True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, Cuba's Master Spy

True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, Cuba's Master Spy
Average customer rating:

An eye opener!

Good Title Deceptived Book

The search for Cuba's master spy.

How could a leftist be hired in the first place?

Unexpected great book on Cuban affairs

True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, Cuba's Master Spy
Scott W. Carmichael
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591141001
Release Date: 2007-03-03

Product Description

Ana Montes appeared to be a model employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Known to her coworkers as the Queen of Cuba, she was an overachiever who advanced quickly through the ranks of Latin American specialists to become the intelligence community's top analyst on Cuban affairs. But throughout her sixteen-year career at DIA, Montes sent Castro some of America's most closely guarded secrets and at the same time influenced what the United States thought it knew about Cuba. When she was finally arrested in September 2001, she became the most senior American intelligence official ever accused of operating as a Cuban spy from within the federal government. Unrepentant as she serves out her time in a federal prison in Texas, Montes remains the only member of the intelligence community ever convicted of espionage on behalf of the Cuban government.

This inside account of the investigation that led to her arrest was written by Scott W. Carmichael, the DIA's senior counterintelligence investigator who persuaded the FBI to delve deeper into Montes activities. Although Montes did not fit the FBI's profile of a spy and easily managed to defeat the agency's polygraph exam, Carmichael became suspicious of her activities and, with the FBI, over a period of several years developed a solid case against her. Here he tells the story of that long and ultimately successful spy hunt. Carmichael reveals the details of their efforts to bring her to justice, offering readers a front-row seat for the first major U.S. espionage case of the twenty-first century. She was arrested less than twenty-four hours before learning details of the U.S. plan to invade Afghanistan post-September 11. Motivated by ideology and not money, Montes was one of the last "true believers" of the Communist era. Because her arrest came just ten days after 9/11, it went largely unnoticed by the American public. This book calls attention to the grave damage Montes inflicted on U.S. security--Carmichael even implicates her in the death of a Green Beret fighting Cuban-backed insurgent in El Salvador and the damage she would have continued to inflict had she not been caught.

Customer Reviews:

An eye opener!.......2007-09-26

Before reading True Believer, I never understood the impact of the spy on the country which employs him/her and its sons and daughters fighting on foreign soil to protect their country. It's hard to believe that someone so intelligent and so well educated as Anna Montes could be so loathsome as to pass military secrets to Fidel Castro's followers, not to mention all of the countries with which these followers share their secrets-- Iran, Venezuala, etc. The writer's style is unique, more like a day-to-day diary of how Ms. Montes activities barely scratched Michael Carmichael's comfort zone for years. I want my friends to read it so we can discuss it together. Everyone owes it to their own knowledge base to read this true story.

Good Title Deceptived Book .......2007-09-20

If this is the way US agencies operates no wonder we are in so bad chape to act before things happens... The author only fills out pages without saying anything of value including Ana's investigation, trial or life... It does not offer anything relevant about who or why... The book acomplish a message: creating doubts about how many Ana's might exist in government agencies...

The search for Cuba's master spy........2007-09-14

Ana Montes was Cuba's most highly placed spy inside the American intelligence community. For 16 years she burrowed her way into the DIA rising to become that Agencies leading expert on all matters related to Cuba. This is the story of how she was eventually caught by the author Scott Carmichael and a team of FBI agents. He describes how her treason contributed to the death of at least one American Special Forces advisor, Greg Fronnius, in El Salvador in 1986. Finally, he describes that he wrote this book in part to alert the American public and the rest of the intelligence community to his strongly held suspicion that there are other Cuban moles like Montes who have yet to be discovered.

How could a leftist be hired in the first place?.......2007-09-03

Ana Montes pretended to be the perfect intelligence employee. She eventually became perhaps the number one analyst in our entire country to study and recommend polices dealing with the Cuban Communist government. Scott W. Carmichael was a lead investigator who eventually gathered enough evidence to send her to prison. You will have a hard time putting this book down until it is finished. The author has indeed written an engaging book---and I am highly recommending it. Still, he ignores a crucial question: why was she ever hired in the first place? Montes was known to be someone possessing very left-wing views long before her employment begin. How in heavens name did she ever pass a simple background check? I read the book a few days ago and only now are the questions coming to the surface. I am flabbergasted that Montes was not under suspicion long before her arrest. Didn't it strike anyone odd that she was unmarried and childless? Also, why the reluctance to spend her free time with her working associates? Were there never any give-and-take conversations concerning politics? I am just not getting it. There is a possibility that I'm deluding myself, but it is my guess that I would have sensed something wrong within the first few months working alongside Ana Montes.

You should also read Rowan Scarborough's Sabotage: America's Enemies Within the CIA. Our intelligence agencies are filled with employees who would have been considered traitors in an earlier area. Another book that must be read is Aid And Comfort: Jane Fonda in North Vietnam by Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer. A lot of confusion has resulted because Jane Fonda was never tried for treason. If she is not a traitor---who is? What constitutes legitimate dissent from that of outright treason? Are we no longer able to make a clear distinction in a postmodernist cultural milieu? Scott W. Carmichael may want to tackle this dilemma in his next book.

Unexpected great book on Cuban affairs.......2007-07-17

Amazon recommended this book after looking for Che books. I bought it and I was locked into it even at the Prologue stage. It is a quick read, and very interesting. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

don't bother
Beware: This is NOT a ghost story!
A little too cheesy
No Sparks this time
How is this guy so famous?

True Believer
Nicholas Sparks
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446618152

Book Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks comes an unforgettable love story that explores the deepest mysteries of all-those of the heart. As a science journalist with a regular column in Scientific American, Jeremy Marsh specializes in debunking the supernatural. A born skeptic, he travels to the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina determined to find the real cause behind the ghostly apparitions that appear in the town cemetary.What he doesn't plan on, however, is meeting and falling hopelessly in love with Lexie Darnell, granddaughter of the town psychic. Now, if the young lovers are to have any kind of future at all, Jeremy must make a difficult choice: return to the life he knows, or do something he's never done before-take a giant leap of faith. But his choice is only the beginning, for their story takes the most unlikely twist of all, one that will finally make Jeremy a TRUE BELIEVER.

Customer Reviews:

don't bother.......2007-09-04

I have to agree with many of the other reviewers. The premise had me interested then the story did not amount to much. I was let down at the end. The problem is I finished the book because I already bought the next one At First Sight. I think Sparks really dropped the ball on this one. It was such a let down from his other novels that I was surprised.

Beware: This is NOT a ghost story!.......2007-08-27

I'm writing this review in the hopes of dissuading anyone from buying it based on what the synopsis says on the back cover! Here's the part I'm referring to: "...Jeremy Marsh [Scientific American journalist hero of the story] specializes in debunking the supernatural and has a real nose for the strange and unusual. ...he travels to the small town of Boone Creek, determined to find the real cause behind the ghostly apparitions that appear in the town cemetery..." Based on this, I thought there would be some great ghostly intrigue interspersed with the promised love story.

Well, we don't get the first glimpse of the ghosts until page 167! And in the whole book, perhaps 30 pages (of 322) have ANYTHING to do with ghosts. As a matter of fact, the whole ghost business is a limp, mostly lifeless subplot to an equally limp love story.

And I like good love stories. But this is not one of them. Contrived and cliche, I never really cared much for the relationship of Jeremy and Lexie, the small town librarian he meets while investigating the 'ghost story'.

I believe this book would never have been published had it been a first novel - the writing drags and winds, badly in need of tightening, and neither the love story nor the ghost story, by themselves, are worth the read.

Lastly, I have to say shame on the editor for letting Mr. Sparks dish out erroneous science - a new moon is NOT caused by the moon being in the earth's shadow! That would be an eclipse. A new moon is when the moon is not visible because all of the light from the sun is hitting the side of the moon currently not visible. Google it. Amazing that such a silly error could pass the editor. But given the drivel of the rest of the book, I guess I'm not surprised.

In summary: just another shallow sappy love story, with little bits about ghosts (which turn out to be nothing anyway) interspersed. Do not buy.

A little too cheesy.......2007-08-25

This book was just okay. It is my second Nicholas Sparks book, and I am trying to figure out why he is so loved. Both the books I have read, "A Bend in the Road" and now "True Believer" were just okay. Both of these books seemed to follow the formula of boy and girl meet, boy and girl fall in love after some apprehension by one of them, boy and girl encounter snag in relationship, boy and girl work everything out in the end. Also, am I the only one that feels these are so unbelievably cheesy that they just want to gag?? The last line of "True Believer" almost had me lose my dinner it was so disgustingly cheese-ball.

No Sparks this time.......2007-08-04

I usually love Nicholas Sparks' books but this one seemed to drag on and on. I couldn't feel the connection between Jeremy and Lexie. So predictable but was hoping that they would say goodbye in the end so as to end the boredom of their relationship.

How is this guy so famous?.......2007-07-24

I have seen a couple of Spark's book-adapted movies and loved them, so i thought i would take a chance on his writing. I felt no connection to his characters, the plot was slow, and i was very disappointed. The book wasn't worth the time it took to read. Sorry, nicholas. Maybe, hopefully, his other stuff is better.

The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements (Perennial Classics)

Average customer rating:

Understanding followings1
To Believe
The Optimistic Jew
An Essential Book for Educated People
Hoffer at The Eye of the Storm

The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements (Perennial Classics)
Eric Hoffer
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

A stevedore on the San Francisco docks in the 1940s, Eric Hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. The True Believer -- the first and most famous of his books -- was made into a bestseller when President Eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences.Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world today, The True Believer is a visionary, highly provocative look into the mind of the fanatic and a penetrating study of how an individual becomes one.

Customer Reviews:

Understanding followings1.......2007-10-09

This is a very good book for anyone wanting to know why people follow mass movements or if they want to try and start a mass movement!

To Believe.......2007-09-19

Read this book in 1992...changed the way that I looked at the world and organized religion. Really helps in understanding anything that deals with politics, religion, and any other mainstream ideology.

The Optimistic Jew.......2007-08-31

This is a companion piece to Erich Fromm's "Escape From Freedom". It is an analysis of fanatics - human beings that are compelled to join causes no matter what the cause. By extension it is an investigation of mass movements from early Christianity up to Fascism and Communism. This book is a cautionary against dangerous trends in the Zionist Enterprise (notice I use the term Enterprise and not Movement). Fanatic selfless idealism - whether of right wing settlers or of leftwing social reformers is dangerous. The arrogant self-righteousness of both can justify corruption, breaking the law and horrendous crimes.
As Hoffer puts it: "It is only when the movement has passed its active stage and solidified into a pattern of stable institutions that individual liberty has a chance to emerge". In the Jewish context we are not post-Zionist we are post Zionist Movement and well into the Zionist Enterprise. I celebrate the maturing of Zionism from a Movement into an Enterprise. The so called solidarity of the past stifled individual self-actualization. Today the Zionist Enterprise offers many opportunities to individuals to actualize themselves as human beings and as Jews. I believe this is admirable and not to be regretted. My book "The Optimistic Jew: a Positive Vision for the Jewish People in the 21st Century" reflects this view.

An Essential Book for Educated People.......2007-05-24

Hoffer's 150-page book is a classic that applies perfectly to our times. Hoffer hits the mark again and again with "Machiavellian detachment" as one reviewer said. Of fanatics, Hoffer wrote:

"The effectiveness of a doctrine should not be judged by its profundity, sublimity or the validity of the truths it embodies, but by how thoroughly it insulates the individual from his self and the world as it is."

"The effectiveness of a doctrine does not come from its meaning but from its certitude."

"It is obvious, therefore, that in order to be effective a doctrine must not be understood, but has to be believed in. We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand. A doctrine that is understood is shorn of its strength." (quotations from page 76)

Very powerful and convincing reasoning!

Hoffer at The Eye of the Storm.......2007-04-07

Here is the first thing anyone needs to know about reading "The True Believer": Eric Hoffer is not on your team, whatever your team may be, whether right, left, moderate, secular or non-secular, or whatever. If anyone ever attempts to sell you on an ideology with a quote from "The True Believer", please know that Hoffer is tumbling in his grave.

If you are looking to pump your fist in the air at the moment that Hoffer skewers the ideology you oppose, yes, you will have that moment, but please know that you're going to turn the page and find Hoffer is skewering your ideology on the next. There's no escape from "The True Believer" because Hoffer seems to demand that we be something more than de -politicized know-nothings, but makes the additional demand that we not become ideological sheep in the process.

This may, in part, be why "The True Believer" may be the most popular book of its kind that no one has ever heard of. (Oxymoron intended.) No writer is objective, but Hoffer gets as close to it as anyone and then pulls off something quite amazing; he throws bombs everywhere, reducing any kind of ideological proponent to what they really are; an individual caught up in a phenomena larger than themselves. There are great metaphysical implications in this, but Hoffer doesn't entertain them. He's reporting from a rowboat at the peaceful eye of an ideological hurricane of mass movements, and he's not happy about what he sees and he let's it be known.

"The True Believer" is not wordy in the least, and it's quite short, about 120 pages, but it's a bit hard to get through if you're unprepared because Hoffer writes in a manner that makes one feel they should be scribbling each line down as a quotation to keep in mind. It's a very assertive book and Hoffer doesn't say things, he proclaims them, in almost every sentence. You're just recovering from the impact of one sentence, and then you find you've had a head on collision with the next. You quickly realize that you understood every word, very much so, but you're boxing with a tough s.o.b. This also makes the book very quotable for someone looking to sell an ideology, a practice which indicates that they've read the book, but not understood it.

It's important to keep in mind that Hoffer isn't looking for a good guy or bad guy. Hoffer's subject is "Mass Movements". If you read the book with the "eye of the storm" perspective in mind, you'll find it fascinating and compulsively readable. If you read it seeking an affirmation of your own worldview, you're likely to find yourself shipwrecked at page 30 or so.

Skeptics and True Believers: The Exhilarating Connection Between Science and Spirituality

Average customer rating:

Great contribution to the 'genre'
Reviewing Raymo
The Common Link Between Religion and Science
Skeptics, True Believers, and for those in between as well
The Interface Between Science and Religion

Skeptics and True Believers: The Exhilarating Connection Between Science and Spirituality
Chet Raymo
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Psychology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0802713386

Book Description

Years ago, noted science teacher and writer Chet Raymo embarked upon his own quest to reconcile the miracle stories he learned as a child with the science he learned as an adult. Skeptics and True Believersis the culmination of that search—a passionate, ever-inquisitive statement that science and religion can mutually reinforce the way we experience the world.

Acknowledging that the scientific and the spiritual communities are increasingly split, Raymo builds strong bridges between them. He illustrates his argument with an array of thought-provoking stories, such as the remarkable migratory flight of a small bird called the red knot; the long, glorious glide of the Comet Hyakutake across the night sky; a hilarious alien abduction that didn't happen. Together, they are compelling evidence that religion should embrace the reliable knowledge of the world that science provides, while at the same time science should respect and nourish humankind's need for spiritual sustenance. "Miracles are explainable," Raymo paraphrases the writer Tim Robinson, "it is the explanations that are miraculous."

For anyone drawn to reflect on life's meaning and purpose, Chet Raymo's uncompromising skepticism and reverence for mystery will affirm and inspire.

Customer Reviews:

Great contribution to the 'genre'.......2007-08-23

Very timely in the '90's , a tad dated in 2007 but still a stimulating read. sits well next to the recent Dawkins and the like. Rayom as always, a most accessible writer.
MF

Reviewing Raymo.......2005-09-15

Chet Raymo has the rare fine gift of poetic insight honed and tempered with intellectual rigor. His writing is accurate, lucid, and beautiful, and he makes his case solidly with grace and clarity; his arguments never strident, always reasonable. Stylistically, Raymo is in good company: often reminiscent of Loren Eiseley, Carl Sagan, or Barry Lopez at their best. It is work like his that will keep science and clear thinking alive in these days of the sound byte and shallow, silly popular culture.

The Common Link Between Religion and Science.......2005-03-31

The link is awe and admiration of creation and a reverence for all life from the micro to the macro. Although brought up in Catholicism, Raymo was later schooled in science (physics and astronomy) and has been attempting to rectify the rifts between religion and science ever since. This he does just about as good or better than anyone. In "Skeptics and True Believers", one will find close parallels to the writing of environmentalist Thomas Berry, biologist E.O. Wilson, et al.

Raymo's writing style is lyrical, poetic, anecdotal, scholarly and very insightful- most of all, compelling. One will find this book full of great citations with his own thoughts thrown in, such as: ["Put on your jumping shoes," cried the fourteenth-century mystic Meister Eckhart, "which are intellect and love." Religion without science is idolatrous. Science without religion might be even more dangerous: amoral power without constraint, without wisdom, without love.] Indeed! And Raymo's take on reductionism: "No theory conceived by the human mind will ever be final. The universe is vast, marvelous, and deep beyond our knowing; its horizons will always recede before our advance. All dreams of finality are (probably) futile."

Although skeptical of the efficacy of some of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's conclusions in the "Phenomenon of Man", he concurs with him with: [He insisted that the surest way to know God is through his creation, and the truest knowledge of creation is that provided by contemporary science. "Less and less do I see any difference now between research and adoration."]. And with that, keep in mind that Teilhard was a French Benedictine Monk and paleontologist /geologist who often ran afoul of the church for his thoughts, so he left his works to a friend in the U.S. to be published posthumously.

Although I read this great work of Raymo's almost 2 years ago, I was inspired to write this review after reading his latest book, "Climbing Brandon" which is a continuation of his efforts to balance religion and science and he wrote that book while residing at his second home on Ireland's Dingle Peninsula near the foot of Mt. Brandon. It is a beautiful piece of work and makes a fine sequel to "Skeptics".

Skeptics, True Believers, and for those in between as well.......2004-05-25

Chet Raymo grew up Catholic, as did I. Through his life of studying science, he valued the scientific search for Truth. That brought him, as many scientists, to face the apparent dichotomy between science and religion.

Raymo interestingly takes that "science vs. religion" apart, and reconstructs it as "Skeptics vs. True Believers", and in doing so, examines the human aspect of the conflict as well as the more ubiquitous aspects. The whole creation vs. evolution argument has gotten worn out, and it's replacement, "intelligent design" vs. evolution has gotten equally abused. Raymo makes his case briefly (thankfully), and goes on to face *why* people seem to have the need to be either Skeptical (doubtful despite evidence) or True Believers (faithful in spite of contrary evidence).

Raymo came to what I call a "full basket" moment with his Catholicism -- either he had to buy the full basket, accept and believe it all, or he could believe none of it. For other people, readily acknowledged by Raymo, the full basket moment is not an all-or-nothing. For some of us, it is, instead, a turning point. This is why I mention "those in between" in the title of this review.

For those of us who cringe at the negative connotations of the "Skeptic" title, and cringe equally at the naivete implied in "True Believers"; for those of us who don't buy the full basket of the beliefs of our church and religion, but still find great value in that religion -- this is a valid place to be. Raymo does not ignore that, and that is specifically the human aspect of the dichotomy that mixes the black and white to live in the gray area. Perhaps "avoids" rather than "mixes".

A Raymo very eloquently discusses, humanity is the only earthly life that is brutally, painfully aware of its mortality. Religion is the primary psychological force dealing with (or avoiding?) that mortality, promising life after death, through death, through reincarnation. Religion is a home for morality instruction, for rituals, for change-of-life ceremonies and celebrations. Religion has a tribal aspect, a belonging that is much needed by the human psyche, which no amount of skepticism, science, or knowledge of facts can replace.

While the title and much of the book is set up to explore the dichotomy, pinning one side *against* the other, it does just as much, perhaps unintentionally or perhaps not, blending the two sides together into a place where one can be comfortable with both. This book might be written as Raymo's attempt to find that place for himself.

I give it five stars. Whether Raymo has found that place of balance for himself or not, his exploration of the topic is well written, interestingly prepared, and very thought provoking.

The Interface Between Science and Religion.......2004-02-09

Chet Raymo has always been one of my favorite authors. I read his "365 Starry Nights" with a fascination that I have had for few books. After reading Kenneth Miller's "Finding Darwin's God" I was quite receptive to getting Raymo's take on the interface between science and religion in his book "Skeptics and True Believers." I was not disappointed. Raymo's thesis is that there needs to be a connection between religion and science that does not contradict solid scientific results and concepts. Raymo is clear in his writing and, among other things, rightly attacks the muddled postmodern concept that all ideas are equal. You cannot argue that Ptolemy's construct of epicycles is as good an idea as Copernicus' sun-centered system. This is utter nonsense. Science at its best does seek the closest approximation of "truth" at a given time and is also at its best a self-correcting system. Thus you cannot really have a conservative or liberal science. The Nazis tried to have an Aryan science and the Communists in the former Soviet Union tried to have a Socialist science, but they both failed miserably. This inability to be ultimately used for political purposes is one of the main strengths of science and what separates it from absolute belief systems.

Raymo also takes on strict reductionism, which is (as he points out) pretty close to a faith-, a faith that you can explain the universe in a final relatively simple theory of everything. Even Stephen Hawking has apparently given up on this idea (although he espoused it quite emphatically in his "A Brief History of Time.") The problem is the mind-boggling complexity of the universe and of the development and structure of life. Still, reductionism has served us well in the laboratory- it just does not take on the biggest problems easily. Perhaps one day we will know everything there is to know, but I think that we will be buried in mountains of data long before that day dawns.

I do partially disagree with Raymo on one point. While I think that he is absolutely correct that quantum physics cannot be used to "prove" the existence of God or of a spirit world, the chance effects of quantum theory could serve a basis for free will, as Roger Penrose suggests. I am not convinced that quantum events never affect events at larger scales, as Raymo thinks. However only time and more knowledge will settle that one. It may be, as Raymo says, that quantum events are swamped at larger scales. It may even be that at our level apparently indeterminate events become determinant if an infinite number of these events are summed. This is the "coin tossing" paradox- we cannot predict the outcome of a particular coin toss, but if you make a large number of tosses the ratio will be nearly 50-50 and if you made an infinite number the 50-50 ratio would be absolutely determined. However, I think that dispensing with free will completely (as some recent authors do, but Raymo does not) makes a mockery of science itself, as its practitioners than become automatons who are deluded into believing that they chose their views.

I will add one other quibble. Although I, as an agnostic, pretty much agree with Raymo, I still would hesitate to attack someone else's faith in a personal God. For one thing, while I would not depend on any ancient holy text as a source of truth, I am not going to tell a grieving parent that their child is not in a biblical heaven if that should give them comfort. Beside, I think that religious belief is to some extent probably a characteristic of the human species and may not easily be eliminated by all the science education we can provide. Why some believe or do not believe in a particular version of God is not easy to discover. However, I think it may be a result of the genetic makeup of humans interacting with their culture and apparent need for answers.

None the less, I agree with Raymo that it is important for scientists to explain the logic and evidence for their theories to the public. We just cannot expect everybody to immediately see scientific "truth" as THE truth, and modify their beliefs over night. Humans (including scientists sometimes) are really good at ignoring evidence against some cherished belief. We also need to avoid the trap of scientific hegemony over religion and the humanities in which science itself becomes god and other human endeavors, such as art, literature and music, are dismissed as "unscientific."

Book Description

When a group of teenagers discovers that their parents are actually super-villains, they run away from home... but that's only step one! Now that the evil Pride is gone, nearly every bad guy in the Marvel Universe is trying to fill the power vacuum in Los Angeles, and the Runaways are the only heroes who can stop them! Plus: What does a mysterious new team of young heroes want with the Runaways, and which fan-favorite Marvel characters are part of this group? Collects Runaways #1-6.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

This continues to be enjoyable, even if perhaps not as good as at the start. I am not sure that the break etc. is a good thing, or not. It is certainly getting crazier, as the offspring or various other creations and aliens turn up, along with revelations about the past.

Great for Everyone!.......2007-02-21

Runaways may look juvenile, and indeed it is perfect for the young adult crowd of comic-book lovers out there. But it's also surprisingly amusing and applicable for adult readers too. Brian K Vaughen is, as always, a spectacular writer. His characters are believable and amusing, and the plots are great. I own all of the Runaways published so far, and am still impressed with the series after two volumes of appreciation. This is a great series for comic book veterans (especially those who like Vaughen) and people new to the medium. Its also perfect for a huge range of ages. My younger sister loves it, my older parents love it, and my friends in college love it. The collected paperbacks are a great deal since they're sturdy and the art is vibrant. This series if definately RECOMMENDED for anyone young inside or out.

Fun read.......2006-06-21

Like the other volumes before it, this is a fun extension of the Runaways story. Kudos to Vaughn and team for keeping the fun alive and the story interesting this far into it.

AWESOME........2006-06-07

I had no problem with the size or quality of this book. FYI: IT IS AWESOME. I <3 Chase.

Never Stop Reading.......2006-06-04

The first 18 issues of Brian K. Vaughan's series Runaways are some of the greatest comics I've ever read. His story about 6 Los Angeles teenagers who ran away from home after finding out that their parents were evil supervillains was original, witty, and exciting. I was waiting for another hardcover to come out, but I just couldn't wait any longer. These first six issues of the second run of the series are great. The widespread theory is that, while Runaways hasn't been as good since the end of the initial run, it is still very good. Personally, I don't know what to say about that. Yes, so far, it's not as good, but it is still amazing, and I feel that we need to see where everything is going before we can make judgments like that.
Anyway, the story begins a few months after the end of Eighteen, the final issue of the first run. The Runways, who include Karolina (an alien who manipulates solar energy), Molly (a super-strong mutant), Gert (a girl with a mental connection to a velociraptor), Chase (the pilot of their ship the Leapfrog), and Nico (a sorceress), who is the new team leader, have made it their mission to fight crime in LA and to help other kids. In the wake of the destruction of the Pride, which was the evil organization that was run by their parents, supervillains have flocked to LA. While the Pride was evil, they kept the other villains out of LA, but now that they're gone, a power vacuum has been created, and the Runaways feel responsible. The team is now operating in one of their parents' old lairs under the La Brea Tar Pits, and their exploits force them to run from the law. They are still juvenile delinquents in the eyes of the police and the Avengers.
However, an Avenger soon pays them a visit, but there is a twist. A woman appears in their base and claims that she is from the future and that she is none other than Gert. It turns out that she will be the leader of the Avengers in the future, but her team, along with every other superteam, will be betrayed by one of their own. The future Gert tells the Runaways to find a boy named Victor Mancha and stop him before he can grow up to become the man who destroys all heroes on Earth.
Victor is a teenager going to a Los Angeles high school, who idolizes superheroes along with his friend. The two of them often dream about what it would be like to be heroes, but neither of them feel like they could do it. But when the Runaways show up to apprehend Victor, he learns that he may not be as ordinary as he once thought.
Meanwhile, a group of former child superheroes called Excelsior has been given orders to find the Runaways and detain them. Excelsior, which is comprised of Phil Urich, the heroic incarnation of the Green Goblin, Julie Power, formerly of the Power Pack, Chris Powell, who was Darkhawk, and a few others, are a group dedicated to preventing teenagers from becoming superheroes. They feel that being a hero messes up one's childhood, and they try to track down the Runaways in order to help them. As the story goes on, the Runaways try to avoid Excelsior while get to the bottom of the mystery that is Victor Mancha.
A huge theme of True Believers is whether or not we ever truly become our parents as we grow older, which is a thought that horrifies the Runaways. Vaughan's writing continues to impress with a great story, good humor, awesome characters, and great nods to other comics. Look for the reference to Astonishing X-Men in the "future flashback". Also, while I love the Young Avengers, I think that Gert's reaction to Victor's belief that the Runaways are the Young Avengers is hilarious.
Runaways is my favorite comic, and this collection of issues is supberb, or, at least it is when it comes to the content. The format, though, leaves a little something to be desired. I don't know why Marvel would reprint this in Digest form. It actually shrinks down the book, and it is printed on non-glossy paper. While there weren't too many problems, there were a few times when I couldn't make out where one object ended and another began. Also, the cover to issue 6, which is beautiful, looks only so-so in this collection. Still, until they release a hardcover (please Marvel, release a hardcover soon), this is a good read.

The Culting of Brands: When Customers Become True Believers

Average customer rating:

The "new" marketing takes on an intriguing face.
A fascinating expression of brands
A cheap copy...
Let Your Customers Help Build Your Business
imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...

The Culting of Brands: When Customers Become True Believers
Douglas Atkin
Manufacturer: Portfolio Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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How Brands Become Icons: The Principles of Cultural Branding
Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands
Brand Hijack : Marketing Without Marketing
The Power of Cult Branding: How 9 Magnetic Brands Turned Customers into Loyal Followers (and Yours Can, Too!)
Emotional Branding: The New Paradigm for Connecting Brands to People

ASIN: 1591840279
Release Date: 2004-06-03

Book Description

A fresh and original look at the phenomenon of "cult branding" -- how companies cultivate fanatical customer loyalty.

At first glance, companies like Apple and Nike have little in common with organizations like the Hell's Angels and the Unification Church. But in reality, they all fulfill the main definition of a cult: They attract people who see themselves as different from the masses in some fundamental way. Contrary to stereotypes, most cult members aren't emotionally unstable—they're just normal folks searching for a sense of belonging.

Marketing expert Douglas Atkin has spent years researching both full-blown cults and companies that use cult-branding techniques. He interviewed countless cult members to find out what makes them tick. And he explains exactly how brands like Harley- Davidson, Saturn, JetBlue, and Ben & Jerry's make their customers feel unique, important, and part of an exclusive group—and how that leads to solid, long-term relationships between a company and its customers.

In addition to describing a fascinating phenomenom, The Culting of Brands will be of enormous value to business leaders. It will teach marketers how to align themselves with a specific segment of the population, how to attract and keep new “members,” how to establish a mythology about the company, and how to manage a workforce filled with true believers.

Once a brand achieves cult status, it becomes almost impossible for a competitor to dethrone it. The Culting of Brands will reveal the secrets of fierce customer identification and, most important, unbreakable loyalty.

Customer Reviews:

The "new" marketing takes on an intriguing face........2006-11-04

Doug Atkin reveals what "cultism" really is (not funny Kool-aid for the mind-numbed) and why we should aspire to having our customers "cult our brand."
He points out the massive changes which have taken place since the Attraction Principle replaced a lot of Spot TV, and helps us evaluate lower-cost options which get big results.

The point of view is valuable and well-presented, the supporting evidence and other argumants are equally well-handled.

If you have customers, and are anything from a sole propriator on up, this book is challenging and valuable.

A fascinating expression of brands.......2006-09-09

I must admit, I was at first immensely intimidated by the concept of this book and would not typically have picked it up were it not for my sacrificial duties towards work. I was fortunate enough to have heard Douglas Atkins speak, and was immediately intrigued by the power of his language in referencing consumers devotion towards certain brands. This book sheds an incredible amount of light on modern day cults and the brands you would never imagine would reside beneath that category.

Kudos to Atkins for a well researched book. He draws very compelling parallels between typical cults and brands. The book is very easy to follow and is extremely engaging especially because a lot of the examples he uses are common to our everyday lives, and draw from classic human needs and behaviors. This is definitely an interesting book for anyone inhabiting the marketing/branding bubble although I must say; I did not find his philosophies and recommendations to be a far throw from rudimentary loyalty/CRM principles. It is the perspective and not the solution that wins the four stars.

A cheap copy..........2005-05-21

I will go straight to the point: This book came out a long time after The Power of Cult Branding, by M. Ragas and B. J. Bueno, in my opinion is just a cheap copy. I read it and it is just a shame to do something like that.

Let Your Customers Help Build Your Business.......2004-11-05

Douglas Atkinks, like Guy Kawasaki and others, have talked about evangelism and viral marketing - make viral marketers - evangelists from your base of satisfied customers. This book illustrates how other brands have succeeded in community building and how our businesses can accomplish similar results.

Clear focused writing - easy to read. Definitely worth 4 hours to read and a lifetime to think about.

I am encouraging others on my staff to read this book and I am recommending this book to my business students on Success.org.

imitation is the most sincere form of flattery..........2004-10-08

the truth be told, author Atkin began his research on cults and brands more than seven years ago. then his premise was discovered by Forbes about four years ago and eventually became the COVER STORY (in which he is cited) of Forbes on April 16, 2001.

Then later, a grad student did a thesis on the same topic and published it as a book.

Stick to the real deal: The Culting of Brands: When Customers Become True Believers by Douglas Atkin

Not a diluted, "borrowed" grad student thesis.

"My Professors would failed me for plagiarism." ?? Your professors should have failed you for more than just that...diction, grammar, etc.

Perhaps this is one reason Atkin's book was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the grad student thesis was not.

The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up: Marvel True Believers Retro Collection (Marvel True Believers)

Average customer rating:

spiderman pop-up for big people
Great Book!
Web-Slinging Fun!
ONE MORE FOR SPIDEY FANS
This is a great book

The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up: Marvel True Believers Retro Collection (Marvel True Believers)

Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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Lighthouses!: A POP-UP Gallery of America's Most Beloved Beacons
The Wild West Pop-Up Book
Encyclopedia Prehistorica Mega-Beasts (Encyclopedia Prehistorica)

ASIN: 0763632635
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

First in a series of four pop-tastic volumes: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Follow Spidey as he makes his transformation from shy bookworm Peter Parker to friendly neighborhood web-slinger. Plus encounter his seven deadliest foes, including Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, and Sandman. Kazam!

Customer Reviews:

spiderman pop-up for big people.......2007-07-17

A nice addition to my pop up collection.However it is nor really suitable for little spiderman fans.

Great Book!.......2007-05-20

This is a great pop-up book! I had none of the problems listed by a previous reviewer. The book arrived in mint condition, and the pop-ups opened and closed without any problems. I am taking this book to my fourth grade class. I know the kids will love it! I'm looking forward to future Marvel pop-up books!

Web-Slinging Fun!.......2007-05-11

Fans of the "friendly neighborhood web-slinger" will climb walls for Candlewick Press's new pop-up book featuring vintage artwork.

Featuring the story of how Peter Parker became the wise-cracking hero, this book also headlines seven of Spidey's worst enemies. Pull out info sheets on main characters and flaps with more background are peppered throughout.

Although geared toward children, this will also appeal to those kids who love one of Marvel's most popular comic book heroes. (Ages 5 & Up)

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
05/10/2007

*Special Note* I did not find the same problems as listed by the first posted review (on May 6, 2007). My copy worked properly. The only "wrinkle" was caused by by 4-year-old daughter on the first page. And THAT is why it's for ages 5 & up! ;-)

ONE MORE FOR SPIDEY FANS.......2007-05-09

Spider-Man is not all that's amazing in this Retro Character Collection from Candlewick Press - the pop-ups are awesome. Measuring a generous 8" by 10" the pages seem to fly as metallic pop-outs spring up to follow the transformation of the reticent Peter Parker to Spider-Man, a superhero possessing great powers.

All of the pop-ups are based on original Marvel comic book excerpts, which collectors will find especially appealing. Since first introduced in 1962 Spider-Man has become one of the most popular superheroes, eventually appearing on the big screen and breaking box office records.

With this pop-up book readers will find our hero battling his worst enemies from Doctor Octopus to The Sandman. Also included are slide-out character fact files holding everything you wanted to know about the young man both blessed and cursed by a bite from an irradiated spider.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

This is a great book.......2007-05-08

Stunning visuals literally jump off the pages as readers flip through "The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up" book. Released as the forerunner in the four book, True Believers Retro Character Collection from Marvel Comics and Candlewick Press, Spider-Man and his famous villains leap to life with every turn of the page.

Comic books collectors young and old will be scrambling to get their hands on this highly collectible book. Vintage comic scenes and descriptive bio's on all the major players will please the old-time spidey fan while informing the new. The book takes the reader through Peter Parker's transformation to Spider-Man and also highlights his seven deadliest foes, including Dr. Ock, Mysterio and Sandman.

Designed by Andy Mansfield and Published by Candlewick Press, this book is sure to be hit with Spider-Man fans everywhere. The hard cover of the book and the durability of the pages make this book suitable the younger web head fans as is recommended on the book (ages 5 and up).

On a side note, my four-year-old fell in love with this book. An avid Spider-Man fan, he was thrilled as he turned every page albeit sometimes a little rough. Luckily the strength of this book withstood his excitement and mine. Truly a great start to what is going to be a series with strong collectability.

Holy Ghost Revival on Azusa Street: The True Believers: Eye Witness Accounts of the Revival that Shook the World

Average customer rating:

Generation to Generation
Valuable Information
A Window on The Beginning of Pentecostalism

Holy Ghost Revival on Azusa Street: The True Believers: Eye Witness Accounts of the Revival that Shook the World

Manufacturer: Christian Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The Life and Ministry of William J. Seymour: And a History of the Azusa Street Revival (The complete Azusa street library)
The Words that Changed the World: Azusa Street Sermons
The Doctrines and Discipline of the Azusa Street Apostolic Faith Mission of Los Angeles (The Complete Azusa Street Library)
Azusa Street
The Topeka Outpouring of 1901

ASIN: 0964628953

Customer Reviews:

Generation to Generation.......2007-05-14

I read this book years ago. It gave me direction for the rest of my life. I just ordered copies to be sent to my grandchildren in hopes that it will influence their lives as it did my own.

Valuable Information.......2007-04-12

This is interesting reading, and educational. The person who wants to learn about the Azusa Street holy Ghost blessing should read this book, along with others published by this same company. First-hand testimonies are the best source of information, especially when it comes to personal experiences. Professional and/or scholarly treatments and explanations of others' religious experiences will always fall short of the truth because they necessarily omit the feelings and intentions of the persons who had the experiences. The kingdom of God is a subjective reality.

A Window on The Beginning of Pentecostalism.......2000-04-11

What a great experience to be there at Azusa Street in Los Angeles in 1906-1912. Hear through the words of those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Azusa. It is awesome what God did in the lives of these men and women. I was greatly moved as I read and I pray "Do it again Lord! And do it in me." If you want to be touched by God, this book will do that for you.

Average customer rating:

An Emasculated Male Character
Wish I knew...
good read
Read 'True Believer' first if you want to know what's going on.
Love/Hate

AT FIRST SIGHT (TRUE BELIEVER, NO 2)
NICHOLAS SPARKS
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

True Believer
Dear John
A Bend in the Road
The Rescue
The Guardian

ASIN: B000EHSML8

Book Description

Nicholas Sparks brings back two characters from his beloved bestseller, True Believer, in this continuing saga of extraordinary love. There are few things Jeremy Marsh was sure hed never do: hed never leave New York City; never give his heart away again after barely surviving one failed marriage; and most of all, never become a parent. Now, Jeremy is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to Lexie Darnell, the love of his life, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But just as his life seems to be settling into a blissful pattern, an unsettling and mysterious message re-opens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of this young couples marriage.

Customer Reviews:

An Emasculated Male Character.......2007-09-30

Being a published author myself, I tend to review books from an author's point-of-view than a reader's POV, which can be very annoying to say the least. First, I have to say that I did enjoy the ending. It could not have ended any other way. A lot of people want a "happily ever after" ending and sometimes that just can't happen. Also, I found it extremely interesting to read a romance (and that's all this book was) written from the male's point-of-view. Sparks writes in an easy style without a lot of weight to slow things down. On the other hand, this did read as a romance and not women's fiction (big difference there). It was sappy, following many of the rules of romance writing with an exception for the ending. I found myself not liking the characters. The main character, Jeremy, is not a "guy's guy." A lot of his behavior and the things he said were ridicilous. I can't picture any man I know saying the sappy things he said. (What guy asks his wife how her "tummy" is feeling?) Like a lot of reviewers here, I also found Lexie annoying and selfish. I will read another one of his books though to see if they are all like this.

Wish I knew..........2007-09-24

I will try not to be a spoiler, but, I wish I had slightly more of an inkling about the "surprise" ending in this book. I am eight months pregnant and have finished three books in the last month... which says a lot for me. I was so mad and disturbed that I spent time investing in Lexie and Jeremy only to experience the tragic ending that was awfully disturbing to this first time mom to be. As other reviewers have written, I kept waiting for something to happen, and well, I guess it did. I'm just mad I had to be a part of it.

good read.......2007-09-10

I did not realize this book was a sequel when I purchased it. I bought it while on vacation. I thought most of the book was rather slow moving and not really attention grabbing. I am not sure if this is because it was a sequal, and the characters were more fully developed and described in the preceding book, which I did not read. I thought the book was going to be very precitable, but the ending really shocked me. I should have seen it coming, having read other Sparks books, and the endings usually are really good.
For a book that I had a hard time picking up at first, I have to say that by the end I had a hard time putting it down.

Read 'True Believer' first if you want to know what's going on........2007-07-04

I didn't realize that 'At First Sight' was essentially a sequel to True Believer. Right from the beginning, it rang hollow with me and the characters didn't seem very well fleshed out. I frankly had a hard time accepting why this great guy from New York would give up his fabulous life for a woman like Lexie. She was irritating, high maintenance, childish, bratty, selfish- and the list goes on. I just couldn't envision their relationship, and from the plot line, evidently, his friends had a hard time with it too. At any rate, this irritating scenario transpired over many pages, and I kept thinking- "Is there going to be some sort of SOMETHING happening?" because it was really needing it. Needless to say, Nicholas Sparks has an easy-going writing style, and his stories always end up with a cloyingly sweet finish, so getting through the book wasn't a problem- understanding the characters was. It seems as though he was trying to evolve a plot line that just wasn't there. It now, however, makes sense to me that I did not understand the dynamics of the characters or why he loved the woman in this story so much, because I had not read the first book, 'True Believer.' Now that it's too late to go back, I would definitely recommend that a person read that book first, and then maybe 'At First Sight' would hold more credibility and understanding. It started out not making sense, and it ended that way for me. It wasn't the worst book in the world, but I didn't love it either.

Love/Hate.......2007-06-28

As in True Believer, for me the these two just did not jell for me. How does one love in one week, when they spent so little time together? I could not get this story line. I hated the ending. Too tragic. I just have to admit that after reading most of Nicholas Sparks books, I keep hoping he will give us that happy ever after that we sometimes need to believe in. He does admit to writing tragic books and I guess after reading all but two of them, you'd think I would have gotten that already! In A Bend in the Road, the characters do get together and I'm sure somewhere down the road there will be a sequal and one will die! I guess when the end of True Believer ended so abruptly and nobody died, the sequel just had to have tragedy. But I think True Believer and At First Sight could have been one book. Then True Believer would have ended just like all the others!

Average customer rating:

Teenager Overcomes Obstacles
Haven't we heard this story before?
True Believer
I never thought life would be so hard.
O.k, but not as good as the first

True Believer (Make Lemonade Trilogy)
Virginia Euwer Wolff
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Make Lemonade
Speak
Monster
A Step From Heaven
The First Part Last

ASIN: 0689852886

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

At 15, LaVaughn already knows that life is hard and that getting ahead takes a strong mind and an even stronger will. Surrounded by poverty and violence, she strives every day not to be just another inner-city statistic: "My hope is strong like an athlete. Every morning when we walk through the metal detectors to get into school ... it is an important day of dues-paying so I can go to college and be out of here." Last year when she babysat for Jolly, a young unwed mother, she saw firsthand how an unplanned pregnancy can diminish options. So she ignores the boys, studies hard, and hopes it will all be enough to get her into college. Then Jody moves back into the neighborhood. Once LaVaughn's childhood friend, Jody is now "suddenly beautiful... He could be in movies the way the parts of his face go together." If LaVaughn's choices were difficult before Jody, now they're almost impossible. What LaVaughn doesn't know is that Jody has difficult decisions of his own to make--decisions that could turn her carefully ordered world upside down.

The second novel in a proposed trilogy, True Believer picks up where the acclaimed Make Lemonade left off. Virginia Euwer Wolff's verse-prose is as sumptuous as ever, and her descriptions of LaVaughn's day-to-day life and feelings are sympathetic and achingly real. Readers will be eager to see where LaVaughn's choices take her in Wolff's next installment. (Ages 13 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

LaVaughn is fifteen now, and she's still fiercely determined to go to college. But that's the only thing she's sure about. Loyalty to her father bubbles up as her mother grows closer to a new man. The two girls she used to do everything with have chosen a path LaVaughn wants no part of. And then there's Jody. LaVaughn can't believe how gorgeous he is...or how confusing. He acts like he's in love with her, but is he?

Customer Reviews:

Teenager Overcomes Obstacles.......2007-05-31

LaVaughn was the main character in the first book of this trilogy, called "Make Lemondade." However, this book has little to do with the first one, and can be read on its own.

LaVaughn is a teenager who lives in the inner city with her mother. Her father was killed years ago, caught in gang crossfire. LaVaughn and her mother do not have much money, but her mother is determined that her daughter will achieve her dream of going to college.

In this story, LaVaughn is struggling with a lot. First there is the issue of her two best friends. All of a sudden they have decided to devote their lives to Jesus and a radical church group. This group is very exclusive and encourages its members to only do church activities and spend time with other members of the church group. LaVaughn does not agree with the teachings of this group, and by not joining she becomes more and more isolated from her best friends. There is also the fact that LaVaughn has signed up for an after-school grammar strengthening class to prepare her for college. She is seen as a snob for wanting to speak properly and for hanging around with the other kids who are taking this grammar class.

However, the biggest turmoil in LaVaughn's life surrounds the boy who moves into her building. Jody used to live there when he was young and was in LaVaughn's elementary school classes. After a classmate of theirs was killed, Jody's mother moved them somewhere where she felt their lives could be better. They couldn't afford to stay there, though, so they have moved back. LaVaughn falls immediately in love with this boy she used to know when they were little, and she dreams of being his girlfriend. But things aren't going well. He doesn't seem as interested in her as she is in him. Can she convince him that they would be perfect together?

I really liked this book. I like that LaVaughn's character is so true to herself and she and her mother have such a strong relationship. This book was sensitive and interesting, and showed the dynamics between friends from different groups. I also like the format of this book, the way it is written in blank verse. It makes for a quick read, and it gets some really powerful emotions across.

Haven't we heard this story before?.......2007-03-16

it seems that as long as reguritate the dominate social narrative of an oppressed/underpresented group the work is considered a "masterpiece" and "touching". Well this left me cold. How many times does this novel need to be written? there are many ways to create unforgettable characters and working the hell out of tired stereotypes is not one of them.

Also, read something by Julius Lester if you want to see this kind of thing done well.

True Believer.......2006-09-25

True Believer is about a 15 year old girl living with her mother in an apartment in the slum of a city. Her Name is la Vaughn, And La Vaughn Is a very Low Class Girl. She Dosnt Get New things All The Time. She can barely ever get what she wants.

La Vaughn is raised in a very bad neighborrhood were kids die of drugs and getting shot. It's all common in Her Neighborhood. Basically No one in La Vaughns neighborhood Makes it through Highschool. So La Vaugns Mother Is Willin g To do What ever it takes for her to get to college an get a good education.

An One Day La Vaughns mother comes home from work with a "friend" And La Vaughn Gets angry because she thinks her mother is betraying her dead father, By replacing him with a new man. And, La Vaughns friends are getting into some stuff that La Vaughn disagree's about.
And While All of this is happening, La Vaugns Child Hood Friend Comes Back And Turns her feelings for him about side down and all around. But the only Problem for La Vaughn is if Jody, The Boy Feels The Same...

I never thought life would be so hard........2006-09-22

Wow... True Beliver! The girl in this story Is a true believer.
In the book it talks about sex an and things that could happen an how to prevent them from actually happening.
The 15 year old girl La Vaughn. La vaughn has faced things that i never thought about facing.
She bele
ives in her self. And God. La Vaugn was a very up tight girl. She wanted to go to college an wanted to do many things. La Vaughn did not care about the things she didnt have. Unlike many others. La Vaugn an her mother lived in a dirty old apartment. In the Slum of a city. La vaughn was happy girl..

Then One Day La Vaughns mother brings a friend home..
Only the Friend.. Wasn't going to help very much...
An don't worry. it only gets worse from there...

O.k, but not as good as the first.......2006-05-11

LaVaughn is a 15 year old girl. Her mother insists that she make it to college. Not the easiest thing to do when you would be the first one to do it in your apartment complex. She feels that she is headed right on track even after the long babysitting event with Jolly. Until her best friend from when she was young moves back into the apartment building and thinks she has a crush on him. In fact she knows she has a crush on him she just hopes that he feels the same way. Of course having a boyfriend is not in her mother's plan for going to college so she keeps her thoughts to herself. She can't help but second guess his feelings for her when she catches him kissing someone behind a fish tank. Not just a nother person but a nother boy.

This is the second book of the Make Lemonade Trilogy and it is pretty good. LaVaughn kept me up all night thinking about what was going to happen between Jody and her. I am definitely ready for the third!

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