While this book does have a certain charm, constant ruminations of a masturbatory nature do not a reader keep. Austin is completely obsessed with sex and the character develops little beyond that. Completely trite, slapped-together, cliched ending is a vast disappointment.

This book was very funny and a fast-paced read. The only obvious problem was that the ending just...well.. there wasn't really an ending. You never find out what happens to Austin and all the serious loves of his life (Jenny, Jewel, Didi, Monica). I enjoyed about 90% of the book, but it would have been better to see Austin come full circle and find true love.

TREY ELLIS CAPTURED MY FANCY AND RETOLD MY YOUTH AND THAT OF MILLIONS OF BOYS WHO GREW UP IN THE '70's. THE PREP SCHOOL EXEPERIENCE, THE SHYNESS AROUND PUBESCENT GIRLS, THE ADULT JOB SEARCH, HE MAKES IT REAL. THE FILM "THE INKWELL" WAS DISNEY'S FEEBLE EFFORT TO TURN THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE. I RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL TO ANYONE OF EITHER GENDER WHO HAS EVER HAD A CRUSH ON SOMEONE. B. BAYNE, AUTHOR OF "SKY KINGS".

Based on the title, I was truly expecting to read the "wisdom of the ages." Unfortunately, other than a few snippets and a couple of generalizations, the majority of this book is centered on the frustrations of obtaining the knowledge being sought and the process by which the author was able to acquire some patience with the elderly. To the author's credit, she mentions that this is how the book will transpire early on. To the author's discredit, she never changed the title appropriately. Kudos to the power of marketing and a lesson for those considering this title, "Read the reviews."

I work in healthcare; specifically with geriatric patient's, so this book was of great interest to me when I heard it was coming out. Neenah Ellis worked for NPR News in the past, and this was the other reason I wanted to read this book. It's basically a compilation of stories about 100 year olds, their lives, and what makes them "tick". Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Ms. Ellis' writing style. But, I was hoping for a bit more of "how" these people got to be 100. What was their secret for longevity? She was able to ascertain this from some of the centenarians, but not everyone. I also thought she covered a wide variety of individuals, from a very funny lesbian to a conservative Christian. Still, it was an inspiring read that gives anyone hope for life after retirment.

Ellis produced a program for National Public Radio for which she interviewed people who were a hundred years old or older. She interviewed a wide variety including Margaret Rawson (a world-renowned expert on dyslexia), Ruth Ellis (the oldest living lesbian), Sadie and Gilbert Hill (married for over eighty years). At first, Ellis is focussed on the historical aspects of their lives, but soon finds herself on a personal journey of her own, where she connects to them as individuals alive in the world and begins to see how looking forward, not backward, is a secret to longevity, as is living in the here and now. More of a story of Ellis herself than the centenarians she met, "If I Live to Be 100" is a surprisingly luminous memoir that charms the reader and opens the mind to what it means to be really alive.

I read this book for obvious reasons. I believe that this is a valuable book for many people out there who are suffering so much that living has become unbearable. However, in my case, it didn't give me the help that I needed. I don't have answers of why, since other reviews show positive accomplishment. I am severely depressed and found myself struggling very hard to do the book's homework. Regardless, I worked on the procedures and even felt positive for a very brief moment but unfortunately I am back to square one.

I do individual therapy and crisis intervention in a large community mental health center. This book has proven itself as an effective tool for helping those in crisis, as well as those who have an ongoing struggle with suicidal thoughts. This is, by far, the most practical, readable, and useful book written for the person struggling to stay alive. I encourage nearly all of the clients with whom I work to purchase and use this book. I even keep a loaner copy on hand for those who cannot afford it!

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the authors' ability to teach numerous proven therapy techniques while conveying a genuine concern and respect for the person struggling to stay alive. This helps create a sense of hope. For treatment providers, it models compassionate cognitive therapy for those who arguably need it most. I think this book should be required reading for mental health professionals whose training programs often do not adequately address work with suicidal individuals.

If you struggle with thoughts of suicide, know someone who does, or work in the field of mental health, I highly recommend this book. It will change the way you look at suicide.

I read this book at a tough time in my life. I was being treated for depression and looking for reasons to "keep on keeping on" with life. Besides clear and helpful information on the nature of depression and suicidal thinking, it provides several places throughout the book (through charts to complete, lists to make, etc.) to fill in personal thoughts and brainstorm about wiser and healthier responses to problems and sad or overwhelming emotions. The structure of the book offers opportunities to personally interact with the material which were a great help to me. I am also trained as a counselor, and I expect to use this book at different times with clients who are in therapy, as a "homework" assignment. I recommend this book as well to anyone who has a loved one dealing with depression or suicidality. It will help you get inside" his/her thinking and emotions and be a wiser helper.

Iread articles about the incident many years ago and I thought the book was well written.
I hope that police departments will consider thinking things through more to prevent this kind of thing from happening again. Is busting a couple of pot smokers really worth the life of a young policeman? I hardly think so and I wonder if George's parents think so. There is one dedicated young man with a brillant future ahead of him, dead and two others, that may have ended up there anyway, rotting in prison cells, and this to accomplish what? What else came of this "sting"? I find it sad that so much innocence was lost for no comparable benefit.

I grew up just north of where this book takes place and this story is what made me want to become a police officer. It is a moving and chilling story and possibly the most well written true crime book I have ever read. Now working for Midlothian PD, I have met some of the actors in the unforgettable story, it hits even closer to home. George is a hero, and will forever be remembered as such. 112

This book is an excellent read for those who admire true crime. It tells a story of a young and enthusiastic undercover narcotics officer who makes the ultimate sacrifice. How anyone could disseminate negative feedback about this book, the author, or George Raffield is beyond any decent person's comprehension. After reading this book you will appreciate law enforcement and their endeavors. Carlton Stowers is an awesome author and I encourage the reading of all of his true crime books.

For me, this is a difficult book to review, because as one reviewer has already pointed out, most of the information presented in this book is available at several NASA websites for free. The NASA sites also include nice photographs, links to other NASA information and are continuously updated. In some cases, the information presented in the book is taken word for word from the NASA sites.

On the flip side of things, a book like this is readily available, portable and good for those you do not have computer access. Futhermore, the information presented on the former astronauts, especially those from the Apollo era, is not always available at the NASA sites.

In general, I'd say that if you are interested in owning and reading a book that contains good biographical summaries on all the NASA astronauts, this book is for you. If you just want a book for a quick reference now and then go to the NASA sites.

FROM: Autograph Collector Magazine-June 2002 edition
Collectors of space autographs looking for complete information on NASA astronauts and how to contact them will find Lee Ellis' new book "Who's Who of NASA Astronauts" an excellent resource. The book contains extensive biographies, space flight data and other facts for all 367 NASA astronauts from the first manned space flight of Alan Shepard to current NASA candidates. Of particular interest to collectors is a complete section of astronaut addresses. Arranged for easy reference, each biography covers personal data, education, organizations, special honors and full NASA experience.

I'm the coach for a local high school science bowl team. We have used the book, "Who's Who of NASA Astronauts" as the authority on
all of our questions about NASA astronauts. We use this book to create questions for the students and use this book to officiate
any dispute on a question about NASA astronauts. "Who's Who of NASA Astronauts" is a valuable resource for anyone wanting
accurate information on NASA astronauts. Also, I have used other
books about NASA astronauts and "Who's Who of NASA Astronauts"
is the least expensive.

... I would have never purchased this book.
I love the idea of giving my little 2 and a half year old a universal approach to tales and stories from all over the world. I new Rudoph qualified. I had no idea that there was a monster in the story; note that it was the one thing that impressed her, and she asked me what it was.
I wouldn't suggest it to anyone that wants to introduce the idea of Santa Clauss to their child.

I was very impressed with this book . . . a beautiful book, wonderfully illustrated, containing the original story, which did not have the Abominable, or Herbie, or Yukon Cornelius, like the later movie. I remember as a child in 1951 listening to the original story on 78rpm records put out by RCA and have attempted for years to find the original story. Although I did notice some subtle differences in the words . . .the original referred to Rudolph's, er, "forehead" (Santa was too polite to call it a big red nose) . . most of the text stayed true to what I had memorized. Definitely a book not only for children, but for us baby boomers who remember the original. A must-have to hand on from generation to generation.

Yes, the other reindeer make fun of Rudolph's red nose. (I would hardly call this bigotry.) That is the point of the story: Rudolph overcomes adversity and the other reindeer learn to accept differences. Even the elves learn to accept a dentist and the misfit toys are given to boys and girls who love them. Maybe the USA reader should have watched (or read) until the end of the story instead of making snap judgements like all of the other reindeer.

Timeshift is an attempt to use a different technique than the standard SF "time travel" to connect different points in time. Phillip Jackson's novel revolves around a future in which the people of Earth are imperiled. Learning about some previously secret events in the past is the only solution. The author creates a concept of "beta" photons that somehow remain in the vicinity of Earth (unlike normal photons). Using a specialized device, beta photons can be captured and used to produce an animated image from the past, like a hologram. This is fine. The problem is that the author lacks some basic knowlege in science which leads to shocking gaffs and makes reading the novel painful. Two examples. The protagonist wanders into the beta photon holograph room and is warned to leave quickly since shortly "billions of gigabytes of power" will be unleased. Billions of gigabytes sounds impressively large, but unfortunately is not a measure of power (that would be watts). When the holograph forms, the individuals are not only seen but also heard to speak. Sound is a function of pressure waves in the atmosphere and would not be captured by "beta" photons. The setup should produce a silent movie. There is nothing wrong with the author coming up with some explanation of sound with beta photon holographs. The problem is that he is apparently unaware of the scientific incongrueity and takes no effort to explain this paradox. The result is an amateurish novel that I am surprised any publisher accepted.

I stumbled across this book and gave it a read because I've always been interested in the paradox of time travel. In Timeshift, instead of traveling into the past a "jumper" is inserted into a holographic "Beta Light" stratum to view images just as they happened. It's an interesting twist that works for the most part. The author Jackson weaves a pretty good tale that involves an attempted political coup through manufactured Beta light evidence. By the end of the book we learn that it's actually possible to enter the past, which I assume sets things up for the sequel. This isn't so much a SF book as it is a mystery that's set a few hundred years in the future. Read on that level, I found it rather clever and enjoyable.

This is a fun book that puts a new spin on time travel stories. Instead of bombarding us with incomprehensible techno-babble, the author focuses on the characters to make the book work. We come to know even the minor characters well (their foibles and all.) This isn't for the hard core science junkies, but it doesn't try to be, although the "science" is at least as believable as a Star Trek episode. I really enjoyed the beta light machine that works like a fiber optic device, transmitting sound and images through light.

I am a Brother Cadfael junkie. Ms. Peters depth of detail brings the period to life. The social structure and mores of both England in 1041 and the Benetictine order are a facinating contrast to today. If you have never enjoyed a Brother Cadfael, I do suggest that you start with the first "A Morbid Taste for Bones".

The fourteenth Cadfael book I have read and it was as enjoyable as the first thirteen. I admit that some of the plots have been predictable, but this is easily overlooked because Peters does such an expert job at bringing the 12th century to life, and Cadfael is such an entertaining character.

This particular installment happens to be one of the better mysteries in the series. Like the previous thirteen, it is a well-written and finely crafted story, but there are also some clever surprises. It is a cut above the average Cadfael book, but doesn't quite reach the five star qualities of the first two (Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse Too Many) that are true mystery classics.

The Hermit of Eyton Forest if focused around a young boy named Richard Eaton, who's father recently died from a disease of war. His father place him in the Benedictine Abbey School. The abbot at the abbey says that his father wanted him to be schooled there until he was an adult. His grandmother wants him to come home so she can force him to marry and join his manor with a neighboring one. This starts a mindboggling medievil mystery that everyone should love.

The DeVille Inheritance - Monique Ellis
Overall: 5*
Henry Frye had been following the young Lady Ann Leighton with all intent to quell a hunger that had built itself up to the point where he would have to feed. Instead, as ruffians accosted her he became her rescuer. Playing the part of her knight in shining armor he escorted her to his home where he let her repair her appearance before sending her home in his coach. The Lady Ann was an innocent who had somehow touched a part of him that he knew as a vampire was missing, soul or conscience, whatever it was he became embroiled in her and her younger brother's life as he tried to save them both from an evil and nasty Earl. Without feeding, he would cease to exist and before that moment came he made provisions that would protect Ann and her brother from the people that would harm them. Before he totally ceased to exist though something happened in that he was able to make one noble unselfish act that allowed him to somehow gain a soul and live again. This was a really splendid story that I truly enjoyed.

Dark Shadows - Sara Blayne
Overall: 3*
Lady Blythe was not afraid of scandal - it seemed to have followed her all her life. Meeting the mysterious Earl of Revelstoke, she felt an attraction and an awareness that she'd never felt before. She knew deep in her heart that her life so far had been spent in waiting for the moment he came into her life. What she didn't know was that it could also end it but for the sake of finding a 'soulmate' she could never give him up - no matter what! Great little story - not enough depth - I felt it ended too soon and could have used an epilogue.

The Full of the Moon - Janice Bennett
Overall: 4*
Juliana Wittington left her home on the moors to come and try to show her beloved cousin the error of his ways and save him from being fleeced by a disreputable gamester. Being female, she needed the help of man to guide her through the gaming hells and he turned out to be someone whom might prove more dangerous to herself than she could ever know. She hid a secret herself, but though she tried the attraction she felt for Baron Ramsdell could very well be her undoing. - Very different story with a twisty ending I did not foresee.

These tales are very, very romantic (sans sexy scenes). They are pure romance at it's very best.

The first one is THE DEVILLE INHERITANCE by Monique Ellis. In this tale of loving one more than you care for your own life, Anne Leighton meets a strange man in the alley while trying to save her brother. A message lures Anne to a dark alley, where someone attempts to kidnap her, but she is rescued by a dark, handsome stranger calling himself Henry Frye. Frye intended to drink Anne's blood - in Ellis vampire world, the vampire does not seek blood often, just at a certain time to sustain his life. Frye becomes so entangled with saving Anne from the clutches of a nobleman, that he neglects to see to the blooding and it cost his life. But love triumphs in the end, in a very surprising tale!! Very original flair to this one!

In DARK SHADOWS by Sara Blayne, we are giving a tale of a woman tired of life's treatment. She was the daughter of a Duke, but upon his dead, the titles of Dukedom goes to her cousin. Since the title came with a lot of debts, Lady Blythe was 'sold' off to a Scottish nobleman, who was not much of a man and certainly not noble. She endured the cruel marriage, but upon his death, she returns to her ancestral home, finding no welcome there. But she has to come to visit the grave of a dead Highland lass. At the grave, she feels something strange is about to happen. Later at a ball, she meet s the handsome Earl of Revelstroke, who issues her the invitation to come to him in the crumbling castle on the next estate. Shocking everyone she does, but finds there is more in closing one circle, you open another and fate has a way of bringing old lovers together again.

In the final tale, The Full of the Moon, Julianna Wittington is about to fall into the trap set by a nasty nobleman. He is luring her brother into gaming hells, hoping to rob him of his inheritance. She enlists Baron Ramsdell in saving her brother, and they do, but can the Baron save Julianna from the secret she holds. The Earl loves her but fears his being a vampire will be her doom, but the daring Julianna has a surprise for him!

All three tales are romance as the best, they are gothically atmospheric, the characters and involving and all well written.

A prefect way to pass a dark, rainy day!!

I thought this book was terrific. The stories were sensual and sexy without being graphic. I thought this was just as good as HIS ETERNAL KISS, which I bought and read first.

It's all pretty standard gansters and mutant story with artwork that appears to have been drawn too quickly.

This is one of those stories that's smart and entertaining and features everybody's favorite X-man: Wolverine. Wolverine finds his apartment blown to bits and his tenants executed in the style of one of his former foes: McLeish. The story is not about revenge as much as it is about the way Wolverine has evolved from his early days when he met McLeish in Hong Kong. Physically Wolverine is as fit as he ever was, but mentally he has evolved, he's much wiser, but he's pushed to the edge in this one, and we get to see that feral side we just love. The art is so perfect for the story, when Logan is riding his motorcycle in those lonely woods at night in autumn, man just look at those dark colors, sensational! The flashbacks provide alot of information, and for the most part answer all your questions(except one), very insightful, and shed some much needed light on Wolverine's shady past. I strongly recomend this paperback to every Wolvie fan out there, you really don't know what your missing.

Warren Ellis rules. This is all time favourite Wolverine story. I was absolutely blown away by this. It is really action packed and a very enjoying read. Just read it.