"Out Of Africa" is essential reading for those contemplating a journey to Kenya or Tanzania. It reads like a very colorful and sometimes haunting work of fiction, and is all the more fascinating because this remarkable woman and writer actually experienced it all.

Instead, "Out of Africa" is a storytelling book woven in the imaginative Danish style. Dinesen's finely tuned sensitivity is revealed here, as well as her (again typically Danish) well-developed gift for friendship with many kinds of people. In her case this gift extends to African animals as well, like Lulu, the beautiful gazelle who graced her plantation for years.

Her descriptions of the Kenya of her day are exquisitely written, factual and magical at the same time. Africa is the star of the book, not Dinesen herself, not the tribespeople or the colonials, not her struggles with raising coffee in land "a little too high", nor her political dealings with the government officials. Her writing evokes the Africa she knew well and loved deeply.

The stories are interesting to be sure. They relate to the plantation or the people and events that one way or another impacted her life there. But it is Blixen's writing that I found so sublime. I have never read anything like it. The way Blixen turns a phrase is both lyrical and enchanting all at once - you become literally swept up in the words and imagery. It is obvilious that Blixen loved Africa - something about the continent got under her skin. In a similar fashion her words have gotten under mine. I have read Out of Africa several times; each time I marvel at the beautiful language she uses. Read this book and I am sure you will feel the same way.

Some of the traditional names of cards in the Major Arcana have been changed (Justice becomes Adjustment, Strength becomes Lust, etc.). I feel that some of these changes are more appropriate than others, but that is my own reaction and what is important is that you choose a deck that's right for you.

One criticism is that the artwork on the numbered cards of the Minor Arcana offers few clues as to the meaning of the cards (if this is important to you, a deck such as the Rider-Waite deck may be more appropriate). However, at the bottom of each numbered card is one word which summarizes its meaning.

Also in the Minor Arcana, names of court cards have been altered somewhat. Kings become Knights, Knights become Princes, and Pages become Princesses. This adds gender balance to the deck.

Another thing to consider when thinking about buying this deck is your level of knowledge about the tarot and the occult in general. There is a lot of symbolism in this deck; each Major Arcana card also includes the Hebrew letter and the astrological symbol that are connected with the card. This is of little help to the beginner but can be quite useful for the advanced user.

The instruction booklet that comes with the cards is helpful. It may even be used in lieu of purchasing an additional book to aid in performing readings (though if you are serious about using the tarot, you will probably want additional resources). It provides details of a very easy-to-read 15-card spread (much easier to interpret than the Celtic Cross, in my opinion).

A final concern is that this deck may not be good for those with small hands (like me). The cards are quite large and can be difficult to handle.

Overall, I would recommend this deck, particularly for advanced users of the tarot or for people with a wider interest in other areas of the occult (such as astrology or the Qabalah). However, I would advise beginners to choose a more traditional deck.

The Book of Thoth, Crowley's commentary on his deck, is awfully dense for a beginner or for someone just interested in Tarot and not the occult underpinnings. On the other hand, the little cheat sheet booklet that comes with the deck is pretty good, and probably all you need to start doing readings.

As for doing readings, treat the deck in the same way you would treat a friend - with respect, casually when appropriate, never carelessly, always with great personality.

Owned at least 20 decks before, and always return to this one.

M

Sookie flies into irrational fits of anger that just don't make any sense. There are stake-wielding characters, capable of providing an engaging sub-plot, who appear to have existed only to provide Sookie with a stake for later use.

Blah. This just plain wasn't satisfying.

The authoress, in her previous two novels, introduces characters that (I assume) are important to the progress of Sookie's life. In Club Dead, many of them are insignificant. Take Sam (my favourite Collie), for example- she spends two novels creating a grand tension between he and Sookie and then completely NEGATES his value in novel three. He makes more of a cameo appearance than anything else. Furthermore, we're introduced to Alcede (another lycanthrope), who acts as a sort of "red herring" in the romantic sense. We've still got Eric ( an old, lusty vampire) hot for Sookie's pants AND Bill to account for, not to mention the almost non-existent Sam. The threads begin to unravel at the onset of so many viable guys.

Which brings me around to another fine topic; what of Bill? Bill, Sookie's boyfriend and cheating, devious vampire lover (I've never liked Bill). He runs off to complete a secret mission (which is another definite lack of cohesion) and then-BAM-he falls back in love with an old flame-Lorena the Vampire. This is the second of a major incoherence-We're told NOTHING of Bill and Lorena's past. Since we aren't given an opportunity to understand the ties that bind them to one another, we're left in the dark about events that precipitate the motion of the plot. We only see Lorena, very briefly, when she and Sookie have an "encounter". So, to the reader, it seems as if Bill has simply run off (with no depth of complexity or reasoning) with some other chick. It's another loose thread that, sadly, accounts for many character motivations.

I can only hope Harris wraps Sookie's life a little tighter to home with the next novel. The charm is in the South, with familiar peoples, whom we've grown to know by now, and a tighter plot line. I'd love to see her easy, sweet style find its roots again.

We next dive with Faydra to the bottom of the Yellow Sea on a dangerous mission to visit a sunken US Navy ship, courtesy of the North Koreans. We're then swept to the edge of space and back to learn why a top secret spy plane crashed. If all of this hasn't taken your breath away then, my friends, hold on to your page markers because we join a team of commandos as they attempt to board and stop a fast moving rogue warship as it steams for North Korea with a cargo of deadly ballistic missiles. In the end Harris skillfully manages to gather all of these seemingly unrelated events together into one neat and tidy bundle and then delivers his package in the form of a very dramatic and heartwarming climax.

'Fruit of a Poisonous Tree' is a well written, well plotted story. Harris writes with authority about simple heroes that we quickly come to know and love; people who we can care about. This is a good one folks. Victoria Taylor Murray..."The Lambert Series."

JAG lawyer, Lt. Commander Faydra Green, is assigned to investigate the death of Navy Seal, Paul Charma -- her very first murder case. The more she uncovers the truth, that this murder may be part of a military cover-up, the more surprises and danger she encounters. At one point, her investigation even leads her to North Korea which proves almost deadly. Her quest expands from a need to not only solve the murder but help keep the peace between three nations verging on the brink of war.

Strong multi-layered characterization, extensive military knowledge, personal experience with the setting, and a well-developed plot make this a truly enjoyable and believable read. Faydra, who happens to be the daughter of a former President, is not the only character to exhibit real depth and it was refreshing to discover that each character is far more than they first appear. Fruit of a Poisonous Tree is an outstanding suspenseful story full of intrigue and surprises. I highly recommend it and if you liked the television series, J.A.G., you'll love this book. I wait in anticipation for the next book by Norm Harris... I wouldn't even be surprised if a movie version of Fruit of a Poisonous Tree was in development since it contains all the elements of a future blockbuster!

The author's detailed knowledge of the military has obviously helped make this book all the more realistic, though the easy writing style and truly wonderful dialog has helped. What Norm Harris has achieved is an amazing book for a first time author. Like I say, if you only buy one book a month - make this it.

It takes only a short time for this book to grab hold of the reader, and by the time I was about half-way through, it became one of those books that I had to finish before I could get on with the rest of my life. The chapters are short enough to keep the book moving, and be concise, but not so short as to become confusing and annoying (yes, I'm talking about Tom Clancy here).

I recommend the book to anyone wanting a good easy-to-read mystery, with believable, likable characters, but not heavy on the "romance". Good work, Ms. Harris--I look forward to reading another.

Harris doesn't preach or nag, and he doesn't beat around the bush. The book lays it all out for you, all you have to do is decide you want to "unleash your hidden potential", and decide what really matters in your life.

There is no magic, no "Silver Bullets" for success. It is a number of simple things, like setting goals (major and minor), a self-contract, adherence to the contract, following a personal code, these are the things that will take you to success. This book takes you through a man's life and shows you how sage advise has been applied, and succeeded!

Discipline is key in life, as well as the data center, and Harris has managed to write great books about both! You need a plan, and you need to stick to it. If you are looking to make exceptions to the plan (excuses), you should expect that there will consequences. To borrow from the IT domain, it's not a Service Level Agreement (SLA), it is more of a Behavior Level Agreement (BLA) with yourself.

McDougal's voice rings true and clear, and she is laugh-out-loud funny. Clearly, her sense of strong humor was one of the many great character traits that helped her survive in the various prisons that the Office of the Independent Council dragged her through in their quest to make her tell lies to suit their own self interests. And the stories she shares of the women she met while encarcerated are truly heart-rending and equally deserving of your attention.

Most of all, this is the story of a woman who finds her own strength in the most harrowing of circumstances. Even if you're not interested in politics one way or the other, you should read this book