City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)

Book Description

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Customer Reviews:

Very entertaining, but...........2007-10-10

The book was entertaining, the characters were fun, the plot was twisty enough to warrant the page count, and the setting was gritty and fantastic at the same time. She also plays with themes a lot: I noticed homages to Star Wars, Buffy, Harry Potter and the Evil Overlord List to name a few. For the most part these were homages and not ripoffs, and added to the story.

You may know she made a name for herself before this writing Harry Potter fanfiction, and if you've read her work, you might notice that a few things from it made it into this book. I don't know if she included them in her fanfiction as guerilla advertising or what, but as they're good bits and they account for about three of the five hundred pages, it isn't really a problem- it just jumped out at me as I read.

Good book, very entertaining overall.

AWESOME!.......2007-10-06

This book was great! I have a hard time finding things that I really enjoyed reading but this is second only to the Twilight series. Loved it!

Just... not very good........2007-10-04

I think the problem with this book is that it's like looking at every movie or tv show about teens and the supernatural for the last twenty some odd years. It's loaded with cliches and wise cracks, and if it seems like you've read or seen a story like this before, you probably have.

Teen vampire stories tend to be fairly similar anyway - you can't call the monsters vampires or werewolves unless they follow certain conventions, but this book wasn't even interesting. It's dull. You'll figure out the story long before the characters do, and by the time they catch a clue, you'll be tearing your eyes out from the purply prose.

But I would have tossed it two or three stars just because I do like teens battling demons.... except that it was so poorly edited. Characters described completely different, subplots that went nowhere... Either the publisher didn't care or the author... but someone sure didn't.

Skip it unless you can buy it cheap.

Great.......2007-09-21

My friend and I read this book and both loved it. It was hilarious and a really lovely book. There are many books with duller plots/beginnings, so why is everyone moaning and crying about that? Oh well, I totally recommend this book to everyone.

The descent into hell is easy.......2007-08-21

Things go afoot at the Pandemonium all ages nightclub in Brooklyn for young Clary Fray (15) and her best friend Simon. First, Clary sees a young blue haired boy follow a slim, dark haired girl into a room, then she sees them pursued by two young men, one of whom is carrying a knife. Clary points this out to Simon who alerts a bouncer, but when she sees a dreadful crime committed that no one else can see she begins to wonder what is behind it all. Who are these runic tattooed, attractive young people, and why does the one who resemble a lion treat her so mockingly?

The three turn out to be in an elite group of humans called Shadowhunters, or demon hunters, in "Mundie" terms. Alec and Isabelle Lightwood are beautiful dark haired siblings while Jace, the tall leonine one, is an orphan. After Clary is attacked by a Ravener Demon and poisoned Jace takes her back to the Institute, that is the head of the Shadowhunters realm in the land of Idris, where she can recover from her near fatal wounds.

Clary meets Hodge, the elder tutor of the three, and he begins to unravel the tale of the Shadowhunters and their greatest enemy, Valentine, a former Shadowhunter. He decides to let her in on their history after realizing that her mother has gone missing mysteriously and, based on the information Jace has supplied about Clary being able to see demons, Hodge suspect that she has Shadowhunter blood in her. The Shadowhunters are run by a group of lawmakers called the Clave, who hand down punishments for those who flaunt the laws set up between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders, otherwise known as the Fey, demons and faeries and what not. Valentine was the greatest source of unrest within the world of Idris, believing that the entirety of the Fey should be killed to leave the world pure for humans. He was not approved of in this quest and he decided to take out the means of turning other humans into Shadowhunters- the Mortal Cup- by setting fire to it, his family, and himself. Now, years later, someone is invoking his name again and the world of Idris and all the Shadowhunters know, is in the gravest peril at this new threat. But how does Clary's past connect with Valentine, a man who wants to purify the world of all non-humans, and why is she getting drawn into their war?

I was so impressed by the first of Clare's urban fantasy series that I started the article in Wikipedia about it. All I can say is wow... and then shake my head and say wow again... This was such a compelling read, dark and rich with vivid textures and description. The characters are real and edgy and the plot twists are original, unexpected, and complex. Clare is the queen of setting literary bombs that explode and astound unexpectedly throughtout the books. Amazingly done. I found myself thoroughly drawn into the lush world that Clare has created. I will be reading "City of Ashes" when it is published in 2008. I have to know what happens next.

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One of his better books
Tight, solid detective story
Bones and Bosch
ONE OF THE WEAKER BOSCH MYSTERIES
A serviceable detective novel. Realistic and well-written

City of Bones (Harry Bosch)
Michael Connelly
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446611611
Release Date: 2003-02-24

Amazon.com

In City of Bones, Connelly's eighth Bosch title, Bosch and his well-dressed partner, Jerry Edgar, are working to identify a child's skeleton, buried for 20 years in the forest off Hollywood's Wonderland Drive, and to bring the killer to belated justice. For Bosch this is more than just another homicide, as the mystery child, beaten and abandoned, comes to represent much of what he sees as evil in his city. Add in a tragic love affair with a fellow cop, complications from overzealous media, and the growing feeling that he's fighting a losing battle about which no one cares, and the usually stoic Bosch is pushed to his limits. This isn't the strongest plot Connelly has concocted for Bosch, but it leads to an ending the whole series has been building toward. The conclusion may not shock longtime fans, but it will leave them wondering where the series will go from here. --Benjamin Reese

Book Description

Since his first appearance in 1992's Edgar-winning The Black Echo, Detective Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch has joined Dennis Lehane's Patrick and Angie, George Pelecanos's Derek Strange, and Greg Rucka's Atticus Kodiak in the pantheon of new-school hard-boiled detectives. Rather than giving Bosch a clever gimmick (like Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme, who is a quadriplegic), Michael Connelly embraces the noir archetype: Bosch, an L.A. homicide detective, is a chain-smoking loner who refuses to play by his superiors' rules. Although he has quit smoking, Harry's still the same tightlipped outsider, taking each crime as a personal affront as he tries to cleanse his beloved city of the darkness he sees engulfing it. In City of Bones, Connelly's eighth Bosch title, Bosch and his well-dressed partner, Jerry Edgar, are working to identify a child's skeleton, buried for 20 years in the forest off Hollywood's Wonderland Drive, and to bring the killer to belated justice. For Bosch this is more than just another homicide, as the mystery child, beaten and abandoned, comes to represent much of what he sees as evil in his city. Add in a tragic love affair with a fellow cop, complications from overzealous media, and the growing feeling that he's fighting a losing battle about which no one cares, and the usually stoic Bosch is pushed to his limits. This isn't the strongest plot Connelly has concocted for Bosch, but it leads to an ending the whole series has been building toward. The conclusion may not shock longtime fans, but it will leave them wondering where the series will go from here. --Benjamin Reese

Download Description

Replace Annotation with: When the bones of a 12-year-old boy are found scattered in the Hollywood Hills, Harry Bosch is drawn into a case that brings up the darkest memories from his own haunted past. The bones have been buried for years, but the cold case doesn't deter Bosch. Unearthing hidden stories, he finds the child's identity and reconstructs his fractured life, determined that he not be forgotten.

At the same time, a new love affair with a female cop begins to blossom for Bosch--until a stunningly blown mission leaves Bosch in more personal and professional trouble than ever before in his turbulent career. The investigation races to a shocking conclusion, leaving Bosch on the brink of an unimaginable decision--one that will leave readers breathless and hungry for Michael Connelly's next masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

One of his better books.......2007-07-10

This was a solid police/mystery novel. The death of the "main" female was depressing but a good twist nonetheless. This book made me want to rush out and buy more of his work.

Tight, solid detective story.......2007-04-03

City of Bones delivers a streamlined mystery that follows one trail after another until finally turning the corner that leads to the answer. The story is interesting and entertaining, providing several emotional twists. The climax is somewhat weak and not as satisfying as others from Connelly. Connelly's other books have set his readers' expectations high---at the 5 star level. This one isn't quite there but still will entertain readers with its more than adequate writing.

Bones and Bosch.......2007-01-14

Mr. Connelly's Harry Bosch continues to be one of the most intriguing characters in crime fiction. This story revolves around a set of newly discovered bones on a hill side in Laurel Canyon. The bones are 20 years old and Harry sets about unravelling the mystery. What sets Bosch apart is his depth and flaws. Mr. Connelly's scores big in several ways. First, is the depth he adds for all his characters. Secondly, his crisp writing moves the plot along at a good pace. Lastly, the touches of the police procedural are like no other writer that I have encountered in crime fiction. His writing is addictively good. This ranks with "The Poet" as my 2 favorites - so far.

ONE OF THE WEAKER BOSCH MYSTERIES .......2006-12-24

I am a fan of Michael Connelly's mysteries and think his books are among the smartest popular fiction mysteries being written today, but I found "City Of Bones" to be one his slighter, more pro forma efforts. At its best, Connelly's prose can rise to the Chandleresque. His descriptions of post-modern Los Angeles are dead-on and can be tinged with a poetic melancholy. In "City of Bones" Connelly's writing is, as always, effortless and highly readable, but more servicable than literary.

Unlike some other Bosch mysteries this story lacks any personal high stakes and there was no sense of surprise in the ultimate reveal. Bosch seems oddly unmoved by the death of a character with whom he was close. And there were other rarities for a Connelly mystery novel -- such questionable procedural details. The skeletal bones central to the story are identified without the use -- or even mention -- of DNA testing. And the exact cause and motivation of a central character's death remains surprisingly muddled and unresolved, a loose end I expected to be central to the stories conclusion.

For those who enjoy Connelly's mysteries, there's no reason to skip this readable effort. For those seeking an introduction to this excellent mystery writer, I recommend one of Connelly's earlier books.

A serviceable detective novel. Realistic and well-written.......2006-11-06

Like much of what Connelly writes, this novel is a realistic look at how detective work actually takes place. The plot is almost too authentic in that pointless tragedies occur, and the whole storyline is very downbeat and depressing--just like real police work. In Connolly's LAPD there are departmental politics, professional rivalries, and infighting--just like any real city police force. This is not an uplifting novel or story. Quite the contrary. The ending is realistic and plausible--not the clever "tie all the pieces together" ending that many detective stories culminate with. In this one, there are loose ends and dead ends. The ending is less than satisfying albeit believable.

The strengths of this novel are its realism and, of course, Connelly's writing, which is always pretty good.

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Murder in the Vatican
Loved it--great read
How about some grammar and syntax
Awful
"Da Vinci Code" wannabe, falls short

The Sacred Bones: A Novel
Michael Byrnes
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061146072
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

At the crossroads of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths, an ancient artifact is stolen from a long-hidden vault located directly beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount . . .

So begins The Sacred Bones by Michael Byrnes, a page-turning novel from a new voice on the thriller scene. With the violent theft leaving thirteen Israeli soldiers and policemen dead, and the Palestinians up in arms over the desecration of sacred grounds, the tension between the two groups is dangerously high. Jerusalem is a stick of dynamite and the fuse has been lit. . . .

Across the Mediterranean in Italy, American forensic scientist Charlotte Hennesey has been hired by the Vatican to examine the contents of a newly discovered archeological treasure: a two-thousand-year-old ossuary containing the bones of an unidentified, crucified manâthe first complete skeleton of a crucifixion victim ever found. Together with Italian anthropologist Giovanni Bersei, Charlotte makes startling forensic and genetic discoveries that lead her to wonderâcould these be the bones of Jesus Christ?

With the situation in Jerusalem veering out of control and the malevolent eye of Vatican security expert Salvatore Conte watching her every step, Charlotte puts two and two together. She knows that if the mortal remains of Christ are indeed in the burial box, the implicationsâfor history and science, for religion and the Churchâare frighteningly vast. And even more immediate is the question of whether the Vatican will allow the informationâand Charlotteâto see the light of day.

Fast-paced and intelligent, blending historical fact with persuasive fiction, The Sacred Bones reads like a CSI episode penned by The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown. From a conspiracy stretching back to the days of the Templar Knights to the shifting alliances of contemporary Middle Eastern politics, The Sacred Bones is an addictively compelling thriller that calls into question many of modern religion's deepest-held beliefs about Judaism, Jesus Christ and early Christianity, and Islam . . . with stunning results.

Customer Reviews:

Murder in the Vatican.......2007-08-12

Apparently not everyone enjoyed this book but I found it to be thrilling, fascinating and completely unputdownable! Archeologists have unearthed an ancient artifact from beneath Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which was subsequently stolen by a group of heavily armed mercenaries and resulted in the death of 13 Israeli soldiers. The stolen goods are transported secretly to the Vatican where two of the world's most highly skilled scientists are sworn to secrecy and put to work identifying the DNA of the contents of the box. The box is actually an ossuary, an ancient Jewish storage place for the bones of the deceased after the flesh has decayed away from the skeleton, and, as this practice ceased after a few hundred years, the time frame is limited and therefore more interesting.The work has been ordered by a ruthless Cardinal who is prepared to direct that murder be committed to preserve the secrecy of the mission. The story is a combination of scientific fact, historical fact or fiction and the inherent distrust between Jews, Muslims and Christians, all of whom have been connected with the occupation of Jerusalem, for centuries, and all of whom still feel that only they have the right to occupy this holy but dangerous place. It's a great read!

Loved it--great read.......2007-08-09

The Sacred Bones is set at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. An ancient artifact is stolen from a vault beneath the Temple Mount. The theft has left many soldiers and policemen dead, leaving the Palestinians angry; tensions run high between the Israelis and the Palestinians.Charlotte Hennesey, an American forensic scientist has been hired by the Vatican to examine the ossuary which contains the bones of an unknown man who was crucified. Charlotte is joined by Giovanni Bersei, an Italian anthropologist and together they uncover forensic and genetic data that lead them to wonder if the bones could be those of Jesus Christ.
This is an intelligent read and the writing skills of Byrnes far surpasses that of Dan Brown.

How about some grammar and syntax.......2007-08-08

Even if it is a good read - which it isn't - its so predictable - lets hear it for the English language. I was constantly stopped by poor grammar and errors of syntax. All together too sloppy to read. Back to the library at page 50.

Awful.......2007-07-29

Having read many religous thrillers, this looked interesting. I read the first 20 or so pages put it down and cannot wait to get this book back to the library. It is very poorly written. The book does not flow and is very boring.

"Da Vinci Code" wannabe, falls short.......2007-06-07

"The da Vinci Code" has enjoyed amazing success, prompting dozens of novels with similar themes. Personally, I really like mysteries with historical twists like this. But this one is merely competent.

The premise is fascinating and clever. And the novel starts with some crackling scenes on Temple Mount, weaving history, politics, religion and intrigue. I found the character development lacking, though, and scenes which should have sizzled fell a bit flat . Perhaps that's where "The Sacred Bones" falls short. -- none of the characters jumps off the page for me. Also, I found the historical scenes rather perfunctory, and not as engaging or enlightening as I had hoped. This made the plot's twists and turns less believable. That said, Byrnes does have a clever, if fanciful ending in store.

A competent first novel, "The Sacred Bones" will perform as a quick airplane or beach read. Overall though, more is promised than delivered.

Three Great Novels 3: A Darkness More Than Night', ' City of Bones', 'Chasing The Dime'

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Three Great Novels 3: A Darkness More Than Night', ' City of Bones', 'Chasing The Dime'
Michael Connelly
Manufacturer: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0752867334

Book Description

A Darkness More Than Night: Terry McCaleb's enforced quiet lifestyle is a far cry from the excitement of his former role as an FBI profiler. But when a small-time criminal is found dead, McCaleb becomes embroiled in a disturbing and complex case leading him to cross the path of Harry Bosch. City of Bones: When the bones of a boy are found scattered in the Hollywood Hills, Harry Bosch is drawn into a case that brings up the darkest memories from his own haunted past. Unearthing hidden stories, he finds the child's identity and begins to reconstruct his fractured life. Chasing the Dime: Henry Pierce has just moved into a new apartment but the first time he checks his phone messages, he discovers that someone had the number before him. The messages are for a woman named Lilly, and Pierce is quickly drawn into Lilly's night-time world of escort services, websites, sex and secret identities.

Water-Works: The Architecture and Engineering of the New York City Water Supply

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Water-Works: The Architecture and Engineering of the New York City Water Supply

Manufacturer: Monacelli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1580931766
Release Date: 2007-12-28

Book Description

New York's water is legendary for its fresh, clean taste, but its purity has been achieved at a cost, through a massive program of exploration and construction that is still ongoing. The story of that monumental undertaking is told in Water-Works and illustrated with an astonishing archive of drawings and photographs documenting the design and construction of dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, and tunnels. This complex system brings millions of gallons of water to the city every day from rivers many hundreds of miles away.

Kevin Bone, Gina Pollara, and students from the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union spent nine years cataloging and preserving this remarkable archive, which is held by the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection. Essays by Bone, former DEP Commissioner Albert F. Appleton, and scholars Peter H. Gleick and Gerard Koeppel trace the history of the system from its beginnings in the mid-1800s to the current construction of Water Tunnel #3.

Average customer rating:

A break from the pattern

Decent for a first book

Well-written, but rarely rises above mediocrity

Well Worth Reading -- and Reading Again

Archaeological mystery

City of Bones
Martha Wells
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Wheel of the Infinite

The Element of Fire

The Gate of Gods: Book Three of the Fall of Ile-Rien (The Fall of Ile-Rien)

The Wizard Hunters (The Fall of Ile-Rien, Book 1)

The Ships of Air: The Fall of Ile-Rien (The Fall of Ile-Rein)

ASIN: 0812567080

Customer Reviews:

A break from the pattern.......2006-10-12

This book seems to generate more diverse opinions than most Martha Wells books, and for good reason: to the extent that there is a pattern to Ms. Wells' books, this one diverges most from that pattern.

It starts with the setting. Most of Ms. Wells' other books are set in locales that while original are easily comprehensible. This is due to her use of historical archetypes as inspirations for her invented settings: 19th century England and France for the Ile-Rien books; Southeast Asia for "Wheel of the Infinite." "City of Bones" on the other hand is a wholly original setting, a post-holocaust city rising out of the desert with its own history, class structure, racial prejudices, and magic system. There's thus a bit more description, a bit more explanatory exposition here than in Wells' other books. Those less interested in world-building as a source of wonder may find it slow, but I loved this aspect of it.

The nature of the setting ties neatly with the plot, an archaeological mystery that gradually reveals some of the past history of the land even as it takes the characters from slums to palaces, desert ruins to universities. One aspect I really enjoyed about this book is that it isn't rushed -- some of the more recent books Wells has written ("Wheel of the Infinite" and "Gate of Gods" come to mind) have felt like too much new material was introduced in the last 50 pages. "City of Bones" really builds the story so that the end, while impressive, feels like a logical, understandable outcome of all that came before, and it gets the attention (and page count) it deserves.

The hero, Khat, is an Indiana Jones-type: capable as an adventurer but someone who'd rather be studying the mysteries of the Ancients. While not amoral, he's roped into the story not by any great need to do good, but by a desire to learn and (as a racial minority relegated to the slums) to simply earn enough money to survive. The heroine, Elen, is perhaps a bit less capable than the women in other Wells books, relying a great deal on Khat for assistance early on. Much of her weakness however is psychological, and part of the enjoyment of the book is watching Elen grow into her abilities. There is an element of romance in the book, but less so than in most of Wells' other books, and it's handled differently here -- there's more a focus on the things that can keep people apart than the ways they can be brought together. Both characters grow throughout the book, but both end -- in a good way -- as still far from finished products: this is a fantasy that "feels" very realistic and true.

That trait carries through to the villains of the book. There is ultimately a source of opposition, but not all characters that look fair are, not all characters that feel foul are, and those that are foul have believable, thoughtful reasons for being so. This is not a grim or gritty book, but politics and shades of gray do figure just as strongly here as Saving the World from True Evil.

Overall "City of Bones" is a thoroughly enjoyable book, one I'd recommend to anyone interested in reading something that while "light" manages to push the bounds of genre fantasy. I'd especially recommend it to those who have read other Martha Wells books, as this one really illustrates the breadth of imagination that she's capable of.

Decent for a first book.......2006-02-26

The barebone plot is certainly not bad and the indepth world is convincing. Yet, there are too many details that do nothing for the book, many sentences being long and overly technical. Much of the background information would be better relegated into a stuffy old history textbook!

I would've preferred more action scenes, more story behind the characters; more lines for everyone. The ending wasn't too bad except I couldn't believe the characters would "escape from their feelings" after making it so far. At least put in some more effort, man, before calling it quits! I know Wells was trying for realism but *hint, hint*: in situations like these, a bit of "out of character" would lend some humour and make the reader go "awww".

Well-written, but rarely rises above mediocrity.......2006-01-06

Wells is good, but it's clear that this is a first novel - start with "Death of the Necromancer" instead. City of Bones gives us just a little bit too much of everything: too much action, too much history, too many characters and too much of a fantasy world. As a result, everything gets skimped on. We know just enough about the characters to wish we knew more. We know just enough about the setting to wish we knew more. The only thing we really don't want more of is the action; after the 15th skirmish things start to blend together and we start seriously questioning the ability of the characters to withstand this much punishment. Wells whets our appetites for information by littering the text with tidbits, but there aren't enough to do anything other than leave us frustrated by the book's end.

Having said that, the writing is very good, the world is (potentially) fascinating and the pages turn quickly. You won't be bored, but you won't be as entertained as you will be when reading her later books.

Well Worth Reading -- and Reading Again.......2005-05-19

"City of Bones" evokes a fantasy world that is thoroughly imagined, with vivid landscapes and nuanced social dynamics. Each character resonated emotionally with me and remains memorable long after I put down the book. Others have described the plot line and the characters in detail, so let me add only that "City of Bones" gets even better on the second and third reading.

The ending is particularly satisfying in a fantasy: the hero avoids the heroic fallacy and chooses real life.

Archaeological mystery.......2004-07-11

I usually can't read fantasy, because I can't suspend my disbelief enough to accept what I'm being told. Elves, magic, dragons, all that's fine; what I can't believe are the ridiculous societies and implausible politics that too many fantasy authors fall back on.

I loved City of Bones because it presented me with a society that worked coherently, drew sensible conclusions from the information presented to the reader, and provided an archaeological mystery which the reader can try to solve right along with the characters (which is a HUGE plus in ANY novel, as Ellery Queen readers can attest).

Amazon.com

Ever since Peter Stuyvesant established the first pier in the 1640s, the New York City waterfront has been a hotbed of controversy and conflicting special interests. Not until 1871 did the city institute the Department of Docks to bring some order to the port and harbor; prior to that, the city's 112 piers were all under the authority of different agencies, and by the 1870s the entire infrastructure had decayed; wooden wharves were dilapidated, rat-infested, and unsafe. To impose some method upon the maritime madness, the city created its Department of Docks under General George B. McClellan. For 60 years the waterfront thrived, until New Jersey replaced New York as a final destination for container ships; now the area is once again in decline.

In The New York Waterfront, historians, students, architects, and teachers take a look at where the port and harbor have been and speculate about their future. The six essays in this book offer both a historical context and a commentary on solutions, both hypothetical and those in-progress. It is as much about New York's civic culture as about its waterfront, and thus it's a fascinating read, even for those without a vested interest in the future of the harbor.

Book Description

Created by a team of architects, historians, teachers, and students, The New York Waterfront is an unprecedented documentation of the rise and fall of the area's architectural, technological, industrial, and commercial existence. Densely illustrated with exceptional watercolor, ink, and pencil drawings as well as rare historic images, aerial views, maps, and newly commissioned photographs of major modern sites, it presents the history of the development of the waterfront. The essays discuss environmental plans and master-planning, built and unbuilt waterfront structures (pier warehouses, recreation facilities, markets, ferry terminals, and the like), contemporary projects, and visionary proposals.

Customer Reviews:

The way it was.......2007-03-14

I wandered around the Hudson River docks as a kid marveling at the liners and freighters that tied up there. This book rekindled those memories. What I found interesing is that the life spans of piers is so short, about 45 years at best. The rapid assent of the trucking industry using interstate highways, common use of airplane travel, containerized shipping, and the piers falling into disrepair occured more or less at once giving the port of New York a knockout blow. This sequence is well covered in the book.

What I found handy while reading the book was to use Google earth maps to see the area deing described in the book.

The book is well written and contains wonderful drawings "some way to small" plus it offers a possible look at the future of New York's waterfront

book review.......2001-05-21

I have read this book. This book contains a lot of interesting and helpful information for people who would like to know about the history of new york city waterfront. Highly recommended.

please print more copies.......1999-05-13

I would like to get my own copy, its so goo

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse (LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK, THE FOX AND THE CROW/ THE DOG AND HIS BONE)

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Childhood Favorite

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse (LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK, THE FOX AND THE CROW/ THE DOG AND HIS BONE)
PATRICIA SCARRY
Manufacturer: A GOLDEN BOOK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: B000FRLSDG

Customer Reviews:

Childhood Favorite.......2007-04-04

I remember having this book read to me and eventually reading it for myself when I got older. I loved the stories, especially The Fox and The Crow. I recommend it that all parents, present and future, have this book in their children's collection.

Dancing with Broken Bones: Portraits of Death and Dying among Inner-City Poor

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Dancing with Broken Bones: Portraits of Death and Dying among Inner-City Poor
David Wendell Moller
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195165268

Book Description

This book tells the stories of patients whose stories are typically not told: the urban dying poor. By illustrating how the issues and needs of this especially vulnerable group are shaped by the experience of living in poverty, this work provides an important contribution to the growing literature on palliative care for special populations.

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AUTHENTICITY AND RAPID FIRE ACTION

Ciudad de Huesos / City of Bones
Michael Connelly
Manufacturer: Ediciones B
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 8466618023

Customer Reviews:

AUTHENTICITY AND RAPID FIRE ACTION.......2006-01-04

With "Blood Work" (1998 a major motion picture and "A Darkness More Than Night" (2001) receiving plaudits one might think ace crime writer Michael Connelly would be resting on his laurels, film rights, and royalties. Not so. The energetic author now presents "City Of Bones," another in his bestselling Harry Bosch series.

This time detective Harry Bosch faces off with a child murderer, a killer who has remained on the loose for nearly two decades. Once a dog uncovers what appears to be a human bone in the woods of Hollywood Hills, Bosch is called. It takes the savvy sleuth only a glance to realize this is a child's arm bone.

Once the media spreads the word Laurel Canyon is crawling with police, amateur crime solvers, the curious, reporters, and (true to Connelly form) a gorgeous young police officer whom Harry takes under his wing in more ways than one.

As additional remains are unearthed Bosch determines the bones are those of a long dead abused boy. Obviously, there's a killer out there who believes he's home free, and Bosch is haunted by black images of his own childhood. The pressure is mounting and it's all on Bosch.

Few can bring to life the components of a police investigation as capably and thoroughly as former crime reporter Connelly. Authenticity and rapid fire action make "City Of Bones" another can't-put-it-down read.

- Gail Cooke

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