I have just begun playing the guitar again after a twenty year 'break'. Looking for music to play while still having helpful prompts was a must. This book contains classical rock and acoustic ballads I enjoyed years ago while providing tabulature and chord diagrams and in some instances, alternate tuning with capo. It would have gotten 5 stars if in some songs, the chord diagrams where placed at the actual chord change within the song instead of being listed all together under the title with only the text representation in the notation. A good choice to make if you want to begin playing a song quickly!

If you've ever seen this wonderful musical you know that the text contains many wonderful voice parts. Rejoice! Here is your book. This book contains many of the songs from the wonderful show, including: "The Prince Of Humbug", "The Colors Of My Life", "Bigger Isn't Better","I Like Your Style" and the sassy "Thank God I'm Old". Many more are included. This book is great for young vocalists just starting to find their range because, as I said before the parts are so diverse. The piano score, is as well, easy to follow. Beginners should definitely pick up this book.

The book was a wonderful introduction to the rules and guidelines of watercoloring. Layed out in a self study approach, which was easy to follow. I used it for yourself, as well as, organized a group of friends using our books in a colaborative style of study. Book included instructions on technics on painting various subjects, and eight watercolor paints, mixing tray and brush. Great Fun.

I enjoyed reading Widowhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe for the insight it provides into how women and men coped with life without a spouse. With any compliation of essays there are some difficulties in reading though, and some background knowledge is required for some articles. Essays by Tim Stretton and Barbara Todd are particularly good in providing a clear and informative overview of their topics that is both accessible to the novice reader, and interesting.
Dispite some dry segments in some of the essays this compliation provides a solid introduction to issues of gender and marriage in medieval and Early Modern Europe.

Philip Warner, who died recently after a notable career as a military historian and obituarist for Britain's Daily Telegraph, was a national treasure. He re-invented the almost-lost art of the newspaper obituary, and his glorious and often hilarious accounts of the extraordinary lives of the veterans of Britain's wars and empires help account for that newspaper being by far the most successful of Britain's quality newspapers. He managaed to resuscicate the idea of the hero and pay due tribute to the ancient Roman virtue of courage, while never losing his sense of the ridiculous. This book was the result of a lifetime of research into the British army, and is robustly written with the flair of born journalist. Naturally, it focuses on the Western Front, on the appalling casualties and grimmest of battles, as an essentially civilian nation learned the dreadful lessons of modern, industrial war. But learn them they did, and Warner pays due tribute to the remarkable resilience with which the raw British recruits survived the painful learning curve of their own generals, and slowly established a moral dominance over what had been the finest and best-trained army in the world. The British victories of the final three months of the war, starting with the attack of August 8, 1918, (which the German chief of staff General Ludendorff wrote in his diary was "the black day of the German field army") are splendidly recounted. This is strongly recommended as a single-volume narrative, and should take its place alongside Liddell Hart, Cyril Falls and John Keegan as fine examples of the British school of military history.

If you already know something about HTML authoring this book isn't too bad if you want a quick guide to the program. BUT if you are a newbie to creating websites, then this book is a poor place to start. I purchased this book for a friend who wanted to get up and running, and while I know there is no substitute for a human teacher - this guide was a poor textbook at best. The chapters don't explain the basic concepts behind websites, so while the reader can find out how to use Dreamweaver to make frames, tables and CSS - there is little to nothing on what a "dummy" would find useful (example: how to make text a specific color). This book has too much fluff with chapters like "Fulfilling Your Dreams" and "Making It Cool" but very little about the basic lessons a beginner could use.

As a basic get-going this Dummies issue isn't too bad, in that it explains the menu options and some rudiments. That said, I found it to be rather disappointing in the way it approached matters; it tending to start a subject, dive off somewhere else, returning to what you started with someplace else - maybe chapters later.

The opening chapters were rambling and repetitive with useful details mentioned in passing, For example, shift+enter is a line break and the enter key is a paragraph break. I missed this the first time around and, after finding the function by accident, spotted it in the book's text by chance.

The way in which table-sizing was handled was also clumsy: all you have to do is use the mouse and click and drag the sizing handles like in other programmes instead of always going through the property inspector.

Too much space was spent in giving examples of other peoples' work which wasn't particularly poignant (18oz being a remarkable piece of nonsense) and, more often than not, a contradiction to the better practices preached.

Okay, the book covers a lot: Dreamweaver 3, Fireworks 3, and Flash 4. But in rather an unnecessarily schematic way within the space provided to avoid the feeling that I should be reading something more advanced and which still covered the opening basics.

Nevertheless it's reasonable value at the price.

I had to use dreamweaver 3 in a hurry to start implementing for a project. I was able to get through this book in a few days and was able to start producing right away. The section on Fireworks was brief but gave a good overview to get started. I would recommend this book!

"I had to read it for school. and I hated it!" seems to be the common theme, here. As a middle school teacher, I can vouch for the observable fact that many many children 1. hate to read (sad) and 2. hate to read - even more - what they are told to read. Shane, while now somewhat dated, was a classic in it's time, and often imitated. One direct imitation is the Clint Eastwood movie, "Pale Rider", which serves as a wonderful comparison piece. As far as the young reviewers not being able to "understand" the novel "Shane", one can only ask if TV has destroyed their brain cells, or if they can't understand how Shane and Marion resisted their temptation to be with each other at the expense of friend and husband Joe Starret. In today's age, such restraint must surely seem confusing. A fine, easy- to- read book.

This remains my favorite book, and I've read thousands, literally, over the years, including some pretty sophisticated stuff (I have an M.A. in American History from Columbia). I saw the movie when it first came out. I was a New York City area kid then, and I fell in love with the Tetons where it was filmed. I then bought the book and loved it. I was captured very early by the scene involving Shane and Joe Starrett and Ledyard, the phony salesman. When Ledyard asks Starrett how he can take the word of a stranger, Shane, Starrett responds: "I can figure men for myself. I'll take his word on anything he wants to say any day of God's whole year." I still get chills re-reading those words; I still strive to live so others might say that of me. Can there be any higher praise? So... read it, and give it to your kids. If you have brought them up right, Shane will become one of their heroes and perhaps they will "grow strong and straight" as Shane wishes for young Joey Starrett in the book.

The film version of Jack Schaefer's 1949 novel "Shane" is one of those touchstone movies of childhood, along the lines of the unforgettable tearjerker "Old Yeller." The last scenes of the film are sure to bring a lump to the throat of the most stalwart among us. With memories of the film firmly etched in my mind, I decided to read Schaefer's novel, to go to the source itself and see whether the book is better than the movie. I have to say Shane as a novel is a must read, even more important than watching the film version.

The plot should be familiar to many people. The Starrett family is working some land in Wyoming, trying to cut a living out of the rugged landscape. Several other families are staking claims in the area even though Fletcher, the big rancher in the region, hates their presence and is working behind the scenes to drive them out. The homesteaders look to Joe Starrett to protect their interests in the face of this intimidation, a battle Joe is slowly losing until the arrival of Shane.

When Shane arrives, he quickly takes up residence with the Starrett family, working as a hand around the place. Within a short period of time Shane finds himself sucked into the feud between Fletcher and the homesteaders. Ranch hands goad Shane into several violent fistfights, although Shane goes out of his way to avoid trouble. As the level of conflict escalates and the dangerous qualities of Shane emerge, Fletcher brings in a hired gun from the outside to deal with the troublesome homesteaders for the last time. The final scenes of the novel balance gripping action with the heartrending departure of Shane back into the wilderness from which he came.

Schaefer pulls off a triumph of epic proportions with this short novel. Not only is the story told in a sparse, no nonsense style, Schaefer makes Joe Starrett's son Bob the narrator of the story. Through this touchingly innocent narration, Bob manages to convey the mysterious qualities of Shane while still revealing adult themes. For example, a rather platonic love emerges between Shane and Marion, Bob's mother. Joe knows about the love springing up between the two but chooses to keep it in perspective. The beauty of this incident is how Bob relates it; he discusses it just as a child would, without really understanding the implications of the situation while the reader understands perfectly what is happening. Brilliant, just brilliant!

Shane is the main character of the novel even though we do not learn much about him. Shane is an enigma clad in dark clothing, riding in off the land like some mysterious omen of doom. Schaefer tells us nothing about Shane's past, although it is obvious he is a master with a pistol and that he has a checkered past involving trouble of some sort. Whatever trouble Shane is in, he is what we would call "good people." Shane wants to avoid conflict, but he will never back down from a fight or fail to help people who treat him as a friend. His past haunts his actions, making him reluctant to rely on his seemingly vast reservoirs of strength. When pushed to the wall, Shane lashes out with a terrible violence usually kept in check because he knows what he is capable of doing to a man.

There are several themes arcing their way through this book. One deals with fate and how it is impossible to escape your past. Another involves violence; not reckless violence of the type employed by Fletcher and his goons, but a measured violence used to solve a seemingly insolvable situation. Schaefer shows us that no matter what our intentions in this life, there are going to be times when violence in the name of a cause is the only answer to those who are incapable of relying on any method other than intimidation to get what they want out of life.

This is an excellent read for any type of reader both young and old, although that does not make it a necessarily easy book. The bare bones writing style makes it very easy to gloss over important themes and symbolisms. In other words, "Shane" is a book to think about both when reading it and after finishing the story. Reading the story more than once may not be a bad idea, as more themes are sure to emerge from this fascinating character study. Schaefer dedicated "Shane," his first book, to his first son. What a beautiful and wondrous tribute.

I bought this book after I got engaged. I have since read it twice, looking for ideas that may help me save at my wedding. I found several ideas that I could try, although most are directed at the do-it-yourselfers. I can't seem to find the time to do all the planning, along with making decorations, baking food and growing flowers. As a young woman with a small baby to raise, I found this book helpful with some nice ideas, but without the time to do them in. Overall this was a good book for those that have the time and energy to make most of the wedding yourself. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.

I bought this book while planning my wedding in 1996, and found it invaluable! Yes you have to do some work, but what do you expect when you want to save money? Not all the ideas are for everyone, of course, but you can use whatever works for you and skip the rest -- if the photographer is important and the cake is not, splurge on the photographer and go cheap on the cake!

I like that the author doesn't try to talk you out of having a beautiful wedding, but rather fits the beautiful wedding into whatever budget you have. I love her idea for a Christmastime wedding, and I almost wished I was getting married in December so I could have used it!

This book, and the planner that goes with it, were lifesaversfor me! I had no idea what I was getting into when I began planning mywedding and this book took me through the process step by step, providing wonderfully creative ideas along the way. If you are not willing to do some things yourself, her innovative ideas may not be practical for you. But let's face it, if you don't have a mint to spend on a one day event, you have to be willing to be a little creative, do some things for yourself, and ask for help from your friends and family. You will be amazed when this book helps you realize all of the (non-financial) resources they can provide to make your day special! With the help of this book, I managed to have a church wedding and dinner reception for 150 people, for just over $2500! I love knowing I had a hand in every aspect of planning my special day.

I got so much out of this one that I also ended up getting her Honeymoon and Gifts and Decorations books, and have passed them all on to at least five other brides since then.

David Morrell has a tendency to roller-coaster the successes and non-successes of his books. Some are great and some are bad. It's hard to maintain a consistency in greatness and should he be able to do so, then I can stop believing in God.

I finished the book in one day. Not because the book was overly exciting, but both stories were short enough to read quickly. For the effort that I put in to finish the 500 or so pages, I did not feel "gyped" for the money I paid for the book. I just felt that the stories were too short to develop the characters well. I think that this contributed to the "floppiness" of the book as seen by the other readers. I liked it. But not as much as THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE "series" and Rambo.

I'll look forward to his next book.

I have never read David Morrell's books before and this is my first introduction to it. It was very interesting and I had a hard time putting it down at times. And I love how it was two stories (or two cases) in the book ~~ two chases for Coltrane to live through!

Coltrane, a photographer, is caught photographing mass burial grounds in Bosnia and endured through one hell of which he survived. Then as he thought he was free to enjoy life again ~~ he runs into a reknown photographer who commissioned him to take pictures like his first famous series. Then Packard died ~~ leaving behind a mystery about the most beautiful face in his collection. Coltrane ends up trying to solve that mystery only to find himself in danger. It was a fairly quick read ~~ full of twists and turns! Just when you thought you solved the dilemma ~~ you were taken for a surprise and compelled to read more.

If you are into mysteries, this book is a great one! It's great for those beach reads too ~~ not too dark on the mind or spirits either ~~ but not that slow ~~ so pick it up and enjoy!

4-25-03

I've read Morrell's novels. He's the one author that I can always depend on for exciting and thought-provoking reading. David's the author that got me into reading suspense novels in the first place and it "greatly" disturbs me that most of the critics here are slamming him so hard. "Reads like a soap-opera" -- the dialogue in this book may be trite, but, I believe, there was a purpose for the femme-fatale who used these words. She was lost in theatrics for all her life -- a trait she recieved from her mother (another part of the plot that I found interesting). She was an actor, who used an actor's, typically, simple language to intice and control the men who would so easily be drawn to her. I believe this effect was planned by Morrell. David had a purpose to how he wrote the novel. I have never read a novel by him that lacked a purpose and, I think, that the reviewers out there who had a problem with this book are perhaps lacking depth themselves. I feel very sorry for those people and their disposition over this novel. To all the people out there who loved Double Image. Thank you for appreciating this wonderfully intriguing novel. I, simply, cannot wait 'til we hear from David Morrell again. David, if you're reading this, thank you for your great stories. Thank you for showing me how good a novel can be.

The marvelous 5th book of T. H. White's incredible Arthurian saga. This one, in it's complete lack of swordplay and thrill, is set apart from the preceeding four.

Ok, the first four--definately the Story is the major priority. Focal characters: Arthur, then after "The Sword in the Stone" the focus shifts to Lancelot and the queen, and to a lesser extent the Orkneys, etc. In the final chapter the reader is brought back to Arthur, whose musings on the nature of Man and War also smears our noses in these two essential elements, whose dissection was an important objective in the story for White.

Yeah, yeah, anyone who's read the book knows that. But what about the "Book of Merlyn"?

Well, picture drawing aside the glitter and pizzaz of the storyline that has won over so many people to focus on that teaming world of philosophy and abstract thought that Merlin had shown Arthur as a young king. Take "The Sword in the Stone", a primarily whimsical book in which I believe White first lay the groundwork for the "Book of Merlyn", return an aged, experienced and almost broken Arthur to this sort of setting, and...tada! bring back Merlin and the animals(or rather bring Arthur back to them). There now follows that dissection of War and Man we were talking about.

Yup, the whole book is essentially White's essay on these two subjects, given in a long philisophical discussion between the animals, Merlin, and an older Arthur in the comfort of the Badger's underground burrow(Nimue's cave, ha ha!).

Now for those who are thinking ,"Ye gods, the horror!", I gotta admit, in part, you're right. If you're thinking of reading this as the conclusion to "The Once and Future King" in a steady, smooth stream, you're in for a bumpy ride. Think about it, the book was published posthumously--there are structural problems and stuff(why I rate it 8 and not higher), the most blatant of which is the episodes as the ant and the goose from "The Sword in the Stone" properly belonged here originally, so you bump over that.

Bump.

Next, like I said, Story has taken a decided back seat to Essay. That's a bump for those who loved "The Once and Future King" for the laughter and the tears, a...MAJOR...bump.

BUMP.

But for those who can accept Story's new position in the scheme of things, you'll really dig this. Because White returns to someone he has really neglected in favor of Lancelot and Jenny and all that other stuff--Arthur. Arthur's back and he's gonna get a little attention, undergo a little developement. This is a must for you people. There is also now this beautiful circle to White's saga. And, getting down to the dirt, you are gonna love that Essay I was talking about.

It...is...BRILLIANT. For those who like this sort of thing, you will LOVE it, and for those who don't like this kind of stuff normally, you'll LOVE it anyway because of the original way White did it.

People who dug the "Tao of Pooh", you will LOVE this.

Kids doing an assignment on the underlying symbolism and whatnot of the "Once and Future King", you will LOVE this--it'll be so much help, it's almost cheating.

And. Finally. T.H. White fans everywhere. Read "The Book of Merlyn". In the end, this is what he's all about.

The Book of Merlyn was an incredible book, once again proving the genius of T.H. White. This book is the only sensible conclusion to the Once and Future King and should have been included in the original printing. In The Book of Merlyn, we revisit King Arthur on the night before his final battle with his son, Mordred. Feeling dejected and alone, Arthur's mentor, the lovably eccentric and ingenious Merlyn, returns and whisks the king away to learn two final lessons from the animals he knew as a child. This book is not merely a childish fairytale, but rather an in-depth dissection of human nature in which the human condition is explored in depth and the ever-elusive meaning of life is hinted at. A book for the serious reader or any serious fan of Arthur and Merlyn, The Book of Merlyn is a masterpiece from the mind of one of the greatest writers of the past one hundred years.

If you like the Once and Future King as an amuzing story, then watch out, this book is not for you. Here White elevates his discussions to probe humanity's own lack of humanity. Having witnessed the horrors of World War II, White brilliantly exploits the Arthurian legend to analyze and discuss humans: are we as grand as we think we are? Is there hope? Are King Arthur's efforts (or, archetypally, the efforts of any human who is engaged in helping out the human race) fruitful or simply futile?

This is a humanistic work that dares to challenge the assumptions of humanism. Merlyn uses strong polemic to not only argue that humans are bad for nature (this is an incomplete understanding of the text) but that we have less "humanity" than vrtually all other animals. This view seems to be in direct conflict to Arthur's wish to salvage humanity. Yet Merlyn does not see it as a fatalistic view, he very much still shows hope.

The Book of Merlyn is a top-down, ideological examination of humanism enveloped in the archetypal Arthurian myth. It is not a bed-time story. It is not about lovely castles and romantic imagery.

It is about humanity.