouble spots around the globe where hidden treasures of oil and minerals tempt buccaneering entrepreneurs, the private security industry is now bursting in full multi-billion-dollar glory on the bloody streets of Iraq.

Pelton chronicles it all with gritty first-hand experience and a keen, knowing vision: the past is prologue and the present boom in Iraq screams a cautionary tale for tomorrow. We may be witnessing the birth of a roving, freelance warrior class in constant search for new wars. (On second thought, the world may already have one. It's called the global war on terror.)

Licensed to Kill, proves once again that Pelton gets the interviews and access that few writers even dream about. He gallops into the secret mud brick camps of Afghanistan; lifts glasses with big wheels while toasting back-room money deals; sweats through a Triple Canopy training camp in Arkansas; barrels down the dangerous highways of Iraq; explores the twisted life of a self-aggrandizing bounty hunter searching for bin Laden; and lives the daily tensions of retired cops and veterans struggling to make a living for their families back home as hired guns.

Although these blue-collar workers may earn $600 a day, they work 24/7. It is grueling and deadly work. Just ask Miyagi, one of the many characters percolating through the book. Sent home by Blackwater to his wife and nine-year-old son in Santa Barbara, an IED drove a gash through his arm and left a fist-sized hole in his [..]. Now, he's waiting for a new assignment. He says it's too tough to make ends meet for his family as a cop in California.

Others, like Erik Prince, a politically-connected former Navy SEAL, never faced those worries. As the founder of the North Carolina-based Blackwater, USA, Prince hit the jackpot a long time ago with a multimillion-dollar family fortune. Today, his company banks on government security contracts totaling $750 million or more won after the Sept.11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. Blackwater's success may be only the beginning. Prince envisions taking part in contracts all over the world with Blackwater's own private air force. The company claims it can deploy a private regiment of 1,700 anywhere within a 24-hour notice.

"Prince likes to think of Blackwater's relationship to the traditional military as something akin to FedEx's relationship to the U.S. Post office," Pelton observes after meeting with Prince on several occasions.

Then there's Col. Tim Spicer, a former Scots Guardsman, who first plied his mercenary trade on the outskirts of the developed world by getting mixed up with coups, mineral rights and guns for cold hard cash. Today, Spicer has reinvented himself with the newly-formed Aegis Defence Services. His company holds the largest security contract in Iraq and is charged with coordinating the chaos among tens of thousands of gun-slinging contractors working for scores of companies.

But who will coordinate the chaos of private security companies after Iraq? The business is already on the prowl for new work. "The thing to watch," Pelton cautions, is if hired guns become a permanent fixture in foreign policy.

Even more troubling, is the prospect that the private warriors will begin to freelance in backing political coups -- sometimes unknowingly -- because their mission can be disguised by contracts to protect oil fields, gold mines and other corporate property.

Pelton recounts chilling incidents of this already happening before Iraq sucked up the talent from around the world and then went begging for new recruits. No one knows how many trained and battle-hardened private warriors are working in Iraq. Some estimate 30,000, others say 50,000 or more. Most of these fighters will have few crossover job skills once they leave, but they will have proven resumes showing they carry guns for hire and answer to no one but their company boss.

Licensed to Kill may be just the first chapter in what leads us to ask: what monster is this that the world has created?

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society

Average customer rating:

Helps Gain Better Understanding of the Physiology of War on Loved Ones
If You Want to Understand: A Review of "On Killing"
A must read for all
A Book for Warriors
Amazing book.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
Dave Grossman
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316330116

Customer Reviews:

Helps Gain Better Understanding of the Physiology of War on Loved Ones.......2007-09-25

This book was a recommended read by a family member to help understand the impact of war on the brave men and women that serve our country. I really enjoyed reading it and could not help to think of my Grandfather during many of the chronicles. If you want to understand your loved one better after returning from war, read this book. I am thankful I did.

If You Want to Understand: A Review of "On Killing".......2007-08-09

Because most of the individuals who know me are aware that I love to read, they often recommend books that they think I would enjoy reading. Many of the books that I have reviewed in The White Rhino Report came to my attention through personal recommendations. "On Killing - The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is no different, except for the fact that at least a half dozen of my friends told me that I needed to read this book. The curious thing about their recommendations was that each individual expressed his feelings about this book in almost identical terms. Each of these warriors, knowing that they were speaking to someone who has not served in the military, used a phrase like: "If you want to understand . . . you need to read `On Killing'!"

They did not say, "If you want to understand me," or "If you want to understand war," or even "If you want to understand the heart of a warrior." They left the statement hanging: "If you want to understand . . ." That truncated expression served as an all-encompassing statement that includes all of the above - and so much more.

Having read, and been captivated by, this singular book, I feel that I have begun to understand in a new way. Grossman, a decorated former Army Ranger, paratrooper and member of the faculty at West Point, has placed on the table for discussion what I would call "The Warrior's Secret." The overarching impression that Grossman left me with is that each warrior who has faced combat secretly struggles for the rest of his life with one of three powerful sets of emotions:

1) If he has been called upon to kill in battle, he wrestles with a haunting guilt over having overcome the basic human instinct not to kill our own kind. That wrestling can often lead to severe PTSD.

2) If he was faced with an opportunity to kill an enemy combatant, but chose not to kill, or found himself incapable of killing, he suffers from the secret shame and humiliation of having failed to carry out that which he was trained to do - that which defines a true warrior.

3) If he served in the military in a role that was not combat arms, or if he never had an opportunity to engage an enemy, he wonders how he would have responded if faced with that life-or-death decision. And he secretly feels like he never truly became a warrior.

For much of history, the warrior code made if difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to speak honestly about these struggles. Our military has come a long way in the past several generations in terms of understanding these psychological and emotional dynamics of warfare, and in terms of giving permission for veterans and active duty military personnel to speak openly and honestly about these formerly taboo topics. Grossman has carved out a second career in publicly and privately offering this explicit permission to those who have served in combat and who wrestle with these persistent struggles.

As soon as I finished reading the book, I placed a call to my friend, Kevin. He was one of those who had told me to read the book. He is a veteran of two deployments to Iraq. I wanted to test out on Kevin the validity of what I describe above as "The Warrior's Secret." Kevin not only confirmed that I was on the right track and was beginning to "Get it," but he also added the following comments:

"Now you need to read Grossman's next book - `On Combat.' It is more comprehensive in scope than `On Killing.' In each unit I have served in, we made sure that there was a copy of each of these books available to us to help us survive. They function as a sort of a psychological survival manual."

(Based on Kevin's recommendation, I immediately ordered "On Combat." I plan to review that book within the next few days. Stay tuned!)

To give you a direct sense of how insightful and revolutionary Grossman's writing is, I will share with you several excerpts. Grossman lays on the table the idea that historically in combat, many warriors have shied away from making a kill when they were given an opportunity to do so.

"The simple fact appears to be that, like S.L.A. Marshall's riflemen of World War II, the vast majority of rifle- and musket-armed soldiers of previous wars were consistent and persistent in their psychological inability to kill their fellow human beings. Their weapons were technologically capable , and they were physically quite able to kill, but at the decisive moment each man became, in his heart, a conscientious objector who could not bring himself to kill the man standing before him" (Page 27)

"There is ample indication of the existence of the resistance to killing and that it appears to have existed at least since the black powder era. This lack of enthusiasm for killing the enemy causes many soldiers to posture, submit, or flee, rather than fight; it represents a powerful psychological force on the battlefield; and it is a force that is discernible throughout the history of man. The application and understanding of this force can lend new insight to military history, the nature of war, and the nature of man." (Page 28)

"That the average man will not kill even at the risk of all he holds dear has been largely ignored by those who attempt to understand the psychological and sociological pressures of the battlefield. Looking another human being in the eye, making an independent decision to kill him, and watching as he dies due to your action combine to form the single most basic, important, primal and potentially traumatic occurrence of war. If we understand this, then we understand the magnitude of the horror of killing in combat. . . Why is this not often discussed? If Johnny can't kill, if the average soldier will not kill unless coerced and conditioned and provided with mechanical and mental leverage, then why has it not been understood before?" (Pages 30-31)

Grossman makes a compelling case that the poor rate at which soldiers in World Wars I and II fired their weapons when called upon to do so led to a revolution in the way in which subsequent generations of soldiers were trained - using operant conditioning techniques introduced by Skinner. As a consequence, firing rates in Korea climbed, and soared even higher in Vietnam. The result was an alarming increase in the incidence of PTSD among returning soldiers and Marines. Grossman argues that we learned to do a better job of turning men into killing machines, but we did not learn how to help them cope with the aftermath of what we had trained them to do.

"In both the Berkun and Shalit studies we see indications that fear of death and injury is not the primary cause of psychiatric casualties on the battlefield. Indeed, Shalit found that even in the face of a society and culture that tells soldiers that selfish fear of death and injury should be their primary concern, it is instead the fear of not being able to meet the terrible obligations of combat that weighs most heavily on the minds of combat soldiers. . . Research in this field has been that of blind men groping at the elephant - one grasps what he thinks is a tree, another finds a wall, and still another discovers a snake. All have a piece of the puzzle, but none is completely correct." (Page 53)

Grossman offers a fascinating look into the theory and practice of inoculating recruits and military cadets against hatred and other psychological factors.

"Combining an understanding of (a) those factors that cause combat trauma with (b) an understanding of the inoculation process permits us to understand that in most of these military schools the inoculation is specifically oriented toward hate.

The drill sergeant who screams into the face of a recruit is manifesting overt interpersonal hostility. Another effective means of inoculating a trainee against the Wind of Hate can be seen in U.S. Army and USMC pugil-stick training during boot camp or at the U.S. Military Academy and the British Airborne Brigade, where boxing matches are a traditional part of the training and initiation process. When in the face of all of this manufactured contempt and overt physical hostility the recruit overcomes the situation to graduate with honor and pride, he realizes at both a conscious and unconscious levels that he can overcome such overt interpersonal hostility. He has become partially inoculated against hate." (Page 82)

In the chapter entitled "The Burden of Killing," Grossman articulates what I see as his primary premise - and thereby offers his primary gift to the warrior community: opening up for discussion - both public and private - the secret burden that each warrior carries within his heart.

"The soldier in combat is trapped within this tragic Catch-22. If he overcomes his resistance to killing and kills an enemy soldier in close combat, he will forever be burdened with blood guilt, and if he elects not to kill, then the blood guilt of his fallen comrades and the shame of his profession, nation, and cause lie upon him. He is damned if he does, and damned it he doesn't." (Page 87)

The feedback I received from my friend, Kevin, reinforced my sense that Grossman's pioneering work has been enormously helpful to those called to serve in fields of fire in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere where our troops are deployed. The book provided me with a glimpse into the mind and heart of those who have been faced with the decision to kill or not to kill - a level of understanding I may not have been able to attain in any other way. Kevin's comment about the book's effectiveness in combat speaks loudly as a recommendation for all warriors to add this book to their arsenal of tools and weapons.

Speaking as one who has not been in combat, but who numbers among my friends many warriors, I recommend this book to anyone who desires to understand and to engage in meaningful conversation those friends and family members who have been called upon to make the awful choice to take a human life. One of the ways that we can show our gratitude to the warriors who bear these burdens that are almost unthinkable is to take a step towards them and make the effort to understand.

"If you want to understand" . . . read this book!

Al

A must read for all.......2007-07-10

A must have for any library. This book is even more important now that all the iraq war vets are returning. even if you are a civilian you should read this book to better understand what they have gone through. No matter what any man says, taking another humans life, even when justified, still changes a person. This book atemps to explain what that change is and why it happens.

A Book for Warriors.......2007-06-27

I believe LtCol Grossman was right on the mark and the book was very well thought out and the content was accurately researched.
This book should be read by all military and police. It gives a great insight into the repercussions of having to take someones life.
It also should be read by all of our elected officials so they can see what our society is turning into and why this is happening.

Amazing book........2007-06-17

This book delves deeply into the psychology of combat and killing and shows the relevency of this information in our everyday lives. The most exhaustive source on this topic that I have found. Very interesting read. Loads of excellent facts and information. Anyone can benefit from reading this book! Excellent overall message. If you have children, this book is a must read! Highly recommended.

Consent to Kill: A Thriller (Mitch Rapp Novels)

Average customer rating:

Republican Propaganda
Mitch Rapp Series
1st book I read in the Mitch Rapp series. Loved it so I went and bought the rest
Pushing all the right buttons
amazing

Consent to Kill: A Thriller (Mitch Rapp Novels)
Vince Flynn
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416505016
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Book Description

On the front lines of the global war on terror, CIA superagent Mitch Rapp races to save one more life: his own.

An eye for an eye: that's what the powerful father of a dead terrorist demands in retribution -- and with his hate-filled plea, Mitch Rapp becomes the target of an explosive international conspiracy. The fearless operative has both killed with impunity and tortured to avert disaster, all in a battle to preserve freedom. But even among America's allies, some believe the time has come to bring Rapp down. Now the hunter is the hunted, and Rapp must rely on his razor-sharp instincts for survival -- and justice -- as he unleashes his fury on those who have betrayed him.

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"For years, Mitch Rapp's bold actions have saved the lives of countless Americans. He has killed with impunity, tortured to avert disaster, and shown he will do whatever it takes to prevent terrorists from fulfilling their bloody wishes. His battles for peace and freedom have made him a hero to many, and an enemy to countless more. In the tangled, duplicitous world of espionage, there are those, even among America's allies, who want to see Mitch Rapp eliminated. They have decided the time has come. Now, the powerful father of a dead terrorist demands vengeance in its simplest form -- an eye for an eye, and Rapp instantly becomes the target of an international conspiracy. This time, he must use all of his vigilance and determination to save himself before he can turn his fury on those who have dared to betray him. "

Customer Reviews:

Republican Propaganda.......2007-09-28

This novel gets my "Razzz!" of the year award. I see all of the 5 star reviews and can only explain them by supposing that the people reading Flynn's books are looking for this particular sort of nonsense.
The hero is a HERO and a one of those bully boys for the President that take care of business that can't be left to those pinkos in Congress. If you have a loose sense of reality, and are among the 29% who still give Bush a positive approval rating (perhaps a redundant statement), this is the book for you. If not give it a miss and try some Lee Child, or the new novel "Volk's Game".

Mitch Rapp Series.......2007-09-11

Always a good read when you can follow an intriguing character through several novels. The Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn is the best I have read since Ludlum's early days.

1st book I read in the Mitch Rapp series. Loved it so I went and bought the rest.......2007-07-25

Enjoyed this book so much I went and bought all the Mitch Rapp series novels. Really have enjoyed going through them from the start. About to start Executive Power. I highly recommend this book and author. Do yourself a favor though and start with Transfer of Power.

Pushing all the right buttons.......2007-07-18

This is my first Mitch Rapp novel but it won[t be my last. A great story about the classic rogue CIA agent, but rogue for the good guys. And the book serves up rough justice on an assortment of bad characters, from imam apostles of hate, to inside-the-beltway paper-pushers, to amoral terrorist enablers. SPOILER ALERT. I mean, when you have the protagonist go to Saudi Arabia, strap a bomb vest on the evildoer's son, then blow up the son and the bad guy while flipping off a security camera, there isn't really anything more to do to satisfy the bloodlust of the reading audience, myself included. I only worry about one thing, which is that I share many of the geopolitical attitudes of the former East German bad guy. I hope Flynn isn't trying to tell me something.

amazing.......2007-07-01

consent to kill is one amazing book. from the beginning to the end it never slows down. i only stopped reading to work or sleep.

When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better And/Or Worse

Average customer rating:

Entertaining, but not something that will help you in your writing
Speak, Memory
Speech Therapy
Parts of speech? Horrors! But clear and applicable in this book
The Parts of Speech Can Be Fun

When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better And/Or Worse
Ben Yagoda
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Grammar | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0767920775
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

What do you get when you mix nine parts of speech, one great writer, and generous dashes of insight, humor, and irreverence? One phenomenally entertaining language book.

In his waggish yet authoritative book, Ben Yagoda has managed to undo the dark work of legions of English teachers and libraries of dusty grammar texts. Not since School House Rock have adjectives, adverbs, articles, conjunctions, interjections, nouns, prepositions, pronouns, and verbs been explored with such infectious exuberance. Read If You Catch an Adjective, Kill It and:

Learn how to write better with classic advice from writers such as Mark Twain (“If you catch an adjective, kill it”), Stephen King (“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs”), and Gertrude Stein (“Nouns . . . are completely not interesting”).

Marvel at how a single word can shift from adverb (“I did okay”), to adjective (“It was an okay movie”), to interjection (“Okay!”), to noun (“I gave my okay”), to verb (“Who okayed this?”), depending on its use.

Avoid the pretentious preposition at, a favorite of real estate developers (e.g., “The Shoppes at White Plains”).

Laugh when Yagoda says he “shall call anyone a dork to the end of his days” who insists on maintaining the distinction between shall and will.

Read, and discover a book whose pop culture references, humorous asides, and bracing doses of discernment and common sense convey Yagoda’s unique sense of the “beauty, the joy, the artistry, and the fun of language.”

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, but not something that will help you in your writing.......2007-10-08

When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It entertains. Ben Yagoda, the author, writes well. (Referring to him as "Ben Yagoda, the author," is a bit of a joke -- that phrasing sometimes means something special, as the book will tell you.) And Yagoda lays out the principles behind the parts of speech with a witty style that goes deep enough, but not too deep. Never a pedant, he still teaches.

But his style was a bit much for me. He reminds me of a friend who makes a joke out of almost everything. He's fun to be around for a while. But stay too long in his presence, and the urge to tell him to shut up becomes almost unbearable. Same with Yagoda for me.

One example Yagoda used -- as a preface to the section on prepositions -- shows why. E.B. White, co-author of the The Elements of Style and author of Charlotte's Web, once wrote in a letter: "The next grammar book I bring out I want to tell how to end a sentence with five prepositions. A father of a little boy goes upstairs after supper to read to his son, but he brings the wrong book. The boy says, 'What did you bring the book that I don't want to be read to out of up for?'" (Regrettably, White died before he wrote the book.)

But when Yagoda uses the example, suddenly it is "What did you bring that book about Down Under that I didn't want to be read to out of up for? -- Boy's question to his father, who's just climbed the stairs and walked into the boy's bedroom carrying a boring book about Australia." (I suspect that the version Yagoda intended was this one -- "What did you bring the book that I did not want to be read to about Down Under out of up for?" His version makes little sense -- why add the "about Down Under" in the middle of the sentence?)

If you like Yagoda's version better, you'll like Yagoda's book a lot. If you like White's version better, you won't.

And no one did a careful copy edit of the book. Lots of typos. Sometimes the wrong word was used. Pretty careless for a book like this to have errors like that. What's an English professor doing missing them? His students can have a field day finding them.

So let me recommend this. If you like to read a lot, pick this book up. Few books cover this subject matter. Those that do are pretty dry, something that cannot be said about Yagoda's writing.

But if you like to be more selective, take a pass on When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It. Save your time and your book budget for something better. There are enough books that are.

Speak, Memory.......2007-08-27

"When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It!" Hmm... Too bad Nabokov forgot that one.

Speech Therapy.......2007-05-17

I caught it, fought it and still can't get rid of that hellacious adjective. Unfortunately, the book was of little help or kept my interest. If you're an English Lit. major this may be for you -- Steve

Parts of speech? Horrors! But clear and applicable in this book.......2007-05-07

I bought this book because I am ninety years old and had never been taught the parts of speech--and obviously did not have much time left if I were to learn them! This is far better written and presented than anything I have looked at before. I not only finished it it will stay with my dicionary at my side. Bill Weifenbach

The Parts of Speech Can Be Fun.......2007-04-04

Among writers of English, there is a strong interest in their own language, and a long tradition of manuals by writers who suggest how to use English without error. Ambrose Bierce wrote such a manual, and writers constantly refer (but not necessarily defer) to Fowler, and many can quote Strunk and White from memory. For some reason, contemporary writers on the subject of English are called "language mavens", and they are of two camps, the prescriptivists who would like to tell you how to say something properly according to the rules, and the descriptivists who document how the language is being (rather than should be) used. As usual, there are extremists at both ends of the spectrum, and it would be wise to stick to the middle. That does not mean staying bland. In _When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better and/or Worse_ (Basic Books), Ben Yagoda is happy to enjoy creative use of English that breaks rules. We would all be poorer without, for instance, Fats Waller's "One never knows, do one?" But he is also happy to emphasize (and, one assumes since he is an English teacher, enforce) the rules that work to promote clarity and understanding. His book isn't really a rulebook, but a survey in nine chapters of nine parts of speech, each a useful essay on usage.

"Ultimately, the issue of correctness just isn't very interesting," Yagoda writes. What is interesting are "words, phrases, and sentences that transcend their meaning - because they're smart, funny, well-crafted, pungent, unexpected, or sometimes wrong in just the right way." There are lots and lots of examples of such lively, perhaps grammatically questionable, usage in all the chapters here. The title of the book, about killing adjectives, is advice generally attributed to Mark Twain, who knew that using the right noun would preclude unnecessary adjectives. But adverbs get even less respect. Elmore Leonard wrote, "I have a character in one of my books tell how she used to write historical romances 'full of rape and adverbs.'" Stephen King wrote, "I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs." Yagoda says that two adverbs need special mention, and in so doing, demonstrates the subjective nature of judging usage. He doesn't like "arguably" as in, "He is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL", because it probably doesn't mean that anyone has taken this stance in an argument, but that the writer is withholding an opinion and standing behind a bogus adverb. But it is a surprise that he likes "like", as in "It's a complete obstruction of, like, freedom" because it makes the speaker seem less pompous (to be sure, this was a spoken, not a written example).

Yagoda dishes out such likes and dislikes in every chapter, with some being idiosyncratic and some conventional but for idiosyncratic reasons. For instance, in a section on sentence adverbs (one adverb to modify a whole sentence, as in "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"), he says that the most abused and annoying sentence adverb is "actually" which is overused as in "Actually, he's in a meeting", indicating that not only is he in a meeting, but I am actually telling you the truth when he is in a meeting. (It's fun to play the select-the-most-annoying game, and for worst-used adverb, I would have voted for "literally", as in, "She was literally walking on air.") He doesn't like "hopefully" except as meaning "done in a hopeful manner", as in, "He opened the treasure chest hopefully", but thinks it fills a need, as in "The package will arrive tomorrow, hopefully" since "... arrive tomorrow, I hope" sounds Pollyanna-ish. He would not accept, however, such a formation in a written essay. He shows to be foolish one of the prescriptivists' darling rules, that of never ending a sentence in a preposition. The original rule came from Latin usage, not English. While it is true that sentences as a rule should end strongly, forcing a preposition to the interior can weaken it, as in "We are such stuff on which dreams are made", or can render it stupid, as in repairing "I'm turning in," by "Turning in I am," which, Yagoda says, not even Yoda could spout with a straight face. There is plenty of good sense here, and fun in every chapter (yes, in a book about grammar), as well as entertaining sidelights on such things as the origin of the ampersand symbol and the inventor of the @ for e-mail addresses. There is also a lot of good advice quoted from great writers. Yagoda's book won't replace any style manuals, but his tone of tolerance for eccentricity and enthusiasm for colorful usage is welcome, and his own writing is clever and funny.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Pernnial Moderns Classics)

Average customer rating:

sorry I took so long
A Classic
A Perennial Favorite
After All These Years, It Gets Better and Better...
The Classic

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Pernnial Moderns Classics)
Harper Lee
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061120081
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Book Description

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South -- and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served as the basis of an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father -- a crusading local lawyer -- risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Customer Reviews:

sorry I took so long.......2007-10-07

It took me to long to finally read this book. In my school I don't know when I was growing up we never read this book. Instead I selected it for our book club.
I enjoyed reading this book finally. I used to hear this was a good read.
Growing up story, with the father at the center helping the children have good moral values. How it is hard for Scout to see her brother grow before her eyes, and they are no longer at the same level. There is a rape trial which is said when you do research on Harper Lee, that there was a real trial. That alot the book is based on true events.
I would reccommend this book to be read alone and then discussed with others.

A Classic.......2007-09-03

You can't go wrong buying a classic. This is a great book that has held up well over time.

A Perennial Favorite.......2007-08-29

With deadly insight into the core of prejudice and character motivation, Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird, which today is available in numerous editions and languages. 1935 is the setting of a story of a court appointed attorney, his family, their neighbors, and the world in which they live.
This outstanding classic is what fine writing is all about and has been the inspiration for many young people to take up writing as their vocation. Read by all ages and used as text material in countless classrooms; it is best of middle 20th century American writing.
If you've never read it, get it and do so. If you have read it, do so again for the second, third, or. . .time. Scout, Jem, Dill, Boo Radley, Atticus, and the Ladies group have the perennial freshness of a summer rain.
This one tops them all. The Lexington, KY newspaper ran a page of Top Ten Book Favorite by people for all walks of life, every Sunday this summer. "To Kill a Mockingbird" was the one book that made the majority of lists.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Sins of the Fathers."

After All These Years, It Gets Better and Better..........2007-08-09

Like fine wine, it gets better and better...

It had been more than 40 years since last visiting Atticus, Scout, Jem, Tom Robinson and Boo Radney. I had forgotten how much I loved them, how real they were, and how much they moved me...

Having grown up in times like those described in the book, though not in situations as dramatic, Harper Lee and her characters helped me once again put my own life and times in perspective.

An American classic? It's more than that--it's a human classic. We are not likely to see another like this in our lifetime.

If you've read it before, it's most likely time to read it again...you will appreciate it even more and admire Harper Lee's ability to communicate matters of the heart even more....like fine wine, it gets better and better...

The Classic.......2007-07-11

Quite simply, one of the five greatest American novels ever written. What a lesson for both children and adults, especially in this day and age.

Munchkin: Kill the Monsters, Steal the Treasure, Stab Your Buddy

Average customer rating:

Great fun for gamers and non gamers, fairly easy to learn
Loads of fun
Fun and Interesting
A Funny Solid Parody
Fun, irreverent game

Munchkin: Kill the Monsters, Steal the Treasure, Stab Your Buddy
Steve Jackson
Manufacturer: Steve Jackson Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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ASIN: 1556344732

Customer Reviews:

Great fun for gamers and non gamers, fairly easy to learn.......2007-09-10

I purchased the starter pack for Munchkin at a local gameshop after hearing about it online and from friends. My husband and I enjoy MMORPG's and he plays D&D & The Game of Thrones card game. I have never really gotten into the typical non computer role-playing games like D&D or card games like Magic. I decided to try this out so we could start gaming together at the game shop. We first tried it out this weekend and it was actually a lot of fun! With 2 people it's not as interesting as it would be with the recommended 3-6 players but even so, we had a lot of fun playing together! I am looking forward to playing with more people and I can't wait to get the other expansions! I would recommend this for ages 10 and up and adults. Some of the game play is confusing at first but after playing 2 rounds I got the hang of it. I am going to buy the next 2 expansions right now!

Loads of fun.......2007-07-13

I bought Munchkin and the first three add-ons for my husband for his birthday. Although we often play with just two players (not recommended for maximum fun by the creator of the game), we still have a blast playing Munchkin. If you've ever played Magic: The Gathering or Dungeons and Dragons, you will appreciate the humor and puns on these cards.

Fun and Interesting.......2007-01-09

I was given this as Christmas present. I played with my parents and younger brother for hours during the break. It allows us to map our strategy, we can partner or be competive with each other. Rare games that allow us to play as a family.

A Funny Solid Parody.......2005-09-15

It's about time the Dungeon and Dragons concept of dungeon-crawling, roleplaying, and loot gathering was broken apart into it's most basic components and shorn of it's fluff.

Munchkins is a card game which draws it's basis off the many roleplaying fantasy games that derive their heart from the Dungeon and Dragons system. The game is a complete parody while still providing a solid game play which is both fun and strategic.

Game play is rather simple: Each player begins as a level 1 human. Two decks are placed before you: the first are dungeon cards which contain a variety of different monsters, curses, and random effects; the 2nd is the treasure deck which contains the everimportant loot. You go into a dungeon, look for treasure, fight any monsters you see (you can enlist aid from your fellow players), and take the treasure. And what fantastic treasure it is! Great instruments of power like the "11 foot pole" and the "Kneepads of Allure".

Along the way you can draw cards which allow you to change your race or become other classes such as a thief, warrior, cleric or mage. The goal of the game is to reach level 10.

I found the optimal number of players for this game to be around 4-5. While you can play with 6 people expect the game to be long and that it will drag towards the end as each player closest to winning is bombarded with negative effects in order to prevent a level 10 victory. Gametime typically lasts around 45 minutes to an hour, but it is funny and enjoyable time.

I highly recommend this game for people who have played Dungeons and Dragons and thus can relate very well to the many jokes prevelant throughout the decks.

Fun, irreverent game.......2005-09-08

My 19-year old nephew introduced our family to this game. Now we are hooked, including our 13-year old daughter and two 9-year old boys. For anyone who has enjoyed reading or watching this kind of thing (dwarves, orcs, wizards, thieves, etc.), it should be a ton of fun. Where else can you go up a level because you drew a card that says "Invoke obscure rule"?

Average customer rating:

Still One Of My Favorite Grisham Books
Good Debut
A definite 10 out of 10 !!!!
A Thrilling legal Mystery that is a Real Page turner
What a (Mediocre) Book!

A Time to Kill
John Grisham
Manufacturer: Dell Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440211727
Release Date: 1992-06-01

Amazon.com

This addictive tale of a young lawyer defending a black Vietnam war hero who kills the white druggies who raped his child in tiny Clanton, Mississippi, is John Grisham's first novel, and his favorite of his first six. He polished it for three years and every detail shines like pebbles at the bottom of a swift, sunlit stream. Grisham is a born legal storyteller and his dialogue is pitch perfect.

The plot turns with jeweled precision. Carl Lee Hailey gets an M-16 from the Chicago hoodlum he'd saved at Da Nang, wastes the rapists on the courthouse steps, then turns to attorney Jake Brigance, who needs a conspicuous win to boost his career. Folks want to give Carl Lee a second medal, but how can they ignore premeditated execution? The town is split, revealing its social structure. Blacks note that a white man shooting a black rapist would be acquitted; the KKK starts a new Clanton chapter; the NAACP, the ambitious local reverend, a snobby, Harvard-infested big local firm, and others try to outmaneuver Jake and his brilliant, disbarred drunk of an ex-law partner. Jake hits the books and the bottle himself. Crosses burn, people die, crowds chant "Free Carl Lee!" and "Fry Carl Lee!" in the antiphony of America's classical tragedy. Because he's lived in Oxford, Mississippi, Grisham gets compared to Faulkner, but he's really got the lean style and fierce folk moralism of John Steinbeck. --Tim Appelo

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

With a chillingly calm, even delivery, Michael Beck, a regular Grisham reader (The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury), turns the narrative of this disturbing tale of racism, ignorance, and brutality into an almost visceral experience. "Cobb strung a length of quarter inch ski rope over a limb ... he grabbed her and put the noose around her head." The story is frighteningly believable and expertly crafted around a horrible crime and the tragic consequences that follow. At times, Beck's character voices can be distracting, but his efforts are generally applied to good effect, adding another level of tension to this already suspenseful look at a small Mississippi town's struggle for justice. (Running time: 17 hours, 12 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

In this searing courtroom drama, best-selling  author John Grisham probes the savage depths of  racial violence... as he delivers a compelling tale  of uncertain justice in a small southern  town...

Clanton, Mississippi. The life of a  ten-year-old girl is shattered by two drunken and  remorseless young man. The mostly white town reacts  with shock and horror at the inhuman crime. Until  her black father acquires an assault rifle -- and  takes justice into his own outraged hands.

For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of  sniper fire spread through the streets of  Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense  attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his  client's life... and then his own...

Customer Reviews:

Still One Of My Favorite Grisham Books.......2007-10-05

I am pretty sure I read this after I read The Firm and this one was more enojyable. Perhaps I was too cuaght up in the hype surrounding The Firm. This book somehow seemed more "real" and some of the plot turns in The Firm stuck me as too much of a strain, though it was a fun read.

I have all of John Grisham's books, and they are fun, but if I had to narrow the list down of which books of his I would recommend it would be this one and the list would also include The Client

Good Debut.......2007-09-16

I'm a John Grisham fan, and have read most of his novels. I think A TIME TO KILL is one of his best books, and a great courtroom drama.

The plot of A TIME TO KILL is straightforward. Jake Brigance is a young Mississippi lawyer who has been handed a case of a lifetime: defending a black man who has murdered the two rapists of his young daughter. Grisham covers the events leading up to the trial in depth, and provides an interesting look into the daily life of a small town in the deep South.

I can't say this is a perfect book, since the plot is a bit too unrealistic and melodramatic in spots. I also didn't find the main character entirely likable, since he seemed more interested in advancing his own career above everything else. I further found the character of Ellen, who magically shows up in the second half of the book to assist Brigance, to be silly and completely unnecessary to the story.

Still, the novel is highly entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. I read A TIME TO KILL in a few sittings, and enjoyed the experience a great deal. Along with THE FIRM, I would say this is the best book by Grisham.

A definite 10 out of 10 !!!!.......2007-09-07

John Grisham is one of my all-time favorite authors. I can't believe how good his first novel actually was. I've seen the movie a dozen times, but I'm just now getting to the book, which was way better, if that's possible. The plot is so controversial, it's a wonder no one's written this kind of story before. Great job.
--from the author of The Shadow God and Spiritual Sorrow.

A Thrilling legal Mystery that is a Real Page turner.......2007-07-30

This was my fourth novel by James Grisham that I have read and I certainly wasn't disappointed in this story. From the opening paragraph I was on the edge of my seat. The suspense was so thrilling that I couldn't bear to put it down. The author's fluid writing style makes for a comfortable read, and it is admittedly a page-turner. When he takes his subject matter seriously, he shines. The story is more gripping, and the characters have more depth. The reader can feel Tonya's pain and sympathize with Carl Lee's justifiable wrath. The trials that Jake Brigance undergoes to defend Carl Lee are dramatic and easy to understand. The different reactions of the citizens of Clanton; those that are for Carl Lee and those that are against him are described like only Mr. Grisham can. In summary, there are few authors that grab my attention and are able to create a wonderful spellbinding story and John Grisham is right up there are the top. It's a great story don't miss it.

Another legal mystery that will keep you guessing right up to the end is The Monopoly Factor by Robert L. Saunders. Mr. Saunders seems to realize that a real mystery built around real life experiences must end with a realistic ending with no loose strings. I am enthralled with Saunders smooth story telling writing style. This is a masterpiece mystery with a bit of romance that is worth of your attention. You won't be disappointed. So Long.

What a (Mediocre) Book!.......2007-07-28

Very few times in my life have I seen a movie and thought it better than the book it was based on. "A Time to Kill" is one of that select group.

I saw the movie a few months ago and was blown away. It was spectacular with courtroom drama, tension, and personal peril. It was the intersection of two very personal stories with the larger, national issue of race relations.

The book covered the same territory, but not nearly as well as the film. The writing was more wooden, the dialogue often forced, and the prose herky-jerky. But the story was really good. For a first effort, it's not bad, but I don't think it deserves the high consensus rating on Amazon.

We are introduced to the town of Clanton, Mississippi, which is to be the setting of many more Grisham novels. I like the town, and I like the people of Clanton, especially Teddy Rex Vonner, the scumbag divorce lawyer who is connected to every piece of gossip in the county. We also meet the straight-laced Jake Brigance who is a very likable and capable attorney charged with defending the man who murdered his daughter's rapists right in the courthouse in front of dozens of witnesses. The rest of the characters complement the story and help flesh it out fairly nicely. Overall, it's a pretty good book. In the hands of a better writer, it could have been a masterpiece.

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