Book Description
In The Right Address, Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman seared through the upper crust of New York’s glitterati with wicked glee. In their delicious new novel, Wolves in Chic Clothing, they train their merciless spotlight on the young princes and princesses poised to inherit Park Avenue.
Julia, a hip, downtown salesgirl at Pelham’s jewelry store, finds her social life turned on its head when she is asked to deliver a necklace to the store’s young heiress, Lell Pelham, on Lell’s wedding day. Beguiled by Julia’s earnest cluelessness and her vintage-chic vibe, Lell and her gang adopt Julia, and “Eliza Doolittle” her into passing as the heiress to a family fortune, just for a laugh.
Dazed by the whirlwind of trust funds, pedigrees, Cosmopolitans, and penthouses in her new world, Julia is unprepared for the ardent advances of Lell’s husband—or the vicious claws her new “friends” develop when they decide Julia is an ingrate, and demote her from society goddess to penniless cling-on with one well-timed editorial. Suddenly, she must return the borrowed couture clothes and try to remember who she was before the body snatching took place.
Hilarious and completely addictive, Wolves in Chic Clothing is a modern-day rags-to-riches-and-back-again fairy tale that will leave fans stamping their Manolo Blahniks for more.
Download Description
In The Right Address, Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman seared through the upper crust of New York’s glitterati with wicked glee. In their delicious new novel, Wolves in Chic Clothing, they train their merciless spotlight on the young princes and princesses poised to inherit Park Avenue. Julia, a hip, downtown salesgirl at Pelham’s jewelry store, finds her social life turned on its head when she is asked to deliver a necklace to the store’s young heiress, Lell Pelham, on Lell’s wedding day. Beguiled by Julia’s earnest cluelessness and her vintage–chic vibe, Lell and her gang adopt Julia, and ”Eliza Doolittle” her into passing as the heiress to a family fortune, just for a laugh. Dazed by the whirlwind of trust funds, pedigrees, Cosmopolitans, and penthouses in her new world, Julia is unprepared for the ardent advances of Lell’s husbandor the vicious claws her new “friends” develop when they decide Julia is an ingrate, and demote her from society goddess to penniless cling–on with one well–timed editorial. Suddenly, she must return the borrowed couture clothes and try to remember who she was before the body snatching took place. Hilarious and completely addictive, Wolves in Chic Clothing is a modern–day rags–to–riches–and–back–again fairy tale that will leave fans stamping their Manolo Blahniks for more.
Customer Reviews:
Light and Fun.......2007-09-14
This is a very quick and breezy read meant to purely entertain and distract, not enlighten. I read it in about two nights and found it very much in tune with Bergdorf Blondes. If you are into New York socialite stories, this one is worth reading. The story is predictable, but the setting is first class.
Wolves In Chic Clothing.......2007-04-03
Flat, pedestrian cliche parody of Sexy in the City, Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries. Clearly living on the fumes and riding the coat tails of the stories listed above, Wolves In Chic Clothing is just one glass of cheap champagne.
The story centers on a group od NY society womens who adopt a young and stylish girl to be their project (hello My Fair Lady). And yawn, all the clumsy descriptive curly-ques. Talk of "well heeled" Manolo wearing, Prada toting bitchy inner intrigue of a bunch of characters who are as boring as predictable.
The story line boils down to some tired and dated message of "Rich people are bad people", "Poor people are real people".
Don't waste your time. Buy yourself a DVD of Sex In The City, Or Devil Wears Prada for the real thing.
Wolves In Chic clothing is the Designer Imposter of books.
Makes you wonder if socialites are like this..........2007-01-25
I was thrown into this book and got out 2 days later. It's a very easy read, under 300 pages. You will fall in love with the main character and this book will make you go "Awww!" at the end! Haven't read any other book by these authors but am off to get The Right Address!
Julia is intriguing!.......2007-01-20
Lell Pelham, the heiress to Pelham's Jewelry Store (I envisioned Tiffany's, but grander)is spoiled and getting married to Will, a playboy on the social circle. Julia Pierce, a beautiful saleswoman has been asked to deliver the infamous "Pelham necklaces" for Lell's wedding. Julia is shocked to learn that Lell has even noticed her, and never would she guess that "Lell would notice her". Lell is intrigued by Julia, who although beautiful would be the perfect person to morph into the social butterfly of the century....she would be responsible for taking someone from another class, but all the classic looks and changing her to fit what her idea of "perfect" is. Lell is joined in her attempts by Polly who is equally as manipulative as her friend. Julia, caught up in the excitement of a new job, new friends, new clothes, and fantastic opportunities finds herself slowly changing into someone that she never thought that she would (she feels attracted to Lell's new husband Will, who is pursuing her because Lell has started cheating on him, right after the honeymoon). There are extremely entertaining and interesting characters in this novel.
Lell Pelham, heiress to a jewelry company, works hard to please her father while hating her mother. She knows that her father is unfaithful whenever possible, but relishes in the fact that he trusts her to run the family business. However, she too is fighting demons of (1) not letting anyone to close, even her husband. (2) Using money to keep people under her control. And (3) wants what she can not have.
Polly, who we hate, but soon understands, is in a marriage (for convenience only); has a child (to beat Lell to the punch); has a husband who drinks and ignores her (and seems to have a secret); gossips non-stop, as well as starts trouble within the group and struggles with her relationship with her mother (who doesn't seem to want to acknowledge her existence)- seems to find out what is really important in life, after it is too late.
Will, married to a woman who can give him everything that he wants materially, but she won't give him what he wants the most her heart. And I think that Will realizes that sometimes selling your soul won't bring you happiness.
Oscar, the sweet misfit of the group, just doesn't understand the long conversations about fashion or what "dumb" benefit that everyone wants to attend, just for the sake of attending
Holly, the friend of Lell and Polly who seems the most down to earth. She is married to a wonderful man, and has two wonderful boys, and for a minute questions "what if"? But in the end,knows what things are important and clings to that.
I really enjoyed this novel and would like to read another. I thought that it was whitty, and although I initially thought that I would never like a book that discussed this kind of topic, it was refreshing.
Working Girl Power!.......2006-11-11
Loved this book. Cool, stylish working girl makes it into snooty NY "in" crowd. Soap opera-like story of the 20-something rich and glamorous...how they are gorgeous, miserable and menacing. The heroine is likable and, of course, comes out okay in the end. Feel good story that I enjoyed reading. Definitely recommend it if you like chick lit!!!
Amazon.com
Setting: Ohio & Visitation, North Carolina
Sensuality: 8
When bounty hunter Bryan Kelly meets gorgeous philanthropist Shay Sommers he mistakes her for a prostitute. Despite Shay's denials, Bryan remains convinced that she's a hooker. Frustrated, Shay decides to conceal her wealthy lifestyle and moves into the Preacher's safe house to get to know some real "working women". Meanwhile, Bryan has an identity problem of his own, for he's masquerading as his twin brother, Preacher Bruce, in order to discover the identity of the person who assaulted Bruce and continues to threaten the women in his shelter. Bryan will do whatever it takes to find his brother's attacker and ensure the women's safety--especially Shay's. Both Shay and Bryan are keeping secrets that can destroy their growing relationship and neither of them are accustomed to trusting others. If Bryan can keep Shay alive, will he be able to convince her to trust him with her heart?
The Secret Life of Bryan is a sexy romance with a suspense plot set against a backdrop of gritty city streets. The secondary cast is colorful and readers will enjoy the inclusion of characters from the connected book, Say No To Joe?, in this continuation of the Winston family novels from bestselling author Lori Foster. --Lois Faye Dyer
Customer Reviews:
Struggled to finish.......2007-06-24
After reading "When Bruce ment Cyn" I was looking foward to reading "The Secret Life of Bryan" by Lori Foster. Byant has switch places with his twin brother Bruce when Bruce is beaten up for trying to help former ladies of the night Shay Sommer has called by press the "Crown Princess" for all the good works that she does. When Bryan mistakes Shay for a hooker, she decides to stay to try to help others. Bryan wants Shay, but he can't believe he wants her and his confuse by this.
I really wanted to like "The Secret of Bryan" but I found that is was a struggled to finish it. This book just didn't see like a Lori Foster book, it lacked the romance of other book by Ms. Foster, I sorry that I spent the money I did for this book.
It was alright........2007-06-12
The book was ok but I liked the previous book for this series better.
Very Funny! .......2007-02-21
The whole visitation series is GREAT!!! I fell in love with Say no To JOe, And JAMIE. It's great because it's funny and and the characters are in all of the Visitation books. They are definatley my favorite Lori foster books.
I thought the book was great esp when Shay kissed the wrong brother! I busted out laughing. I love the very bad boy books that she writes!
Senseless.... .......2006-12-06
I couldnt get into it at all, just mindless rambling that went on and on. I struggled to page 157 and finally had to close the book.... and sat thinking... where the heck was the plot? "...I just read HALF the book!"
Dont waste your time, money and effort... What a shame, from reading the back I was looking forward to it.
Romantic mystery.......2006-03-08
I think I found a new favorite author. This novel has attempted murders, deception, prostitution and two great love scenes. Bryan the bounty hunter is pretending to be his twin brother the preacher who runs a halfway house. Shay wants to open her own halfway house and pretends to be prostitute. A quick read that would leave you begging for more.
Book Description
George W. Bush came to the presidency in 2000 claiming to be the heir of Ronald Reagan. But while he did cut taxes, in most other respects he has governed in a way utterly unlike his revered predecessor, expanding the size and scope of government, letting immigration go unchecked, and allowing the federal budget to mushroom out of control.
Despite their strong misgivings, most conservatives remained silent during Bush’s first term. But a series of missteps and scandals, culminating in the ill-conceived nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, has brought this hidden rift within the conservative movement crashing to the surface.
Now, in what is sure to be the political book of the season, Bruce Bartlett lays bare the incompetence and profligacy of Bush’s economic policies. A highly respected Washington economist—and true-believing Reaganite—Bartlett started out as a supporter of Bush and helped him craft his tax cuts. But he was dismayed by the way they were executed. Reagan combined his tax cuts with fiscal restraint, but Bush has done the opposite. Bartlett thus reluctantly concluded that Bush is not a Reaganite at all, but an unprincipled opportunist who will do whatever he or his advisers think is expedient to buy votes.
In this sober, thorough, and utterly devastating book, Bartlett attacks the Bush Administration's economic performance root and branch, from the "stovepiping" of its policy process to the coercive tactics used to ram its policies through Congress, to the effects of the policies themselves. He is especially hard on Bush’s enormous new Medicare entitlement…and predicts that within a few years, Bush's tax cuts and unrestricted spending will produce an economic crisis that will require a major tax increase, probably in the form of a European-style VAT.
Bartlett has surprisingly kind words for Bill Clinton, whose record on the budget was far better than Bush’s. Whatever else one may think of him, Bartlett argues, Clinton cut spending, abolished a federal entitlement program, and left a budget surplus. By contrast, Bush has increased spending, created a massive entitlement program, and produced the biggest deficits in American history.
In fact, Bartlett concludes, Bush is less like Reagan than like Nixon: an arch-conservative Republican, bitterly hated by liberals, who vainly tried to woo moderates by enacting big parts of the liberal program. It didn't work then, and it won't work now—and may have similar harmful effects for the GOP.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful critique of GWB not written by whiney liberal.......2007-06-02
Well written entertaining hard hitting book on the various failures of the Bush presidency.
This book is packed with facts and logic supporting the author's thesis that George W. Bush is not a conservative president and has done a bad job from a conservative perspective. Rather GWB has been a highly partisan Republican president in the genre of Richard Nixon in that he has pushed liberal policies like expansion of medicare benefits, pouring billions into educations, committing the troops to nation-building of a democracy (which no doubt will end up like Vietnam) in a place where US troops don't belong.
If you are a die-hard Bush fan or a liberal Bush-hater don't bother buying this book as it probably won't provide any enjoyment. But if you are an intelligent open-minded individual who appreciates a frank discussion of policy from the conservative viewpoint you should not be disappointed.
Well written critical summary of the G.W. Bush Years.......2007-05-20
This book by a Reagan insider reveals in stark detail Bush's hipocracy in using the conservative title. Bartlett shows him as an grandiose opportunist who believes he is guided by God, and making all the errors of judgement that stem from such absurd overconfidence.
Good, but..........2007-04-18
I hate Dubya as much has the next good liberal, but I found this book to be a bit tough to get through due to its focus on economic issues. Cleary, he can be similarly criticized for straying from conservative positions on a whole host of other issues, but the author never strays from economics (but to be fair, that is his area of expertise). At the end, he even veers off on some VAT tax tangent that has nothing to do with Bush.
It's not a bad book, but buyer beware.
An attack more in sorrow than in anger.......2007-02-23
This is a good book. As a political book it is well above average.
As an attack book it is one of the best because it deals with facts,
mostly, and usually identifies opinions as opinions.
We have 210 pages of text, divided into 11 chapters, mostly complaining about
what Bush did, but a lot of complaints about how he did it, and why.
There 35 pages of appendices and notes, documenting the "what" quite well,
and the "how" fairly well. The "why" seems not as well done, but better than
the average political attack book.
A common attack book strategy is to make a statement as a fact, and provide
a note reference. The reference turns out to be an opinion offered elsewhere,
sometimes by the same author. Another is broad labelling. A request for a
hardship deferral makes one a draft dodger. Not accepting a particular
theory espoused by a professor makes one anti-intellectual. These are
rare in Bartlett's book.
There are also 31 pages of end notes, 49 pages of references and a 14 page
index. You can check his claims. In most cases there are references to
both sides of an issue.
I also appreciated that Bartlett identified the political biases of think
tanks and publications.
There are some weaknesses in the book. Much of the subject matter involves
economics, a topic most readers find boring, intimidating, or both.
To aid the attack, Bush is compared against Clinton in some ways and
against Reagan in others. Bartlett gives Clinton credit for welfare reform.
He properly identifies the tax increases that partly offset the Reagan
tax cuts, but ignores the slowness of spending reductions. Bartlett
argues there will be a major tax increase, probably after Bush is gone,
then spends many pages supporting a value added tax (VAT) as the least
bad way to do it.
Some Republicans will hate the book because it attacks one of their own.
Bartlett got fired for writing it. Some Democrats will hate the book
because it does not accuse Bush of treason, rape, armed robbery, and
wearing ugly ties. This is clearly an attack book, but it seems to have
been written more in sorrow than in anger. The book is far more rational
and far less emotional than some of the reviews here.
Critique of the President from the Right.......2006-09-24
This is an interesting work. Many of the critical analyses of the Bush II Administration (George W. Bush as opposed to George H. W. Bush, referred to as Bush I below) have come from journalists or those on the left or from Democrats. This book is fascinating precisely because it is authored by a conservative, one who served in the Reagan White House and in the Bush I Treasury Department. In that, it is akin to Francis Fukuyama's critical analyses of neocons and the Administration's Nation-Building efforts. And, indeed, Bartlett paid a personal price for his criticisms--he lost his job.
He suggests that the Bush II Administration is simply not conservative. In fact, the first chapter's title exemplifies that theme: "I Know Conservatives and George W. Bush Is No Conservative." Among his contentions: the Bush II administration simply does not care about serious policy analysis; it is more concerned with attaining its goals. The chapter, entitled "The End of Serious Policy Analysis," quotes part of Ron Suskind's interview with a top Bush official (some opine that this quotation may come from Karl Rove himself): "You guys, the aide said, are 'in what we call the reality-based community.' Such people are defined, the aide went on, as those who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernable reality.'" The aide went on, quoting Bartlett: "That's not the way the world works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. Any while you're studying that reality--judiciously as you will--we'll act again, creating other new realities. . . ."
Other chapters question the Bush II Administration for its tax cuts, its trade policy, why Enron serves as metaphor for Bush's economic policy, the budget (mirabile dictu, Bartlett suggests that Bill Clinton's policy is preferable to Bush II), and so on.
Precisely because this is a critique from the right, this becomes a very interesting volume to reflect upon. While sometimes the critique becomes a bit shrill, this is still worth looking at and thinking about.
Amazon.com
Why do otherwise intelligent individuals form seething masses of idiocy when they engage in collective action? Why do financially sensible people jump lemming-like into hare-brained speculative frenzies--only to jump broker-like out of windows when their fantasies dissolve? We may think that the Great Crash of 1929, junk bonds of the '80s, and over-valued high-tech stocks of the '90s are peculiarly 20th century aberrations, but Mackay's classic--first published in 1841--shows that the madness and confusion of crowds knows no limits, and has no temporal bounds. These are extraordinarily illuminating,and, unfortunately, entertaining tales of chicanery, greed and naivete. Essential reading for any student of human nature or the transmission of ideas.
In fact, cases such as Tulipomania in 1624--when Tulip bulbs traded at a higher price than gold--suggest the existence of what I would dub "Mackay's Law of Mass Action:" when it comes to the effect of social behavior on the intelligence of individuals, 1+1 is often less than 2, and sometimes considerably less than 0.
Book Description
A complete repackaging of the classic work about grand-scale madness, major schemes, and bamboozlement--and the universal human susceptibility to all three. This informative, funny collection encompasses a broad range of manias and deceptions, from witch burnings to the Great Crusades to the prophecies of Nostradamus.
Customer Reviews:
It's only a slice of the book!.......2007-06-27
I first discovered this book 40 years ago, and especially loved its description of the witchcraft hysteria. This is a lovely little edition, but it is only a small subset of the entire work, dealing specifically in three economic bubbles. It would have been good reading in 2000.
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.......2007-05-18
Years ago, in one of my MBA courses the Prof. mentioned this book and alluded to sections within the text how events which occured years ago are still applicable and effective today. My curiosity was picked so I searched for a copy and was able to obtain one at a local library. The reading was engrossing to say the least. The book deal with mass hysteria and mass public manipulation for political and financial gains. The events described are of massive proportions with world wide application and implication. After reading the book a big question mark floats over society where it allows itself over and over to fall on mass to charlatans, liars and deceivers who manage to lure the public to believe and trust their sordid tales and flim-flam to the point of selling their souls for a piece of the allusive dream. I recently found an old copy of the term paper I wrote on the book and decided to add a copy to my personal library. Rereading the book brought back the memories of class discussions and the interesting events mentioned. The books givs the reader a better understanding of how major world events take shape from rumors and minor incidents. A very easy read with a great and event filled story line. Should be read by all.
The Book that proved the importance of the CROWD - READ IT BEFORE INVESTING!!!!!.......2007-03-15
If you are a stock market investor, than this book must appear as one of your top 10 books to read. Investors really have no choice but to read this book because unlike any book you will ever read, this book teaches you about the CROWD. What motivates the crowd, and what causes people to join the crowd. If you were to ask any of the famous investors you have read about, every one of them is aware of the importance of CROWD PSYCHOLOGY. Warren Buffett has always talked about Mr. Market, which he learned from Benjamin Graham.
Now having said this let me tell you quickly what this book is about. MacKay in a brilliant, and in an interesting manner takes you through 700 pages of mass buying panics from centuries ago. These include The Witch Mania (100 pages) in the 15th and 16th century. The Crusades (100 pages), Alchemy (160 pages), and the Poisoners- hey, poisoning people was a big thing centuries ago- remember Napoleon.
The big buying binge that most people recognize is the South Sea Tulip Craze, where the participants bid up the price of tulips, yes tulips to the equivalent cost of houses and more. We're not done, MacKay goes through many, many more crazes, panics, and buying binges. All of these stories involve the CROWD. Extraordinary Popular Delusions... has survived the test of time. We do not know if anything being written today, or any studies being researched currently will be able to stand the time test? We only know that MacKay's book has.
Is the book interesting?
Yes it's fascinating, but you have to be interested in this subject. If you are in the financial markets you have no to STUDY, NOT READ this book. I say this because I have been a money manager and history buff for 35 years. If I did not live through the modern equivalent of MacKay's book, frankly I wouldn't believe half the stuff that is in this book, which is presented as truth.
The reality is I have seen MacKay's explanations work out in my own lifetime, and so have you. A few 20th century equivalents are in order:
1) INTERNET STOCK MAREKT CRAZE: 1999 - 2000
Wow, I did an analysis of the market value, of a major Internet stock in play at the time of the craze. The stock was representative of hundreds of other companies participating in the run-up in value. One day, I discovered that this Internet stock's market value was the equivalent of ten major corporations combined. These companies included IBM, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Electronic Data Processing, JC Penny, Sears, and others, all combined. It couldn't be. Did I calculate wrong? It was true, and the number was getting bigger every day.
Over $1.4 trillion dollars had been committed to Internet stocks by some of the smartest savviest people in the world. When it was over, that $1.4 trillion was reduced to under $100 billion. Over 90 plus percent of the value had simply disappeared. This was Extraordinary Popular Delusions all over again, and you lived through it too.
2) Personal Note: During the Internet Craze, I was re-tooling by taking courses at Harvard University. Every five years, I try to do this. I would drive up once a week and spend eight hours in financial classes with some of America's truly outstanding teaching professors to see what's new in academia that hasn't hit the money management industry yet. These world-renowned professors all got swept into the Internet stock market craze. They personally lost substantial pieces of their net worth. Every one of them was claiming that we were in a new age. They were throwing out their financial training out the window.
These were Professors who had read every page of MacKay's book, underlined it, annotated it, and even memorized sections. This is what you need to know. The first words that come out of a person's mouth involved in mass hysteria are - THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. It's a dead giveaway that we are in a POPULAR DELUSION.
3) The American Invasion of Iraq: Forget whether the President was right or wrong. Every intelligence agency in the world believed that the Iraqi's had weapons of mass destruction. David Kay, perhaps the smartest man in government believed it. This again, is an example of the crowd psychology in action.
4) Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba- President Kennedy as smart a man as they come got swept up into the crowd psychology believing along with everyone else that 1500 poorly trained Cubans could land on a beach in Cuba, and then suddenly without support, walk their way into Havana picking up ordinary people on the countryside who would swell their ranks and allow these expatriates to overthrow the Castro regime. These were the smartest men in government that believed this.
The list goes on and on, and if you the reader live long enough, you will see yourself swept up in these instances of mass hysteria. If two Presidents of the United States can get caught up in crowd psychology, we all better be on the lookout for it. Good luck.
Richard Stoyeck
Why our kids MUST still study European History a.k.a. 'The History of Dead White Males' .......2007-03-08
While I agree with several reviewers who comment that this book is a bit uneven--several chapters are much weaker than others--overall, this was an eye-popping book for me, for several reasons. A reader of some key chapters in this book, hears that most vital history lesson of all time with a rarely experienced degree of punch. The lesson? (One whose punchline goes way beyond its utility to investors and speculators...the part of the book many reviewers here hone in on). That mankind repeats its past mistakes, atrocities, and stupidities with amazing regularity and amnesia. Why does this book stand out in driving this lesson home? Because it catalogues in exquisitely gory detail, a long list of lessons we never learn from. Each sorry chapter of human history is replayed in a vivid blow by blow account. Each tale immediately reminds the reader of a similar one that preceded or followed it in time. Each tale has a pivotal turning point, which signals a shift from mob hysteria to mob self awareness. Following this turning point is a series of communal actions and avowals meant to cleanse the community in which the folly occurred of all its remnants, and immunize it from a re-infection by the same disease....But then comes the next chapter, and the next, and the next. The lesson that's driven home is--we keep going back over and over.
There are two chapters in this book that stood out in particular-- the one on the Witch Hunt fever that swept Puritan New England in the 18th century, and the one describing the Christian Crusades of the late Middle Ages. The first is the quintessential case in point of historical amnesia. The very men who barely a generation before fled to America to escape religious persecution, become the ridiculous kangaroo court inquisitors of helpless women accused of "witchcraft", and carry on their kangaroo proceedings without a trace of insight into their glaring hypocrisy, paganism, or fascism. Men barely done with thanking their new land for its gift to them of tolerance and due process, decide their fellow humans' fate by the famous test: "if she drowns she's innocent...if she doesn't we burn her as a witch". The second tale, of the Crusades, stands out in its subject matter, as particularly salient to modern Christians who (justly) cringe at the mob fanaticism overtaking many Muslim lands. We are forced to look in the mirror and see...there went we. The message is: THEY who terrorize us are being dangerously "washed" in the brain. But we too were for well over a century the inflamed cannon fodder of craven pseudo-holy cleric imposters and politicians. The CONTENT that drives current terror is religion, but the PURPOSE is that timeless human motive--greed and power.
The author recounts these sorry tales with a dispassionate prose, relentlessly unsparing of detail. Though dense at times as reviewers pointed out, I found his style really quite eloquent and effective. He appeals to his readers in an intimate and trusting tone, as a historian speaking to readers who are enlightened men--who share his ironic verdicts on past stupidities, and join him in affirming that, finally, enabled by unvarnished full accountings of our past, "we modern men will never be such fools again!" He occasionally adds a reality check: ".....will we?" Of course, the book's 160 year age gives us the answer of time......The answer? Well, as so nicely put by a contemporary social commentator named Borat (whose movie has a theme similar to MacKay's, applied to mob fanatics of the present day) ...."NOOOOOOT !!!!"
First 100 pages good, but the rest of the book was slow.......2006-09-27
I recommend Edward Chancellor's "Devil Take the Hindmost" instead of this book. I enjoyed this book for first hundred pages (financial speculation), but I was not interested in the later sections of the book.
Average customer rating:
- A most intriguing series for readers from preteen on:
- Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!!
- for parents too!
- Can't put it down
- slow at shipping
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Shadow Children (Boxed Set): Among the Hidden; Among the Impostors; Among the Betrayed; Among the Barons
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
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Among the Brave (Shadow Children)
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Among the Enemy (Shadow Children)
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Among the Free (Shadow Children)
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Double Identity
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Running Out of Time (Aladdin Fiction)
ASIN: 0689033672 |
Book Description
Imagine a world where families are allowed only two children. Illegal third children -- shadow children -- must live in hiding. If they are discovered, there is only one punishment: Death.
Among the Hidden
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
An American Booksellers Association Kids' Pick of the List
Among the Impostors
International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
Among the Betrayed
An America Library Association Quick Pick
International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choice
Customer Reviews:
A most intriguing series for readers from preteen on:.......2007-05-13
The Shadow Chidren series may be the modern alternative to The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Cherry Ames. The plot of each book-there are more than the four books of the boxed set-is captivating, as is the overall adventuresome goal of the series. My ten year old granddaughter introduced me to the Shadow Children after she had completed the first book. I both purchased and read all the books before giving them to her to make certain that all is wholesome. Parents and/or prospective readers be assured that the Shadow Children series will be enjoyed by everyone. Then, the variety of other books by Haddix will be enjoyed as well.
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!!.......2007-04-08
My son (who is 13) has a hard time reading a complete book, due to his short attention span. A friend suggested this series of books to us. I couldn't be happier. This series is so interesting that he read all of the books within two weeks!!!! As a parent, I enjoyed them also! This is the best deal on the web for this set.
for parents too!.......2007-03-14
My 9-year-old daughter introduced me to this series, saying I had to read them. Well, I did, I'm now near the end of book 5, and they're riveting. The plot is well-written, unpredictable, tense and believable. I especially appreciate how Haddix depicts the struggles these kids go through as they make their decisions on how to act, and how ultimately they make the right choices. Not always, and that is shown as well. It is certainly written for young readers, so goes very fast for an adult reading, but thoroughly enjoyable. I keep wondering why nobody has made movies out of Haddix's books? This would be a great one. Don't push it aside thinking "It's a kid book." Give it a chance.
Can't put it down.......2007-02-05
I could not put these books down. They are short enough to read in one sitting, but still left me satisfied and pensive. The story never dragged and I found myself unable to keep from outwardly expressing fear, anger, relief, and shock.
These are books for everyone. The stories are entertaining with many twists and the plot is thought provoking as many books about futuristic societies tend to be.
slow at shipping.......2007-01-10
The books are fine, they were for my son and he loves them. But it took over a month to receive them. Very slow shipping.
Average customer rating:
- Great Book about Frauds
- "...he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." ..Machiavelli
- Fun with skepticism
- Excellent stories, but not as good as some of his other books
- Fun, Very Light
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A Treasury of Deception: Liars, Misleaders, Hoodwinkers, and the Extraordinary True Stories of History's Greatest Hoaxes, Fakes and Frauds
Michael Farquhar
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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A Treasury of Great American Scandals: Tantalizing True Tales of Historic Misbehavior by the Founding Fathers and Others Who Let Freedom Swing
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A Treasury of Royal Scandals: The Shocking True Stories History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors
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The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy
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The Greatest War Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Military History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (History Channel)
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Royal Babylon: The Alarming History of European Royalty
ASIN: 0143035444
Release Date: 2005-05-31 |
Book Description
We may say that honesty is the best policy, but history—to say nothing of business, politics, and the media—suggests otherwise. In this infinitely citable book, the author of two bestselling treasuries of scandal recounts some of the greatest deceptions of all time. With what forged document did the Vatican lay claim to much of Europe? Who wrote Hitler's diaries? Why do millions still believe the vague doggerel that Nostradamus passed off as prophecy? Organizing his material by theme (con artists, the press, military trickery, scientific fraud, imposters, great escapes, and more), Michael Farquhar takes in everything from the hoodwinking of Hitler to Vincent “the Chin” Gigante's thirty-year crazy act. A Treasury of Deception is a zestful, gossipy exposé—and celebration—of mendacity.
A Treasury of Deception also includes:
• Ten tricksters from scripture
• Ten great liars in literature
• Ten egregious examples of modern American doublespeak
• Ten classic deceptions from Greek mythology
Customer Reviews:
Great Book about Frauds.......2007-04-20
This is a very interesting book about different frauds from around the world. Some examples from the book:
1.Nostradamus' predictions
2.Piltdown man
3.various Nazi lies and hoaxes
4.Clifford Irving's whopper of a lie when he said that he was writing a biography about Howard Hughes
5.A lady in the 1600's giving birth to rabbits
6.Various royal hoaxes dealing with pretenders to thrones
7.Boys with plenty of school spirit who got the Lincoln Museum to look purple
8.plenty other stories to keep you amused for hours.
"...he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." ..Machiavelli.......2007-01-17
Everything in this book is a pack of lies;and every story is true.What a collection of history's Lies,Misleaders,Hoodwinkers,Hoaxes,Fakes,Frauds,Scandals,Misbehaviors,Trickery,Imposters,Chincanery,Falsehoods,Ruses,Monkey Business,Practical Jokes,Deception,Duplicity,Con Men,and all of those things that have been done to snag the gullible down through the ages.It started with an apple in the Garden of Eden, and in one form or another, has continued ever since. There has never been any part of society that has been able to keep itself immune from these deceitful practitioners of this low level art.
Farquhar has given us the essence of 74 amazing instances of deceptions that have taken in people in unbelievable ways.
He has included 4 Appendices ;
I: Ten Tricksters from Scripture.
II: Ten great Liars in Literature.
III: Ten Classic Deceptions from Greek Mythology.
IV: Ten Egregious Examples of Modern Doublespeak.
Should you be so inclined to delve further into these precious dasterdly acts,he gives an extensive Bibliography which will give much more information for your reading pleasure or if so inclined,help you become an expert in this fine art.
It seems that when one sets out to deceive,it is easier to pull it off with many, rather than a few, people.While some of the great deceptions in history seemed to be a major success to the perpetrator,one should remember the words of Walter Scott;
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,when first we practice to deceive."
While history is filled with deceptions;it is also filled with warnings about deceiving;
"Believe no tales from an enemy's tongue."
"Trust is the mother of deceit."
"He that once deceives,is ever suspected"
"To deceive a deceiver is no deceit."
"To deceive oneself is very easy."
"Deceive me once,shame on you. Deceive me twice,shame on me."
A wonderful collection of deceptions;and don't be surprised that after reading this book;that you will never again take anything for granted or at face value.
Fun with skepticism.......2006-02-03
The very first chapter, on the prophecies of Nostradamus, is worth the price of the book. Farquhar points out that Nostradamus built his prophetic reputation by making vague pronouncements so filled with symbolism that they could be interpreted to predict nearly anything. If more people read Farquhar, there'd be a lot fewer people wasting their time with other prophetic works that use the same approach, such as the book of Isaiah and the Revelation of St. John. This is something of a personal issue for me. My own father, an intelligent and talented man who could have done a lot of good in the world, spent years obsessing uselessly over these prophecies.
The rest of the book has plenty more great stories. Admittedly, Farquhar doesn't go into great detail with any of them, but so what? You can always go elsewhere to dig deeper if something interests you.
A few words to the wise. Farquhar makes skepticism fun, but don't forget that skepticism can go too far. Piltdown Man was a fraud, but the theory of evolution is not.
Excellent stories, but not as good as some of his other books.......2005-07-16
I just finished reading this book and I would have given it five stars had I not read his stories about royal scandals first. It was much more shocking than this one, although this book is worth a read. I only wish it had contained more stories, and a little more of the wit Farquhar exhibited in his other writings.
Fun, Very Light.......2005-06-15
Michael Farquhar has created another bathroom book for the history-loving set. This one, Treasury of Deception, is just what it's title implies and is broken down into categories and ranges from prison escapes to scientific frauds, from practical jokes to deadly hoaxes, such as the blood libel. It is a truly odd mixed bag and should be read over a long period in many small bites, although that may prove harder to do than anticipated and one may find oneself gobbling the whole thing down at once. The book is light at the right moments and more serious when required and, amazingly enough, never veers into the truly silly, which is a blessing.
Average customer rating:
- The book got a little bit longer with every turn of the page.
- Brief Tour of Human Consciousness
- Not as good as his other book
- Read Phantoms instead
- It's all in your mind
|
A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Impostor Poodles to Purple Numbers
V. S. Ramachandran
Manufacturer: Pi Press
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Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain
ASIN: 0131872788 |
Customer Reviews:
The book got a little bit longer with every turn of the page........2007-07-05
I was given this book as an award for winning psychology student of the department at my high school. I, as a psychology student, am not a fan of all the neuroscience, and I believe that's why my teacher chose this book for me. It started off interestingly and I really actually enjoyed the first two chapters. However, as the book continued, it just got a little bit longer and harder to read as I moved into later chapters. The author didn't really do a good job of staying on track, fully explaining his ideas, and then explaining them correctly. What made the book even worse was that he puts all of his numerical notes at the end of the book and not as footnotes. Therefore, I had to constantly turn back and forth and save two pages when I stopped reading.
I ended up just closing the book instead of reading the last 15 pages because I wasn't happy with the way Ramachandran did this.
Brief Tour of Human Consciousness.......2007-06-14
I have read, and own, several previous books by Dr. Ramachandran and have fully enjoyed every one of them. This book is less intensely full of scientific jargon than his prior books, but is every bit as enjoyable. For those who haven't read much, or any, books on the fascinating workings of the human brain this just may be the book to start with! I can promise you'll be hooked on the subject.
He is a talented writer who makes a difficult subject available to the non-scientist without your ever feeling talked down to.
Buy this book and be ready to make plenty of room in the science section of your bookshelves!
Not as good as his other book.......2007-06-05
I purchased this book after reading and loving "Phantoms in the Brain," also by Dr. Ramachandran. I was sorely disappointed. This book stands on its own; if it weren't for "Phantoms" I would have to rate this higher. However, this is merely a watered-down version of his earlier work: most of the content is the same and there is less of it. "Phantoms in the Brain" is nearly twice the length and, being the older book, still costs a little less. They're both intensely fascinating, but there is no reason to buy this book. Buy "Phantoms in the Brain" instead.
Read Phantoms instead.......2007-05-11
I read Phantoms in the Brain by the same author and was wowed, so I bought this book and was sorely disappointed that it really really is a shorter, less interesting version of Phantoms in the Brain. Don't waste your time on this book just buy Phantoms in the Brain. I wish I had read the other reviews earlier that said this before I ordered it!
It's all in your mind.......2006-08-22
V.S. Ramachanchandran has a produced a wonderful book which delivers exactly what its title promises.
Through patients he's treated we learn about brain anatomy, various physical disfunctions what they say about human limits and overcoming them and why some people associate color with numbers and why that has anything important to say about humans generally.
Along the way, Ramachandran says more noteworthy things about art and why people are attracted to it than any philosophy course or supposedly "learned" treatese attempting to answer the question of "what is art."
What's more Ramachandran has skill with the spoken language so that his ideas are readily accessible to the layman yet still relevant to the specialist (who will no doubt enjoy seeing his field of study through another's eyes).
An excellent read; an excellent book; an excellent purchase!
Amazon.com
When this true-crime story first appeared in 1980, it made the New York Times bestseller list within weeks. Two decades later, it's being rereleased in conjunction with a film version produced by DreamWorks. In the space of five years, Frank Abagnale passed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries. He did it by pioneering implausible and brazen scams, such as impersonating a Pan Am pilot (puddle jumping around the world in the cockpit, even taking over the controls). He also played the role of a pediatrician and faked his way into the position of temporary resident supervisor at a hospital in Georgia. Posing as a lawyer, he conned his way into a position in a state attorney general's office, and he taught a semester of college-level sociology with a purloined degree from Columbia University.
The kicker is, he was actually a teenage high school dropout. Now an authority on counterfeiting and secure documents, Abagnale tells of his years of impersonations, swindles, and felonies with humor and the kind of confidence that enabled him to pull off his poseur performances. "Modesty is not one of my virtues. At the time, virtue was not one of my virtues," he writes. In fact, he did it all for his overactive libido--he needed money and status to woo the girls. He also loved a challenge and the ego boost that came with playing important men. What's not disclosed in this highly engaging tale is that Abagnale was released from prison after five years on the condition that he help the government write fraud-prevention programs. So, if you're planning to pick up some tips from this highly detailed manifesto on paperhanging, be warned: this master has already foiled you. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as "The Skywayman," Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam-until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes-including one from an airplane-make
Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.
The uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man currently in development as a
DreamWorks feature film.
"I stole every nickel and blew it on fine threads, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes, and other sensual goodies. I partied in every capital in Europe and basked on all the world's most famous beaches."
Download Description
Here is the uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man -- the basis for the DreamWorks feature film.
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one.
Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as "The Skywayman," Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam -- until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes -- including one from an airplane -- make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.
Customer Reviews:
great pulp especially for a short plane trip! .......2007-09-27
"The parental drive Frank wants from Carl feels less evident, missing the sensitive looks and words as played in the movie by Hanks and DiCaprio."
don't you realize how silly it is to complain that stuff happens in the movie(fictional) and not in the book (factual).
Fun.......2007-07-18
This is a fun book. Abagnale's intelligence and wit come through, though the writing is a bit stilted and the material quite dated. But Abagnale's ability to exploit appearances and to exploit the level of trust necessary for society to work is fascinating and very funny. Perhaps his most interesting con is his relationship with women. This is the ultimate con game, I'm afraid, and the book would have been far better had he explained his con in this regard and had he come to terms with it. Also, the book ends quite abruptly and is unsatisfying in explaining how Abagnale ultimately came to terms with himself.
When you do get caught make something of it .......2007-06-29
We sat in the second row as we listened to Abagnale recount his escapades as a con artist. His regret of his actions has led him to a life focused on preventing others from following his footsteps. That prevention includes his own consulting agency, training FBI agents, and lecturing us on identity theft. The serious moment of identity theft silenced the audience showing that Abagnale had earned respect. What Kyle and I took from that speech, besides some great antidotes on how to get money from an ATM machine, was a renewed concern about the protection of our own identity. Take note that both the book and the movie are media-hyped versions of the true story. This doesn't take anything from the read but it does make the reader ask questions of probability. I love the fact that Abagnale (Doesn't his name just roll off the tongue?) is still good friends with the FBI agent, Joseph Shea, whom helped to capture him.
May be the greatest imposter in history.......2007-05-12
Frank Abignale is one of the most original and interesting characters of the century. By the time he was old enough to vote, he had been an airline pilot, lawyer, doctor and womanizer of the first magnitude. Well written and hard to put down.
Great book.......2007-03-09
This was a very fascinating and fun read but entirely different than the movie which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. That's why I bought the book. I would say the movie is very loosely based on this book. I highly recommend both to anybody who likes fun and wants a good laugh.
Book Description
WHAT’S ONE LITTLE WHITE LIE?
Okay, so it isn’t that little. It’s kind of a whopper. It’s just that when Natalie Raglan ups and quits her job at a Bath advertising firm, breaks up with her loser-ish boyfriend, and moves–to London! Things don’t quite turn out the way she planned. Having made the brave move to the Big City, the lifelong country mouse finds that living chic is still a long way off. Even Cressida, the girl who used to rent her tiny flat, still gets more phone calls and mail there than Nat does. Come to think of it, Cressida Langdon’s life looks pretty appealing–especially when an invitation to the posh, exclusive Soho House club arrives, addressed to Cressida.
Before she really knows what she’s done, Nat has opened Cressida’s mail . . . and taken up her life. Soon Nat’s dating a gorgeous investment banker named Simon, giving “reiki healing sessions,” wearing wonderful clothes, and partying with the A-list at Soho House. But the best part really is Simon. He’s everything Nat has ever wanted. The problem is he thinks she’s someone else. And as her life and her lies begin to spiral out of control, Nat can’t help but wonder: Will she be exposed as a liar and a fake–or be saved from ruin by simply claiming good intentions. . . .
Download Description
Okay, so it isn’t that little. It’s kind of a whopper. It’s just that when Natalie Raglan ups and quits her job at a Bath advertising firm, breaks up with her loser–ish boyfriend, and moves–to London! Things don’t quite turn out the way she planned. Having made the brave move to the Big City, the lifelong country mouse finds that living chic is still a long way off. Even Cressida, the girl who used to rent her tiny flat, still gets more phone calls and mail there than Nat does. Come to think of it, Cressida Langdon’s life looks pretty appealing–especially when an invitation to the posh, exclusive Soho House club arrives, addressed to Cressida.
Before she really knows what she’s done, Nat has opened Cressida’s mail… and taken up her life. Soon Nat’s dating a gorgeous investment banker named Simon, giving “reiki healing sessions,” wearing wonderful clothes, and partying with the A–list at Soho House. But the best part really is Simon. He’s everything Nat has ever wanted. The problem is he thinks she’s someone else. And as her life and her lies begin to spiral out of control, Nat can’t help but wonder: Will she be exposed as a liar and a fake–or be saved from ruin by simply claiming good intentions.…
Customer Reviews:
Reader beware..........2007-09-23
"Little White Lies" isn't an entire waste of time, but it is very predictable and repetitive. Take the plot of "Working Girl" and throw in a little "While You Were Sleeping" and that'll give you about 80% of the plot. Small town girl moves to the city with big dreams only to be initially disappointed. So, due to a few twists, she finds herself impersonating a more accomplished character. Enter the Perfect Guy and his appealing family, who love the protagonist for just who she is. But will they still love her when her deception is uncovered? That is the dilemma. There are all the standard cliches, including the scene where the protagonist is ready to reveal her lie, only to be interupted by someone who spills the beans for her. The ending is pure cotton candy. In fact, reading "Little White Lies" reminded me of why I often avoid chick lit. There are some good writers in this genre (and Townley is a competant writer, just not original) but the plots are so obvious that reading to the end often feels like a waste of time. I'll give this one points for the following: I learned a few things I didn't know (such as that Stonehenge and Bristol are near Bath) and there are at least two twists I couldn't predict (although they're both minor to the plot.) So... reader beware.
Little White lies...........2007-09-02
Great book!! I couldn't put it down, i think I've read all of Gemma Townley's books now can't wait for the next one to come out!!
A sweet, funny little book.......2007-03-30
I really enjoyed this book, which actually kind of surprised me. I thought it was going to just be a bit of fluff -- some escapist chick lit that I could enjoy dipping into at the end of a long day while lolling in the bathtub.
But then I found myself interested in the main character, Natalie, and the tangled web she wove as she took on another identity. She was, of course, a terrible liar, and a number of very entertaining things happened with the story's being neatly resolved at the end.
This isn't deep or timeless literature. The character development is somewhat haphazard and the plot will gently test your credulity, but "Little White Lies" is a fun, interesting, entertaining book for the bath, beach, or comfy nook on the sofa.
Underdeveloped.......2007-02-25
The story of this book sounded really promising and funny: Young woman moves to big city, works in retail, gets a bunch of mail addressed to the prior tenant and lies herself into a whole different identity.
Unfortunately the way it was worked out was nothing else but disappointing. Without any warning, or any kind of explanation, the main character moved back to her hometown only to return to the big city and getting back with her ex-boyfriend within a few pages. It would have been nice to get some more insights and just some kind of how did she get there explanation. What ever happened to a gradual story development?
All in a sudden she has her own store and lives happily ever after with the guy who thought she was someone else. How exactly did that happen? I feel I could have written this book better than this author.
I like light and breezy novels, but that doesn't mean that they have to do completely dump and unrealistic.
See what might happen if you lie.............2006-07-19
I really like this book because it was fun to read and I wanted to know what was going to happen to Natalie from her lies. I'm sure everyone has received mail or a phone call from someone who use to live at their current place and who use to have their current phone number.
But we were always the good little girl and never opened the mail or always told the caller that you have the wrong number. With this book we get to see what could happen if you opened someone's mail and looked in on someone else's life.
This book also showed that you can stick to your dreams and achieve them. From other reviews the main character did flip flop with decision making but that was the fun of her character she could never really make up her mind.
Book Description
A woman in danger flees for safety. But will the Amish community where she chooses to hide keep her safe?
Customer Reviews:
Sanctuary.......2007-09-08
This isn't really the type of book I would read if the author wasn't highly recommended... it seems like everyone who comes into the library is a Beverly Lewis fan. So I figured, why not try something by her? And I did...
I'm not usually a religious person... but I like the way this book portrays faith. The characters talk about their beliefs but don't do it in an annoying way; they don't shove it down the reader's throats. Instead of trying to force me to believe, the book simply opens my eyes.
That being said, this wasn't a completely religious book. Beverly Lewis is known for her Christian works, and this is no exception... except I actually enjoyed the story. It wasn't really all that (at least to me... someone more spiritual than me would enjoy it) but it's still a good read.
In true Beverly Lewis fashion.......2007-06-05
(Part of The Postcard/The Crossroad series)
She has the perfect life: a beautiful house on the water, a loving husband, and her painting. And after spending years looking over her shoulder, Mellie thinks she's finally safe. But then that perfect world is shattered. When she's out with a friend and spots "that face," Mellie knows she has to run.
Leaving her house and husband behind, Mellie finds herself in Amish country--at the home of Lela Deninger, a single Amish woman with a room to rent. Mellie's husband is truly lost without her and can't figure out why she left. With the help of a close friend, he discovers that he is closer to the answer than he realizes. As Mellie waits with Lela for a phone call that will tell her what to do, she finds herself connecting with God in a way she never thought possible. Then when she finds out a depressing truth about her husband, Mellie realizes her true Sanctuary is in the Lord.
I truly enjoyed this book and read it with ease. Lewis has a wonderful way of drawing the reader in and holding their attention!
The author was born in the heart of Amish country--Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She didn't start writing about that area until her children were in middle school,with her first book published in 1993.
New York Times bestseller Beverly Lewis is a very prolific writer. Once again she has taken her enthusiastic fans deep into the world of the Amish. Her adult fiction includes: Annie's People series, Abram's Daughters series, The Heritage of Lancaster County series The Postcard/The Crossroad series plus her youth fiction, The Cul-de-Sac Kids series, Girls Only (GO!) series, ages 8-13 and Holly's Heart series and Summerhill Secrets series ages 11-14.
Armchair Interviews says: Beverly Lewis does it again.
Sacrafices.......2007-01-19
I liked this.It was once of the first ones I read.I passed it on to my daughter immediately and we were hooked on her books.Nadia Rehmani
Good book.......2005-10-20
This is not one of my favorite books by Beverly. Only because it is hard to follow. One minute you are reading about Melissa and then the next chapter you are reading about Ryan.I also dont understand why everybook that Beverly writes is about the Amish. I really like her books. But I with that she would write something that doesnt talk about the Amish
Too formulaic for a usually good author........2005-03-23
Realizing that Lewis's books can often be preachy, they are still mostly enjoyable with well-drawn characters and good plots. This one is sub-par for Lewis, however. The plot is contrived and the preaching comes very heavy-handed. I found the Christianity to be inserted in odd ways and conversions less than believable. I usually love Lewis's work and her Amish characters in particular, but this one was definitely not her best work. Perhaps it was the influence of her husband? I'm glad I've got the newest in the Abram's Daughters series to look forward to or I'm afraid my interest in Lewis would end with this one.
Books:
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry
- A Circle of Sisters
- A Little Yellow Dog : Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Gray-Eyed Death"
- A Long Way Home: Twelve Years of Words
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare)
- Apples from the Desert: Selected Stories (The Helen Rose Scheuer Jewish Women's Series)
- Are you a Grasshopper? (Backyard Books)
- Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis
- Baby Mix Me a Drink (Baby Be of Use)
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