Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition ReviewI enjoyed reading this book, and found it to be fascinating. However, I have since read "A Royal Duty" by Paul Burrell. Some of the statments made in these two books are conflicting. In "Diana, Her True Story", it is made to sound like Princess Diane was always at odds with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. In "A Royal Duty", Paul Burrell tells a different story. He maintains Diana had a loving and close relationship with the Queen and Prince Phillip right up until the time she died. It is a very interesting book, but after reading almost everything written about Princess Diana, there are so many different views and stories, it is hard to know which to believe.Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition Overview

Want to learn more information about Diana - Her True Story - In Her Own Words - Completely Revised Edition?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier ReviewThis book wasn't what I expected. As [the] editorial review explains, but the book description only hints at, this is a collection of previously published work. Since I read the latter, but not the former, I was expecting a retrospective analysis of the .com bubble. Because of the rapid rate of obsolescence of most things written about the Internet, I don't think I would have bought the book had I known that parts of it were written as long as a decade ago, but I'm glad I did anyway.
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight at things written about the Internet over the course of the last decade proves to be an illuminating exercise. It definitely seems to be a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Some of the things that have changed a lot since the time the original articles were published are:
*Everyone knows what the Internet is (in his introduction, Gleick explains that in the early `90s, editors made him explain this when he used the term in articles). One of the really interesting things I learned reading the book is that the original development of the Web only dates back to 1989.
*In a 1993 article, he describes people being annoyed by mobile phones ringing in airports. Given the far less appropriate places they ring today, that seems positively quaint.
*In 1993, some people remembered who Dan Quayle was and cared enough to create a newsgroup devoted to making fun of him.
Some current issues that the book demonstrates have a much longer history are:
*Concerns about bandwidth and information privacy (or more accurately, lack thereof).
*Password overload (described in amusing detail in a 1995 column).
*The incomprehensibility of software and Web site user agreements - even to those who bother to read them.
As an added bonus, since it was written as technologies were emerging, the book provides the full name of things that are now only known by their acronyms. For instance, I've never known what ISDN stands for, but now I know that it's `Integrated Services Digital Network.'
With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that some of Gleick's predictions were very prescient (e.g. the Y2K anti-climax), while others were less accurate or at least premature (e.g. cash becoming obsolete). All in all, the book provides a very enjoyable look through the rearview mirror.What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier Overview

Want to learn more information about What Just Happened: A Chronicle from the Information Frontier?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

A Case of Exploding Mangoes Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy A Case of Exploding Mangoes? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on A Case of Exploding Mangoes. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

A Case of Exploding Mangoes ReviewThis debut novel by Mohammed Hanif is witty, humorous and entertaining. What is astonishing about this novel is that many of its characters are real; a few of its important characters were alive until a decade ago, but have since departed. Also, many of the incidents and events narrated in this novel actually happened, and so those are based on fact; but the author has chosen to interpret these actions and events with humor, and painted them with unabashed sarcasm, and colored them with prodigious wit, and thereby he has transformed the grave incidents into very funny vignettes.
At the center of the novel is the death of Gen. Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, who was president of Pakistan from 1978 to 1988. On August 17, 1988, a C-130 Hercules plane carrying Zia ul-Haq crashes. On board were several Pakistani army generals, Arnold Raphel, the US Ambassador to Pakistan and the head of the US military aid mission to Pakistan, and all of them perish. They were returning to Islamabad from Punjab, where they had been to witness a tank demonstration. A few crates of ripe mangoes were loaded onto the plane before take off. Did one of the crates contain a canister of poison gas? The author wonders.
The main narrator of the novel is Ali Shigri, an Air Force Junior Officer, in the Pakistani Military. Ali Shigri's father, Col. Quili Shigri, has committed suicide, but Ali is convinced that his father did not commit suicide, and that he was actually murdered by General Zia. And so quite determined to kill the general, Ali hatches an elaborate plan to carry it.
In a very funny vignette, a lanky, bearded young man named OBL from Saudi Arabia attends a Fourth of July party given by Arnold Raphel in Islamabad. (He was invited to the party by the Americans!) OBL works for "Laden and Co. Constructions." Among the invited guests is the local C.I.A. chief, who tells Osama, "Nice meeting you, OBL. Good work, keep it up."
There is also an astonishing vignette about Zainab, a blind woman who is convicted of the crime of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning, even though the adultery occurred when she was gang-raped. (I have read a similar incident in another Islamic country. There was international protest when the woman who was raped was sentenced to death by stoning.)
Mohammed Hanif's prose is spare but lucid. Even though it lacks the grandeur and splendor of Yann Martel's or Salman Rushdie's prose, it is spontaneous and highly readable:
"Anybody who breaks down at the sheer volume of this should stay in his little village and tend his father's goats or should study biology and become a doctor, and then they can have all the bloody peace and quiet they want. Because as a soldier, noise is the first thing you learn to defend yourself against, and as an officer, noise is the first weapon of attack you learn to use."
Because the author worked for the Pakistani Air Force for several years, his descriptions of army life and how Pakistan's army officers behave sound realistic and authentic.
This magnificent novel is born of an enormously talented writer. I understand that he is already working on his second novel. Reading "A Case of Exploding Mangoes" was a great joy.
A Case of Exploding Mangoes Overview

Want to learn more information about A Case of Exploding Mangoes?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The Diana Chronicles Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Diana Chronicles? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Diana Chronicles. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Diana Chronicles ReviewI thought so. With special access to sources as a result of her stint as editor of the Tatler in the UK, Tina Brown has written the story of Diana as both a media creation and media manipulator.
Shockingly uneducated and raised in a broken home, Brown says Diana focused on Charles early as the embodiment of all her life had lacked. Diana was judged to be aristocratic, pretty, malleable and above all a virgin. Charles was, according to Brown, more or less pushed into it by his parents, who along with "Uncle Dickie," the assassinated Earl of Mountbatten, were growing tired of Charles' unsuitable dalliances.
But Diana refused to play along. I'm sure we've all secretely wondered, "so how bad could it have been?" Brown convinces us that it was very bad indeed. Charles was dull, unemotional, and more interested in books than his pretty young wife. The Queen ruled the roost. Surprisingly to me at least, even in private all the courtesies of royalty had to be observed--everyone was summoned to breakfast at 9 am sharp at Balmoral, the summer retreat; no one could retire for the evening before the Queen. Costume changes were endless, as were tramps through the rain and hunting. And of course Camilla was ever present.
In response, Diana became a star. Perhaps she surprised herself at first but it didn't take her long to catch on. She'd tip the media off to her whereabouts, learned how to dress, and used her amazing warmth and charm, not to mention English beauty, to upstage the Royal Family on a regular basis. They were furious. And so was Diana. She could not acccept the royal practice of state marriage and a lover on the side. She was too young, too romantic. But Brown also shows us that she was very canny, and her media gambles--the Morton book, the famous TV interview--paid off. In her divorce negotiations she came off much, much better than her hapless sister-in-law Fergie. Stunned at how badly Sarah Ferguson was treated, Diana vowed it wouldn't happen to her--and it didn't.
Sadly we know the end of the story. How ironic that the most famous and desireable woman in the world spent her last summer in the arms of Dodi Fayed, who, Brown claims, was also pushed into it by his status-seeking father. One wonders what would have become of her; by the end of her life the chances of her finding a happy relationship seemed quite remote.
I raced through this book, fascinated by Brown's wealth of detail. Diana wasn't a saint as some claimed, nor an airhead. She was deeply troubled and quite amazing at the same time, and to Brown's credit I finished this book feeling I'd gotten a glimpse of the true person. Highly readable; highly recommended.The Diana Chronicles Overview

Want to learn more information about The Diana Chronicles?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

All Quiet on the Western Front Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy All Quiet on the Western Front? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on All Quiet on the Western Front. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

All Quiet on the Western Front ReviewErich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) served in World War I, where he received wounds five times in battle. The searing images of trench warfare left indelible scars on Remarque, who then attempted to exorcize his demons through the writing of literature. "All Quiet on the Western Front" is Remarque's most memorable book, although he wrote nine others dealing with the miseries of war.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" is the story of Paul Baumer, a young German soldier serving in the trenches in France. Baumer's story is not a pleasant one; he volunteered for the war when his instructor in school, Kantorek, urged the class to join up for the glory of Germany. After a rigorous period of military training (where Paul and his buddies meet the hated drill instructor Himmelstoss, a recurring character throughout the book), Baumer and his friends go to the front as infantrymen. Filled with glorious ideas about war by authority figures back home, Baumer quickly discovers that the blood-drenched trenches of the Western Front are a quagmire of misery and violent death. As soon as the first shells explode in the mud Paul and his friends realize everyone back home is a liar, that war is not the glorious transformation of boys into men but rather the systematic destruction of all that is decent and healthy. As Paul's friends slip away one by one through death, desertion, and injury, Paul begins to wonder about his own life and whether he will survive not only the war but also a world without war.
Remarque's book exposes all of the insanities of war. The incongruities of violent battle versus long periods of boredom repeatedly appear throughout the book. On one day, Paul and his friends sit around discussing mundane topics; the next day they are bashing French skulls during an offensive. It is these extremes that caused so many problems with the psychological disposition of the men. In one chapter of the book, Paul and several new recruits, hunkered down in a dugout, withstand hour upon hour of continuous shellfire until one of the green recruits snaps and tries to make a run for freedom. Where else but in a war could one walk through a sea of corpses while enjoying the sunshine and the gentle cadences of the birds in the trees? That such an unnatural activity as mass murder takes place surrounded by the natural beauty of the world is a theme found in many World War I authors and poets. Remarque's book is noteworthy because he does a better job of showing this strange duality than other writers.
Also of interest is that this book views the war from the German side. From what I read recently, the Germans had a tough time throughout the war with rations, troop rotations away from the front, and supplies. This is apparent in Remarque's treatment of the German war effort, especially toward the end of the book when Germany begins to retreat in the face of overwhelming American military power. Paul's remarks about the evil presence of tanks are an interesting insight into the effect those iron behemoths had on the ill-equipped and exhausted Germans.
The cover of this edition trumpets this as "the greatest war novel of all time." And so it is, but not in the way some people might think. This is the greatest war novel ever because Remarque's book is anti-war. Those that read "All Quiet on the Western Front" will see warfare stripped of its flag waving, parades, and John Wayne glory. War is death, with the glory going to the few who survive. Remarque makes a brilliant contribution to world literature with this riveting novel.All Quiet on the Western Front Overview

Want to learn more information about All Quiet on the Western Front?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time Review"In Pursuit of the Common Good" (subtitled: Twenty Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time) is a non-fiction work written by the late Paul Newman and Aaron E. Hotchner (American author, most known IMHO for his novels about Ernest Hemmingway).
This book is about the founding of "Newmans Own" natural foods, how it all started with Newman not being sure what to do with leftovers of his personal salad dressing made in a batch intended as holiday gifts for friends, and why they decided to give 100 percent of the profit from "Newmans Own" to charity.
I feel that the first few chapters would be interesting for anyone planning to start a small business, especially one selling food products. The challenges and pitfalls that they overcame are very interesting- I had no idea that a well-known movie star would have to go through all of this just to start a business. I was also surprised that Newman was very involved in the formula for the salad dressing, and other products such as the salsa and pasta sauces.
As an example, the first "Newmans Own" maranara sauce was based on a recipe Newman wrote on the back of a paper bag and went through no less than 10 "pre production" iterations before it met with PLN's approval to produce.
The methods used by Newman and Hotchner to gather public opinion about their products are noteworthy also. Newman's Own saved many thousands of dollars by not listening to the so called "marketing experts" and using their own methods (saving an estimated $1,320,000 in pre-production research).
It's worth noting that prior to Newman's Own, large food producers such as Kraft, etc. felt it was impossible to offer "all natural" foods with fresh ingredients for sale to the general public. In this way all of Newman's Own products were pioneers in the area of natural foods containing no chemical preservatives.
Newman at first balked at the idea of having his face on the product labels but was encouraged to do so by Ellen Posey (wife of broadcaster and former F1, Indy and sports car racer Sam Posey). Ellen was also responsible for the distinctive design of the Newman's Own product labels.
It is a light and humorous read, and like the Newmans Own products, the proceeds from sale of the book go to "Hole in the Wall Camps" for crippled and terminally ill children.
Each section of the book has a few pages of reprinted letters from people commenting about Newmans Own products. One letter is addressed to "Mr Redford"; Hopefully Paul took that with good humor.
There is a section in the back of the book with Paul Newman's favorite recipes, some of which were originally published in Good Housekeeping magazine, others were published in "The Hole in the Wall Gang Cookbook".In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time Overview

Want to learn more information about In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography) Review"Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." ~Helen Keller
The DK Biographies introduce children to famous and influential individuals, although I personally also enjoy reading these tiny biographies. It is a great way to gain insight into a life and Helen Keller is a symbol of overcoming limitations. She refused to live her life shut away in a dark room and instead she taught herself to speak many languages, traveled to many countries and loved to read.
Helen Keller's life is truly inspirational and although her life started out in such a bleak way, she overcame many obstacles and eventually exceeded everyone's expectations. She was actually world-famous by the age of 10. It is truly amazing to see the articles she wrote at age 12.
After we read about the initial illness that left her blind and deaf, Leslie Garrett takes us on a beautiful journey through Helen's life. She was quite the little prankster as a child and also had a great sense of humor about life in general. She also had a temper and this is where Annie Sullivan enters the picture.
We learn about Annie Sullivan's life and how Helen and Annie meet. Leslie Garrett explains how Helen learns about life and how to live in a world where few people understand her. Annie shows extreme patience in very difficult situations and eventually teaches Helen how to deal with everyday situations. She also teaches her how to read and later on attends college classes with her to spell out the lessons into her hand.
Leslie Garrett's writing style is perfect for this story and this is definitely one of my favorite DK biographies. After reading this story, you will never again think about life in the same way.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." ~Helen Keller
~The Rebecca Review
Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography) Overview

Want to learn more information about Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life (DK Biography)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At ReviewI finished I Pray Hardest in one shot last night. Its compelling message of the strength of family bonds and the promise inherent in each new generation has lingered in the back of my mind all day today, reminding me of the love shared within my own family and giving my spirits a gentle boost. Though the writer set out to chronicle his grandfather's amazing life, I was intrigued to see a parallel story-within-the-story develop into a saga of self-realization and fulfillment for the author himself. This read is on my "highly recommended" list...I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At Overview

Want to learn more information about I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...