This was much better than The Stud, but still not good. I just wasn't into the plot, and the characters were too generic and boring for you to really care about them.

Read this and The Stud when you have read all other Jackie Collins novels. It seemed this novel was trying to do for Fontaine what Lucky would later do for Lucky Santangelo.

Of all the Collins' books I've read, this is one of my least favorites. I just didn't care for the two main characters. However, some of the dialogue did make me laugh out loud. It is a very quick read.

THE BITCH is the story of two characters: Nico Constantine who married into wealth at a young age, and Fontaine Al Khaled, who also married into wealth. Both of them are single by the time they meet accidentally on an airplane. Instant attaction....

The novel of course has several subplots weaving in and out, with lots of gratuitous sex and outrageous plot twists. But that's expected from a Jackie Collins novel. Nico finds he's dead broke and spends the rest of the novel trying to get himself out of this mess (big time gambling debt). Fontaine in the meantime is trying to rejuvenate her London night club, while at the same time ignores all advances from Nico, although deep down she is very attracted to him.

For a quick light read and some trashy writing, THE BITCH is recommended.

"Deadlock" offers an intriguing premise but fails because of Mapherson's weak storywriting and ignorant and offensive social assumptions about the Chinese community, both of which become irritating to a decent plot. A jury member is suspected to be the real killer. This is an engaging idea, but unfortunately Macpherson twists it between incredulous character relationships. San Francisco's Cardinal happens to be childhood friends with the richest and most famous senator and a supreme court judge -- all of whom are involved in unraveling the murder case. This would not be so annoying to read except for Macpherson's style of writing. To say the least, I expected some of the sentences and dialogues to have been penned by high school mystery writer, incorporating boyhood perceptions and fantasies about what the elite lifestyle might be like. Women are depicted in secondary roles throughout. By far, the most offensive trademark of "Deadlock" is Macpherson's grossly ignorant vision of the Chinese community in San Francisco. I have not read anything more offensive to the heart of anyone human -- something Macpherson seems to fear the Chinese actually are. His writing carries a fixation on the Chinese in the worst stereotypes. Macpherson denies the existence of any socially acceptable Chinese American in San Francisco. All Chinese characters are either hideously dissimilar, impossibly evil, purely corrupted, or demeaning to American society. I cannot fathom that anyone as ignorant about a segment of the population would dare to write about them, because to do so would be an incomplete and generally bad venture. But Macpherson achieves a most offensive piece of writing by doing this. Even in this story's most plot-intriguing moment, Macpherson writes in a staunch ignorance obvious to any reader aware of the Chinese as human as anyone else.

The synopsis sounded exciting enough but I was disappointed when I started reading it.Characters did not have much depth.The plot was fairly predictable after a while and all I wanted to do was to skim through the book to confirm my conclusion.I was also disappointed with the portrayal of the Chinese community in the book as its perception is that they are made up of gangs and thugs and Chinatown is a dangerous place to be in especially for a white person.As a Chinese,I was certainly unhappy with the unflattering image given to the Chinese characters in the book.

If you ever get a copy of this book, I believe that it is a must read. For ones who are narrow in your thinking, it will make you broader. For those who are prideful, it causes a humbling effect. It makes you take a different look at race relations and regional stereotypes.

The ending paralyzed me in my chair.

Hey, if you have been living in a cave for the last hundred years, or if you are not American, these communist ideas might be new to you.

Unfortunately, it is the same garbage that has been promoted in American Universities since most were built. The media has never stopped promoting these same simple ideas. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer!

Like we care! Just more wolves whining at the piece of meat that can't have.

This is a brief account of the wealth gap and would be good to get a simple grasp -- especially for those with little previous understanding. For in depth needs it is not recommended.

This is a brief account of the wealth gap and would be good to get a simple grasp -- especially for those with little previous understanding. For in depth needs it is not recommended.

The reason I didn't particularly care for The Love Killers was that the characters seemed shallow. I finished the book in two days, so it is a fast paced read, I just didn't bond with her characters. There wasn't enough depth to truly feel like you could 'see' what was going on. I was unable to 'step into the adventure' which I can easily do in her other novels.

I still recommend it, but only because it was written by my favorite author!

A tight plot. Attention to detail. Characters that blaze off the page. Sexy dialogues...What else could you possibly hope for in a book? (except maybe some credibility?)

This is my favorite of Jackie's older novels. It is very smart. Being a huge fan, I find that no suprise. If you don't think Jackie has talent, you should read this book. I think you might change your mind.

The title of this book grabbed me: READING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. I now wish I had not grabbed up the book. Doing what the title suggests is a fairly benign activity; the only danger you face in reading the magazine is falling asleep in an inappropriate place. Let's admit it, National Geographic articles are written in a very prosaic style. This however is not news. We have been reading the magazine long enough to know the truth behind what one of it's past editors is quoted as saying: "only what is is of a kindly nature is printed about any country or people, everything unpleasant or unduly critical being avoided". Most of us have been around long enough to know that such cultural relativism, homogenization, and plain-vanilla humanism makes for some very boring reading.

That however is probably the only thing that you really need to know about NG. I certainly didn't need to know - and now knowing, don't believe, - as the authors believe that in depicting the naked breasts of native women: "the magazine and its readers are caught between the desire to play out the cultural fantasy of the oversexed native woman and the social controls of sexual morality..." This fixation which makes up an entire chapter "Women and Their Breasts" only highlights the real difficulty with the book's analysis. It is shallow and leans heavily towards a feministic cultural critique; it's also narrow in that it mostly looks at how NG depicts cultures. What about the other subjects the magazine looks at?

Boring writing aside my continued enjoyment of National Geographic comes from its explorations of wild places and its emphasis on nature. I much prefer this to what READING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC would have me do - ponder whether the magazine is a pernicious contributor to the spread of Western supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, and the homogenizing influences of a white middle class world view.

The book is about the "making and consuming of images of the non-western world." And images, after all, "have taken over from written texts the role of primary educator." The two look at a set of 600 photographs published in the magazine from 1950 to 1986 (roughly their NG -reading lifetimes). They argue the photos are selectively chosen to present a view that does not disturb middle-class American self-identities and connected views of the 3rd world. The photos usually show a gentle, peaceful, content, colorful exotic people who, though they might not be wealthy yet, are on the road to modern progress on the Western model. The non-Western world is appropriated, its description has helped maintain social hierarchies in the First World. Even worse, the NG's practice goes so far as to abet war-making on the people it purposefully misunderstands.

There three methodological steps are to look at the process of producing the images (a social endeavor over which no individuals have total say throughout the process), examine the structure and content of the images, and identify how readers view the photographs.

"We chart the tendency of the magazine to idealize and render exotic third-world peoples, with an accompanying tendency to downplay or erase evidence of poverty and violence. The photographs show these people as either cut off from the flow of world events or involved in a singular story of progress from tradition to modernity [ahem, two very different things unless you're not thinking hard about "modernity"], a story that changes with decolonization."

Their goal is make NG and other mass media "understand and historicize the differences that separate interconnected human beings," to heighten empathy without fostering stereotyping or paternalism.

Criticism: I can't deny that the writers made such a negative impression on me with their dogma and attacking hyperbole (and dripping class resentment) that their useful ideas are weakened in my view. I wouldn't assign this to students I hope will write well.

I found this book to be thorough in its research of the geographic as an American institution. It presupposes that the reader is well aquainted with Gramsci's notion of mass media and the Frankfurt school borne out of this belief of hegemony perpectuated by a controlling elite. The author also takes liberty that the reader is aquainted with research methods using coding to differentiate subjects responses to pictures portrayed. Lastly, the author's use of interviewing technics and the subsequent interpretation of those responses enables the reader the opportunity to realize how the geographic and social background of the readers influence the perceptions people have when encountering this quasi-scientific journal. As an anthropological study this book illuminates the ethnocentric idealations of the Geographic's demographic readership, that is upper middle and middle class white euroamericans.

Collins appears to be an expert on this topic. However I wish he would share more histroy with us. I understand that not much is known but the reader deserves more information. Unfortunately this is a 200 page bibliography which left me clueless on what happened in Spain during this period. This book should be titled "A List of Chronicles" I want my money back!

Murphey seemed having a hard time focusing on one subject before relating to another in this hard-to-read book. The time spans forced a forward-and-back and again type of story-telling , that's the order of the day in his work.

I wouldn't recommend it for those new in this subject, but it's a challenge for the old-cracks. The argument on the fragile rule of the Berber dynasties sound solid enough but too few on the Septimanian questions.

It goes without saying that early medieval Spanish history is something of an acquired taste. However, it is surprising how much can be learnt about the interaction of western European societies and the Arab world by concentrating on this fascinating period of Spain's development. A reader with an interest in history but no specialist knowledge of early Spain can certainly enjoy this book, in which Collins shows himself to be a first-class historical detective!

If you have a prayer book, you have this already. I expected more, but it is just what it claims to be.

This is a "Prayer Book companion" that is ancient and out-of-touch with modern sensibility and approach to God. The wording is stuck in the patriarchal mode, and the view of God is as Father and as fearful lord and king. I was expecting something more in harmony with today's scholarship.

However, this said, I will add that this is a valuable addition to the library of anyone who wishes a reference to the approach of previous generations to the One.

I treasure this book, turning to its daily reading to start my day. Although of a different faith, I find the daily message and meditation uplifting. It helps me focus on the important things in my life, and to embrace that which nourishes my soul. The writing is beautiful and the message universal and readable. A book that can be embraced by all..

What a waste of money and time. Slapped together and out to make a bigger profit. This is the only time I have not liked Jackie Collins' work

Come on Jackie - this gets an "F" - what's going on? Lately your stuff is getting so dull. These books, 4 at $4.00 each are terrible and also a very expensive way to be bored.

Although I'm not a fan of "mini" books, Jackie Collins has caught my eye with these little beauties!! So easy to read, you can finish one on your lunch hour and still remember the plot for the next book. "Obsession" picks up where "Power" stopped. Kristin and Jake really heat things up and Freddie is headed for trouble. Madison is hot on the trail of Salli's murderer, and Natalie is on a man hunt. Stayed tuned for the next episode!!!!!

I read this whole book that had me intrigued and I really thought it was very good. When I read the ending I was very dissappointed. The ending was dumb and pointless and didnt make any sense to me that it ended that way. In my opinion this book should not have gotten the high ratings that it got. I strongly suggest to everyone who loves romances novels not to read this one, you will be as dissappointed as I was.

I read this book and I must say that I was very dissappointed in the end. It really had me going and kept me intrigued but the ending just messed it up. I thought it was so stupid. I would not reccomend this book to anyone just because of the ending.

I don't usually read romance novels, and if you do, this one may disappoint you. There is no happy ending. There are no perfect or likeable heroes or heroines. Collins critiques power and money. She shows how they can debase human relationships. This book is all about ego, using money and sex as metaphors. It is exciting and it maintains your interest. But there is no fantasy dreamland for you to float off into at the end. You're more likely to be left examining both society around you and your conscience. If you find this more exciting than facile escapism, buy the book!

I'm studying for the CPA. I bought the book because it's required for a course in school. But to actually learn for the CPA exam, I'll toss this one aside for one that provides a solutions manual. Authors who withold the manual for the instructors benefit miss a fundamental point about economics - who the customer is. It's the student that the book is written for and it is the student who pays for the course. Breffni University of Chicago

I agree with those that say this book would be more useful if it came with solutions. Right off in the first chapter, hypothetical situations are presented without any background information in the text. If you haven't had some experience in Accounting, you are going to be left scratching your head. The instructor in my class says that it causes you to think. Hard to think if you have never come close to experiencing anything that is being discussed. Some guidance would be helpful.

The book provides very clear explanations about different aspects of financial statement analysis. The only drawbacks are that the book is a little simplistic and that problem solutions are sorely needed. However, I am sure you are not going to use oit for self-study- you would be using it as a textbook in a financial statement analysis class. The professor, would be able to provide you with solutions (as in my case- thanks Dr. Church!) and will also help you out with some of the tougher stuff. Whatever, the book does an excellent job in explaining the basic stuff- much better than the Sondhi book.