The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: Wizard's First Rule, Blood of the Fold ,Stone of Tears

Book Description

The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldThe Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldBook 1: Wizards First Rule The masterpiece that started The New York Times bestselling epic Sword of TruthIn the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out. This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.Book 2: Stone of Tears An Epic of Awesome PowerKahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp .... love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart.Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard's life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard's love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal.Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.Book 3: Blood of the Fold An Epic of Two WorldsIn a world as rich and real as our own, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell stand against the ancient forces which besiege the New World-- forces so terrible that when last they threatened, they could only be withstood by sealing off the Old World from whence they came. Now the barrier has been breached, and the New World is again beset by their evil power.War and treachery plague the world, and only Richard and Kahlan can save it from an armageddon of unimaginable savagery and destruction.Terry Goodkind, author of the brilliant bestsellers Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears, has created his most masterful epic yet, a sumptuous feast of magic and excitement replete with the wonders of his unique fantasy vision.

Customer Reviews:

wizard set.......2007-09-12

great to get a set like this. When you finish the 1st book 2nd one is right there.

Great style, substance and themes........2007-09-11

Goodkind's writing seems to mature with each book, adding nuance and layer to his seemingly simple themes and characters, leaving the reader to wonder to themselves about what "good and evil" really are.

The stories come alive with great characters, plenty of action, and the wonderment that magical concepts add to the stories. All the fun of being a kid again, but with the adult themes that will keep you reading far into the night.

Have fun!

Sword of Truth.......2007-09-01

Very fast transaction and accurate description of the item, so I would recommend this Seller.

Fantasy at its best!.......2007-08-16

I recommend the first 3-4 volumes of this serie to every fan of good fantasy-literature.
Very creative story, fascinating characters, a lot of suspense, a lot original ideas!
It`s too bad that after "Temple of winds" the whole story started to lose its grip, logic and tended to repeat itself.
Nevertheless, as said before, the first 3-4 volumes are excellent!

Don't Buy This Set.......2007-08-05

Unless you've already read the series and just want to replace your copies, don't buy this set. I made the enormous error of purchasing this set without reading any of Goodkind's novels first. I forced my way through Wizard's First Rule and realized that I wasted my money. I have no intention of ever reading Blood of the Fold or Stone of Tears.

I have very, very few positive things to say about the Wizard's First Rule. So I'll just get the positives out of the way now. Zedd is a very likable character. Not very original, certainly, but he's kooky and funny and hard not to like. The character Giller, too, is likable after a fashion.

Well, that's about all I can say thats positive about the novel. So lets get to the negatives.

1. It's poorly written. The narrative is clumsy, the dialog is repetitive and unrealistic. Not only is the language poor, but Goodkind is unable to logically construct even a simple paragraph, let alone an entire chapter. He has a habit of meandering in his paragraphs so that the first sentence of the paragraph has absolutely nothing to do with the last sentence. This would be understandable were he writing in stream of consciousness, but, alas, he is not. He also has the annoying habit of changing the perspective of the narrator from paragraph to paragraph without informing the reader, making it difficult to sort out who thinks what.

2. The characters are detestable. As I already said, Zedd and Giller are good characters. But they are minor characters. The hero, Richard, is one of the most immediately dislikable protagonists I've ever seen. He's arrogant, whiny, awkward, stupid and completely intolerant of other people and their cultures. Which leads me to my third major criticism.

3. Inconsistent character development. Goodkind frequently changes the personality of his characters to suit the chapter. In one chapter, Richard throws a tantrum because he cannot use his right hand to do something because it is against the culture of a tribe he is visiting. A chapter or two later, he willingly eats the flesh of another person because the culture dictates he must. In addition, Richard (and the other characters) range from mind-bogglingly stupid to brilliant and back something within a couple paragraphs. Goodkind makes his characters smart when he needs to in order to advance the plot, then makes them stupid when he needs to. Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, etc., all do enormously stupid things, and then are brilliant the next chapter. And its not just one character, every character is in turns brilliant and stupid. And it seems that there is always one brilliant character and several stupid characters at any given time so there is always enough intelligence to advance the plot. What's the point of having 800 pages of character development if you just throw it away to advance the plot?

4. And speaking of the plot, the story of the Wizard's First Rule is pretty poorly devised and highly predictable. There are two major secrets in the novel, the first being the identity of the Wizard (which is readily apparent within the first 15 pages of the text) and the identity of the Traitor (which is apparent as soon as it is learned that Richard was betrayed). And despite how painfully obvious who these characters are, Goodkind painstakingly devotes hundreds of pages to discovering their identities. It's terribly painful clawing your way through this book when you already know how all the big secrets and how the book is going to end within the first few chapters.

5. Plot-lifting. In a lot of ways, Wizard's First Rule is a dumbed down version of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time. Richard is essentially Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, though he is purely a good character and destined only to help the world. Kahlan Amnell and the Confessors are utterly identical in every way to Jordan's Aes Sedai. The torture and training Richard endures is identical (and often down to the very wording) to the training Egwene Al'Vere endures. Darken Rahl is a very poor rip off of Shai'Tan, the Dark One (and, for that matter Darth Vader of Star Wars fame). There is very, very little of Goodkind's original thought in the Wizard's First Rule, and what original thought there is is very poor.

6. Convenient Writing. Goodkind is the King of making crap up as he goes. Due to his inability to write his way out of a wet paper bag, Goodkind is constantly having to make up new powers or abilities to get his characters out of a seemingly impossible situation. The best example for this is one scene in which Kahlan, Zedd and Chase are ambushed by Darken Rahl's minions. For whatever reason, Zedd and Chase are incapacitated and Kahlan, for some other stupid reason, can't use her powers and is being raped. Suddenly, Kahlan develops a new ability that 1. has never been mentioned before, 2. she admits that she had never been able to do before, 3. must be taught by an expert, as stipulation Kahlan never met. Yet somehow, Kahlan is able to use this power and miraculously defeats the enemy. Goodkind's writing in these situations is so bad that he flat out admits what the character just did is impossible, but goes with it anyway.

In truth, I could list another dozen or so criticisms of this book. But I doubt anyone is going to read that much. My advice: If you've never read Terry Goodkind before, read him before you blow the extra money on this set. If you're an intelligent, well-read reader, you will likely hate the series and regret spending the money, as I did. You are more likely to enjoy this book if you are a child, say 10-12 years old, or you have never read a fantasy book before. If you fit into either of these categories, the cliches will not seem so bad, and the new world of fantasy will blind you to the very poor writing and storytelling. But in either of those circumstances, I would still advise against buying the set. Make sure you like Goodkind before you drop the money for three of his books. Go to the library and read a chapter or two first. There's a very good chance that you will despise this novel like most other experienced readers.

I gave this set two stars, by the way, for the reasons listed in the previous paragraph. If you're an inexperienced reader or are new to the fantasy world, this series will work well for you. In addition, Mr. Goodkind CAN write, and can write well. The Wizard's First Rule features one or two chapters that are marvelously written. But this is an extreme exception to the rule. Perhaps the later books are better, but after Book I, I will work very hard to ensure that I never read another word of Goodkind's writing.

Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 3 (Sword Of Truth, Book 11)

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Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 3 (Sword Of Truth, Book 11)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0765315238
Release Date: 2007-11-13

Book Description

Descending into darkness, about to be overwhelmed by evil, those people still free are powerless to stop the coming dawn of a savage new world, while Richard faces the guilt of knowing that he must let it happen. Alone, he must bear the weight of a sin he dare not confess to the one person he loves…and has lost.

Join Richard and Kahlan in the concluding novel of one of the most remarkable and memorable journeys ever written. It started with one rule, and will end with the rule of all rules, the rule unwritten, the rule unspoken since the dawn of history.
When next the sun rises, the world will be forever changed.

Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood

Average customer rating:

Just OK
Not for a second...
hilarious
Purchased it as a Gift
good laugh

Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood
Jenny McCarthy
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Parenting & Families | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

ASIN: 052594883X
Release Date: 2005-04-25

Book Description

Congratulations, you're a new mommy!

You've brought your brand-new bundle of joy home, and there's so much to look forward to: photos; baby's first word; clipping those oh-so-cute and very tiny fingernails; finding just the right stroller; sex again (gulp!); and, oh yes, losing the weight.

The joys of being a new mommy or daddy are endless, but so are the worries and the advice. Jenny McCarthy, the New York Times bestselling author of Belly Laughs, told you the truth about pregnancy and childbirth. Now she's telling the truth about baby's first year.

With hilarious musings on desperately trying to recall lullabies, losing the weight, baby- proofing the house, encountering mommies with superbabies, postpartum depression, dueling grandmas, and still trying to lose the weight, Baby Laughs is the perfect companion for anyone trying to raise the next president, those just trying to get to the next naptime, and anyone who was ever in diapers.

Customer Reviews:

Just OK.......2007-08-24

I read "Belly Laughs" and loved it, but this one doesn't even come close. It is cute at times and it is an easy, fast read. All I can say is it was OK.

Not for a second..........2007-08-22

OK. The book is soooo true when it comes to the stories of babies and funny beyond tears,,,however not for a second do I believe beautiful Jenny McCarthy got fat. Her new pictures on IMDB are georgeous. I think her next book should be titled,,,,,the laughs on you!

hilarious.......2007-08-14

I laughed so hard that I cried through out this book. It's a quick read, it only took me a few hours to read it. There are so many funny stories, I recommend it to anyone who has a kid! I loved it.

Purchased it as a Gift.......2007-07-28

One of my newly wed very young co-workers is having her first child so I bought this and another book for her. She tells me often how much she is enjoying the books and she keeps sending me thank you notes so I take that as a very good sign!

good laugh.......2007-07-19

I hate to read and loved this story!! If you are a mom you will pee your pants laughing. This is a quick read and very entertaining.

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (First Time Books(R))

Average customer rating:

what a whopper
Great stories that teach little kids about issues that really relate to them
Because Trust is One Thing You Can't Put Back Together Once It's Broken
Learning to tell the truth
Good Book

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (First Time Books(R))
Stan Berenstain , and Jan Berenstain
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 0394856406
Release Date: 1983-09-12

Book Description

When Brother and Sister Bear accidentally break Mama's favorite lamp, their little lie grows bigger and bigger, until Papa Bear helps them find the words that set everything right again.

Customer Reviews:

what a whopper.......2007-07-21

This was a great book. Sometimes you can tell your children something many times, and a book or children's show can suddenly make it click for them. Lots of good lessons here-- always tell the truth, lying breaks the trust between people, and lying makes things complicated and leads to more lies, i.e. When Brother & Sister are asked what happened for the second time, they can't exactly remember how the story went the first time they told it! Stan Berenstain had a wonderful talent for making a life lesson entertaining.

Great stories that teach little kids about issues that really relate to them.......2007-07-19

The Berenstainbears has long been one of my favorite books to read to my children because they love it, and because it teaches them lessons about things they will actually deal with in real life. Also, very cute and lovable, the Berenstainbears is a great series for your child to read.

Because Trust is One Thing You Can't Put Back Together Once It's Broken.......2007-07-12

"It was a lazy sort of day in Bear Country. The air was sto still that the leaves on the big tree house where the Bear family lived were hardly rustling. Except in the beehive, where the bees were always busy, nothing much seemed to be happening. It was the sort of day that sometimes leads to mischief." -- From the book

Papa Bear was in his shop working on some furniture while Mama Bear was out shopping. Bored, Brother and Sister Bear debated what to do next. Should they go pick blackberries? Or maybe twist each other up on the swing to see who gets the dizziest?

Brother Bear clutched his soccer ball, and doesn't seem to want to do anything--and Sister Bear becomes irritated and impatient. "My goodness!...I think you must be in love with that soccer ball!"

Brother issues a challenge to Sister "I bet I can dribble this ball past you!" Then the siblings began to violate one of the house rules: don't play ball in the house!

Well, Mama's favorite vase gets broken--and she arrives shortly afterwards. Instead of owning up to the deed, Brother and Sister cook up a whopper of a lie. When the go to re-tell it to Papa, they didn't have their story straight, either.

Mama expresses her sadness...not so much that her favorite lamp is broken (although this is true, too), but because her cubs may not be telling the truth. The siblings quickly tell her the truth--and are surprised to her tell Gran on the phone that everything was fine in the tree house.

Confused, the cubs ask Mama about what appears to be a lie. Mama replies that "We've got two fine cubs who have just learned a very important lesson about telling the truth. And what could be finer than that?"

The Berenstain Bears and The Truth is one of the best books by authors Jand and Jan Berenstain. Absent of moralizing and harsh scolding (which sometimes crops up in the Berenstain Bear books), this wonderful tale shows children that there is consequences to lying--the most important being broken trust. This book also teaches forgiveness (if rather indirectly), as well as thinking about consequences BEFORE acting.

In short, an EXCELLENT book for teaching children the importance of telling the truth!

Learning to tell the truth.......2007-06-02

The kids love the bears and we have quite a collection of the books. This one is cute and tells a worthwhile lesson.

Good Book.......2007-01-20

My son loves these books. And he enjoys the ones with lessons.

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

So bad, its good.
Poor, poor, poor
First....
A Refreshingly Good Book
Great series...the Beginning

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0312857055

Book Description

The masterpiece that started The New York Times bestselling epic Sword of TruthIn the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Customer Reviews:

So bad, its good........2007-10-09

I read this book when it was first published and thought that it was worth the read (then again, there's not much of any genre I won't read, and I was only a teenager at the time). My problem now is that since the death of Robert Jordan, I took it upon myself to actually try and slog through the Wheel of Time Series for the first time, and the similarities between this book and his series are just too "coincidental". I've read arrogant interviews with Terry Goodkind where he proclaims he has changed the genre and his books are unlike any other, but now I wonder how he had the audacity to actually voice that opinion. (Though many of the similarities are also included in his later books of the series.) Goodkind's "banelings" are remarkably similar to Jordan's "Darkfriends", the Keeper is Jordan's "Dark One", and Richard (the innocent woodsman), like Jordan's Rand (the innocent sheepherder), is usually marked by his sword. SPOILER: The paternal parentage of both boys also come into question in the books. There are many more throughout the whole series, too many for comfort. I'm not sure if anyone else has commented on this, I didn't read all 1300 reviews. Just throwing it out there. Other than that, the first 5 books in the series aren't so bad that I wouldn't read them. True, they are very cheesy and reminiscent of a bad romance novel, but like a really bad horror movie: its so bad, its good.

Poor, poor, poor.......2007-10-03

This book and the others in the series are absolutely awful. Cliches abound, narrative has no cohesion and characterizition is horrendously flat. I read this and thought it was terrible. After the series continued to be popular I read the second, thinking that the author had improved with experience. He hadn't. I actually started the third book before I realized that this series was a losing proposition. Steer clear, and spend your time on more worthwhile pursuits.

First...........2007-09-26

Well this might take a bit getting hooked into but you'll throughly enjoy it...I'm not gonna give you the gist of the book because if you're looking at it you can read what they tell you...I'll tell you how I feel about it...I felt it was a book that once you got past the filler...you got hooked to the series...get the book stick it out and be prepared to enjoy the series

A Refreshingly Good Book.......2007-09-19

There simply are not enough good current fantasy novels. This book breaks that trend. It is not a hard read, nor is it overly complex, but it is a very good read, with very personable characters, and a simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking story. Warning: If you are looking for a one-book read, do not read this book. At the conclusion of this book, your mouth will water for more, which is easily quenched by the increasingly long tomes that Goodkind has a gift of writing. The first six books especially in the series are defiantly among the best fantasy novels of our time. Set aside a big chunk of time and enter the world that is Terry Goodkind.

Great series...the Beginning.......2007-09-17

I actually did not start with this book. I was waiting in line at the grocery store and bought Stone of Tears. I was pleasantly surprised. I tend to read series of books and am always looking for a prolific author since I read voraciously. I have since read the entire series, twice.

As for the other reviews I've read, I am surprised because after all this is a fantasy genre. The reason I liked Terry Goodkind's writing, is that he does indeed use 'regular' names for a lot of his characters. Thank God. I have no patience for storytellers who make up bizarre sounding names for characters and places, I just skip through the names and after a while it just gets annoying to me.

Wizard's Rule was a good introduction into the wizarding world. I have tried to read Robert Jordan and others in the genre and I end up comparing them all to Terry Goodkind and come away disappointed because I really like his style of writing. I think others who have critiqued
this book harshly are thinking way too deep. And I read a lot. I can finish a 500 page book in a day, so if it doesn't hold my attention, it goes on my bookshelf as decoration.

If you aren't sure, check it out of the library, its free, and if you don't like it, you haven't spent anything but a little time.

Finally, the rest of the series has its ups and downs. But the plot moves seamlessly through all of them. My favorite...Faith of The Fallen. And remember, all reviews are subjective, they are opinions. The only way to make up your own mind is to read the book and then decide if you want to invest the time to read the complete series.

Communicate With Confidence!: How to Say It Right the First Time and Everytime

Average customer rating:

Thorough and Detailed
Comprehensive Compendium of 1042 Communication Tips
Easy to Read
Essential for anyone
RIP OFF

Communicate With Confidence!: How to Say It Right the First Time and Everytime
Dianna Booher
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Running Meetings & Presentations | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0070064555

Book Description

Say The Right Thing--In Any Business or Social Situation! Each year thousands of executives pack Dianna Booher's seminars to learn to express themselves more clearly and confidently at work and at play. Now this master communicator has distilled over 600 of her proven speaking and listening tips into a single fast-access primer--one that can help you think on your feet, organize your ideas for impact, build credibility and loyalty, and instantly answer questions from customers. . .bosses. . .coworkers. . .even your spouse! With Communicate With Confidence You'll develop the skill to: win people over to your ideas; hold your own in meetings; give--and get--advice; say ``No'' without hurt feelings; criticize without crippling; resolve conflicts without blows; respond to insults and abuse; talk across gender line--and more!

Customer Reviews:

Thorough and Detailed.......2007-01-02

This is a thorough and detailed book which covers a wide range of tips that you should find useful and important in enhancing your communication skills. The book covers all the critical aspects of communication including the communication process, the need for effective, active listening, verbal, non-verbal and writing skills, being assertive, effective negotiations, effective public speaking and presentations, among others.

Most of us are poor listeners, as we tend to listen with intent to response rather than to understand what the speaker is really communicating to us. With self-control and discipline, the book gives us tips that we can follow to be effective and active listeners.

This is a self-help that is easy to read and understand and follow. It has a lot of tips and practical advice that should help you change to become a more effective communicator.

Comprehensive Compendium of 1042 Communication Tips.......2006-06-20

A comprehensive compendium of 1042 tips belonging on every committed communicator's reference shelf. Whether a neophyte or accomplished communicator, you will find a useful tip or reminder, each time you open this book.

Easy to Read.......2006-02-24

Dianna Booher writes with clarity and detail, and her book is so easy to read. We're all communicating in one way or another, and Dianna's insights are extremely valuable. You also might learn something about yourself as a listener. I highly recommend this book.

Essential for anyone.......2002-12-25

While this book has a business focus, there are many techniques shown that can be used in all facets of life - in the family, with friends, or in organizations and sports teams. It's a huge (1000+) list of tips for various situations. How do you deal with someone who's not pulling their weight? You don't have to be a manager at work - you can have unresponsive kids, friends who take much more than they give, and committee members who are just along for the ride.

All the points are obvious, but in real life we forget, communicate badly, and then make a bad situation worse. This book has the sort of information that someone gives you when they say, "In that situation I always do . . ." and you could hit yourself for not thinking of it at the time. If you read and re-read this book you'll begin to have these ideas when you need them, not afterward.

The tip formula is excellent. Too many books try to put ideas across in ordinary text and become confusing and unclear. Each tip and its supporting text is complete. You won't be left wondering what the author meant.

I teach people to make presentations and there is plenty here I intend to pass along. My order is in for Booher's forthcoming "Speak With Confidence," because if it's even half as good as this book, it will be invaluable.

One last thought. Think about the times you didn't communicate that well. Think about the stress, the bad relations with other people, and all the negative things that resulted. Now look at the price of this book. Isn't it worth that price just to communicate effectively one time, let alone all the times this book will save the day?

RIP OFF.......2002-02-18

The only thing exciting about the book is the title. I could not wait to get the book and read it. I can't remember being this disappointed in a book - ever. There is nothing of any value in this - just warmed over hyperbole. I am so po'd that I wasted money on this rip off.

Average customer rating:

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1423321634
Release Date: 2006-08-25

Book Description

Millions of readers the world over have been held spellbound by this valiant tale vividly told.

Now, enter Terry Goodkind's world, the world of The Sword of Truth.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help...and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed...or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

"Wonderfully creative, seamless, and stirring."
-Kirkus Reviews

Average customer rating:

Cliched, slow, and dull
A Quest for First Truth
Excellent Read
Strong realistic characters in a magical world
Excellent

First Truth
Dawn Cook
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 044100945X
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Book Description

Alissa didn't believe in magic, not until she was sent on a journey to an endangered fortress known as The Hold-and discovered the gifts within herself to save it.

Customer Reviews:

Cliched, slow, and dull.......2007-08-06

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with most of the reviews here. I found "First Truth" to be an unoriginal, uninspired read. While it suffices as a light read, say to kill some time on a plane, it doesn't offer anything unique or stimulating for readers.

"First Truth" follows a young woman named Alissa, who is unceremoniously, and rather abruptly, evicted from her home and sent off on a journey to "the Hold" to be properly trained as a Keeper. On the way, she comes across a musician named Strell, who is recovering from his own losses and decides to accompany her. Alissa is given visions of her father's death, and learns that he died protecting her and a book known as the First Truth, which is hidden somewhere in the Hold. She suddenly decides that the book is hers, and that she will go to the Hold to retrieve it, despite the dangers. There, she and Strell put up a farce for the Hold's sole Keeper, an albino named Bailic, but he figures them out quickly enough.

This novel was littered with flat characters, flimsy story lines, and bad dialogue. The main character, Alissa, is painfully annoying, alternating between acting like a spoiled brat and a timid idiot. Strell is a little better, but his motivations are not very realistic. Bailic, the only other main character in the book, is about as cliched a villain as they come -- a psychotic, unsympathetic megalomaniac. And with such a lack of characters in this novel, the flaws in the writing with these three stand out.

The plot was very contrived, and very slow. Alissa is sent on a journey she rails against, to a place she does not want to go, and yet she obediently heads there anyway. She discovers she possess magical abilities, despite swearing profusely that she does not believe in magic. She is somehow able to tap into her abilities with a surprising skill and strength -- surprising because she's had no training or exposure to it before. She clings to the idea of finding "her book", despite not knowing what or where it is, and is willing to brave all manner of danger to retrieve it. Yes, all very believable. She runs into Strell, and the two, naturally, start off on the wrong foot, but end up journeying together. We know where this is headed. Strell, who is from the Plains where Alissa is from the Foothills (the two groups do not get along), suddenly decides, at the command of a mysterious voice, to protect Alissa. How wonderful.

Once the two arrive at the Hold, things don't get much better. A large amount of time is wasted as the characters keep getting side-tracked, and the whole purpose of their trip to the Hold -- finding the book -- is often pushed to the side. The climax of the novel falls flat, and the book ends on a very unsatisfying note. Perhaps that was intentional, as this was just the first book in a series, but I am still undecided as to whether or not I'll bother to read the sequels -- hopefully they're not as frivolous and amateur as "First Truth". Not recommended, unless you're very, very bored.

A Quest for First Truth.......2007-07-29

First Truth (2002) is the first fantasy novel in the Truth series. Once upon a time, there was a Hold hidden deep in the Mountains where Masters taught magic to Keepers. One day, Talo-Toecan -- the Headmaster -- entrusted his student Meson with the book First Truth and the Keeper took it away and hid it.

In this novel, Meson is a farmer from the foothills and is married to Rema, a woman of the deep plains. Meson tells his daughter Alissa stories of the Hold and his Master. When Alissa finds the hidden First Truth, he begins to suspect that she will be a Keeper and capable of finding the book wherever he hides it. Meson leaves his wife and daughter to return the book to his master and is never seen again.

When Alissa starts acting strangely, Rema realizes that the Hold is beginning to pull on her Keeper daughter. She stows necessary items in a pack and gives Alissa a small pouch to wear from her neck. Alissa asks about the contents and Rema has her smell it. After she perceives the rank smell of the stinking substance, Rema knows that Alissa is truly a Keeper and must leave to find her destiny.

Of course, Alissa doesn't believe in magic, but she knows better than to argue with her mother. With her kestrel Talon flying overhead, she starts off to find the Hold and her book. She has about a month until the snow starts to fall in the mountains.

Strell is a plainsman, the seventh son of a well known family of potters. He is returning over the mountains from the coast after several years of wandering. His path briefly crosses with that of Alissa, but they pass with only a few hints of each other's presence. He continues onward to the foothills market, where he learns of the death of all his family. With disbelief and fear, he returns to his home place only to find all evidence of their presence and property washed away by a spring flood.

Fleeing in his grief, Strell returns to the mountains and eventually discovers Alissa trapped in a ravine. After hearing his story, Alissa remembers the tragedy and tries to treat him with compassion. Still, their different heritages cause clashes and both are strong-willed enough to have grand and glorious arguments over almost anything.

In this story, Alissa has moments when she hears the thoughts of another being, whom she eventually learns is Talo-Toecan, her father's old Master. While she is immersed in the memories that Talo-Toecan stimulates, she is totally absorbed in her internal thoughts and unaware of the outside world. During these times, Strell is addressed from Alissa's body by Talo-Toecan, whom he starts to call Useless.

While she is possessed, Alissa relives other peoples lives. She relives her father's encounter at the Hold with his old acquaintance Bailic, who had been his friend and became his enemy. Later, she relives the meeting between Strell's grandfather and a shaduf -- a person who can foresee deaths -- that leads to Strell being allowed to become a minstrel rather than a potter.

Despite repeated demands by Useless to sent Alissa back to her farm, Strell is unable to divert her from her intended destination. They travel on to find the Hold and Bailic and Useless, but no one else, and then the snow starts falling and confines them to the Hold. Unhappily, Bailic -- her enemy -- is fully capable of using magic and Useless -- her potential ally -- is trapped in the dungeon. Of course, Alissa is not deterred from her plans by these minor setbacks.

This story has some of the feel of the first part of Cherryh's Fortress in the Eye of Time, particularly within the huge yet deserted Hold. It is also reminiscent of scenes within the Wizard's Keep in the Sword of Truth series. Despite the occasional presence of other characters, the scenes seem to be more close and intimate. In the last portion of the tale, Alissa, Strell, Talon, Bailic and Useless interact in complete isolation from the rest of the world.

Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical quests, tempestuous romance, and forced maturity.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Excellent Read.......2007-05-12

This book was very enjoyable to read; I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to any fan of science fiction or fantasy.

Strong realistic characters in a magical world.......2007-01-12

The characters are well-developed and the plot has enough twists to keep me interested.

Excellent.......2006-12-31

A captivating story, excellent writing, and a well-rounded setting and fully-developed characters made me devour this book in under a day. True, occassionaly the series gets slightly rambly, it's probably a full book or two longer than necessary but I still adore them. They're excellent, truly they are. Though, one thing irked me: Cook kept using the same phrases or words OVER and OVER and OVER again. For example, I felt like if she called one more person irate, I was going to scream. Regardless, I loved them, even though things like that kept irritating me. It's a mark of the superiority of the story that the length and the reption of words and phrases didn't take anything away from how good the books were. They were just..incredible. Highly recommended.

The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President

Average customer rating:

Enjoyed this book
SHE
DEFINITELY NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH
Keep Hillary OUT of the White House - Once was enough!
No stars if at all

The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President
Edward Klein
Manufacturer: Sentinel Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1595230238

Book Description

The most controversial and hotly debated bestseller of the year — read it, and discover the truth for yourself

The Truth About Hillary was viciously attacked by the liberal media, because it revealed how the most prominent Democrat in America has lied, bullied, cheated, and manipulated people in her quest to become our first woman president.

Who is the real Hillary Rodham Clinton? She's a feminist, yet she rode to power on her husband's coattails. She's strong and assertive, yet she has put up with decades of infidelity. She inspires fierce loyalty, yet she frequently stabs her followers in the back. She's a liberal, yet she's pretending to be a moderate.

This edition includes a fascinating new foreword about Edward Klein's head-on collision with the Clinton machine and its allies. BACKCOVER: “This is not a scandal book intended merely to gratify the reader's salacious interests. Instead, Mr. Klein has written a serious political and psychological biography of the most likely next Democratic nominee for president—and thus, quite plausibly I fear, the next president of the United States.”
—Tony Blankley, The Washington Times

“We've already seen what [the media] are willing to do to protect Hillary Clinton. They trashed a perfectly respectable, though highly critical, biography of Hillary by veteran newsman Ed Klein.”
—Fred Barnes, The Weekly Standard

“The press is not curious about what Klein is saying. They are circling the wagons, trying to defend Hillary.”
—Rush Limbaugh

“I've never in the history of this program had more demands to cancel a guest.”
—Sean Hannity

Download Description

"Hillary Rodham Clinton is a polarizing figure in American politics. Love her or hate her, everyone has a strong opinion about the former first lady turned senator who is almost certainly going to run for president in 2008. Despite more than a dozen years in the national spotlight and more than a dozen unauthorized books about her, she has managed to keep many secrets from the public-especially about her turbulent marriage and its impact on her career. There have been plenty of rumors about what Hillary and Bill Clinton did behind closed doors, but never a definitive book that exposes the truth. Bestselling author Edward Klein draws on rare access to inside sources to reveal what Hillary knew and when she knew it during her years as first lady, especially during her husband's impeachment. Klein's book will break news about the choices and calculations she has made over the years. It will also prove that she lied to America in her bestselling autobiography Living History. When she was just a little girl, Hillary Rodham dreamed of becoming the first female president, and her lifelong dream is almost within reach. But just as the swift boat veterans convinced millions of voters that John Kerry lacked the character to be president, Klein's book will influence everyone who is sizing up the character of Hillary Clinton."

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyed this book.......2007-09-15

Although this book is about Hillary's character, I wouldn't call it an attack on her character. Filled with quotes from people who knew or met her and entertaining anecdotes, this book is a fun read.

I read this book after watching Al Franken and his two cronies conduct an ambush interview with Edward Klein. Franken's entire critique was based on two misspelled names as well as an opinion on the authors picture in the back of the book. Seeing how much Franken and company hated this book was enough to tell me that it was all true.

But this is not the sickening type of description of Hillary found in books like, 'Unlimited Acces' (Aldrich) and 'Dereliction of Duty' (Patterson). It's more of a biography. Parts of the book actually show Hillary in fairly good light.

SHE.......2007-08-25

When the impostor psychologist Dr Greta Penterschloss counsels Gomez and Morticia in the first Addams Family movie, she ensnares them by using the word "displacement." Mr & Mrs Addams eagerly enquire as to whether the condition is unpleasant. "Deeply," the good doctor replies, to their delight. So it is with this book - it is deeply unpleasant, but at the same time as absorbing as Harry Potter.

The unpleasantness is already evident on page one in the Prologue where Monica Lewinsky reminisces about an encounter at Radio City Music Hall in August 1996. From there it's downhill all the way.

Part One: The Big Girl, deals mainly with the revelation of the Lewinsky scandal whilst listing the others, like the cattle-futures windfall, Gennifer Flowers, the health-care debacle, travel office purge, purloined FBI files, the renting of the Lincoln Bedroom and the missing Rose Law Firm files.

Part Two: The Book Of Life, looks at Hillary's childhood, her school years, her first loves, her time at Wellesley College, her internship for a liberal Republican in Washington, Yale Law School, the meeting with Bill and the romance (if it can be called thus), her role in the impeachment of President Nixon, her move to Arkansas, the wedding in 1975 and the politics up to 1982.

Part Three: The White House Years, deals extensively with the running of the White House, the Bimbo problem and how Hillary handled it, her coven of close aides and supporters, the health care fiasco, the Ken Starr investigation and how she successfully played "the wronged woman."

Part Four: The Candidate, explores her successful senate run and Part V: The Road Back To The White House, her role as senator, their marriage of inconvenience since leaving the White House, the 2004 Democratic Convention, and her first moves towards the Presidency in 2008.

Chapter 34: Nixon's Disciple and the Epilogue recount the Nixon visit to the White House in 1993. Afterwards, the old president observed that she inspires fear. This section also speculates on what the "new, new Hillary" might look like: sincere, genuine, forbearing, open-minded, sunny and smiling. The make-over is in progress.

This riveting book concludes with acknowledgments, a bibliography, a note on sources, 31 pages of notes and an index. There are 30 black and white photographs, including the notorious one where She embraces Suha Arafat.

Sheologists now have a tasty variety of titles to choose from, including Barbra Olson's Hell to Pay, Christopher Andersen's American Evita, Bay Buchanan's The Extreme Makeover of Hillary (Rodham) Clinton, R. Emmett Tyrell's Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House and two rather boring recent biographies: Her Way by Jeff Gerth & Don Van Natta Jr. and A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Carl Bernstein. But for sheer unpleasantness, it's hard to beat this one by Edward Klein.

DEFINITELY NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH.......2007-08-07

Though presented asa book that is revealing, this book turns out to be a book that reveals nothing; and in fact it appears suspiciously to be a book designed to help Hillary by making it appear that while she is often criticized there is really nothing serious to criticize her for. There are quite a few books of this genre circulatung these days, and they definitely do not apppear to tell the whole truth about Hillary. This book does not do so. But why are there so many of these books? And where might there be a book that really does tell the whole story? Well, there are a lot of these books because people seem to sense that there really is much about Hillary that they need to know and want to know, so there is a market for these books that are "pitched" as "tell all" books; but to find a book (and yes, there is one) that really does "tell all" a reader needs to get and read, and then study, a book presented as a book "of fiction", which turns out to be in fact the book that tells the whole unvarnished true story to the reader who will get and read it; and that book is entitled "The Empress Project". As for this book by Klein, it is not really worth taking time to read. It is not going to reveal anything to the reader.The Empress Project

Keep Hillary OUT of the White House - Once was enough!.......2007-07-31

Very interesting read - but not surprising. She has always come across as a very controling, egotistical, want to be! This book just delivers the information. Keep her out of the White House!

No stars if at all.......2007-06-29

This is another right wing piece of trash written by trash for trash. There will always be a market for this sadly. Let's keep the war going in Iraq, kill off more of our American soldiers, and continue to move backwards.

Ed Klein will eat this book when Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected the 44th President of the United States as no candidate on either side is more qualified than She.

I want to restore the respect for America around the world, therefor, I will be voting for Hillary !

The Hidden Truth of Your Name: A Complete Guide to First Names and What They Say About the Real You

Average customer rating:

Ever wonder what your name says about you?
Great gift idea - inside and out!
The Hidden Truth of Your Name
Excellent Resource on Names
its a fun and entertaining book....

The Hidden Truth of Your Name: A Complete Guide to First Names and What They Say About the Real You
Nomenology Project
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 034542266X
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Book Description

From the secret wisdom of Kabbalah, the Runes, and Numerology--an unprecedented guide to unlocking the hidden power of your name.

Your name is not only your calling card, it also may determine how your life will unfold. Mystics have studied the energies associated with names for centuries, but The Hidden Truth of Your Name is the first book to synthesize their fascinating findings into one compelling resource--offering in-depth profiles of 750 American names. Created by a team of linguistic experts and specialists, this beguiling reference guides you through the illuminating intricacies of three ancient systems of divination--and shows you how to apply them to create a subtly nuanced portrait of any name you choose.

- KABBALAH--This ancient Hebrew system of letter-and-number analysis helps you discover what the mathematics of your name adds up to in terms of work, relationships, and spiritual energies.

- THE RUNES--The letters of this old northern European alphabet, for centuries an honored source of religious and magical values, open surprising windows to self-discovery and change.

- NUMEROLOGY--The key numbers of your name contain potent truths about the positive and negative aspects of your true nature--and your destiny.

Complete with the principle colors, gemstones, and herbs that harmonize with each name, this delightfully accessible book at last gives you the means to uncover the hidden truth and unique traits of your name.

Customer Reviews:

Ever wonder what your name says about you?.......2007-07-04

Bought this book because my friend had it and I liked it. I think it's great to just read for fun and share with friends. The book has 3 different interpretations of your name. I find the last intepretation to be the most accurate and my friends agree. Just a nice pass time.

Great gift idea - inside and out!.......2007-06-18

I have had this book for many years now, and it is frayed and ripped for all of my friends/co-workers/family making copies for themselves. For Christmas one year I framed each of the names on pretty stationary paper and gave it as gifts to my friends. Last year I made some for a few co-worker's baby rooms. I love the definitions and everyone I have spoke to says it fits them to a T! I do wish they would extend it and bring it back with a revised version with more updated names as well, but it is pretty easy to do the interpretations step-by-step in the book.

The Hidden Truth of Your Name.......2007-05-23

I did not order that book. I am positive.

Excellent Resource on Names.......2006-07-22

Most of us can probably relate to having the same experience with people of the same name - for example maybe every Kelly you've met has been very kind. Names have their own associated energy and are part of why we have certain personalities. This book does an excellent job of explaining why names have these characteristics.

The book also goes into a number of historical ways names are interpreted and gives tools to help interpret names in general. The book does not list every name, it would be impossible, but the foundation it provides is excellent. The descriptions of the names included in the book seem pretty insightful and there are a fair number of names in there. I was really impressed with the explanation of how names have meaning but I like to know how things work. If you just want a huge list of names with no background on why names have meaning then other books may be better.

I highly recommend this book for those interested in the topic. It's much better than "The Secret Meaning of Names", which I found incredibly disappointing and ended up returning.

its a fun and entertaining book...........2006-03-25

This book is a cool book. It was fun and entertaining to read. I found my name in it. And i didnt expect to since my name is soo old fashioned and not so popular. It gave me alot of insight into well...me. I enjoyed reading names of my family in it and learning things about them that i am sure they dont even know. I would reccommend this book as a form of entertainment.

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