I read this book over twenty years ago and I still remember the mental images it brought forth in my mind. I cried for days afterwards. Everyone I recommended it to was similarly touched. It's romantic, poetic, spiritual and almost surreal in its power to draw you into the story. I've loved it for over twenty years.

I read the original The Second Kiss by Gayle Rogers in Thousand Oaks, 26 years ago And my Book was never returned after loaning it out to many folks to enjoy (I wish someone would return my signed book) then in Ohio I found Nakoas Woman in paperback & reread the beautiful so true love story, with such accurate detail and historical notes It again was so refreshing to read & so haunting , then we moved & my box of books was stolen but now I found Glaydce with a C by Gayle & it picks up the two soul mates in Nathaniel as Nakoa & Mylayna as Maria I felt their presence & that as their spirits got reunited again, I was so overwhelmed with emotional feelings I was left with goose bumps & the goose bumps are still with me,just thinking about their picking up where they left off in the another world, What a GLORIOUS Feeling it truly is!! Makes one really wonder about life and death. She has so much knowledge, it is like a real learning experience & she is giving you the inside of the spirit world such as it is. Makes you really wonder whats next??? Keep writing & I also would just love to see the book in a Movie as she wrote it & described the areas , times & places . Thats my dream.

I read this book about 20 years ago or so. I enjoyed this book tremendously. My mother also loves this book and we are unable to locate it. We think she lent it out to someone and never received it back. I would like to get it for her for Christmas as a surprise. The love story between Nakoa and Maria was absolutely beautiful and haunting. I will reread it with pleasure!

This book is, in a word, Tromatic. All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I learned from The Toxic Avenger is both an indespensible rescource and holy book for the true Troma fan, as well as being a wonderful introduction for non-Tromites into the wonderful, hairy world that is Tromaville. But that's not all. All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I learned from The Toxic Avenger gives both instruction and hope to enterprising independant filmmakers. Instruction in the form of such pearls of wisdom as "Make sure there are enough toilets" and "The MPAA sucks" and hope in that once you realise Troma Studios can make movies and be reasonably successful at it, there's no reason why you or your sock puppet Merv can't be. In truth, All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I learned from The Toxic Avenger, is an extremely funny, well written tome filled with wry humor, studio anecdotes, graphic discriptions of vomiting green toxic ooze (complete with directions to do so yourself) and great photographs. It is also very thick, and perfect for use in fixing uneven chair legs or stacked with phonebooks as a step stool. After reading this book, you too will be shouting "Long Live Troma!"

Catching a screening of Troma's new film "Terror Firmer" at the Chicago Film Festival, I had the great experience of meeting Mr. Lloyd Kaufman, one of the nicest people I'm ever likely to come into contact with. He told me I should go on Amazon.com and review his fabulous book, "All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger." Coming from most famous people (yeah, he's famous), telling a fan to boast them up might sound kind of arrogant, but not from Mr. Kaufman. He has got to be one of the last true caring people in the film world and it shows in his excellent book. The book is packed with anecdotes, insights, how-to techniques and plenty of other elements to keep even non-Troma fans interested and amused. I've never found myself laughing out loud so much at a book before. It's hilarious. I suggest reading this book and John Waters' "Shock Value" back-to-back to truly discover what kind of minds make films of the most fantastic and questionable "art" of our times.

"Back in the day," when I was about thirteen-years-old, I considered myself a movie buff because I had seen every movie in the local megaplex from Scream to She's All That. As the most seasoned movie fan on earth, I took it upon myself to do a little read on film. This book changed my whole world around. Not only is the lough-out-loud humor spot on, but the book does everything it sets out to do from giving you insight and history on Troma to teaching you the tricks of the trade of a true independent filmmaker. While "indie" films continue to become more watered down and mainstream, Troma is only getting smarter, funnier, and sicker, while remaining true to its roots. Certain publishers are looking into the prospect of offering Lloyd another book deal, and reviews like this on amazon from readers can really help push the deal in his favor so, please, if you have any thoughts please post them. This is a book not to be missed by anyone who loves independent film, loves Troma, or is looking for a good hearty laugh.

In doing research for a journalism assignment, I was recommended Fouts' "Next of Kin." I read the book as I prepared for a trip to the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, a sanctuary of hope in southern Florida for chimpanzees rescued from labs and similar monstrosities, funded by Jane Goodall and other good people. It was a superb introduction to what I was about to witness, and I ended up using a lengthy quote from the book as an epigram to my article about the sanctuary.

Fouts has given an incredible and heart wrenching insight into a world we too often choose to ignore - the world side by side to our own "civilized" one, the world of the animal kingdom. It is, perhaps, our view of it as a separate world from our own that first gets us into trouble. The human being is an arrogant being. We like to think that we are the superior beast - the thinking, feeling, building, progressive being that rules the earth - but so often the human being is not so superior at all, but only... a beast. Fouts takes that arrogance down several notches. He reveals the remarkable intelligence of the chimpanzee mind. He reveals the astounding emotional depth of the chimpanzee heart. He unveils the tragic suffering of the chimpanzee life when we forget these emotional and intellectual capacities. In a time when scientific strides in all fields - space exploration, medical, or other - can easily be made without the torment of our animal brethren, this book bears witness to our human cruelty and argues effectively for an abandonment of such treatment forever. We are not, after all, a superior creature on this planet. We are only one among many, sharing a global environment to which all of our varied species have a right to live in, enjoying our freedom to live our lives without the threat of enslavement by others - human or animal.

I read this book in a day, though I didn't plan to--as soon as I began reading, I found myself unable to put it down. This is the story of both Dr. Fouts' study of chimpanzee language abilities, and his struggle to find a home for the chimps where they will be treated with the respect they deserve. Engagingly written and humanely told, his story is a direct challange to the cruel legacy of Descartes, one that will change your view of our primate relatives forever. Frequently funny, oftentimes heartbreaking, this book will leave no reader unmoved and unchanged.

After reading Fout's Next Of Kin I was speechless. I can express how wonderful it is to learn from an indivdual whose humility, concern for life and compassion is his life work. I simply could not put the book down! It was one of the most thoughtful, eye-opening, and educated books that I have ever read. Having the opportunity to listen to Roger Fouts speak on booktour, my heart opened to his message of compassion; his willingness to express his feelings and experiences to a group of strangers further enhanced my view of this incredible individual. A book that will change your life and the way you see our next of kin and the fellow animals of this world.

It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

I make sure I use this book with each class I teach--3rd and4th graders. They always get it--that love makes us real, too. Theymake the connection between the Skin Horse becoming shabby and people getting old. I always bring in my stuffed velveteen rabbit I bought years ago and it starts making the rounds and popping up on different children's laps. It is a pleasure to see them become attached to the rabbit instead of "mechanical toys that were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else." They also relate to the lessons the Velveteen Rabbit learns from the Skin Horse about how becoming real is a painful process sometimes and can take a long time.

This book is a simple work of art. Its beauty in itself is virtually indescribable. When I was little, it was my favorite book. In fact, I've had it ever since I was born. It is about a boy who owns a stuffed rabbit, and longs for it to be real. Eventually, because he loved the rabbit so much, his wish was granted. The book is so well written that it brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

_Lord of Light_ by Roger Zelazny is one of those great sci-fi books where the author compresses his vision into one stand-alone work rather than spread his tale out over a number of serialized books in order to make more money. The result is a super-potent, literary sci-fi novel with all the makings of a great American classic. This book is clearly influenced by the 1960's eastern philosophical/psychedelic movement and it has a legitimate, scholarly view of Hindu religious philosophy. It is complex, thought-provoking, and profound, and unlike most sci-fi, it truly challenges the reader intellectually. Any fan of sci-fi absolutely MUST read this book, and I also highly recommend it to people who are not even fans of the genre. _Lord of Light_ is one of those rare books that will cross the boundries of genre and eventually be considered among the timeless classics of American literature.

Zelazny won the Hugo for this book; for once I agree the award was right. This is his most brilliant book, a terrific blend of mythos and technology.

The former crew on this colony world rules the former passengers as gods rule peasants. Through technology, they have achieved many aspects of godhood, including reincarnation, terrifying weapons and psi powers by which they can kill with a look. The religion chosen for this more-than-theocracy is Hinduism.

Former crew Sam, while he likes his worldly pleasures, revolts against his peers, and casts himself as Buddha against the theocracy (as well as filling prayer machines with slugs, allying himself with the indigenous creatures and engaging in enough apocalyptic battles to satisfy the most jaded Robert Jordan fan). As Siddhartha and the Mahasamatman he sows the seeds that threaten to bring down the theocracy. And he demonstrates that even the most insincere Buddha can have true converts, true believers, and that the power of religion transcends its uses.

With a wonderful storyline, replete with flashbacks and plot twists, Zelazny crafts an absolutely terrific story. The book has no weak points.

This was the first book to base a world on a technologically rationalized mythos. Zelazny attempted it later in "Creatures of Light and Darkness," using the Egyptian mythos, but the book is much less successful. "Lord of Light" is the struggle of Buddhism against militant Hinduism, where technology, not spiritualism, rules. But it's the plot, the characterization and Zelazny's wonderful ironic tone that make this an exceptional book.

It's great to see this book back in print. Highly recommended.

Occasionally a science-fiction book is written that reminds everyone why the genre is so important. A book so extraordinary, so inventive, so full of wit, imagination and intriguing possibility that it just shines out of every page.

Lord of Light is such a book.

Here in the UK, it has recently been one of the first books to be re-released in the 'SF Masterworks' series. Not only does it fully derve this title, it stands head and shoulders above most of the other titles on this list and indeed all of Zelazny's extensive back-catalogue.

Put as simply as possible, the story is one of the way in which ideological factions diverge and conflict over the human colonisation of a distant planet,how over a long time the differences within the human society - and between humans and the indigenous inhabitants - become fossilised and reconstructed into a parody or recreation of Hindu myths, and finally how this decadent parody is challenged from within by one of the original colonists - Mahasamatman, or Sam, the Lord of Light - who takes on the form of the Buddha.

Around this central tale, Zelazny manages to weave so many themes. It is a sensitive and compassionate re-imagining of Hindu mytholology, yet aware of the shortcomings and the challenge posed to traditional Hinduism by Buddhist teachings. It is a tale of technologically-facilitated decadence and moral decline, of the way in which technical abilities can become more important than the purposes for which they were developed. It is a fable about how inequality and class division emerge, are structured, fossilized and challenged. It is story of memory and forgetting, of how history can be constantly rewritten -consciously and unconsciously - by the powerful, and lost to the weak. It is a classic tragedy, the oldest story of all: hubris, nemesis and catharsis.

Zelazny not only manages all these themes with seemingly effortless structural ability, but also produces lush and stylish prose entirely appropriate to the parodic Hindu world, which is a joy to read.

Everyone should read this whether you think you like sci-fi or not. Lord of Light is a unique and extraordinary creation and I don't think I am exaggerating in describing it as one of the greatest and most original acheivements in Twentieth Century literature.

In preparing our list of Christmas books to share with others, we had to search far and wide on amazon to find this particular book, a paperback edition of the classic Night Before Christmas.

This is the book I've used for years when reading this story to my own children, passing on Tasha Tudor and other illustrators. Why?

Although we can find the same poem and pay a lot more, with award winning illustrators, the illustrations provided by Douglas Gorsline are surely the best. They are quite colorful, and offer details little children love looking into...cats lie sleepily on the window sill, we see an overview of the town, the presents spilling from the open sack are intriguing and plentiful, and Jolly St. Nick is -- well, quite Jolly (as you can see by looking at the cover!)

The story is an "abridged version" - I'm not sure about other parents, but we read this on Christmas Eve, and we only have so much time and energy. Everything we remember from the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore is in this version.

(From "'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" to "He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" In between we have everything, from the names of the eight tiny reindeer, to a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, including dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky".

In other words, don't be scared off by 'abridged'!)

Perhaps a hardcover edition might be more appropriate if you're giving a gift (unless you're giving to more than one child), but this book is one of the best offers we've found!

A classic done simply and inexpensively!

We have an inexpensive paperback version (see our reviews) of this classic poem, and we said that's enough for us. That was before we looked through this beautifully illustrated (by Bruce Whatley) edition of The Night Before Christmas.

The lyrics are the same, from book to book, but the fanciful illustrations in this one are enough to engage adults and children as they read this book together.

The perfect gift for any family whose Christmas tradition includes reading this classic!

This beautiful book was in my family as a hard cover edition for many years and was a Christmas Eve tradition for my four sons when they were growing up. It's poor battered body disappeared some time after the last of my little ones went off into the adult world. I am so delighted to see it back again, though this time as a nicely affordable soft cover. Clement C. Moore's enchanting story poem already provides an atmosphere filled with warmth and joyful expectation and with the addition of Tasha Tudor's quaint, nostalgic water-colors from an antique New England the Christmas magic is complete!
The winter landscapes fill our senses and Tasha's own gray tabby cat and Welsh Corgi welcome us into this charming world.
Tasha's Santa that you will meet in this book has been portrayed as the poem describes him...a right jolly old elf. He's not that much larger than the corgi and his team really consists of eight "tiny" reindeer. His pointy ears and his Eskimo mukluks add to the delightful ambiance of the book. He dances with the toys and with the happy animals and we can truly believe it will be a happy Christmas for all.
I hope this book becomes a Christmas Eve tradition for many, many more families.

I started reading Zelazny's Saga of Amber five or six years ago. I never finished the series (i only got about half way through), but it was something I knew I'd pick up at a later date and read (and now I've purchased the Great Book of Amber, which contains all ten books in the saga, and I'm currently reading it). Zelazny published the first book, Nine Princes in Amber, in 1970. And it turned out to be not only well written, but one of the most original ideas in the world of fantasy (like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series, Jordan's The Wheel of Time, Weiss & Hickman's collaborations, the Dark Elf books of R.A. Salvatore, and so on). The book deals with a family fighting for control of the known world, Amber, and all other worlds, which are 'shadows' of Amber. The reader visits many different worlds, we get swordplay, intrigue, and a cast of great characters. And Zelazny writes in the first person, told from one the brothers, Corwin. But in the beginning, Corwin has amnesia, and doesn't know who he is, or the story of his family. It makes for a great voice and helps keep the reader in a state of suspense and 'knowledgable' confusion, that isn't seen elsewhere in the series, or in many other books. The chronicles of Amber is a highly original, well written series, and Nine Princes of Amber is the best of them.

im a big fan of roger zelazny and i read when i was kid - which further biases my opinion, but here goes anyway. the first impressive thing i noticed about this book was its enthralling storyline. when corwin (the protagonist) wakes up with a sudden loss of his memory, you feel yourself waking up with him. you can relate with the main character, which is what i think makes a writer good - if he can create a fictional character the audience feels for. the next thing i noticed was how well it was written without being mind-boggling. a common bane of sci-fi/fantasy stories are bogged down and made confusing by unnessessary locations or historical allusions. not here, zelazny uses a very ingenious approach and has us learn things about amber and shadow AS corwin learns them. things are explained to the reader without becoming a '50s sci-fi monologue. a very entertaining read (i was so enthralled i read it in one night - and was dead tired for school the next morning, lol). a must-buy for readers of all preferences! especially casual sci-fi readers like myself!

While I was reading and posting messages in Amazon's old Fantasy & Sci-fi Board, I've crossed several threads discussing The Amber's Saga. With this appetizer I was ready to start catching up with the Saga, but they were ten volumes to pursue. So I postpone the project for future examination. Then I saw The Great Book of Amber containing the whole Saga, and couldn't resist the temptation.
So I proceed to read and enjoy each story. Now I'll review them one by one.
Nine Princes in Amber is a very good introduction to the whole Saga. Corwin awakes with total amnesia. He, and the reader, start a discovery trip from our everyday world to an infinite wide and mysterious Universe. Clues and glimpses are unveiled step by step keeping the reader hooked and wondering what's next.
The bases of the present and future conflicts are shown: the Royal family of Amber, their loves and hatreds, the competition, alliances and treasons among them; Amber is the real world and the rest, including our Earth, are shadow worlds partially reflecting the glory of Amber (a very Platonic construction by the way).
Zelazny writes with unusual wit, following a stile resembling the old Arcturian Chronicles, presenting interlacing stories within the main body of the novel.
Rich, visual, poetic and ... full of action. An enjoyable first step.

Before I've read any of the Buffett's records, I was brainwashed by the B-school's currently dominating "efficient market" doctrine. Buffett's records really changed my reviews on finance and investment. This book clearly explains the way Mr. Buffett conducts business and how is it so different from the conventional wisdom, yet so sensible and logical that the investing records of Buffett have been exceptional. I totally recommend this book as the author did a really good job in describling Mr. Buffett's history in investing, as well as his private life. It seems to me the investment philosophy of Buffett is so simple that it looks "easy" to achieve. I hope the author could explain more on what it really takes to do something like that. It's anything but easy.

I just read the Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. This book is a great supplement to that decidedly more technical text, and offers excellent insights into what drives Warren Buffett. While the Intelligent Investor is somewhat dated, this book gives you a more updated version of Buffett's exploits and ideas, as well as a fresher look at Buffett's metamorphoses since his days at Columbia. I have read numerous books on Buffett, and I have to agree with Bill Gates' analysis of this book - this is the one to read. An indispensable biography of Buffett, and a must read for anyone keen on Buffett's investment philosophy.

This well written biography of Warren Buffett is just that, a biography. Those readers seeking Mr. Buffett's investment advice need to look elsewhere. "The Warren Buffett Way" written by Hagstrom or Mr. Buffett's shareholder letter in Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports would be an excellent place to start. In this book Lowenstein descriptively documents the events that shaped Buffett's life beginning with childhood. The reader gains an in depth understanding and appreciation of Mr. Buffett's business acumen. Any disappointment that the reader encounters is probably a result of the fact that Mr. Buffett leads an exceptionally mundane life. As a result, the reader at times will feel compelled to put the book down. If you are fascinated with Mr. Buffett's ability to consistently outperform the market or are a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder this is a must read.

After two sessions with Egoscue's exercises, I've still spent less than $25, I can hold my head straighter, and my uneven gait from mis-aligned hips is much improved. Two sessions at the physical therapist would have cost $36 in hot-packs alone, never mind the cost of actual therapy. And I would have been treated for the hip or the shoulder, but probably not both.

Egoscue recommends reading the introductory chapters, then moving to the chapters specific to your needs. This advice works well with one possible exception: you may miss the story about the woman so misaligned that after 45 minutes in a relaxed, static back posture, she went into muscle spasm. This story indicates that it might be wise for people with considerable pain or strong mis-alignment to have someone with them during the first days or weeks of doing these exercises, to begin with the minimum times recommended for each exercise, and to expect to take longer to reach maintenance.

Egoscue might also have provided directions on how to get up after lying in some of these positions: I've found it helps to pull my legs in toward my torso, then turn onto my side before I try raising my head and upper body.

All in all, Egoscue's book appears very helpful. I now have high hopes for my own recovery from various chronic muscle ailments and recommend the book (I'm getting ready to have Amazon.com mail a copy to my sister right now).

I purchased this book after being diagnosed with 2 herniated discs, one ruptured. My neurosurgeon told me there was nothing I could proactively do to remedy this condition, but I refused to accept this diagnosis and subsequently found and bought this book.

I performed some of the exercises for back pain and felt some immediate, but not complete, relief. I knew, though, that I had a lot to fix after being in an extremely severe car accident several years ago. I was extremely impressed, however, with the physiological foundations for this form of therapy. It just made a lot of intuitive sense.

So, I arranged to visit the Egoscue Clinic in Del Mar, about a 3 hour drive from my home. I'm now 3 visits into the 8 visit program and I could not be more impressed. These people are doing AMAZING things and getting people back to living functionally who thought they'd never be functional again.

In the strongest possible terms, I encourage ANYONE to get this book, read it, and use it. And if you suffer from chronic pain that is seriously impacting your life, you owe it to yourself to avail yourself of the clinic's services.

By the way, I've had the opportunity to meet Pete Egoscue and have spent maybe a half hour talking with him one on one. He's a very nice, humble man who has a sincere heart for helping people become pain free.

I must add my endorsement to those of others. Last summer, after two back operations, and hundreds of hours of physical therapy, and facing the prospect of beginning school in chronic pain that required me to lie down for several hours a day, I saw Mr. Egoscue's book. I tried the exercises, doing them exactly as he instructs. Within a few weeks, I noticed significant improvement, and not only in my back, but in chronic knee and shoulder problems. I kept up with the exercises, and, after about six months, I found I could do things I hadn 't been able to do for over ten years--like swim, lift weights, ride a bike. . . I'm not completely pain-free, but I credit the exercises in this book for returning me to about 80% normal. I continue to do the maintenance exercises daily. I'm completely convinced by Mr. Egoscue, and this is after trying conventional medicine and every alternative in the books and quite a few not in the books. His approach works far more effectively than anything else I've tried, from surgery to herbs. I recommended it to a friend who called me one morning in severe back pain--two weeks later she, too, was calling it a miracle. I'm in danger of becoming a bore at parties, because whenever I hear anyone with any kind of chronic musculoskeletal problem I spend about half an hour extolling the virtues of Mr. Egoscue's method. It works!

This the first book by Sidney Sheldon that I have read and I will certainly be reading more. If Tomorrow Comes tells the tale of a woman scorned. Wrongfully sent to jail and left by her fiance.. Tracy decides to get even on her release. One by one she goes after the people who have wronged her. No longer the victim she comes to enjoy the thrill of the scam and goes off on an amazing life of crime. This story is an adventure so go along for the ride.

If Tomorrow Comes has been my favourite novel since I read it for the first time 10 years ago. It was my first Sheldon book and I've bought 3 of this title in different languages since. "If Tomorrow Comes" is still the book I favour reading of all his work. I think that the open ending makes it such a classic, although I would have loved to have read more about the heroine Tracy Whitney's imaginative and brilliant mind at work.

Sidney's most intriguing Heroine and an imaginative plot - If Tomorrow Comes is all about Tracy Whitney 'My Love' who bubbles around merrily while you devour the book happily! Yeah, Sheldon is my top fav and I read all his books which are just great but this one is a page turner that never makes you stop reading again n again! Smashing, lovely Whitney faces hardship and revenge. Sid has efficiently portrayed the character of Tracy Whitney, the beautiful romantic woman, an idealistic who passed through trials in life. When her mom Dorris Whitney commited suicide, Sid express the emotions of Tracy deeply live all through the pages when Leiutenant Miller informs her and she reaches to find a note left by her mom! If Tomorrow comes is Sidney Sheldon's Best ever pick you can choose and enjoy the scoop of romance, money game, adventure, thrill and emotion.