Novel Review - Element of Drama of AJ Cronin's Hatter's Castle Novel

1. ThemeIt was about a dictator man who had destroyed his family with his dictatorial manner.2. Main Characters1) James Brodie: He was a dictator. He was a big and powerful man, over six feet in height. He had three children and one old mother. He had bad behavior in treating the others, especially his family.2) Mary Brodie: She was a pretty girl of seventeen. She loved her family very much, but she hated his father's behavior. She was the only one who dared to disobey his father.3) Matthew Brodie: He was twenty-four years old. He was thin and had a pale-face. He also hated his father, but he didn't dare to disobey him until he had gone to India. He became brave man.4) Dr. Renwick: He was a young man and new doctor in Levenford. He had helped Mary to get a better life. He also loved Mary very much and finally he married her.5) Dennis Foyle: He was Mary's boyfriend who had made Mary pregnant. He wanted to marry Mary, but Mary's father hated him and refused his wish. He had died on the train accident.3. Settings1) Setting of time: Around the year of 1879.2) Setting of place: Levenford (the Lowlands of Scotland).4. Summary of The StoryThere was Brodie's family who lived in a big castle in Levenford, Lowlands of Scotland. It was unusual family. It was scared by its neighbours. It was because the father of the family was very dictatorial. He was James Brodie. He had three children and one old mother, grandma. He was very dictatorial and very proud of himself. He was always proud of his money and his home, the Hatter's castle.One day, there was a mistake which had been made by Brodie's first daughter, Mary Brodie. She was pregnant, but he had not married yet. She tried to hide it, but finally her father knew it and threw her away from home. She did not know where to go, she almost sunk in the river. Then her child was born, but her child died because of this accident. In this accident Mary was helped by Dr. Renwick. His boyfriend did not know all about this. He was Dennis Foyle. He also died on the train accident at the same time his child died.Then Matthew Brodie, the only son of Brodie, also left home to India to work with Sir John Latta. But, actually he did not want to do it. After few months, he came back home and become a drunker. His mother, Margaret Brodie, worried about his condition and then she got sick. She got cancer and died. With this two accidents, James Brodie still did not change his manner. He was still rude and impatient.Finally, his beloved daughter, Nessie Brodie, also died. She hanged herself because she was scare of being failed in winning the Latta Scholarship. She did not want to meet her father and decided to hang herself. At this time Mary had been back home and she was also helped by Dr. Renwick. Then Mary left Brodie's castle and life happily with Dr. Renwick.At the end, Matt and Nancy, James's new girlfriend, went to America. And there were just James and Grandma who lived in Hatter's Castle.5. Moral MessageThe moral significance of the story is that we can't force someone else to do what we want, because perhaps it is not good for us and for somebody else. We always have to accept the others' opinions and we can't give up to fight something bad, like a dictator.The psychological significance of the story is that, sometimes we have to bear what we want to say and to do just to make everyone around us happy. We can't give up to fight something bad. We have to be stronger.The social significance of the story is that, we have to give respect to the others and always make everyone happy as could as we could. We lived in this world are not alone. We always need the others, especially our family. We can't survive without their supports.Copyright (c) Ahmad Alim Aziz dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Review of Targeting a Great Career by Kate Wendleton

Whether you are casually thinking about making a minor change in your career or in the midst of an all out job search, Targeting A Great Career by Kate Wendleton is a must have book for your library. It says so much without taking a long time to do so. The steps to take for managing your career are outlined very clearly. The author clearly relates to her audience by giving specific examples of targeting industries and sub industries as well as a variety of positions. Her prospective is to be open minded yet focused on what you want. A few pages in you will be determined to get a career that you want and not merely blindly answer every ad that comes vaguely close.Kate emphasizes that one should network and indirectly state your situation and ask for help in connecting to the right people. Sometimes you will connect to someone who will refer your resume to Human Resources. Other times you will connect to the hiring manager directly. But the goal is to repeat the process and this is of primary emphasis. Networking is a better way than merely answering blind advertisements or overrelying on recruiters. Recruiters work for mostly large organizations and can be beneficial. However recruiters work more for the employer and less for the employee especially in a down market.The author keeps things in perspective. She realizes that some people may be more anxious to find something right away. Therefore, she outlines a plan for that scenario as well. She emphasizes to research careers for the short term and the long term so that you become knowledgeable and your career takes a definite path. The sections on the seven stories and the life plans are excellent and even go beyond just work. The idea is to make your entire life rewarding and Kate Wendleton is very conscious of this. This is a section you can look back on numerous times to check out where you are at in your career.It seems as if Kate's Five O Clock Club is a reasonable service. Yes, there are free resources out there if you are a long time between jobs. However, the outline of Kate's services is really fairly reasonable almost comparitive to donating to a good charity or belonging to a special interest club. If you are looking for a worthwhile career for the long haul, Targeting A Great Career is a sound investment in yourself. dr seuss cat in hat history

Piety in the Face - The Humor of Flannery O'Connor

In a world of pious pretenders and religious hippocracy, Flannery O'Connor introduces us to a host of bizarre characters who not only compel us to take a second look around us, but also force us to look deeper into ourselves. O'Connor's use of humor in religion is completely appropriate because the hypocrisy which exists in a society where zealots run rampant without a leash is a comedy in its own right. With the use of distortion and exaggeration, O'Connor brings to light the ridiculousness of self-righteous fanatics who are all too common.The characters we meet in O'Connor's stories are the literary equivalent of the exaggerated caricatures in political cartoons. Consider the bizarre response of the children in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" after having been involved in a car accident: "'We've had an accident!' the children screamed in a frenzy of delight. 'But nobody's killed', June Star said with disappointment...". The purpose of a political cartoon is to get attention and to make us laugh, and to have the side effect of making us think about a serious issue. O'Connor's use of distortion and humor is designed for the same purpose.However bizarre, O'Connor's work usually introduces us to someone whom we know in our own life. How many of us know (or are related to) a judgemental soul like Mrs. Turpin in "Revelation": "Sometimes Mrs. Turpin occupied herself at night naming the classes of people. On the bottom of the heap were most colored people... next to them -- not above, just away from -- were the white trash...". The sad thing is that these poor souls, like Mrs. Turpin, feel completely justified and at ease in their thinking. Mrs. Turpin's "revelation" occurs in a pig parlor which brings a serious issue to a comical setting. It drives home the point that we are living in a farcical comedy of pious pretenders.For those who would deem the combination of humor and religion inappropriate, consider the fact that we need look no further that our own religiosity to find a wealth of sidesplitting guffaws. The televangelists who pollute our airwaves supply us with a plethora of material: Jimmy Swaggart and his feigned tears of regret; the million-dollar death threat from God to Oral Roberts; the Jim Bakker fiasco; Robert Tilton's animated pleas for "vows of faith", and Ernest Angley (the symbolism of this name is comical enough). But it does not stop there. New religious sects and divisions are multiplying faster than bunnies. There are more Protestant divisions than there are calories in a gallon of Haagen Daas, and the doctrine of the Catholic church is directed so poorly that the Pope's name might as well be Ed Wood. So we see that nothing, including religion, is above ridiculousness and, therefore, is not above poking fun at.So, from the ultra-conservatism of Pat Robertson to the liberal "tree-hugging" pagans, how can comedy not be appropriate in such a diverse religious culture? O'Connor realizes that it is not the quiet little old lady in church who captures our attention. It is the wild and outrageous that causes our jaws to drop and take notice. This is the element that she brings to her characters and her work. Comedy in religion is all around us but some of us will choose to see only what is convenient or appropriate to our belief systems. It is comical the way that fundamentalists choose to ignore evidence in favor of clinging to the dogma of what they wish to be true. O'Connor's characters strip away the blinders and force us, through the use of humor, to take a close look at those around us, and a deep look into ourselves. dr seuss cat in hat book

Merryll Manning - The Health Farm Murders - A Mystery by John Howard Reid

Miami Police Sergeant Merryll Manning is on vacation at a health farm in Australia after answering an ad that promises a return to health and happiness. Just what he needed, or so he thought. Merryll's hopes for rest and relaxation are quickly dashed when a fellow guest is found dead.Available for the first time in North America, this is the second of twelve Merryll Manning books first published in Australia in 1985 by author John Howard Reid. Despite being a sequel, the book reads well as a stand-alone, and there is no need to read the prequel to become accustomed to the character.Sister Susan's Health Farm is set in fictional Happy Valley, based on Blackheath, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, Australia. Author Reid introduces a large cast of intriguing characters, each of whom have retreated to the farm for their own unique reasons. His protagonist is no stereotypical detective; Merryll (Merry) Manning is a sophisticated, eccentric policeman rather than the macho, ego-driven cops so common in the mystery genre.When a retired film exhibitor is found dead and the local police arrive, there is immediate friction between Merryll and police sergeant George Lambert. Lambert's police skills appear limited and Merryll questions the sergeant's ability to solve a homicide. Lambert points the finger of guilt at local thug James "Jimbo" Punter. Merryll suspects the sergeant has a personal bias against Punter and learns Jimbo once had an affair with Lambert's wife.Another guest is found dead. Merryll turns up clues that put nearly every one of the twelve vacationers, and even the proprietress Susan Delaflore, under suspicion at one time or another in the story. An enormous police manhunt for Punter begins in the vast valley. Meanwhile, the survivors of Sister Susan's farm set out on the final hike of the visit to Pulpit Rock Lookout. The hike is vigorous and dangerous as the author brings all the players together for an epic confrontation, but keeps the reader guessing the true identity of the killer until the final pages.The author has a knack for scene-painting narrative. His vivid descriptions of the mountain scenery and the simple accommodations of the farm effectively put the reader right in the scene, watching the drama unfold. Mr. Reid has penned a captivating, soft-boiled detective story with a strong main character, a terrific supporting cast, and a plot with twists, turns, and plenty of red herrings. He treats the reader to a tale filled with tension, conflict, and quirky humor. The violence is minimal and there is no foul language.I highly recommend Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders. This is an intelligent, old- fashioned-styled mystery that won't disappoint. Those who love a great whodunit will be hooked. Merryll is a superb hero and this is sure to be an entertaining, enjoyable series.More "Merry" mysteries please!John Howard Reid
Lulu.com (September 16, 2008)
978-0557010066Reviewed by William Potter dr seuss book collection

"Rosie Dunne" by Cecelia Ahern - A Sweet Story

Very sweet story and very interestingly narrated! A story which would make the reader smile, cry and laugh with the characters yet make them feel lost & aloof at times. The story is never directly narrated but it moves forward in the form of e-mail, letter and chat conversations. Innovative style, must say and very well written. Not even for a minute do you feel left out or cheated, it's a story which keeps you glued and guessing till the very end.Rosie & Alex are childhood friends, rather the best friends, who grow up together in Dublin and as they hit the teenage they start getting attracted to each other and loving each other. But soon Alex moves out of Dublin to Boston as his dad gets a job there. Rosie is planning to join him in Boston once she finishes school, but fate has other plans. She gets pregnant and drops out of college. She becomes the mother of a beautiful daughter Katie & Alex becomes the Godfather of the child. They both keep in constant touch while both get married and ultimately divorced. Story keeps bringing them closer and suddenly takes them apart because of misunderstandings. But they are best friends who stand by each other through thick & thin, all the while being madly in love with each other and not knowing each other's feeling.The story is full of twists and turns, some expected some not. No doubt it is beautifully written and is engaging. Each character is so neatly etched out that you feel you actually know each one of them and you know after a while how they would react. You feel that you have personally met these characters, though they are not described as such.Rosie goes through a lot - getting pregnant just as she finishes her school, raising a child alone, bearing with a cheating husband, losing loved ones, parents, divorce yet she manages to fulfill her dream of her lifetime, owning a hotel one day! Yes she manages to do that because of support from her best friend Alex and Ruby. She is inspiring and a very strong character, every time she feels she has everything sorted, life puts her through another test and she always emerges out as a winner.A good book for a relaxed reading and I can assure you it gets difficult to put this book down. A very new style of writing- fresh & crisp! Cecelia Ahern hats off to you! seuss book collection sets cat hat

Problems of Double Personality of Stevenson's the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Novel

In this novel, there are two very different characters in one individual. These characters are Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. It is very strange that in one individual, there are two different characteristics. Moreover, these two characteristics are contrary to each other. How can they occur in one person? How can they so different? Is one of the personalities dominating another?As I have mentioned earlier, the characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are actually in the same person. Dr Jekyll is a large, well-built, smooth-faced man of fifty, sometimes looking a little too clever perhaps but thoroughly kind and able. While Mr. Hyde is a thin and short man, his face is filled with fierce hate, bringing bad experience to everyone who sees him. A person who has a double personality disorder usually has two or more different personalities in his self. He never realizes this condition and lives normally and happily among his friends and family. Rarely happen that a double personality person knows about his other personalities. However, in this novel, Dr. Henry Jekyll knows exactly his another personality. He even gives a name to him, Mr. Edward Hyde.At the beginning of the story, Dr. Jekyll still has the ability to control Mr. Hyde. Furthermore, he enjoys the existence of Mr. Hyde. He also fells that by having Mr. Hyde in him, he can be more free, and that Mr. Hyde makes him complete as a man. He accepts that condition and regards it as a distinct pleasure and only has a little objection upon it.Usually, a double personality person cannot control the change from one personality into the others. However, from the story, there is a time when Dr. Jekyll finds certain drugs to change the whole composition of one's body and mind, and to re-create them in a new form. His laboratory is the witness of the changing form of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde, a personality who is very different. Dr. Jekyll finds that Mr. Hyde is a vehicle to make him feels younger, lighter, and happier in body and mind. Thus, by finding a drug to transform himself, he thinks that he can completely control Mr. Hyde and use him as away to get a personal pleasure.Nevertheless, there is a strange thing about the invention of the drug. From the story we get the impression that R.L Stevenson tries to make this story as a realistic as possible. The fact that double personality disorder really exists in the real world strengthen this theory. However, it is disturbed by the drug invented by Dr. Jekyll. It seems very unnatural that there is a drug which can transform the whole appearance and mental condition of a person. Perhaps the invention of this drug is used to emphasize that Dr. Jekyll is able to control Mr. Hyde at the beginning and to be him anytime he wants.As the time goes by, the personality of Mr. Hyde is getting stronger and stronger. Dr. Jekyll starts to feel the power of Mr. Hyde inside his body and soul. Without his consciousness, Mr. Hyde often comes out and commits crimes. Dr. Jekyll never wants it to happen, but as Mr. Hyde is getting stronger and dominate him more, Dr. Jekyll then cannot handle him anymore. Even he feels weaker from day to day. By making a will which includes the name of Mr. Hyde as his heir, he knows that finally Mr. Hyde will have enough power to take over him completely.Copyright (c) Ahmad Alim dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Historical Romance Books - Looking For Love and Romance

Historical romance books are one of the world's most popular forms of literature. There are also numerous writers and titles and, of course, these are not all of the same high standard. To provide some assistance in sorting and selecting the works which merit your attention, the bestselling lists of the world's largest bookstore have been explored to bring you a selection of their top selling items.These historical romances are full of intrigue, adventure, passion and romance. They are by some of the leading writers in this genre; authors who have produced many successful books of romantic fiction.Some writers are represented more than once. Diana Gabaldon, for instance, has three books listed. Although her book covers must be among the dullest to be found in romance novels, readers speak glowingly of her work and buy millions of her books. Readers vote with their purses and wallets and that's what counts!Madeline Hunter also has a couple of books listed, for much the same reason.You'll find time travel, the Civil War, Regency Scotland and England, the American Revolution, Gothic romance, and more. The authors are tremendously imaginative.So, based on popular demand, here is the list:1. An Echo In The Bone - Diana Gabaldon
2. Beautiful Creatures - Margaret Stohl
3. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
4. The Elusive Bride - Stephanie Laurens
5. Dark Angel and Lord Carew's Bride - Mary Balogh
6. Ravishing In Red - Madeline Hunter
7. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon
8. Provocative in Pearls - Madeline Hunter
9. The Truth About Lord Stoneville - Sabrina Jeffries
10. March - Geraldine Brooks
11. Lessons in French - Laura Kinsale
12. The Endless Forest - Sarah DonatiSome writers of historical romance novels are extremely prolific, with dozens of novels to their credit. As well, not wanting to be restrained with their creativity, a shift in the genre which is being targeted may also give rise to a new "author" - a new penname for an already established writer. These different names will often be readily disclosed on the sales page for a particular work, to gain some flow-on benefit from a reputation already earned.The content for the historical romance genre reveals an abundance of lords - Dukes, Earls, and other nobles - along with a range of military officers, soldiers and assassins. Historical background is often painstakingly researched and reading these novels is, in many ways, an entertaining history lesson.Most importantly, the leading characters in historical romance books experience emotions that build to a crescendo and may be expressed with great passion. Important characters are often shown to care deeply and not always wisely. dr seuss cat in hat history

Books on Relationships - Solutions to Having a Great Relationship Are in the Books

There are all types of ways to finding out how to have a successful relationship. However, for me, I believe that the best way is through relationship books. Not just any books either. I am talking about what is commonly referred to as e-books. The term means electronic books. Allow me to give you a few big positives as to why I believe that books on relationships downloaded over the Internet have an advantage over traditional books.1. First things first. Let's look at cost. With traditional hard copy books, the cost of the material to make that book must be reflected in the price of the book, and the cost of getting it to you. In most cases, an e-book is priced much lower, normally around 50%. You cannot beat that. Especially in our current economic situation.Something else you can consider. Because the delivery method of an e-book is cheap, many merchants offer very nice free bonus materials with your purchase. One more thing about cost. You can buy yourself an e-book, and easily turn it into a hard copy, and still not pay as much, as you would for a traditional book. I get mine done for $3.00 dollars.2. Now check this out. You want help with a relationship. Marriage problems, dating situations, looking for that perfect someone? E-books on relationships are the answer. The speed and convenience of getting your information is awesome. You can't beat it. You want to know how to save your marriage; a few clicks of your mouse, and there you have it. Information you can start applying within minutes of your purchase, all from the convenience of your home.3. I have to let you know this. Books on relationships that you purchase on the Internet are of very good quality. My wife and I have many. Written by marriage, and relationship counselors. Also from people who just plain know what they are talking about. You can have a great relationship. The methods are in the books. Quality information, that will help you have a healthy, and happy relationship. At low cost, and delivered by the speed of technology. dr seuss cat in hat book

Mimi Tanners - The Secrets of Flirting With Men Reviewed

Mimi Tanners Secrets of Flirting With Men contains information that teaches women of all ages the intricacies of how to flirt effectively with men. The Secrets of Flirting With Men is available through Ms. Tanners website in an online format so you can study its teachings anywhere that you have an internet connection, which can be viewed as both a plus and a minus.Overall, there is no doubt that flirting in general can be a powerful and almost necessary part of building a loving relationship, but so often as familiarity becomes a part of the same relationship flirting is forgotten. So, in addition to the value of this information as a dating tool it shouldn't be forgotten as a relationship progresses, even into marriage. As it is often said, for a man in a relationship it's all about how a woman makes him feel that will determine his level of interest and devotion.In her course Ms. Tanner claims to be able to teach women the exciting and fun art of feminine flirting no matter what your age is and how to use flirting techniques not only with the man in your life but also with men you are interested in. Her techniques will show you how to create attraction and thus build a connection with any man you desire whether that be a boyfriend or husband, a boss or coworker or even that cute guy that you've had your eye on for a while that you keep wishing will ask you out.In Secrets of Flirting With Men you will learn the all important flirting skills that are said to allow you to get the reaction that you are hoping for from any man you want while appearing quite innocent but while still sending him seductive messages. Mimi Tanner claims to have broken flirting down into some simple to use formulas that you can use and practice on any man available as you perfect your flirting skills. She further says that she will teach you how to create flirting techniques that will be unique to each man and flirts to his particular needs and thus keep your man loving and devoted.Overall, feedback for this book was very positive and we can see the value that women might find in this information. Our only concern was with one aspect where these flirting techniques or formulas are touted as being so powerful that they can cause men to fight over a woman. As wonderful and flattering as that might seem we were a bit shocked that such information might be used to pit one man against another in a romantic setting or otherwise.Other than the caution to use these skills carefully and while taking men's feelings into consideration we feel that the information in Mimi Tanner's course holds great value for both women and the men that love them. After all, men love to be flirted with probably more than women love to flirt with them! dr seuss book collection

Book Review - "In Pursuit of the Common Good" by Paul Newman and AE Hotchner

Paul Newman was an extraordinary man who left his legacy in life in numerous areas. Most know him primarily as an actor in over fifty movies and several Broadway Plays. Some of his most famous roles were in the movies about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. However, when his movie days were winding down and he realized that he had a new outlook on food and nutrition, he started a company making salad dressing. Newman made a mark in the world with his food creations, but it is all of the good he did with the profits that he made and donated that really made a difference in the world.Paul Newman and one of his best friends, A.E. Hotchner set out to write a autobiography/biography about Newman and his famous life. The book focuses more on the food empire he created and rarely mentions his acting career. His book In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Improvising the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time, shows how he created his empire from a very modest and far-fetched beginning into a company profiting tens-of-millions of dollars a year.For Christmas every year, Newman liked to make salad dressing for his closest friends and family and give it to them as gifts in used wine bottles. His recipients liked the dressing so much, that Newman and his friend Hotchner decided they should try to produce the dressing on a large scale and sell it to local stores. His salad dressing was different than all of the other dressings available because he used only natural ingredients and had a strong dislike of chemicals and ingredients that were artificial and simply used to preserve. Many dressings that dominate grocery store shelves to this day contain dozens of artificial ingredients simply meant to give the dressing the ability to sit around longer before selling. Newman's dressing could not sit around very long due to the lack of preservatives, but that was completely fine with him.One of the largest difficulties with his desire to sell dressing in the grocery stores was finding a bottler. He went through numerous bottlers and food companies before finding a bottler that would treat him and Hotchner fairly and bottle for a fair price. The two men hired several chemists and food technicians to test different arrangements of ingredients for the first salad dressing. Newman was very picky about taste and ingredients and finding the right combination of ingredients was always very time consuming. However, when he did find the right combination and pushed his first bottles into stores, the outcome was surprising. He did not expect a salad dressing by a movie star with his face on the bottle to do very well, but the dressing was an instant hit. Grocery stores started ordering thousands of bottles and the profits started rolling in.Profits were useless to Newman. He had made a substantial amount of money in his life and knew that he wanted to give back to the world in a big way, so he decided to donate all of his profits to various charities. This was not only a very generous gesture, but helped his salad dressings gain even more popularity. People seemed to want to buy the dressing not only because it was delicious, but because their money was not going to a greedy corporation. All of the money people spend on the dressing would go directly to helping people with chronic diseases, kids in need, and various charity cases across the world. Newman proved that he did not care about the money and that he was a true humanitarian.After the first salad dressing sold like crazy, Newman developed more and more dressings to accompany it. On each bottle was his movie star face with a wacky label on the back telling a humorous, fictional story of how the dressing came to be. He even went on to develop other foods like salsas and ice cream which all sold very well. As his food empire began to grow larger and larger, he realized he needed to do something extra-special with his profits. He decided to develop The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. This camp was specially designed with the help of contributors such as the owner of Anheuser Busch and other rich contributors to help kids with chronic and terminal illness. The idea was for kids to come to the camp every summer and leave their worries behind. Kids would come from all over the country to be with other kids like themselves, to have fun first and worry about sickness second, and to live a life as normal as possible.The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was a huge success as everything else Paul Newman did in life, and other similar camps started emerging all over the world. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was designed as a wild west town with dozens of buildings, camp houses, a food hall, and state-of-the-art hospital so kids could receive their treatments while at camp. Investors and young people from all over the United States, the United Kingdom, and even Africa called Newman to ask for their own camps. Kids all over the world now can leave their worries behind and go to summer camp for a few weeks out of every year. Newman and his associates saw first hand how kids would open up to each other and tell stories of their sickness and pain that they had never told anyone before. These kids were truly forming special bonds that made their lives much more pleasant and easier to cope with.While approximately half of this book is about salad dressing and how Newman built his food empire, the other half is primarily about The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. Most people will remember Paul Newman for his acting in both movies and Broadway and his delicious food and salad dressings, his most important contribution is the camps he helped design and build. The impact he has had on thousands of kids across the world is immeasurable and the way he did it is nothing short of amazing. If you want to read a book about one of the most philanthropic business people who ever lived, this book is for you. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5. seuss book collection sets cat hat

Legal Aspects of Managing Technology Textbook Review

Legal Aspects of Managing Technology written by Lee Burgunder is a fairly good textbook geared towards a college classroom. Unlike many other textbooks, it actually addresses legal cases that students are interested in. Therefore, this book is recommended by the author to be taught in an IT related business law class.This textbook covers cases such as Napster, Grokster, and Live 2 Crew which are extremely applicable to this time period's college students who grew up with these issues. In addition, it thoroughly covers issues that will need to be understood when the average college student reaches the business world such as sarbanes oxley.The read itself is rather complex, but is still understandable by the average English speaking person. Expect international students to have a bit more issues especially when reading some of the cases and new terminology that the average person may not be familiar with. However, it is still not an ultra difficult read for an average college student which can be a real deterrent to reading some of the other business law textbooks out there. If you are a student, expect this textbook to be a semi-difficult read, but nothing out of the ordinary.The examples they give in this textbook are incredibly interesting. They even talk about Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory CD which most college students will be able to relate to as this is modern music that they probably hear in high school or college. The author tries incredibly hard to relate to the students which makes this a very worth while read.Overall, Legal Aspects of Managing Technology is highly recommended over your average business law textbook. You will find students getting much more involved and interested in the cases because of how modern and technology based the examples are. As of 2009, this textbook is still very applicable to both professors and students. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Book Review - "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne

When you look at the cover of the book titled, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, you notice that it looks like a jail uniform with medium blue and light blue stripes. The front and back covers of this book do very little to inform you of the story inside the book, but it is clear the story must have something to do with prison or some type of camp. John Boyne's book is not very long, at only 215 pages, and is easy to read. Boyne's writing style can be described as simple and concise, and always leaving you wanting to read more.The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a deep story with hints of humor, innocence, and an overwhelming feeling that something is not right. The main character is a nine year old boy named Bruno, who is constantly being harassed and belittled by his twelve year old sister, Gretel. The two children live in a large, five-story house in Berlin with their mother and father, who is a high-ranking official in the German military. Gretel and Bruno both have three best friends whom they see constantly and cannot imagine a world without them. However, this all changes one day very quickly when Bruno's father tells everyone that they are moving and may never come back.The family moves quickly to a small home near a camp which Bruno calls "Out-With". Their new house is only three stories and does not have all of the glamour that the old house in Berlin had. On top of the house being smaller, there is a large dusty, fenced-in area behind the home where there are thin people walking around in striped "pajamas". Bruno wonders how they are so lucky that they get to wear pajamas all day and why the people are fenced in. Bruno does not understand why they are living near this place named Out-With, but he does know that his father is very important in the German military and they must be there for a good reason. His father is so important in fact, that a man with a funny mustache named the "Fury" and his beautiful blonde wife come over for dinner to meet with Bruno's father and his family.Bruno loves the outdoors and knows that he will be a world-famous explorer when he becomes older. The old house in Berlin provided plenty of area for exploring, both inside and outside the house. Inside, there were various nooks and crannies where Bruno could sneak in when his parents were not looking. Outside, they were near the woods and Bruno could spend all day looking around for something spectacular. However, at Out-With, there was nothing to see. He lived in a boring house with his family and there was only dusty ground outside between his house and the fenced-in area. Therefore, Bruno decided one day to take a walk along the fence. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he ended up finding a little boy in pajamas named Shmuel.Shmuel was also nine years old and happened to share the same birthday as Bruno. Neither one of them had any friends and neither really understood what was going on around them. Shmuel knew that his situation was much worse than Bruno's, and Bruno knew that Shmuel always seemed sad and very skinny, even though he got to wear his pajamas all day long and play with the thousands of children that were inside the fence. The two boys quickly became best friends and Bruno went to see Shmuel every day, rain or shine.Over time, Bruno would look out his window and see the people in the pajamas being pushed around and yelled at. Still young and innocent, Bruno thought it was just a game and never suspected anything wrong. Shmuel would show up at the fence occasionally with bumps and bruises, and even showed up inside Bruno's house one day. A military official had escorted Shmuel outside the fence one day to polish Bruno's family's glassware. Bruno was so happy to see his friend that he forced some meat at him. The military officer watching Shmuel walked in just at the right time and saw the young boy had been eating, getting him into serious trouble. Bruno did not see Shmuel for several days after this.When Bruno and Shmuel finally did meet at their usual spot again, Bruno stated how he wishes the two boys could play on the same side of the fence. Shmuel agreed, and promised to bring Bruno a pair of pajamas the following day so they could both play on the inside of the fence. In addition, since Bruno is such a good explorer, he promised to help search for Shmuel's father who had been missing for several days. Shmuel had high hopes of finding his father, but chances are good that his father had been executed in the camp.At this point, it is very clear to the reader that Bruno lives outside of the Nazi Death Camp, Auschwitz. Shmuel is seen as an enemy by the Nazi and his time is running out. His father was likely executed in a gas chamber as many others were in Auschwitz. Bruno does not realize that people are being executed inside the camp and innocently invites himself inside to play with his new best friend. The next day as promised, Shmuel brings Bruno a pair of pajamas that were dirty and likely taken from someone who had previously died. Bruno quickly puts them on, climbs under the flimsy fence, and joins his friend. The boys waste no time in starting their exploration and searching for Shmuel's father.Before they get very far, some Nazi men round up a group of Jewish people, including Shmuel and Bruno who is supposed to be playing with him, and send the group into a room with a bunch of shower heads coming down from the roof. Everyone seems very nervous and does not know what is going on, but Bruno still does not quite realize that he is in grave danger. Suddenly, the lights go out, and the shower noise begins, killing everyone in the room, including Shmuel and Bruno.Bruno's father, who knows that his family is finding out more about the camp every day and needs to get his kids away from the death camp, realizes that Bruno has not come home one evening as he always does. In fact, he does not come home for several days and everyone becomes very worried. A Nazi soldier finds Bruno's clothes outside the camp's fence one day and tests the fence to find out that it is not holding up. A boy could have easily slid under the fence to entertain his natural curiosity. Bruno's father knows immediately what happened; Bruno was gone and would never be coming back.The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a dramatic book that combines real history with fiction. The story of Bruno and his family is combined very well with the story of the Auschwitz Death Camp run by the Nazis and the Fury (Furor), Adolf Hitler. The book has such a good story behind it that it was recently made into a motion picture, which did very well in theaters. Due to the sad history involved in the book combined with a captivating story of drama and innocence, I rate this book a 4 out of 5. dr seuss cat in hat history

Good Start, But the Finish Was Torment - 'Torment' by Iona Blair

Torment by Iona Blair was published by Club Lighthouse Publishing, ISBN # 978-1-897532-96-6.Lt. Jay Sutherland, a Canadian stationed in Afghanistan, has a serious problem. He has a perfectly loving wife, Kerry, at home in Vancouver...but he can't stop thinking about a fellow soldier, Darren. Not just thinking about him, but having steamy sexual fantasies about him, though he's never thought sexually about a man before. Darren reciprocates his feelings, and they have a brief but torrid affair.The army sends to Cyprus to decompress on his way home to Canada, and Jay has sex with a female prostitute to get his mind off Darren. He barely has time to put his pants back on, though, before learning that Darren and the rest of his patrol have gone missing. He goes back to Afghanistan, where he and his men find the patrol trapped in a mountain rock slide, moments away from death.When he does return to Vancouver, Jay becomes the living embodiment of torment. He can't decide if he's gay, straight or bisexual. He doesn't want his wife to find out about what he's done...and, not only can he not keep his mind off Darren, wild rumors are beginning to swirl in public about what happened to the lost patrol.Up to this point, this had been a decent novel of forbidden lust under extreme circumstances. About two thirds of the way into the story, though, I lost all sympathy for Jay as a character. He goes to a strip club in an attempt to get his mind off Darren. Though he justifies his actions to himself, Jay rapes one of the dancers. He then fixates on the woman as the cause of all his troubles, taking a drastic step to keep her out of his life. After Jay's violent actions, I no longer cared whether Jay decided to stay with his wife or run off with Darren. After the violence, I no longer enjoyed the book.This book may be well-written for what it is, but the sexual violence and the main character's rationalization of it made me unable to give it more than two stars. War is hell, and this may well be a realistic depiction of what a soldier goes through when he or she returns from a traumatic experience. This reviewer is not a soldier, though, and doesn't wish to be traumatized by her reading. dr seuss cat in hat book

JR Ward's "Lover Avenged" - A Book Review

I liked this book better than I thought I would. If you follow the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, then you know each book has its own hero and tells how he fell in love with and bonded with his soulmate. My very favorite so far has been the story of Zsadist and Bella. This one is about Bella's brother, Rhevhenge.In the beginning, an aristocratic vampire named Montrag taps Rhev to murder the vampire king, Wrath. Rhev will do no such thing...but he will fall in love with Ehlena, a nurse who works at Havers' clinic. And she will go to extreme lengths to make sure they can be together, despite Rev's many bad habits and dirty little secrets.I usually don't mind Ward's noirish, slangy style of storytelling, but the one thing that annoyed the heck out of me in this book is that she kept ending questions with periods instead of question marks. I can see how that might be necessary every once in while when a character already knows the answer to their question and is saying it more like a statement, but used repeatedly, it gets really old really fast.Clearly, the next book is going to be about the youngest Brother, John Matthew, and his twisted path to romance with the androgynous (but she's a woman) Xhex. I'm looking forward to that one. I like John Matthew and his best buds, super-sexy Qhuinn (with one blue eye and one green eye) and Blay (who not-so-secretly loves Qhuinn). dr seuss book collection

The Art of Possibility - A Book Review

The book starts by challenging old paradigms, and then gives us an alternative that is so full of hope and possibility I was eager to try it out in my own life. The chapters build upon each other in a commonsense way. The progression left me wanting more, to the point that when I was done reading the book I wanted to start reading it again. The Zanders took me on a wonderful journey of new possibilities in their book The Art of Possibility. The stories they tell to illustrate their points I found most helpful to see how to apply each and every practice in a real way. They took the concepts and brought reality to them.1) It was empowering for me to be reminded in the very first chapter that our constructs of reality are all invented. And if that is the case than we are at choice to recreate our own reality! Isn't that exciting to consider.
2) Chapter 2 builds from there by introducing us to the Universe of Possibility. The stories here helped me get some ideas on how I could bring more possibility to those I work with.
3) I loved the chapter on giving people an "A." I thought I was pretty good at that but was able to see how my own selfish motives were masked in manipulation to get what I wanted by appreciating and acknowledging others, instead of giving them a genuine "A" from the start and from where they were at.
4) The Being a Contribution chapter gave me one of the most valuable gifts form the book and that was to come from being a contribution instead of worrying about my success. The paradox being that when we are being a contribution everyone wins.
5) Leading from any chair showed me that position doesn't matter. Anyone can be a leader who inspires.
6) Loved Rule # 6 which reminds me not to take myself too seriously. I had started practicing this one before I started reading this book and oh what a relief it is.
7) In chapter 7 I was reminded of something I seem to need being reminded of often and that is to simply accept things as they are. I translate that to mean detaching. That alone has helped me relax and enjoy life more.
8) Giving Way to Passion is such a wonderful way to give people permission to contribute without any judgments or make wrongs.
9) Lighting a Spark shows how we can inspire action and creative expression and contribution.
10) Being the Board is all about being 100 % responsible for hwo things are going.
11) Creating Frameworks for Possibility show us how to put this into practice in the real world that we live in so that it makes a difference.
12) And finally by coming from a "we" partnership we can bridge all divisions and unite all people as one. I saw the real possibility for world peace from this one.All in all there is much work to be done in practicing their many suggestions. I could use a lifetime to do so and it will be time well spent, how about you? seuss book collection sets cat hat

Your Next Move - The Leader's Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions by Michael D Watkins

"Your Next Move: The Leader's Guide To Navigating Major Career Transitions" by Michael D. Watkins is a good book for those who are advancing up the corporate job ladder. It is a sequel to Watkins' "The First 90 Days," also a book I liked.I'll say up front that this book is not for the person who is looking for a major career transition by completely changing occupations, etc. If you are an accountant, lawyer, or some other profession and you are looking at changing occupations or professions, this is not really the book for you. If you have just gotten promoted, transferred to one of your company's overseas offices, or were hired to come in and take a leadership role in an existing corporation, this book has some excellent advice on these kinds of transitions.I think the book is best suited for those people in leadership positions of larger corporations or organizations. It's not geared as much for the smaller business owner. The other also expands on his model of situations for leaders from "The First 90 Days" by adding a fifth situation and he calls this STARS. The acronym stands for: Start-up, Turnaround, Accelerated growth, Realignment, and Sustaining success. This model is addressed in several chapters, but most in-depth in chapter 8.The eight chapters focus on the common career moves the author chose to address in this book. They include: 1. The promotion challenge. 2. The leading-former-peers challenge. 3. The corporate diplomacy challenge. 4. The onboarding challenge. 5. The international move challenge. 6. The turnaround challenge. 7. The realignment challenge. 8. The business portfolio challenge.Each chapter describes the challenge by first using an example. Then suggestions and solutions are presented, and the chapters conclude with a short checklist of questions to think about and implement in your transition situation. Again, the book is geared toward the larger corporate setting, and for those that are facing a transition in such a situation, this book provides some good advice and will make you think about things that are important to your successful transition. For those wanting to transition out of their chosen path to something else, there are other books for that.Transitioning to a new role in the corporate jungle can bring many challenges. Watkins' book will help you face those challenges to accelerate your career and help you organization thrive. Very good book for the manager or executive seeking to climb the corporate ladder. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Trilogy Moments For The Mind, Body, And Soul - By The Spence Family

I have read the Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul, written by Joseph S Spence, Sheila M. Parish-Spence, and Johnathan Clarence Parish-Spence, and I was truly blessed be the content of this book. It was so good to see this family of poets coming together to produce this masterpiece, which the world can enjoy.
I loved the prayers for life events, and will surely use them whenever the need arises. The poems are beautiful and very practical, and the daily devotions are well suited to everyday life.I love Nature, and truly enjoyed the Haiku poems written in this section "The Seasons of Beauty" to commemorate it. The section on "Reflections of Travel", was extremely interesting, and very informative to me, as I love to travel, but have never visited any of the places that are written about here, so I truly appreciated it. The "love and Romance" pages are just what I needed to read at this Valentine time. Family is very important to me and we should always feel free to let loved ones know how we feel about them as we learned here in the section about family's relationships.The Epulaeryu poems that are written in Joseph's own form has a unique style, and are always a fascinating and "delicious" read.All in All, this is a book that should be on every Poetry lover's shelves. I would recommend this book to everyone who needs a blessing in their lives. I got mine while reading this awesome Trilogy and you can get yours too! dr seuss cat in hat history

Book Review - For the Life O'Reilly Written by Brian Cohen

Nicholas O'Reilly was a partner in a huge New York law firm, Williams Gardner & Schmidt. He was going places with this firm and had much prestige even though he knew this type of firm was a cutthroat kind of firm. He had many friends in the firm. Nick felt very close to one lawyer, Evan, in the firm but there was another lawyer that was there to criticize every move Nick made, good or bad. Phil was one of those guys that loved to cause trouble with his words and deeds. Phil was slightly superior in position within the firm to Nick and he loved to enforce that fact. Evan and Nick had dreams of once having their own firm handling many in the entertainment business as their clients. But, meanwhile, onward and upward where they now worked.In a meeting of the firm Nick was selected to begin a new pro-bono department of the firm. Williams Gardner & Schmidt decided they needed more good publicity and they felt this free work for individuals or organizations that couldn't afford lawyers would place them very well in public opinion. However, their work for the billable clients could not suffer because of the pro-bono clients. Nick's first client was Dawn Nelson. Dawn was a beautiful young woman, mother of a young son, going through a horrible time with her husband. She wanted a divorce to get away from all the physical and mental beatings she was taking from her husband but couldn't afford an attorney. Through a local organization Drew found Nick, even though Nick had never handled any type of law for domestic disputes or any pro-bono work. As in most firms, it was a rule that no personal contact would be allowed between clients and lawyers that could be construed as sexual or too personal otherwise. After several meetings, Nick and Dawn had very strong feelings for each other and did all they could to avoid any contact that could be seen as improper but things did not end up that way.Nick was called before the firms' management and blasted for his conduct and making Dawns case blow up and extended when it should all be over and the divorce final. The legal authorities censured Nick and he was, of course, fired from the firm. Nick was devastated to lose his job and position he had so long worked for and had performed such a good strong job, but even though he felt he was not guilty of such actions with a client, Dawn, he could see how his time and place with her could have caused his downfall. The board gave him a two months suspension from practicing as a lawyer. This made Nick turn in circles and spin his wheels to determine his future. The suspension did give him time to get to know Dawn and her son, Jordan, all of whom became happier every day and to ponder what his future might be.Within a short time, Nick received a call from Evan telling Nick that he had done what they had discussed years earlier of starting their own law firm to handle their entertainment clients and expand on the list. Nick was elated but he could not legally yet do this work but he did do all he could toward helping the new firm grow, and grow they did-fast.Then came the talk of a wedding, a honeymoon, another baby, a new home, and with the growing business finances were no problem. Things were going great until Nick started feeling sick. He had not felt well for some time but put the blame on all his work and troubles from the old firm. He continued working hard, enjoying life, and looking forward to the wedding and their future together.The Life O'Reilly is a story I am so elated to have read. I truthfully didn't know what to expect when I started the book. I thought that it would be just another lawyer story that was good but never did I expect the story that Brian Cohen gave me. I felt very connected to this book. We many times say we had read a book we couldn't put down. Believe me, The Life O'Reilly was one you will not be able to put down until you finish it. Excellent writing style containing a terrific story line. Thanks Brian. dr seuss cat in hat book

Romance Stories - Looking For Love and Hot Romance

Modern romance stories cover a broad field that embraces the paranormal, historical, western, black, fantasy, as well as American romance fiction. Plot lines strive to be fresh and settings are often intricate and detailed. Above all, the characters experience a yearning that has them looking for love and intimacy.Many readers enjoy romantic fantasies and some of the best writers of romantic fiction are active today. Of course, the success of the Twilight novels (and movies), the True Blood TV series and the Vampire Diaries have given a push to what is known as paranormal romance.Although the love lives of ordinary people are still hugely popular, as can be seen with the work of Nicholas Spark (The Notebook, Dear John and Message in a Bottle), many romance novels today delve into a fantasy world that is a step (or more) beyond normal reality.So, although readers might still hunger for the Rhett Butlers who carry Scarlett O'Hara up the staircase (Gone With The Wind), a lot of the heroes and heroines in today's fiction also possess uncommon powers. Maybe they can change shape (shape shifters and werewolves), read minds (telepaths) foresee events (seers), speak to the dead (necromancers), display extraordinary strength and speed (vampires) or have other skills that equip them beyond the ordinary.Of course, historical romance is still very much alive and kicking with many modern romance novels that make use of gothic, Victorian, Regency, confederate, western, etc. settings. Lords, princes, highlanders and pirates abound in the historical fiction of Stephanie Laurens (The Elusive Bride), Diana Gabaldon (An Echo in the Bone), Sabrina Jeffries (The Truth About Lord Stoneville) and many others who like their romance touched with the atmosphere and customs of a bygone era.Western and country romance is also strong, with many adherents. Although True Blood (Charlaine Harris) is thought of as paranormal romance, it is also set in a small town in Louisiana. Those who like to read about heroic, passionate cowboys should consider Kerry A. Jones (Loved Enough), Leigh Greenwood (A Texan's Honor) and Lorelei James (Branded As Trouble).Story lines reflect attitudes women can identify with, regardless of the settings. For instance, Lora Leigh, in Nauti Deceptions, writes about an attractive female teacher who changes her identity after being framed and involved in a sex scandal in a small town in Kentucky.In Dark Slayer, by Christine Feehan, Ivory is a rarity, a Carpathian female who has been protected throughout her life but circumstances compel her to free a 'mage' from a cave that serves as a prison and to flee with him.The leading characters in modern romance stories have feelings and emotions that build to moments of intense passion and the plots may be clearly erotic. The heroines in these stories (despite their settings) are not the delicate, restrained women to be found in Jane Austen novels. They often face danger with courage and embrace romance with an eagerness that earlier generations could only dream of.Those who are looking for the romantic and social subtleties of an earlier age might well be advised to seek out the writings of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. However, for those who prefer their romantic fantasies to be more akin to hot and sweaty, modern romance writers serve them well. dr seuss book collection

The Many Worlds of Young Adult Fiction

In the last decade, young adult fiction has transformed. Authors are pushing the envelope, creating fantastical stories, unearthly characters and, of course, magical worlds. What began with Narnia, a world within a wardrobe, has now become a universe of countless lands. Here are just a few of the wonderful lands born from some of the world's most creative minds:Rondo by Emily RoddaThe Key to Rondo (Scholastic Press, 2008)
While Narnia has its wardrobe, Rondo has its music box. But entering the music box you'll find a beautiful world containing a quaint village, a lush forest, a magical castle and more. Rondo is filled with magical creatures, many of which you'll recognize from fairytales, like the troll who guards the bridge, or the three little pigs.Deltora By Emily RoddaThe Deltora Quest series (Scholastic Press, 2001)
Deltora is a land of dragons. It is divided into territories, each named after a different gemstone (amethyst, moonstone, etc.). Each territory is home to its own unique creatures, cities, dangers and of course dragons, making every step of your journey through Deltora very different from the last.Middlemost by Chris McCoyScurvy Goonda (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009)
Debut author Chris McCoy brought an entirely new concept to the traditional "other word" story. What we believe to be the middle star of orion's belt is actually Middlemost, the world where imaginary friends are born. Entering Middlemost, you'll find a motley crew of creatures-everything from vampires and ballerinas to plandas (half panda, half bonsai tree and swamsters (half hamster, half professional swimmer).Inkworld By Cornelia FunkeInkheart (Scholastic Press, 2003)
We've all wished we could dive into the pages of our favorite storybook and live in that world-at least for just one day. In the Inkheart trilogy, Meggie gets to do just that. Her father's "silver tongue" has brought the world inside Inkheart to life. While some characters emerge from its pages, others jump right in.Ember by Jeanne DuPrauThe City of Ember (Random House, 2003)
Ember is an underground city built before the apocalypse over 200 years ago. It is home to many citizens who have no clue that blue skies exist. They live in a world of darkness, lit in the daytime by lamps. But things are changing. Food is running out. And the electricity is on the fritz. If they don't discover the way out of Ember soon, they'll be plunged in darkness forever.Luster by Bruce CovilleThe Unicorn Chronicles (Scholastic Press, 2005)
Luster is the land of unicorns. At one time, the unicorns lived on Earth. But everything changed when a group of hunters tried to kill their entire race. So they created Luster, a beautiful world that could act as their safe haven. Luster is also home to other creatures such as dwarves, dragons and squijims, along with the occasional human.The Edge by Paul Stewart and Chris RiddellThe Edge Chronicles (Transwood, 2000)
Much like the film Avatar, the world inside The Edge Chronicles contains magnificently creative creatures, unique trees and floating mountains. The Edge and its residents are so fabulously bizarre, that without the illustrations, the book would be hard to visualize.The list of magical worlds doesn't end there. Also check out:Archipelago of Dreams
From Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen (Simon & Schuster, 2006)Lyonesse
From Lyonesse by Sam Llewellyn (Scholastic Inc, 2009)Terabithia
From Bridge to Terabithia by Kathrine Patterson (HarperCollins Publishers, 1977)Fantastica
From The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (Doubleday, 1983)The Realms
From A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Random House, 2003)Muratenland
From A Hole in the Sky by Barbara A. Mahler (Turtle Sea Publishing, 2009)Panem
From The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Inc, 2008)Malice
From Malice by Chris Wooding (Scholastic Inc, 2009)Atherton
From the Atherton series by Patrick Carmen (Little, Brown, 2008)The Land of Faerie
From Stardust by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2001)Halla
From Pendragon by D.J. MacHale (Simon & Schuster, 2002)Fablehaven
From Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (Simon & Schuster, 2007)Cyberia
From Cyberia by Chris Lynch (Scholastic Inc, 2008)Crystallia
From the Alcatraz series By Brandon Sanderson (Scholastic Inc, 2008) seuss book collection sets cat hat

Raskolnikov and the Crime and Punishment Literary Criticism

My Crime and Punishment literary criticism reveals that the story is told purely from the point of view of Raskolnikov. His name, which means "divided," is appropriate since his key character trait is to alienate himself from society. He also believes that he is part of an elite echelon and that he can do as he pleases. However he is tormented by guilt after he commits murder.Throughout the novel he toys with the idea about confessing and at the same time remains convinced that what he did was justified. The only force strong enough to keep his mind from slipping into contempt for humanity is Sonja, which is one realization he acknowledges. He admits that he loves her.The other characters in the book merely are a mirror reflection of who he is; they mirror his own personality and understanding of himself. Deep down he really cares about Dunya, Pulcheria, Razumikhin and Alexandra but because he has a skeptical outlook, he never shows his appreciation when his friends try and help him.Sonya who is also a transgressor and sacrifices herself for the sake of others where as Raskolnikov's crimes are committed only for his own selfish reasons, yet he cannot fully see the evil of his actions. His relationship with Svidrigailov is distant and he despises him, but at the same time he needs the strong validation for his own crimes.Sonya is family orientated and prostituted herself to aid her family. She should not have had to do that but her selfish father kept drinking. Sonja understands why Raskolnikov committed his crimes and is not horrified by this at all. However, Raskolnikov still thinks of Sonja as a fellow transgressor and he is not willing to acknowledge the difference for quite some time. She's "one of them" for most of the book. She sins for others but he sins for himself.Raskolnikov and his sister Dunya share many of the same traits but at the same time, she is the exact opposite of her brother. My Crime and Punishment literary criticism shows Raskolnikov to be self-centered and cruel, but Dunya is kind and compassionate. She portrays the strongest female character attributes in the novel, and she is probably the only "good" person in the novel. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Crime and Punishment Analysis - How the Book Was Created

My Crime and Punishment analysis is that Dostoevsky found himself in serious debt which was not only his due to gambling but also his late brothers Mikhail's debt. In absolute desperation, he signed an agreement with Stellovsky that if he did not complete a manuscript by November he would in turn allow Stellovsky all his past and future rights on his work. The only way he could escape his creditors was to flee.My analysis has two specific points. Firstly, the novel was concerned with drunkenness. Secondly, while he was in prison, he had an idea of exploring the psychological factors of a crime. Dostoevsky thought that he could complete the "heavy drinking" part of the book quickly but he became engrossed in the psychological factors of crime. Thus, the book was hard to write and it was long.Once he completed this he sent a detailed script to Mikhail Katkov in 1865 who at that time was the editor of the Russian Herald. The book basically explained how a criminal commits murder while under the influence of day dreaming ideas or "ideas that float in the air" as he put it.Dostoevsky's ideas came from the Russian radical social ideologies, with emphasis on Nihilism which was prevalent at the same time Dostoevsky began working on Crime and Punishment. His experimentation with radicalism and imprisonment along with his suffering vastly impacted Crime and Punishment. His arguments revolved around the western influences as well as the emphasis on Russian rationalism which were not only incompatible but even dangerous. This made the book very "deep" according to the critics of the time.Some final points...By December 1865 Dostoevsky informed his friend Baron that he had already written 6 chapters of his novel and then confessed that he burnt it as the novel was not pleasing to him and that the new version had far more of the main characters original traits. In November 1866 was Crime and Punishment completed and published with great success. dr seuss cat in hat history

Some Guidelines For Buying the Best Business Management Books

Buying business management books can be an expensive affair at times, exceptionally if you are subsequent to something that is going to present you with useful and important information. So there are a number of points that are worth bearing in mind when going after such books. Let us look at some easy guidelines to help you get exactly what you are seeking in your business management books.Mull over the Author and PublicationStart by checking out the author and the publication related with the book. If you perceive that the book is written by one of the prominent authors who have already provided the readers with some really nice books in the past, chances are you are going to lay your hands on one of the better books that your money can buy.Usually famous publications will only manage good books with quality content. Hence, attentive to the publication can also help you with buying a good book on the topic that you are after.Read the Synopsis and ReviewsNever forget to read the synopsis provided with the book. This will give you an obvious idea regarding what the book has been written on and therefore if the book contains the information and topics that you are after specifically. Read through the reviews on the business management books to get an even better idea on this.You may get into reviews on the internet. Just search for the books online and try to see if there are reviews obtainable as well. Such reviews will also give you a good idea about how good the book is.Evaluate with the Other BooksMake a list of all the available books in the market on the topic that you are after. Then compare each of the books with the others available. This will let you understand whether the book you are buying is going to be the best amongst the others available, and whether or not you are spending too much money on it.Comparing and then buying the book will also let you be aware of a number of things that become crucial. Initially, you will be able to understand which books have missed out on the necessary topics, how easy the language is to understand, and whether or not the information is accurate and important and worth the money you are about to be spending on the book. dr seuss cat in hat book

The Science of Getting Rich, I Have My Vision Now What?

If you are working through "The Science of Getting Rich," Then you start with a vision that encompasses all of your senses. If you stop there you just engage in wishful thinking. So what is next? The formula is in this simple quote from the book:By thought, the thing you want is brought to you; by action you receive it.Hold this idea as you practice the ideas from the book and you will activate the law of attraction. Here are the next two steps:1. Continue to nurture the vision: "Hold the faith and purpose of increase," Wattles says, in the book. Don't allow your thoughts to slide back on circumstance or on anything but your vision, your compelling future. If contrary thoughts creep in you must replace them with thoughts of your future.Some find it helpful to use words like: "cancel, cancel" as many times as necessary to cancel those conflicting thoughts. Cancel conflicting thoughts, then bring your focus back again to the vision that you have established. It is necessary to keep your mind in the NOW. Record the ideas that come from the visions.2. Begin to take action: The vision is formed and nurtured, and your mind is focused on the now. This will begin to drive your actions; it will stimulate you to your best. But this is only the beginning. Out of the "Thinking Substance" which "permeates" the universe and which makes up everything will come ideas and plans. These will bubble into your consciousness and lead you to specific actions that will move you to the fulfillment of your vision. Recall the quote we began with: "By thought, the thing you want is brought to you; by action you receive it." These ideas and plans are the specific actions for you're to receive the thing that is brought to you. Again from chapter 12 of "The Science of Getting Rich:"Whatever your action is to be, it is evident that you must act NOW. You cannot act in the past, and it is essential to the clearness of your mental vision that you dismiss the past from your mind. You cannot act in the future, for the future is not here yet.Hold with faith and purpose the vision of yourself in the better environment, but act upon your present environment with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. As you begin to live life this way you will find new energy and joy. The visions are expressions of your soul and will form into actions and then into physical reality."The Science of Getting Rich" is a call to action. Actions of the soul, actions that are natural, and actions that are a part of you. Work yes, but work that is out of you, work that brings you to your dreams and not just work done for money or for someone else; rather it is the kind of work that will bring you joy and your good result. dr seuss book collection

Opposite Paths - A Serial Killer and an Architect of the Chicago World's Fair

"A thousand trains a day entered or left Chicago." With that opening statement in Eric Larson's historical non-fiction book, The Devil in the White City, the reader is drawn into the compelling story of two men who traveled two diametrically opposite paths in life, one man achieving his greatest notoriety through the planning and overseeing of the infamous Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and one man achieving notoriety through cruel inhumane serial killing.Both men lived in the second most populous city at a time when countless young people, in particular young women, left home and traveled by train in search of a bright future and employment, many as seamstresses and typists. Chicago was a city often thought of as the Black City because of the coal smoke hanging over the city, the raw sewage, lack of clean water and diseases. Chicago was also a city where many people died from not only accidental deaths but also murder. The author records there were approximately 800 violent murders during the first six months of 1892.This is the story of Daniel Burnham, an architect, and the crowning achievement of his life, that of being the lead designer and overseer of the fascinating story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. This is also the story of H. H. Holmes, a doctor, a licensed pharmacist and an infamous serial killer.Daniel Burnham minutely planned and oversaw the extreme challenges, obstacles and frustrations that went into the one square mile construction of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair which became commonly known as the White City because all of the approximately two hundred buildings were painted white. The Chicago World's Fair introduced and showcased to the public many spectacular features such as: the gigantic 264-foot Ferris wheel, clean piped water, extensive electrical lighting and clean public restrooms. Much of the fair was a prototype of what Daniel Burnham thought Chicago should look like. This is the story of how thousands of hard-working individuals joined together and pushed themselves against deadlines, to build something magnificently exquisite, beautiful, exotic and positive in the lives of people.This is also the story of one young man, H. H. Holmes, who walked an opposite path in life and whose actions resulted in cruel and painful death, many of the victims being young women. While the World's Fair was being planned and constructed, Holmes was building his own house a short distance away, which neighbors called a castle because of its immense size. The house contained soundproof rooms, a basement with a hot enough kiln to burn human bodies. Some of the rooms were turned into apartments and other rooms became hotel rooms for people attending the fair.This is a story that leads the reader to ponder the psyche of human beings. What is there about the human psyche and the environment that will cause some men to follow a path that leads to the negative legacy of serial killing but leads another man to achieving greatness that leaves a positive imprint on the world?The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson Vantage Books
A Division of Random House, Inc., New York, 2003, 432 pages seuss book collection sets cat hat

Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Program Reviewed

About the systemThe central product in this system is "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle" e-book, which is a 341 pages long guide. Even though this book is easily understandable and well written, I felt that they could have divided it into smaller sections or modules.This e-book is like an encyclopedia. It gives you detailed information on nutrition and fat burning. A big portion of this book (270 pages) is dedicated for this purpose. It also explains how to calculate metabolic rate, how to set your goal, how to understand your body type, how to track your progress etc.I feel that this is a very comprehensive book, which gives you lot of information. It clears a lot of myths and builds a clear concept about fat loss. If you are just an average person looking for shedding some pounds you might feel that its too much information but I feel that the more you know the better.It takes a while to read the entire e-book but you might have to go back to certain chapters again as It teaches you about making an exercise and diet plan for yourself that is in accordance with your body type.Tom Venuto explains how we are all different and how we all react differently to protein, fats and carbohydrates. He gives you a base line to start with and you have to make a perfect diet plan for yourself based on your results. You have to decide how much protein, fats and carbohydrates you will have in your diet while maintaining your total calorie intake.The author of this e-book Tom Venuto is a body builder so at many instances he refer to the phrase "what bodybuilders do". I feel that this book is a goldmine for someone who is serious about losing weight, getting in shape and looking good. Make no mistakes about it, its not going to be easy. You will have to work hard. If you do everything according to the program you will see fantastic results. Believe me the juice is worth the squeeze. This book is the result of Tom Venuto's years of experience in body building and being a personal trainer.It doesn't matter if you are just a casual dieter looking for loosing some pounds this book is a must read for you. It tells you everything that you need to know about healthy eating, taking care of your body and the impact of various foods and micro-nutrients on your body along with the workouts.There are some 23 pages in the book on cardiovascular exercise. Which covers the topic in details. Some of the topics include the best exercises to do, the proper way of doing exercises to avoid injuries, best workout equipments, various methods to boot your metabolism etc.There are 29 pages on weight training, which explains the workouts and gives you a list of the exercises that you can do. The FAQ is really great it clears all the common doubts that people have about weight training.Luckily the 5 bonus books that you get with this program are shorter. Which further explains some of the important topics explained in the book. It also works as cheat sheet for quick reference. It tells you how to calculate body fat accurately, lists all the good and the bad foods and some tasty and healthy recipes are also included.I also tried their upgrade package, which is a collection of the best interviews of Tom Venuto given over the years. There is a lot of good information in these interviews but I felt that the main course book was enough, which tells you pretty much everything that you need to know.I tried their membership site too. It had a $1 trial offer. I was glad to find some good online calculators their. This was one thing that was missing in the actual program. Their member area has a lot of audio content, recipes, list of good and bad food items, articles on fat loss, information on food supplements, a forum and much more. It's a complete value for money but I still felt that the main e-book was enough.This program is for those who are serious about fat loss and want to learn everything that is there. This program will give you a sustainable fat loss if you follow it properly but if you are looking for some magic wand that will magically make you loose fat then this is not the thing for you. In fact there is no product in the market that will do that. They do have some pills that make such outrageous claims but they are all useless and even if you loose some fat with that you will gain it back immediately after you stop taking them.The Package InformationThere are two packages available Basic and deluxe.The basic package includes:
* "Burn the fat feed the muscle" e-book.
* "Foods That Burn Fat" e-book.
* "Foods That Turn to Fat" e-book.
* "The A food B food lecture" e-book- This book divides the food items into various grades so that you can pick the high grade food items and avoid the low grade ones.
* "How To Measure Your Body Fat" e-book.
* "Free Upgrades for Lifetime" -FREE Updates to the Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle e-book.In the deluxe package you get all the books mentioned above along with "The Fat Burn Files" e-book. It's a collection of 10 interviews with Tom Venuto.They also provide you with a 60-day money back guarantee. So you have something to fall back to if the need arise.Pros and ConsPros:
* It's a detailed book, which covers everything in great details.
* The book is very practical. It's based on the experiences of the body builders and people who are passionate about building muscle and loosing fat.
* It gives you a better understanding on the way your body processes carbohydrates, fats, proteins etc so you know what to eat and why.Cons:
* There is a huge amount of information shared in this book so you have read this book in intervals to fully digest the information.
* It focuses mainly on people who are already doing some kind of exercises.Customer CareThey have a FAQ link on the main download page, which answers your common questions about downloading their product. They also have their contact information listed there. I tested their service by sending a quarry through their contact interface. I received the reply with 20 hours.ConclusionOverall its an amazing program, if you follow it properly you will get great results. It's definitely a value for money deal. My rating would be 4/5 for this. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Home by Choice Book Review

Home by Choice: Raising Emotionally Secure Children in an Insecure World as the title suggests, is a book about the importance the mother-child bond plays in the healthy development of a child. According to Dr. Hunt the best way to ensure your child's optimal emotional, physical and emotional development is to stay home and make parenting your children your primary responsibility.Dr. Hunt speaks from her own experience and candidly shared the mistakes she made raising her own children. She offers hope and advice to all mothers of young children. Drawing on both her own experience and the latest research Dr. Hunt shows mothers how to form a strong and lasting bond of attachment with their children even though you may not have had that as a child. She also explains why a child needs to bond with his mother (not caregivers or grandparents) - There are hidden implications that you may never have even considered.She then goes on to explain why daycare research done by female psychologists may not always be accurate and how they are sometimes very unfairly biased. Everything I read made sense, especially when I thought of my husband. He was raised by a cold, unloving and emotionally unavailable woman and is still suffering because of it.The many negative side effects of daycare that Dr. Hunt describes in Home By Choice are also clearly visible in my nephew who is the product of a broken home and was in daycare from the time he was 3 years old.Unlike other books on the importance of being a stay at home mom, Dr. Hunt acknowledges that many moms have no choice but to work. She provides a few alternatives to full-time employment outside the home, such as part-time employment or working from home. She says "Part-time employment allows a woman to maintain her skills and still go grocery shopping, attend Little League games, volunteer at school and at Church, and have something left in her emotional bank for her children and husband on a daily basis."And if you think that only younger children need you to be home, then you're wrong. An entire chapter in "Home By Choice" is dedicated to why teenagers need their moms as much as younger kids.And if you've been influenced by the work of ardent feminists such as Gloria Steinhem, Betty Friedan and Germaine Greer, then Dr. Hunt reveals the surprising link between these women's viewpoints and their troubled childhoods.The chapter on "Why Kids Kill" Dr. Hunt says that the absence of healthy attachment to parents is the reason that some kids turn into cold-blooded killers."Home by Choice" also has advice on how to create a life that nourishes mother and child, how to develop your talents as a stay at home mom, dealing with your own painful childhood, and with husbands who want you to work rather than stay home and care for your kids.All in all "Home by Choice" is a fantastic read, and I feel that it should be required reading for all moms. The copy that I reviewed was borrowed from the local library. dr seuss cat in hat history

You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids Book Review

Are you working outside of the home? Have you ever considered leaving work to stay home with your kids, but don't know how you'll ever get by on one income? Then "You Can Afford To Stay Home With Your Kids" is the book for you. It's a Step by Step guide for converting your family from two incomes to one.For this review I used my own personal copy of the book that I purchased from Amazon.com"You can afford to stay home with your kids" is also for moms who:* Are looking for ways to lower their monthly expenses* Husband is unemployed or facing retrenchment* Want to quit their jobs and start a home based business* Are plagued with Mommy guilt.The book is divided into 3 sections. The authors Malia Wycoff and Mary Snyder take an in-depth look at the toll that working outside the home has on moms as well as the benefits of being a stay at home mom. But they don't paint an unrealistically rosy picture of life as a stay at home mom. They also discuss some of the harsh realities that moving from a dual income family to a single income family will entail for you, your husband and your children.The first section deals with the financial aspects of making the transition from two incomes to one. You will discover just how much is left of your paycheck once work-related expenses are deducted. In this first section you will find out whether staying at home is a feasible choice for you and your family.The second part of the book helps you to make the transition from working mom to stay at home mom more easily. It provides lots of tips and advice to help you to deal with the emotional upheaval, loneliness and other challenges of making the transition to stay at home mom. If you've always worked, then this book will give you a realistic picture of what to expect as a stay at home mom.The third part of the book shows you not only how to survive, but thrive, on one income. There are ideas for:* Inexpensive activities for kids* Affordable family vacation ideas* Cutting the grocery bill in half* Dressing your family for less* And moreI think that You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide for Converting Your Family from Two Incomes to One should be on every moms reading list. dr seuss cat in hat book

The Richest Man in Babylon Review

As an entrepreneur and a person passionate for knowledge, I'm always looking to learn more about wealth building. After receiving a few iTunes gift cards for Christmas, I went to buy an audiobook to listen to while driving. After reading reviews of several business and money books, I went with The Richest Man in Babylon because of the overwhelming positive reviews. Although it was only $4.95, I regret making the purchase.The audiobook is voiced in an old English tongue that I didn't have a problem with, but could grow old on some people. The total length is a little over four hours of listening.This book is best fit for a beginner to growing wealth who is eager to learn new principals and has the ability to extract meanings from easy to decode stories. Most of the principals in the book are stated openly, but some are understated within the tales.The Richest Man in Babylon has a handful of tales compiled with one following another. I had trouble keeping track of which character was who, but the messages from the stories were easy to grasp. Basically, the book preaches to save 10% of your money in sound investments, spend 20% on any debts, and use 70% of your income to spend on what you need to live.There are a bevvy of other lessons teaching sage ways to live and not to live. For example, it discourages against heavy gambling and taking advice on investments from those who are not experts in the field. The basic teachings give solid wisdom and common sense that most people do not possess. This is where I disconnected from the book.Unfortunately for me, I was looking for a book with more insight and energy. Stated in other ways, I was looking for thinking on the edge, wisdom to a higher level, and something I didn't know. While these tales did reinforce my knowledge, there wasn't much in the way of extra information for me.To be sure, I don't deny the value in ageless wisdom but if you have already studied on the foundations of building wealth, then seek another book. However, if you're still trying to put the pieces together on the building blocks to getting rich, then this book will be an excellent choice for you. I recommend the audiobook over the print version if you have a media player so you can listen while you drive. At times you will be entertained and interested, but I found myself getting bored as the book waned on. dr seuss book collection

Book Review - Leaves of the Banyan Tree, by Albert Wendt

So I finally got myself to a library and read this book, widely known now as a modern classic of Pacific Literature.It's about this seriously ambitious man, Tauilopepe, who decides that he's going to turn his family's matai land into a business - just like the Palagis do with their plantations. In his unfaltering drive for money and power, he betrays all the people who love him, loses his children - his only beloved son, even, rebels against him in a massive way - and spends the rest of his life in a painful battle to hold on to the status and material wealth he's won for himself.The story itself is important to Samoans for a number of reasons.The way our land relates to our titles is the foundation of our matai system, which in turn is the backbone of our Fa'asamoa. Tauilopepe's manipulation of matai land for his own benefit is a metaphor for the evolution of our culture under the influence of Christianity and The Palagi who introduced it.Prof. Wendt also casts a harsh spotlight on some pretty unflattering imperfections in the way we as a people live - adultery, rape (of the night crawler type), violence, alcoholism, an overall lack of integrity - criticisms that I have heard, so often, echoed in the way that we as a people talk about each other.This book is also important because it delves into the intricacies not only of the Fa'asamoa, but of life in Samoa, without being precious about the way we might be judged as a culture. In other words, Wendt tells it like he sees it - flaws and all.I learned a lot about Samoa in this book, especially the Samoa of a few decades ago.That's not to say that I enjoyed the education.The characters in the story served their purpose - to illustrate Wendt's opinions about what's going on in Samoa - but I wanted to feel a stronger connection with them, to really understand why they did the things they did and to have more empathy for them as complex people in complicated situations.And then the ending? Don't even get me started on how random that felt! It had me wrinkling my eyebrows going, huh?The book reads like ponderous, macabre poetry. I didn't mind its slow pace so much - I like to be able to drink in the moments - but it was like an eloquent, 700+ page song about the woes of a people corrupted. After a while, you either hate all Samoans or begin to believe that Albert Wendt does.I have had the privilege, though, of meeting Prof. Wendt a few times (most recently last month at a Pacific Literature symposium) and of interviewing him once, years ago. I remember asking him then who he writes for, as in, who is his audience.He said that he writes for himself... and I can see that in 'Leaves of the Banyan Tree'. It was probably the only reason I made it to the end of the book. I kept reminding myself that this was most likely his way of exorcising some of his own demons about experiences he's had with our people and way of life.It was kind of like listening to your mum badmouth an uncle you happen to love. You might not agree with the things she's saying - because you don't have the same perspective as she does - but what can you do? seuss book collection sets cat hat

Book Review - The Story of Lauli'i - A Daughter of Samoa

Do you know how they made the ava (kava) back in the day? I'm talking over 100 years ago...Well, the taupous in the village would break off pieces of the ava root, chew them into a pulp, then spit all that good stuff into the tanoa, where it would then be mixed with water, strained and served to the matais.Sexy.As part of today's ava ceremony, the drink is served in coconut shell cups by an untitled man of the village, but did you know that in those days, the cup-bearer was always a girl?Just a couple things I learned about old(er) Samoa from this incredible autobiography I came across at my local library. It's the memoirs of Lauli'i, a Samoan woman who was born in an Upolu village, also called Lauli'i, all the way back in 1865.Lauli'i married Alexander Willis, a carpenter from California, who took her to America where they worked with an editor to tell her story, to describe what life was like in Samoa.Through history books and lots of great period films, I have a fair understanding now of what life must have been like a couple centuries ago for people of other cultures (Europeans, Americans, Indians, etc.), but this girl Lauli'i Willis has blessed me with my first ever telescopic view back into the world of my own ancestors.I don't know about you, but I barely recognize the place.Have you ever heard of a 'beauty lock'? A 'sope'? Apparently back in Lauli'is time, it was fashionable for children to keep their entire heads shaven except for a small section of hair - at the front of the head or on either side above the ears - which they would dye red with burnt coral. According to Lauli'i:"...the girl who had the reddest 'sope' attracted the most favorable attention, and incidentally reflected credit upon her mother..."I had no idea.But my own mother can verify this 'sope' story. Apparently they were still shaving children's heads like this when she was a child back in the 1940s and '50s. Mum says the idea was to make them look like those red things on the top of roosters' heads. Riiiiight.Lauli'i's fascinating description of the Samoa of her time, however, only serves as a backdrop for her own intriguing story.She was a very young child when her father, who held the Tuiletufuga title, led the Tuamasaga district (supporters of Malietoa) in a war against the Atua district (Tupua Tamasese territory). While the men fought, the women did their part by preparing food to send into the battle zone.One morning, Lauli'i and other girls from her family crept to the war camp - bullets whizzing over their heads - to take food to their fathers. In the forts, the men had built shelters out of banana leaves, and Lauli'i says that when she and the girls arrived, they saw a pile of what looked like slaughtered pigs under one shelter."I was rejoiced," she says, "at the prospect of fresh pork and began to laugh and speak of it to others; but they told me to be still, that it was not pigs but dead men."I had heard, of course, of major civil wars in Samoa, but to read a first hand account like this, in the un-sentimental voice of a simple girl just trying to share her experiences, made history appallingly - and beautifully - real for me.This book reads like a collection of thoughts and memories loosely linked chronologically, as if you're actually sitting there with Lauli'i coaxing her with questions: What kind of school did you go to? What were your parents like? How did you meet your husband? What was it like when you first went to America? Did you ever return to Samoa?The vernacular of the time is a bit of a crack up - when she talks about all the men who 'made love' to her, I was thinking oka. Maybe Mead was right, after all... until it became clear that Lauli'i meant 'sweet talk' or 'hitting on her'... and then I was like, oooohhhh.And the spelling? 'Shapo' for 'siapo'... 'Tapou' instead of 'taupou'...? Well, full credit to Lauli'is husband and editor for trying.Just about every page of this book was a revelation. The whole time I was reading it, I was sharing bits of new knowledge with anyone who would tolerate my enthusiasm. It sparked some great discussions with my family about our culture and history.I just can't get over the fact that this book even exists, though. Why had I never heard of it before? It should be on every Samoan person's bookshelf.I even went to Google to make sure this story was for REALS, that it was the voice of a real Samoan woman who actually lived in the 1800s... only because I can't imagine many of them back then had the opportunity or the foresight to document their lives in writing like this. dr seuss cat in hat quotes