A GREAT BOOK, FROM THE CURSE OF THE 3 SISTERS, TO THE DREDED DEMON CAT, "D.C.", AND BACK ON TO THE GHOSTS OF MANASSAS. IF YOU ENLOY READING ABOUT GHOSTS OR AMERICA'S HISTORY YOU'LL LOVE THIS BOOK! IT EVEN INCLUDES A STOREY ON THE INFAMOUS HOPE DIMOND (NOW IN THE SMITHSONION), WICH IS THE CAUSE OF OVER A DOZEN DEATHS. IT EVEN HAS MAPS OF WHERE TO FIND FHOSTLEY SITES, AND TONS OF PICTURES! PICK THIS BOOK UP TODAY!!!!!!!! :^)

Alexander went through a lot in researching for this particular title. Very detailed descriptions of the places dealt within, good B&W pictures and overall good layout.

However, if you buy this book, you'll get a bit of a surprise when you see the cover. I'm sure the huge, bluish-purple ghostly face of a child that haunts Bloomfield superimposed on a filtered picture of the US Capital will send a chill down your spine when you open the package. The real picture is near the back of the book, and it itself is a bit spooky. :) Nice touch.

The one thing I liked about this book is the contrast in the two leads. One, an european sophisticate type, and the other a footloose american free spirit. The longing and lust building up througout the book is mesmerizing. Pure chemical reaction. The ending kind of runs out of steam as I would have like to have seen the two girls go off together. But all in all I was very satisfied with this book. For me Mindy Kaplan delivered the goods.

Two girls, two computers..... too forbiddingly tantalizing. Mindy Kaplan has taken two suddenly "chic" topics which many of us know very little about, and managed to create a sexy and secretive cyber-romance that easily puts the later penned and overly-hyped flic "You've Got Mail" in its proper resting place. You'll find yourself in worlds simutaneously both real and imagined, and tweaked by the notion that both your sexual and cyber wiles aren't as sharp as you once thought. Kaplan gives wondrous new meaning to the term "sexual-advances". Leave your bible behind.

For hiking, as opposed to climbing, I thought this was a great book. It was easy to read, well-organized, and informative. It was certainly better than Ira Spring's "50 Hikes" book.

The two authors spent a whole summer just hiking all over Mt. Rainier National Park, and then wrote about what they found. Entertaining and informative.

I am very happy with this guide. The two women really write in a professional manner and give you a lot of information about the park. The information about the trails is very complete. The maps of the trails are good, though I wish they would have put detailed evevations for all the hikes instead of saying "minimal". The book seems to outline all of the hiking trails in Mt. Rainier, even the short ones. I also appreciate how they emphasize preserving the beauty of Mt. Rainier for future generations. Definitely, much better than Judd's "Day Hike Mt. Rainier" (you can see my review there). If you can only buy one guide to hiking Mt. Rainier I would say this one has to be it, but I do recommend buying both this one and the one by Judd as a nice supplement.

I bought this book from Amazon.com before moving to the DC area, and I must say, it has been quite helpful. The information (hours, phone numbers) is still current, and it covers a variety of issues. Whether you're looking for kids' activities of trendy night spots, this book has it all.

If you are moving to the area, and will be without an extended support network initially, I'd recommend buying this book, to provide you with new ideas, and to fill you in on life in general here.

Some drawbacks. The authors definitely love this area; that's great, but I feel they are too optimistic on their neighborhood descriptions. Reading this book, you'd think all of DC and the surrounding areas were safe to live in, but the reality is the opposite. Sometimes they are a bit too "PC" in their descriptions, and this takes away from reality. Additionally, sometimes things are difficult to find in the index.

Overall though, a great buy!

A must for anyone interested in learning more about the area or are planning a visit. Well written, informative and interesting. My highest recommendation!

I love this book because it's a realistic girl dealing with normal life problems. I liked the pages where I could write my thoughts. Mel is a character you'll fall in love with. She's sassy, sweet, and just plain Mel.
-BookLover24/7

"Just Plain Mel" by Linda Washington has what other devotionals need: honest connection with what kids are really thinking.

Written like a journal (complete with doodles and sketches), it as if Washington sat inside of an 11 year-old girl's mind abd took notes. There is a section with open-ended questions, so that the message of the story can come through more clearly.

In short, it is an incredible teaching tool.

It is whimsical, yet insightful. Occassionally lapsing into stream of consciousness, Washington's style will draw in girls who will connect. Those of us familiar with the old Beverly Cleary books will find the approach appealing.

Though Washington has created a great text, the pictures share the center. Julie Chen understands what journals are all about, and has doodles throughout each page. The development of the book, in fact, is assisted so much with the pictures that young readers will likely stay on each page a little longer. As they explore each drawing, and wonder how it connects, they realize a bit more what Mel is going through.

Showing a drawn picture of a frumpy, out of style Sunday school teacher, Mel writes, "Mrs. Wells, my Sunday school teacher, was like, 'Do you want to pray THE PRAYER?'" The quote is in a cartoon bubble, and the "The Prayer" is an Old English style script. Anyone who has been part of a protestant church knows the prayer!

Mel continues on to discover what Christianity really is about, and how it isn't easy. She laments how her dad must travel (he's a pilot). We see Mel develop, and want more.

Sunday school teachers and small group leaders want to check this one out. It hits the vibe of children's literature, yet has the truth in Christ kids need to know.

I fully recommend "Just Plain Mel" by Linda Washington...

This work is a very excellent record of the social and cultural history of Black America's "social capital" during the late 19th century. Ms. Moore has done an excellent job in her research. Her work stands to join the ranks of such works as Williard Gatewood's "Aristocrats of Color"; Gerri Major's "Black Society"; and Stephen Birmingham's "Certain People: America's Black Elite", all of which reflect upon the glorious history of the black elite in Washington,D.C. during the late 19th Century. I highly recommend this one. I read it in one day!

Something different in ethnic studies, Jacqueline M. Moore's Leading The Race provides an examination of the transformation of the black elite in the nation's capitol from 1880-1920. While historians generally imply that elite served their own interests which didn't improve the status of blacks in this country, Moore argues that this elite was forced to change its perspectives to become more racially conscious. Chapters consider influences on this change.

I really enjoy the Let's Go series, and have used them as a college student traveling overseas, through graduation and during my work experience in eastern Europe. I was tranferred back to Washington, D.C., and thought of no better reference book for cool, interesting, and affordable (!) sightseeing and entertainment options in the area than Let's Go.

This book, like all other books I've read in the Let's Go series, displays the standard characterisitics of the series.

Strengths: lyrical, entertaining prose, wide range of descriptions, in both tastes and prices.

Weaknesses: some things are out of date by the time the book is published, and I've found the indexes in the Let's Go books are very weak. You often can't find very common things in the index based on how you expect them to be listed. They are either in the index under an obscure heading, or simply not indexed. Minor qualm.

Another nice feature of this book is that it is written with interns or recent graduates who are moving to the area for their first jobs in mind.

I recommend getting the 2002 edition of this book when it is released.

This guide was incredibly helpful when I was in Washington, DC. It let me know the best places to go on a tight budget (that I have as a student,) and was incredibly well written and edited.

I really enjoy the Let's Go series, and have used them as a college student traveling overseas, through graduation and during my work experience in eastern Europe.

I was tranferred back to Washington, D.C., and thought of no better reference book for cool, interesting, and affordable (!) sightseeing and entertainment options in the area than Let's Go.

This book, like all other books I've read in the Let's Go series, displays standard characterisitics:

Strengths: lyrical, entertaining prose, wide range of places and things described, in both tastes and prices. Sometimes when I'm feeling a little "wanderlust," I'll glance over my Let's Go books from overseas trips and just enjoy the write-ups of local history and sights!

Weaknesses: some things are out of date by the time the book is published, and I've found the indexes in the Let's Go books to be weak for the most part. You often can't find very common things in the index based on how you expect them to be listed. They are either in the index under an obscure heading, or simply not indexed. Minor qualm.

Another nice feature of this book is that it is written with interns or recent graduates who are moving to the area for their first jobs in mind.

So whether you're coming for a few days and want a guide book, moving for the summer as an intern, or perhaps taking up residence for an extended stay, I'd highly recommend this book.

I love the Let's Go series. I seem to buy one at any chance I get. This updated version of Washington will get you around on very little money and will defintely keep you entertained and prepared for most things. Good traveling and hope to see you in DC!!

Marigold was well worth reading, and a glimpse of "simpler" times when "Heck" was cursing and a dress with a low-cut back was risque. I did enjoy the story, and it had several interesting and unexpected plot twists.

While the relationship between Marigold and Laurie was very clearly written the development of the relationship between Ethan and Marigold was not. More focus on this area would have bumped this story to a 5.

GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL, AUTHOR-EMERITUS OF GREAT CHRISTIAN FICTION HAS WRITTEN, "MARIGOLD", A TIMELESS STORY OF MISPLACED LOVE AND DEVOTION. MARIGOLD BROOKES DISCOVERS THAT THE LOVE SHE SHARES WITH LAURENCE TRESCOTT IS PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE SACRIFICIAL LOVE SHE DISCOVERS IN ETHAN BEVAN. ARMED WITH HER REKINDLED DEVOTION TO HER LORD SHE MUST CONFRONT HER PAST MISTAKES AND LOOK FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE. ANOTHER EXCELLENT NOVEL BY GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL.

Frank Miller has always been skeptical about paternalistic ideologies of left and right and shows it again in this graphic novel. Martha Washington is forced to confront a virtually human super computer which simply wants to perfect what it perceives to be a flaw humanity. Its utopia would,of course, reduce people into soulless robots who have no free will and Martha, long an independently minded sort, leads the fight. It is quality entertainment from Miller and Gibbons.

Mr Miller at his best, this is one of the best comics i ever read. Ok, get a copy, and you would think just like me.