Jim Harrison's, Legends of the Fall retains morose and depressive ideals, depicting human nature in all of its negative aspects. The setup of the novel is nothing like the film's sequence in that, the movie only shows a portion of the third and last novella, which also shares the title of the book. There are two additional novellas enveloped in the novel itself, "Revenge" and "The Man who gave Up His Name." All of the novellas relate to the common theme that once a human commits a wrongdoing they head down a long decline of morals, this theme also manifests the title. Harrison repeatedly refers to love as being wonderful and sustaining, but that it creates many more problems. Due to specific tendencies of the book, it is not recommended for everyone.

To read these novellas, the reader needs plenty of patience and a dictionary nearby, because Harrison tends to use a higher logic than a casual read. He drags sentences out into long descriptive paragraphs that sometimes go on for pages and has an extensive vocabulary. Although the paragraphs are lengthened by the author's superfluous description, the words are utilized so the descriptions create vivid images of characters and settings in the reader's imagination. This novel would also not be recommended for optimistic readers because the novel's nature would make reading and comprehending even more difficult. Younger, immature readers are also advised to avoid this novel for sexual references and casual drug use. Regarding the fact that there are some good points throughout the novellas, there is absolutely no humor or extended periods of joy in the lives of the characters. If you are prepared for an emotional depressant and have a large amount of time on your hands, this is the book for you.

Like most of the people I know who read this book, I picked it up after seeing the movie. While I enjoyed both in their own right, they are so different that going from one to the other adds nothing to either.

While the movie's most notable qualities are a breath of story and an epic scope, the book is beautiful for its economy of words and distant style. Written in the third person, as opposed to the film's heavy handed first person, the perspective is all knowing, yet reveals few details. The author brings the characters to life to some degree, but what is amazing is that they are interesting given their one dimensionality. The story, short as it is, contains much less of the deep intertwined relations of the movie, but I believe that makes it much improved over the screen version.

While everyone focuses on the title story, the other two that are included are also enjoyable. As a read, each of the stories is quite quick and complete. If you are taking a trip in several staggered stints, this is a good book to take along and pass the time.

I read the few novellas contained in this book after having seen the epic movie LEGENDS OF THE FALL. In fact, I read it because of the movie. I should now recommend - although historically I do not - reading the (relatively) short book before viewing the movie. I am not knocking the movie by any means - but this book was a most excellent read! It hit the core of human passion - the darkness and light of it - with a raw and eloquent energy as I'd never even sought before!

There are two other novellas in the book - and one of them, REVENGE, has also been portrayed on the screen! Jim Harrison writes with as masculine, rough, and relentless a style as any writer I've ever read. I recommend this book of novellas wholeheartedly - it gives the core of emotion wrought from the human path without any need for the melodramatic twists contrived from Hollywood.

This work of writing makes no apologies. And ah - so boldly and truthfully its vision proclaims - it does not need to!

I thought that this book was quite similar to soul of the bride where Phoebe refused food when she was imprisoned, as Paige did. But it did have certain other twists I would recommend this charmed book to charmed fans but it isn't one of the best.

cool story,good demons but..
it needs more spells more use of the powers and those things but is good 4 having a good time

This book is one of the better 'Charmed' books I have ever read. It tells the story of Paige falling in love with what seems like the most perfect guy, but with her being a Charmed One, that relationship isn't meant to be.

The author, Emma Harrison, does a great job of characterizing Paige. I could see the scene unfolding in my mind as I was reading! She kept me on edge as I was reading the story...again and again. I never get sick of reading!

In my opinion, it was a really great plot and the villain was amazing...in a bad, or would that be good, way.

This is probably the worst written book I have ever read. The author obviously understands the topic but it is one thing to know a subject and another thing to teach it. I am a physician and I have read my share of books.

This book, published in 1993, is now a classic and the definitive guide to trading LEAPS. It provides an excellent introduction to LEAPS and takes the pain to explain how LEAPS differ from traditional options. If you already have knowledge of options, this book will be a breeze to you, thanks to the author's lucid and humorous writing style. Do keep in mind that LEAPS are more than just longer-term options; pricing them using BS, for example, would be quite wrong.

Which brings us to the drawback of this book from the early 90s. Much as changed to LEAPS -- the demand, the valuation methods, the trading mechanics -- since 1993, and this book would have remained great had it been updated. As it stands, you should definitely use it in conjunction with the web to make sure you get the latest info on these securities.

One last thing: if you are set on trading LEAPS, make sure your broker can accommodate it. My online broker is great for trading options, but it turns out they won't allow LEAPS for accounts less than $50k, which include mine.

In short, I recommend this book highly as a primer to LEAPS. Read it from cover to cover and make sure you duly understand all the RISKS involved, not just the potential gains. Good luck!

LEAPS is a helpful manual and it can be followed by readers who have basic knowledge on options. Roth analyzes in a very vivid and enjoyable way LEAPS and offers to the investor all the necessary background. I really enjoyed reading it.

This is deifinitely one of the best gay erotic books of the past few years. My copy is almost worn out!

Unlike other novellas, this one is fiction but, compared to other similar compilations, isn't so much different, thereby asking how fine the line between fact and fiction really is. Whatever, the book's name pretty much says it all, and the enclosed accounts of man-to-man sex are nothing but scorching! Rich in in graphic descriptions and a masterful form of foreplay before the actual getting-on, the stories are among the best of their kind, and virtually no one will be disappointed and not turned on (if anyone is, then they need to go to another website for pictures). Absolutely great fiction, and reading the stories over and over isn't a waste. Sometime words and the imagination they create are better than the real thing!

Joseph Metcalf said it right with his review! You'll wear out your copy. Even if they aren't 'young and hung', any gay men who read this book will be 'ready for action'! The stories here with jocks, coaches, or college boys are the hottest, but they're all good! If this one gets you going, I also suggest Cocksure by Bob Vickery and the "My First Time" series of erotic books.

When I first started reading this book I was pumped! The more I read of it, the more I got tired of it. I am an avid Harrison Ford fan, but most of the contents you can find in any magazine article.

As a confirmed Harrison Ford fan, I was anxious to read this book once it finally was released. It is aptly titled. This book goes to the core of the man, revealing the talent and traits, some of which are less than admirable. I was glad to read that as Mr. Ford ages he seems to find a more peaceful place within himself. Something new for him. A perfectionist, intense, fiercely loyal and protective of both himself and his family, this book reveals why Harrison Ford is the number one boxoffice draw of the 90's.

As a devoted Harrison Ford fan, I was thrilled when this book was published. Jenkin's biography on Mr.Ford was both interesting and, at times, quite insightfull. Witty, and yet still carrrying a fairly serious undertone, Jenkins delves deep into the heart and mind of the man who brought Indiana Jones, Han Solo,the President of the United States, and countless other cinematic heroes to life. Jenkins reveals the true Hollwood-hating, nature loving Ford in all his glory. A must read for all fans, but a nice read for anyone who's ever just enjoyed one of Harrison's many great performances. Two thumbs way up!

One of the best southern authors of our time! Janice Daugharty's WHISTLE will keep you in suspense until the end. Two families struggle with a tragedy that brings them together in a way they have never known before. Intertwined in this struggle are family secrets, paranoia and the desire to do the right thing. This is a poignant story of life in the South, well depicted by Ms. Daugharty and experienced by those of us who have lived here. Put this book at the top of your reading list. Also, if you ever get a chance to meet Ms. Daugharty at a book signing, GO! She is bright, charming, witty, a fine storyteller and has a deep appreciation for her fans.

It has been months--maybe years--since I found such unfettered satisfaction in reading a work of fiction. Daugharty's captivating depictions of south Georgia's people may not be as fully appreciated by those who have not lived and grown up there, but I, for one, know first-hand what a masterful job she has done. The dialogue of Roper, Louise, Bloop and Beanie, the descriptions of the quarters, the mannerisms, fears, and emotions of the blacks--all are brilliant and totally realistic portrayals of the way things were and are, and the character of Louise is one of the strongest, most vibrant women I've ever met in a novel. If Oprah and her staff would get on the ball and ferret out Whistle for one of her monthly selections, she would be performing an invaluable service for the reading public by bringing Janice Daugharty, a major talent in southern literature, to the limelight.

WHISTLE was such fun to write, I gave it five stars. Also, I wanted to boost its (it's?) status. Janice Daugharty

Minneota, Minnesota writer and poet Bill Holm shares his essays on his teaching experience and life in China. By creatively covering China's government, food, music, bureaucracy, arts, transportation, tickets, and night soil, Holm portrays a backwards, poor, xenophobic police state in which the conditions were ripe for the Tianamen Square uprising and resulting massacre.

Holm's book offers rare insight into Chinese daily life as it really is.

Mr. Holm fills this book about China with amazing insight, stories of daily life and blood stirring tales about people trying to keep alive ideas that Americans have allowed to die and rot. What do we know about freedoms? The author shows us a nation where the people are willing to smuggle in books, learn other languages and even take in foreign ideas while living under a government that is more than willing to punish them for doing so. A nation that treat the kids like gems and the adults like resources. A nation that has recycled everything, from people to soil to noodles for thousands of years and will continue to do so forever. A book not only about Chinese culture but also about American thought.

As a Chinese-American living in Minnesota, I found this book to be especially poignant, but I think it will appeal to anyone who is concerned with the freedom of the human spirit. Holm's descriptions of his students' energy and love of discovery, in contrast with his anger at the beauracratic pig-headedness of the Chinese government, captures the mixed emotions that most of us feel about the current Hong Kong situation. Above all, it brings one to the realization that we in America do not appreciate what we have enough

Payne Harrison tries to bury this book beneath fifth-grade level prose. Luckily, he fails... barely. 'Thunder of Erebus' is a fine, rollicking, action-packed military adventure novel. The premise - WWIII fought on the Antarctic continent - is intriguing, if a little far-fetched. The attack on the Russian carrier Tblisi is brilliant. In fact, every military confrontation in this novel is riveting. Unfortunately, Harrison's idea of character description would be more at home on a Hollywood casting couch. Can't you show me what a character's physical attributes are without describing them in a 400-word paragraph? If the author put half as much thought into the style of his narrative as he did into the choreography of the warfare, 'Erebus' would be a 4- or 5-star novel.

I was a huge fan of Harrion's "Storming Intrepid", and was therefore extremely happy when his second effort came out. At first I was kind of disappointed because it didn't jump right into action like "Intrepid". Instead, Harrison spends the first half of the book building all the necessary elements for the second half, which then just explodes. I'm glad I stuck with it, because I usually dump a book if after 50-75 pages I'm not hooked. I'm glad I stuck with it because "Erebus" became one of my favorite books. I read the first half of "Erebus" in about a week, and the second half in two very long nights. The degree of action, detail, and just great storytelling all coalesce and makes "Erebus" very difficult to put down. I'm not even a fan of the Clancy-style books, but I always keep an eye open to see if a new Payne Harrison is out

To Payne Harrison: I saw a young boy touch Thunder Of Erebus on the shelf. He paused, and then went on. I stopped him and said that that book was one of the best I've ever read. My squadron has enjoyed it, too. Let's have more of your writings! Thank you, Steve Hutchinson, aka Col. Wrecking Crew.

The book was purchased based upon high ratings. My impression of the product is that little effort was made to insure accuracy. The book comes with a CD containing 200+ exam questions that barely relate to the book’s content and often the answers contradict the book. The New Riders Web site contains an errata file containing 6 pages of reported errors and few of the errors I found were listed. If you buy this book, play to spend time cross referencing everything.

I bought this book recently after reading some great reviews it received. Overall, it is a very well organised book, easy to undertand, and I just love the 'Step By Step' instructions. However, it has too many typo errors. If you want to buy this book, I would suggest you wait for the next edition.

It would be hard for me to imagine studying for the Win2k Professional exam without this book. Well written; good labs and excellent written exam questions at the end of each chapter. The "Fast Facts" chapter in the book of the book is just what you need to review 30 minutes before you take the test.

The test simulation software is good also. Not as good as Transcender's, but the price is right. When I went to the New Riders web site, they provided the codes to unlock the additional questions also; at no additional cost.

I had little formal networking experience when I took the test. Get yourself a good book on basic networking, study it, and then read this book and do the labs before you take the test.

Mark Harshman, MCP (working towards MCSE)

As a history teacher and Civil War buff, I was intrigued by the premise of a mystery set during the Battle of Manassas. Needless to say after reading this book, I felt let down. It starts off well, with interesting characters and a readable plot. But, after the third chapter I started to laugh at the number of famous people the main character knows or just happens to run into along his journey to solve the crime. The name dropping got ridiculous after a while. The book would have been much better if it had not been "littered" with so many famous names such as Belle Boyd, Alexander Gardner, John Wilkes Booth, and Abraham Lincoln. Even though Washington City was smaller during the war, ther is no way one person could have known so many famous people without being someone of note himself as the protaganist is not in this book. I look forward to the next book in the series just to see if the author continues this practice of "historical name dropping." The challenge of writing a first rate mystery set during the Civil War is daunting. I admire the author and his use of historical fact to complement the mystery, but it might be more difficult this way instead of using entirely fictitious characters because most Civil War buffs (his audience, I assume) know so much about the real people it becomes distracting to the story. It did for me.

Harrison Raines has found himself in a hard spot. A Virginia native, he's loyal to his state and family. But he also opposes slavery. Living in Washington doesn't make finding his desired neutrality any easier to find.

When a friend insists on going to watch the first, and certainly the only, battle in the Civil War, Harry reluctantly accompanies her. Instead of a quick victory, they are shocked when the Union soldiers flee right past them. The next morning, the retreat is being blamed on one Major shot down during the last moments of the battle. But Harry is convinced that the man was really murdered. He's hired by the man's family to learn the truth and redeem his name. With his carefully guarded neutrality on the line, Harry sets out to find the truth, wherever that may lead, including a smuggling plot that the victim may have been involved with.

I was very impressed with this mystery debut. The story is obviously well researched; I was completely transported back to 1861 while reading it. The plot moves forward at a leisurely pace, but throws some great twists in as the story progresses. Still, it is possible to follow exact what happens if you're paying attention. The characters were interesting and realistic, and the use of real people added just the right amount of fun to the proceedings without being too far fetched.

As a fan of US history, I'm looking forward to more books in this series that is part mystery and part political intrigue. The mix looks to be just right for many more entertaining books.

By July 1861, Fort Sumter is part of the history books and the country is preparing for the battle that will mark the savagery of the Civil War. Everyone knows that a battle is set for Manassas, but there is a festive atmosphere surrounding the upcoming event. Both sides plan victory parties and entourages make the fight appear to be a carnival not a bloody engagement.

Harrison "Harry" Raines is a Virginia blue blood who broke ranks with his family over the slavery issue. He observes the battle with a different perspective because he knows hell is about to enter the no longer United States. He watches a northern major George Pleasants act the role of hero, but the South wins and the man is dead. The DC crowd blames George for the debacle. However, some powerful individuals ask Harry to discover the truth about how George really died.

Michael Killian has triumphantly opened his Civil War mystery series at the BATTLE OF MANASSAS. The story line reflects strong research that includes trivia that adds period depth to the plot. The flawed and guilt-ridden Harry is a wonderful hero who sub-genre fans will adore. Civil War buffs will gain much pleasure from this novel. The author's Herculean task to write a series of mysteries that chronologically follow the war to its conclusion gives this series a fascinating twist.

Harriet Klausner