I really liked this book. It gave a really good guide to x-rated films. If someone is thinking about getting this book, I say go for it!

This is a magnificent book, written with skill, sensitivity, insight and the gentle teasing humor that is characteristic of Zuni. After reading it, anyone will easily understand why Tony Hillerman is still an "outsider" to many Native Americans.

My dealings with the Zunis began in 1967, when I began writing stories about some aspects of life in Zuni and was honored enough to be the recipient of some of their teasing. It's a good place to start: British humor centers on clever word plays, American humor is blunt slapstick, while the essence of Zuni humor is kindly and gentle teasing.

After all, they've lived and prospered in the Southwest for as far back as science can trace. In Zuni terms, they've been here since the beginning of the world. They learned to live in one of the harshest climates of the United States without depending on outsiders. It's only since the coming of the Anglos, which Wyaco portrays as oddball outsiders who vary from insensitivity cruelty to bumbling kindness, that many Zunis have become dependent upon a sometimes crazy American world.

His experiences in World War II, which included winning the Bronze Star, are an example. The all-Anglo draft board in Gallup, which easily filled its quotas by drafting Indians, shipped him off to Santa Fe for his medical. He wanted to join the Navy to get out of walking, but was rejected because he'd once suffered three broken ribs when he was kicked by a horse. So, the draft board tried again and sent him off to the Army where he was accepted, even though he'd have to march every day.

"It didn't make any sense then. It doesn't now," he writes. The book is filled with such examples of non-Zuni illogic. As a combat rifleman, he killed his share of Germans. He was among the troops who liberated Dachau, and was horrified at how the SS guards had treated the dead. He writes the dead "looked like juniper firewood just unloaded from a pickup truck, no more human than that, all naked and skinny.

"The Zunis don't even kill birds without asking permission," he states. "To the Zuni, death is a transition time that must be handled with love and respect by one's closest family. A person's body and hair must be washed, rubbed with corn meal, and pointed to the west toward Kothluwalawa, with prayers to guide the departed spirit on the way."

Wyaco was one of a dozen GIs who summarily executed 60 or so Dachau guards, who had surrendered without firing a shot. He says, "I've never felt any remorse for my part in that execution. Those SS guards were more like witches than like men. They'd already lived too long." When he went home, a medicine man brushed him with a wing feather from an eagle and blessed him with corn meal to wipe away such bad spirits from the war.

It's the only incident in the book that made him really angry. The rest is an insight into traditional Zuni life. It was written by J. A. Jones, a novelist and anthropologist who became a friend of Wyaco after the war. Jones did a superior job, retaining the gentle teasing humor and manner of speaking that is characteristic of Zuni. It is an art Hillerman never mastered, his books present acculturated Navajos dealing with traditional customs, but little of the "soul" of the People.

Obviously, Wyaco doesn't reveal everything about Zuni life. But then, as Wyaco points out, neither do any of the many anthropologists. He offers something they cannot; he explains the spirit, the meaning and the gentle humor of Zuni culture. It's something no outsider can do.

I love curling up with this book on a cold winter's night. It's the ultimate comfort food.

Margaret Kendall, Riley's heroine, is a wonderful creation. She is smart, clever, earnest in her desire to help others and gifted as a healer...all of which means that she will have a difficult time in medieval England. Her life story--as she progresses from a village girl to London midwife to merchant's wife---makes for wonderful reading.

It's a rare author who can tell a story like Margaret's without becoming overly sentimental---but Judith Merkle Riley is a gited writer who manages to bring the most fantastic characters to life without ever hitting a wrong note.

My only complaint abt the book is that Riley doesn't focus enough of the marriage of Roger Kendall and Margaret---Kendall is, I think, the perfect match for Margaret and the real hero of the novel. He is one of the only characters who truly sees Margaret as she is and cherishes her. I know---most readers would undoubtedly prefer Brother Gregory (or Gilbert) as the hero but Margaret and Kendall's match and marriage seem to be the stuff of romantic dreams.

I immediately thought romance when I saw the cover of this novel purchased for me at a used bookstore. Boy, did I learn the proverbial "don't judge a book by its cover" axiom. A Vision of Light is a not so simple story about a woman who wants to write a book about her life experience. I say not so simple because Margaret is a woman living in a man's medieval world. She, along with other women, are viewed, for the most part, as inferior soulless human cesspools only on this earth to serve men. Margaret is fortunate to meet a man of open mind who is willing to indulge her desire and she then forms an alliance with Brother Gregory who will write for her. He, very slowly, begins to recognize and understand Margaret's indomitable strength and spirit. You reader, take it from there. Although not perfect, this is a moving tale with a main character not easily forgotten!!

Picked up on a whim at a used library book sale, it has become a life-time favorite (I'm over 50). The other reader reviews have said a lot, all of which I heartily endorse. Having possibly the most winning heroine ever, and with utterly convincing historical detail, the tale of Margeret, the ingenuious but sensible and calmly practical Mystic, Mother and Midwife, & her obstetric forceps, which possibly get her in even more trouble than many of the other problems she survives, is the kind of story you cherish, and want to share with freinds & relatives. I can't wait to read the sequel, and the author's other works; I hope Judith Merkle Riley is going to be around a long, long time & writes much, much more. Bravo!

I've listend to Pat Riley speak on Charlie Rose's show on PBS and have been impressed with his ability to discuss the concepts of teamwork and leadership and obviously his winning record with different teams speaks for itself but somehow this book was unsatisfying. Oh, I think he has identified a number of significant areas in regard to team play like the "Disease of Me" (selfishness that ruins team play), the team's Core Covenant (which can be both good and bad -- how many of us work in environments whose only core covenant is "cover your a#$"), and complacency (when teams begin to taste success) but what got me was his use of the Lakers of the 80s to illustrate his points. What I couldn't help thinking was that Riley wasn't using his theories (The Egg) to shape his leadership of the Lakers but rather he used his experience with the Lakers (The Chicken) to create his theories. So which came first? Everything he outlines in his theory is matched by an experience he has had with his team. Doesn't this sound a bit too much like revisionist history? I particularly found it hard to swallow when he rationalized his leaving of the Lakers as a moment when a "team player" must go solo (Moving On). I had the sense that had he stayed with the Lakers his book would have added another chapter on perservering rather than leaving. A good theory informs and influences our practices. I think Mr. Riley has gone in the opposite direction and used a good practice (experience) to inform his theory. Unfortunately, I think this makes his book MUCH LESS APPLICABLE to all of us who want to learn how to lead teams and become winners. Just maybe, Pat, you won because of guys named Magic, Jabbar and Worhy rather than any theories about winning . . . What do you think? Maybe if I am going to coach the Lakers , I'll pick this book up again. Then again maybe not. I don't even like the Lakers and Magic isn't coming back again. Or is he?. You know, I have Phil Jackson's Sacred Hoops book on my shelf and I am afraid to begin it because it might be just like this one.

I received the book as a gift - and what a gift! The material covered is to do with team players. However, what actually happens is that if a person is open, he or she will find that this book gives personal growth as well. Excellently written, with real life examples all the way, it is invaluable. We have a project at the office that really needs to succeed, but without teaming it won't. This book makes the difference between success and failure! It has been said Pat goes on a bit now and again, but so what?! The focus of the book is to give people options, to make them aware of what to do and how to do - that is the essence! I have recommended this book not only to my office but to our training company that helps with team building.

Pat Riley has Proven how to Win on the FLoor and here he shares Team Work to the fullest.it's a very Solid Book that Allows all to shine in work together.very well put together.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a bad book. For one thing, it has a great setting: what could be more fun than 17th century Paris mixed with witchcraft and court intrigue? The main character is believable and even intelligent. And the first half of the book is riveting, with a plot that moves along in curves and twists and keeps you coming back for more.

The problems start coming in about halfway through the book. The plot, which had been hurtling along at a brisk pace, grinds to a halt. The characters start to get into a fixed routine that rapidly becomes stale, and all the suspense evaporates. In fact, Genevieve predicts the ending of the book several times throughout the story, so there's no fear of her being killed or even emotionally hurt.

Emotional scenes need work--they have all the plausibility of a B-movie performance. I got the impression that the author has an intellectual understanding of such scenes, without a true grasp of the feeling behind them. As a result, romance is a crutch rather than a highlight of this book. The same holds true for some of the characters--they are intellectual constructs of a certain character type rather than psychologically complex people.

It's also a pity that the court intrigue, so often hyped in the first half of the book, is really not as complex and vivid as it could have been. Perhaps what really irked me about this book is that with such a great setting, the plot had enormous potential, but instead just peters out. It is worth reading to get a feel for the period, and it's fun in its way. I would recommend it to fantasy fans in need of pure escapism, with Riley as a sort of fantasy counterpart to Danielle Steel. If you come to it expecting to have fun and nothing more, you probably won't be disappointed.

One of the things I really like about Judith Merkle Riley's books is that she always puts in little details that add humor, make the setting come alive, or just make the characters more human. I'm not really into writing technically analytical reviews, I just mention what I like. I liked The Oracle Glass because the mixture of humor and court intrigue is engrossing. It's a good book to while away an afternoon with. The romance in this book is a little weak to me, partly because you can see how it's going to fall out. Also, you'll have a good idea of how it's going to end halfway through, but it's interesting and likeable enough to finish. It's not rocket science, but it's fun, with some good historical touches, and it made me want to do more research on the historic event that the novel is based on.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. Maybe, the best one EVER! I never knew that combining so many genres and characters could result in a stunning achievement! This is the kind of book that makes you want to wish that it never ended. So, when it did, I just started from the beginning. I never got bored!

I was apprehensive about reading "The Oracle Glass" because I have not read anything by this writer before. I got hooked after reading the book jacket because the time of Louis XIV is my favorite period in French history. I have read many books about the real-life characters in this novel, but never were they more hilariously, and accurately!, portrayed than in "The Oracle Glass"!

The main character, Genivieve Pasquier, is refreshing. She is not just very intelligent and well-educated, but clever, witty, and has a dramatic flair. The author takes a chance on making her beauty unconventional. Genivieve has one foot shorter than the other, she is all twisted, and has uncommon, non-classical, features. After the famous sorceress, La Voisin, takes Genivieve under her wing, she does not change her appearance but changes the way people look at Genivieve. I thought that this part was very well thought out. It proves that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and a person is deemed beautiful when they let their inner radiance shine. The fact that she is able to dupe everyone to believe that she is the Marquise de Morville, a 150-year old woman who maintains her youth, is a great lesson in human nature. I also appreciate the fact that she is an independent woman, trying to make a living in a man's world, and succeeding admirably.

All central characters are interesting and well drawn out, without being one-dimensional: Marie-Angelique, Genivieve's sister, is light-headed and supercilious, but she is also kind and devoted to Genivieve. Andre Lamotte is utterly charming and carefree, but he is capable of deep emotions. D'Urbec is very complex, with many facets to his personality, capable of fierce emotions from different ends of the spectrum. LaReynie and Desgrez are at times upright and serious and, at the same time, wily and dubious. Although Genivieve's mother, uncle, and brother are evil and insane, there is a lot of pain in them because of their lowly position in life. Finally, La Voisin is the most mysterious and complicated character of all. She has many motives and agendas. You never know what she's thinking or what she is planning to do. She does a lot of wicked things, but she does them because she does not have another alternative. Women at that time could only look to wealthy patronage or prostitution to get ahead.

This book is full of little details that are hilarious. One such thing is the parrot, Larito. For most of the book, his only utterances are "Hell and damnation" and "Fire and brimstone". Of course, he utters them at the most peculiar moments setting the stage for the hilarity that fills this book as much as tragedy does.

The only things that I did not like were that there was a list of fictional characters in the beginning of the book. I understand that the list of real-life characters is valuable, but the list of fictional characters is unnecessary. The first-time readers know in advance what characters are coming up and that spoils some of the book's surprises. I also would have appreciated a better background of La Voisin in the novel itself. It would have been interesting to know where she came from and how she came to be the greatest sorceress of that time.

Overall, this is a great book. I have never read a book that combines romance, mystery, adventure, and the supernatural so successfully. The greatest thing about this book is that all the characters have their vices, which does not diminish them in the readers' eyes at all. On the contrary, it is easier to suspend disbelief and sympathize with them.

I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. Read it and you won't be disappointed.

this is a pretty funny book about an errant-knight and his many misadventures. only problem is, there's really only one joke in this massive (1000+ page) book, namely, what a fool and madman this gallant knight is. after a while, the joke begins to wear thin. i don't think this is the greatest novel ever written. it's too poorly stuctured and one-dimensional for that grand distinction. i think the reason this book IS so famous is because of the character of don quixote himself. the image of the mad don charging giant windmills is one of the most colorful and memorable in all fiction. don quixote is one of the few examples of a character who transcends the book that created him. hamlet and falstaff are two other examples.

a good read, but doesn't live up to the hype.

I read this book in its original language, spanish (since it is my first language too), and I found Don Quijote's adventures fascinating, comical, and sometimes even slightly pathetic.
"El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha" is about a man, Alonso Quijana, who reads so many books of knights from the middle ages (this was written in the baroque times, NOT the renaissance or the enlightement as other reviews say) that he loses his mind and decides to become a knight as well. This anacronysm is the first clue of the comic life Don Quijote leads from then on.
The whole novel is a mockery of other books about knights (although not about the knights themselves), as Don Quijote continually struggles to do justice and to right wrongs, but is met with nothing but sad defeats.
Overall, although it is very long and uses somewhat complicated language (it is written in spanish from the 1600s, although I suppose that the translation makes it simpler as it is to modern day words), Don Quijote and his adventures are something that I'd reccomend to anyone with the patience to read it.

I took the time to read both volumes of Don Quixote, starting at the end of this past summer, and just finishing up in mid-November, and even better, in the New Century Library version, lovely old leather bound books with gold ribbons for markers. I didn't read it straight; it was interspersed with many other books on my stack.

Oh my. What a satisfying read. Of course you are familiar with the basic premise of this book, the mad Don Quixote tilting after windmills, his faithful squire Sancho Panza at his side and always on the lookout for a good meal. What I was not prepared for, and was totally delighted by, were the many and varied side stories, the topsy turvy relationship between madness and sanity (and who is which, anyway?), the wisdom of Sancho Panza as Governor (at long last!) of his very own island, and the surreal relationship between the narrator, the author, and the narrated.

This is a complex work, and could be discussed with many different themes in mind--idealism vs. pragmatism, honesty vs. duplicity, madness vs. sanity, the follies of the rich vs. the follies of the poor. Chivalry. Romantic love. Storytelling. Renunciation. The Quest. Devotion. Class structure. Religious persecution.

The only thing that bothered me about this book was that everybody was endlessly enchanted and ready to give the benefit of the doubt to beautiful young men and women, that beauty in this book equaled virtue and a kind heart, a small complaint indeed regarding this masterpiece.

If you've already read this book, this is just preaching to the choir. But if you're trying to decide whether or not to take the time, the answer is yes, yes and yes! You won't regret it, and your heart and soul will thank you.

This fascinating look at a truly amazing woman is well worth the effort of slogging through what amounts to some pretty tough reading. The author seems to not only paint a thorough picture of Julia Child, "the woman", but also of the world itself as a backdrop to Julia's life. The level of detail is fascinating, but it will also put you to sleep if you are not careful. This is not a book to read in bed! The portraits of Julia as a priviledged child, Julia as a rascal of a college student, Julia as an international spy, and Julia as a young married woman, all leading up to the Julia I (thought) I knew today was wonderful. I don't know that I would re-read it anytime soon (unless I was experiencing insomnia) but I would recommend it for anybody with a strong interest in Julia Child.

Noel Riley Fitch's biography of Julia Child introduces us to a very complex, interesting and compassionate woman. What we learn in the bio is that Julia's passion for living and learning has been life long. Epstein's bitter, angry review of the book in The New Yorker magazine completely misses the point. When I want to find out about Julia's passion for food, I simply open one of her cookbooks and read it.

Appetite for Life : The Biography of Julia Child is a fascinating book--I read it cover to cover in one (very long) evening. This bio captures Julia's unique personality and presents little known information about her childhood in affluent Pasadena and her life-long romance with her dashing, artistic husband, Paul. Unfortunately the book is replete with unnecessary details, endless names, places, etc. so one is tempted to skip ahead. Nontheless, its a good read and I came away with renewed affection for the charming and savvy French Chef, our national treasure, bless her!

Caroline is an African American heiress making her way in the world when she literally bumps into Brian Keenan, a White senior partner in a technology firm where Caroline is interviewing. It is love at first contact in Lisa G. Riley's novel, At Last.

Caroline and Brian begin their relationship on the fast track. Within the first few pages we have a couple that are overwhelmed by each other. That intensity between strangers was a bit overwhelming for this reader. As the story progresses, they find themselves fighting their attraction trying to avoid a romance in the workplace defending their interracial relationship, and trying to protect Caroline from a psychopath she doesn't even know. Throw in a crazed ex-girlfriend and you have a lot going on in this book.

Ms. Riley literally has this book set in three parts. Although this allows her to pretty much develop each major dilemma they face, I would have rather had the romance and intrigue unfold together. However, she does an awesome job of noting the issues of race without ignoring them or bombarding her reader. This book is lusty enough to attract diehard romance fans, and has enough intrigue to keep the occasional romance chaser satisfied.

Kotanya
APOOO BookClub

Initially as I was reading At Last I thought that this book just came off unrealistic and corny. Once again, the black woman is resistant to an interracial romance with her potential white beau, who has to go through all these ridiculous hoops to win her affections. Lisa Riley proved me wrong as I continued to read. I thought the twist with the stalker and Brian's ex would ruin the novel, but Ms Riley is a smart enough writer to leave these plots toward the end of the book, and focus on the romance blossoming between Caroline and Brian.

I think she did a terrific job at showing how relationships really work. The arguments and disappointments she let the characters go through is so realistic, and Caroline stands up for her man. She doesn't get burdened down by 'black guilt', and loves Brian passionately.

I do believe in my heart that Ms. Riley's next novel will be another interracial romance, this time between Brian's drop dead gorgeous friend Jack, and Caroline's best friend Tracey. It will be very spicy since these two characters are very spunky and both are not looking to fall in love. Kudos to Ms. Riley!

At Last by Lisa G. Riley is probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. Because I am male, I have always been under the impression that romance novels were like chick flicks -- not intended for men. But a friend of mine, knowing that I love a good story, urged me to read this book. I have to say that I was quite pleasantly surprised. The plot is well thought-out, the characters are believable and the book is written really well.

Caroline and Brian came alive for me and I totally believed their problems, their triumphs and everything about them. As a white man in a relationship with a black woman, I felt like the author was describing the problems my girlfriend and I have had. The mystery in the book is written just as well as the romance. In fact, I wouldn't classify this as a romance, I would just classify this as good fiction. I'm looking forward to more work from this author.

This book was easy to read and understand, very interesting, and - most important - gave highly practical and easy-to-follow advice for any parent dealing with a difficult child or teen.

Dr. Riley does a remarkable job of giving parents a glimpse of the mistaken ideas that guide the behavior of defiant children. Hopefully, parents will stop blaming themselves and recognize that these children act out due to their distorted sense of reality. Parents who read this book often report that the book serves as guideposts for how to make their children more sensitive.

Michael T. Smith

I am a stepfather and married into a package deal: long lost love, defiant teenager. While I was no professional, I knew that there was something terribly wrong with this childs world view and decision making. At times, the anger and open defiance seemed totally nonsensical. I read The Defiant Child and found a GOOD description of my stepchild as well as practical steps you can take to influence the child in positive ways. I had a thoroughly defeated wife who was convinced nothing would work. My having her read the book, she came out of her paralysis and we were able to develop a united front (essential) and started effecting some changes. Our daughter is still no angel but she is sure easier to cope with now. She is even enjoyable at times. You just have to arm yourself with knowledge, patience and love and keep pressing. I found the books insights very helpful and I used them as guidelines in developing my own strategies. I was so impressed with the results that I've gotten, I have GIVEN the book to other "burned out" parents and they love it too. Douglas Riley was a Godsend.

Larry Bird has always been Straight&to the Put.from His Playing days with His Classic Battles with Magic Johnson to His Coaching Career&His Overall View on the NBA&it's players.I enjoyed the Book.Larry Bird is a Very Tough Minded Cat.

Bird Watching, an autobiography by Larry Bird, is a story for any lover of sports. Bird Watching is a detailed account of the life of Larry Bird, from his NBA career with the Boston Celtics to his coaching position with the Indiana Pacers. After reading the first page of the book, the reader realizes there is more to this NBA legend than meets the eye.
Unlike most professional basketball players, Larry Bird never regretted the day he left the NBA and even says that the day he retired was "one of the happiest days of [his] life." Faced with chronic back problems and an irregular heart, Bird was happy to see the day when he no longer had to endure the pain of playing the sport he loved more than anything. Coming from the man himself, the story describes Bird's life in a detailed and personal manner. From beginning to end, the reader easily notices the uniqueness of this man's character and not only sees, but feels the impact this incredible man left on so many fellow players, fans, and loved ones.
I thought this was a great book, especially for a sports fan. I felt that for a sport's book, it was particularly well written. The author's style allows the reader to get a personal glimpse of the life of Larry Bird and causes the reader to feel as if they knew this NBA legend. Because of the story's subject, the author employs very few literary devices. However, the author uses many similes in describing Bird's injuries, allowing the reader to appreciate Bird's choice in leaving the NBA. The book lacks an overall dominant theme, but simply wishes to convey the story of one of the greatest and most unique basketball players of all time.

This book explores the post playing days of arguably the best forward to ever play the game of basketball. Bird recaps his days of playing in the olympics, his time in the front office of the Celtics, and his coaching days of the Pacers. I have been a huge Bird fan since I was a kid, yet I never knew much about him, except for what I saw on the court. This book gave me a lot of insight into Bird's dynamic work ethic as both player and coach and showed how he was able to use his winning attitude to take the Pacers from 39 wins to 58 wins in one season as well as to the infamous clash with Jordan and the Bulls in the 98 Eastern Conference Finals. Bird also reveals his thoughts about the NBA today. If you want to know about the legend that is Larry Bird, you should read this book.