This is by far the most beautiful childrens book i have ever read. It was frist read to me in 1985 as a little girl of 4. I recently gave it to my boyfriend who fell in love with it as well. Now we read it to each other all the time. Remember the night rainbow is a must read for anyone who still fells the magic of being a child

I first read this book when I friend gave it to my sister. Since then I have read it over and over again. It has unique illustraions and though-provoking messages. I recomeend it for the young and old. Plus, I believe that it's a great book to give as a gift.

I can't believe you have this book available! I have been looking for my hardback copy for some time now. It is the book I like to give most when I give a gift. When I first read it, I was enchanted with it, and I look for other books by Cooper Edens all the time. I believe this is the author's first. Thank you for making it one of your many selections.Jan Gartenberg, Dallas Texas

If one thing can be said of Tanith Lee, it's that she's versatile! From tales of darkness and vampires, to the most beautiful fantasies, she writes with flair. In the BLACK UNICORN, she focuses on Tanaquil, Daughter of a mighty sorceress. With no apparent magic of her own, the monotony of Tanaquil's life is only relieved by her interest and talent for mending things. Until, one day she finds mysterious fragments of beautiful bone in the desert, and puts them together to form a Unicorn, and her life changes forever.

This book probably contains one of the most delightful and enchanting charecters ever. The Peeve. A furry sand creature with the ability to talk in the vocabulary of a 2-year child, it's antics fill the book with gentle humour. A wonderful book, to be read again and again.

Tanaquil, the 15-year-old protagonist in "Black Unicorn," lives in a desert fortress with her inept sorceress mother, Jaive. Here Tanaquil collects fossils that she finds in the sand. Then one day she discovers the skeleton of a unicorn, and by putting the pieces together, the unicorn somehow comes back to life, leading her and her pet peeve (yes, it's actually called a peeve--a small, catlike creature that's somewhat akin to the beasts in "Biting the Sun") on one adventure after another, ultimately reuniting her with her unknown father and sister in a faraway city.

The title is somewhat misleading, in that "Black Unicorn" isn't predominantly about unicorns, but more of a young woman's quest. I really loved Tanaquil's little "sidekick," the peeve, who creates a lighthearted touch to the story, almost stealing every scene with its high-strung antics and broken English. This is an appropriate book for all ages, though ideal for young girls interested in fantasies/adventures. Plus it's short (188 pages) and easy to read. If you liked this one, then you'll probably like the following two in this series: "Gold Unicorn" and "Red Unicorn."

I first read this book in junior high, and now I'm a freshman in college and I'm still re-reading it. This was the first Tanith Lee book I ever read, and it's probably the best one I've ever read (no easy feat).

The Black Unicorn is the subtle, humorous story of Tanaquil, the bored, cranky daughter of a powerful sorceress. She lives in her mother's fortress in the middle of a desert where no one ever comes, and is terribly, terribly tired of being there. One day Tanaquil "accidently" brings a unicorn to life, and Tanaquil finds herself on quite an adventure, together with a talking peeve whom she met in the fortress along for the ride.

Tanaquil is a wonderful character, one of my favorites of all time. She is smart, subtle, creative, strong, and realistic. Her little "sidekick", the desert peeve, is just as wonderful, and the book wouldn't be the same without it. The book is filled with all kinds of people and creatures and places and things, all of which are amusing and fully fleshed-out. Tanith Lee writes this story beautifully, with rich images, a sense of humor, and a real knack for the fantastic and the oddly magical mundane.

I'm really sorry to hear that this book is unavailable. If you like fantasies or fairy-tales, you should definitely try to find this book and its two sequels in a good library.

"On the day of the dead when the year too dies,
Must the Youngest open the Oldest hills,
Through the door of birds where the breeze breaks,
There fire shall fly from the Raven Boy,
And the silver eyes that see the wind,
And the Light shall have the Harp of Gold.
By the Pleasant lake the Sleepers lie,
On Cafdan's Way the kestrels call,
Though grim from the Gray King shadows fall,
Yet singing the Golden Harp shall guide,
To break their sleep and bid them ride.
When light from the Lost Land shall return,
Six sleepers shall ride, Six signs shall burn,
And where the Midsummer's tree grows tall,
By Pendragon's sword, The Dark shall fall."

When Simon, Jane and Barney Drew, along with Will Stanton, try to find the Grail, a thing of power, it is not complete. They need to find the scroll that was lost last summer. To do this, they must find help from the mysterious Greenwitch. What gave her life? What is her secret? Why do the Dark have such a sinister intrest in her? Read this book to find out! A must read. It should be required. I'd also like to recomend the other books in the Dark Is Rising sequence.

This book in my opinion is probably the best in the whole DarkIs Rising sequence. The plot has a lot of power and the writing isclear and descriptive, yet not overload (like some parts of The Dark Is Rising book). I loved the bringing together of the Drews and Will, and also loved the characters of Captain Toms and Merriman. Written in much the same style as Over Sea, Under Stone, Greenwitch is an excellent book in an oustanding series.

P.S. If you like the Dark Is Rising sequence, read His Dark Materials triology!

Simon, Jane and Barney are horrified when they learn that the Grail they tried so hard to find a year ago has now been stolen by the powers of the Dark. They are even more horrified to learn that the Dark may use the Grail to discover the manuscript needed to understand the message vital to the Light which is etched on the side of the Grail. They decide that, along with their Great-Uncle Merry, they must return to Cornwall, exactly where they went a year before, and stop the Dark from succeeding. But when they get there, they are annoyed by the fact that Will Stanton is there as well, seemingly getting in the way and stopping them. But what they don't realise is that Will and Merriman(their Great-Uncle) are Old Ones, here to stop the Dark just as much as they are. But now the Dark has angered the Greenwitch and her mother Tethys, and where is Great-Uncle Merry, and why has Jane seen Will wearing a cloak and, with her Great-Uncle, challenging the Dark. . .?

This book concentrates much more on Jane than the first book, and shows that sometimes all you need is a little bit of love and caring to win over someones' heart - as shown in Jane's immortal words: 'I wish you could be happy.'

Don't we all.

I found this book in a used book store and read it for fun. The basic system seems to work. I've played the system against computer blackjack games for hours at a time until I get bored and I seem to run pretty even. As he mentions in the book, the basic hit,stand,split,double system simply evens up the odds between you and the house. To actually make money you need to start counting.

The count system he teaches (The Hi-Opt 1) is easy to understand, but it takes a lot of practice to perfect (as does any counting system). From what I've seen on the web it's still a decent system, but it's not one of the more optimal systems that's been developed since this book was written in the 80's. But it's still a good one.

It's funny though to be constantly reminded that this book was written in the late 70's to early 80's. He keeps making references to Farrah Fawcett and Lee Majors and TV shows like "Barreta". That makes it tough to feel like you're learning the latest and best system. Also, if you just want to know the basic strategy and the count system then you can ignore about 380 of the 404 pages in this book. The rest of the book is stories and advice (which is also quite dated) on how the casinos work and how not to get barred as a counter.

Overall, it's not a bad book, but here in the 21st century it no longer rates as "The World's Greatest Blackjack Book".

This is very good blackjack book. It's very entertaining andeasy to read. The first part of the book concentrates on introducingyou to the gambling world and how it works, with interesting anecdotes as well as useful info. Later in the book he introduces the Hi-Opt I counting system. A very easy to learn and powerful system. Nevertheless the system is weak when certain rules are implemented by the casinos. For example, if the casinos in your area use 6 decks and play european style, this book will be worth it's weight in dirt. It's truely for the amateur player who goes to casinos strictly for fun or to break even. END

This is the first book I read on blackjack and it is what made me so enthusiastic about the game. It is recommended read for most all blackjack players. The only gripe I have is that the HI-OPT I system has indices that only spread to +6/-6. When you are playing blackjack the count will somtimes go well out of that range. The counting system is a great start for the novice player but needs some adjustments to satisfy the skilled. As your skill improves you can increase the power of the system by using side counts for A's and running simulations to extend the indices.

John C. Traupman deserves every merit he garnered with CONVERSATIONAL LATIN FOR ORAL PROFICIENCY. I liked how this book was organized such that each translation was divided into three sections: one for first year Latin students, two others for intermediate and advanced Latin students. This feature makes the book itself useful each year of Latin study. At the end of the book, Dr. Traupman designed an index that pertains to certain types of phrases common in the English language (e.g., salutations, foods, and feelings). Dr. Traupman also translated many modern English words into Latin. "Flashlight" and "jump rope" are examples of these translations.

My praise for this book ends when I answer the question: Is this useful for a Latin student or teacher? As a Latin student myself, I do not believe familiarity with phrases and modern words will serve any purpose in further study of Latin. Secondly, Latin is a language spoken within the works of Roman authors and archaic Catholic manuscripts. Did Caesar ever write about jump ropes? Is the Vatican concerned about its translation of "flashlight"? Third, if a student wants to master Latin, then they should focus on sight reading--a method in which one reads aloud Latin text without references to dictionaries and grammar guides. Unfortunately, there are so few people who converse in Latin that conversational Latin has become simply an oxymoron.

I think everyone should treat this book with the same regard one would consider Henry Beard's LATIN FOR ALL OCCASIONS, that is, valuing the book as a source of entertainment, rather than considering it to be a means of developing a command over the Latin language.

You hear it time and time again, "why are you taking Latin? That's a dead language!" And though Latin is the language of the Classics, conjuring up images of ancient poets and orators, John Traupman's book proves that Latin is indeed still living. Unlike most texts, the chapters in "Conversational Latin" are not arranged in order of difficulty. Rather, they are organized by topic, and within each chapter the sample conversations progress in difficulty. This makes it easier for students, because they can look up topics quickly, rather than trying to remember how hard that conversation was. This also makes it easier for teachers, who can draw from this book wherever a topic coincides with something covered in class.

The vocabulary used in this book is not difficult, including some new words that are not usually covered in textbooks. However, these new words are strangely familiar. . .e.g. "sescentas gratias"--"thanks a million," or "Patientia, patientia. Tempus omnia sanat"--"Patience, patience. Time heals everything." Every word has all the accents so that students can pronounce them correctly. With topics from telling time to gossip about a new girlfriend, "Conversational Latin" is a great addition to any classroom, enriching the study of Latin through speaking and listening interesting conversations.

for all those of you tired of endlessly having to translate sentences like "famous consuls, don't use all your wealth to fill the forum with statues of impious men" -- and of not ever learning how to say "yes" and "no" [!!] -- this book is it. it shows how latin would actually have been spoken [or at least as best as the author can reconstruct].

there are sections on every conceivable aspect of daily life: greetings, basic colloquial expressions, food, clothing, animals, the weather, the calendar, family, emotions, etc. etc. there also a number of useful sections that i would have loved to have seen in my latin textbooks -- general vocabulary ["get", "put", "must", etc.], numbers, colors, proverbs, and of course the infamous "how to say yes and no" [btw those of you amazed that a language can deal without such words might find it interesting that modern brazilian portuguese works almost exactly the same way].

in my experiences learning languages it has become abundantly clear to me that you cannot really learn a language unless you are forced to speak it. this is the only way to make your language knowledge become active -- otherwise it will always remain passive, and no matter how much you read, you will never really be comfortable with the language. this is, unfortunately, exactly the state that most latin teaching is in; a book like "conversational latin" is exactly what's needed to rectify the situation.

This book was unbelievably interesting. I only expected to just look at it quickly but found myself looking at every page, and finding something that was like "wow' on every one of them.

There were a lot of short articles on many subjects and they were written in a fun and light manner and were really easy to read. Some of it made me laugh, and I learned a lot about snakes in general, for example, their mating habits, and about dangerous snakes, (lots of great stuff on that) and rattlesnake facts and all kinds of things I've never seen in other books.

The author seems to have gotten lots of tips for owners from snake owner newsgroups or mailing lists of people who owned snakes because I found a lot of very practical stuff on how to keep snakes, and what to do about mites, and how to handle neighbors who hate snakes, and feeding snakes and terrariums and traveling outside with a snake all from people who had snakes.

If the author wrote another book on this subject I'd buy it in a second but for the time being, this is the best book I've ever seen on snakes. I will keep it always because I like snakes.

Ths is a fun book to read if you have any interest in snakes, and a vital part of your library if you keep snakes, or contemplate keeping them. There are lots of "how I do it" tips from experienced snake owners that aren't found in most other snake care books, such as how to safely transport your snake with you in a car, or how to keep your snake cage cool during a heat wave. These helpful hints and fascinating facts are written in a lively manner, with a lot of humor. While the sections are short so you can consider it "bite-sized" reading, I found it hard to put the book down before the last page.

I own the Book "277 Secrets Your Snake (and Lizard) Wants You to Know. Unusual and Useful Information for Snake Owners and Snake Lovers." by Paulette Cooper. It is by far the best book I have ever read. I have gotten to understand much much more of the snake world just by reading the first 100 pages out of 181 pages. Its not your regular factual/formal book it isn't that formal at all, it is clearly stated in the book. There are interesting facts, stories that you'll have to read to believe, and extremely useful information for snake owners all over the globe.
So instead of doing hours of research online just to find a simple answer to a simple question, just order the book, check the index and find what your looking for. This wonderful book has helped me in ways I can't even try to explain, all I know is that ever since I read the first page of that book, my pet corn snake (Buddy) and hognose snake (Cobra) have been living the good life.

This is a wonderful book. The premise alone is intriguing. The US finally elects a woman president and she's an out lesbian and single mother. The thing is that the book makes it seem so plausible. The story draws you in and wraps you around the characters. You want to see what's going to happen on the next page and you care about what is happening to these two people. The best thing is that there is a lot of humor in this book. Some parts have to be read over just to enjoy the laughter. Here's a hint, the president has a nightmare and the writer goes in to comfort her, then the president's mother finds them in bed together the next morning. The dialogue will crack you up. This is a good story, a tender romance and a great book.

"I had the good fortune of receiving an advance copy of MADAM PRESIDENT, and I read it from cover to cover until the wee hours of the morning. It was one of those experiences where I sat for a lot of the time with a goofy grin on my face, and my partner kept asking what was so funny! I just couldn't help it--the story and the characters were entirely engaging!

Devlyn Marlowe, the first lesbian in the White House, and Lauren Strayer, biographer extraordinaire, are on a collision course of epic proportions, and the Oval Office/White House setting is ripe for all sorts of plot machinations. T and Blayne do not disappoint! They pull off what I would call a blasted good read by keeping the narrative rolling and keeping the reader guessing.

This one is destined to be a classic. I can only hope that there is a sequel to tell us more about the 2nd through 4th years of President Marlowe's term. Jolly good job!"

If it weren't for Amazon.com and a customer's list of recommended books, I never would have known this novel existed. Blayne Cooper and T. Novan have written one of the most interesting, touching and, at times, utterly hilarious stories I have read in a very long time. It's the story of Lauren Strayer, a reluctant biograper and Devlyn Marlowe, the first female and openly gay President of the United States.

The story follows the ever developing relationship between the two women and takes place during the first year of Marlowe's term in office. There is a great cast of supporting characters, ranging from the loyal best friend and Chief of Staff, to an intrepid assistant and one very ugly, yet lovable pug named Gremlin. You will find yourself alternating between empathy and outright laughter as you read through the sometimes outrageous exploits of the characters.

One measure of a good novel is the ability of the author(s) to get the reader to care about the characters within the pages of a book. Blayne Cooper and T. Novan have done a fantastic job of accomplishing just that. So much so, that this was one novel that I was unable and unwilling to put down. The only drawback was that it was not available in a hardcover edition. If it had been, it would have rated much higher than a 5.

This book finally brings together the importance of food and exercise in relation to overall health. BODY CODE explains this in a manner everyone can understand and implement into their lives. This is not a diet but a life style change that if followed will improve every aspect of life. I too was taught by Jay Cooper the body code program. Proper exercise combined with proper foods for your genetic makeup will get you off the diet merry go round. Body Coding teaches us that we do not have to be a rocket scientist in order to understand proper food and proper exercise. Many of the DIET books are either impossible to understand or impossible to follow for the rest of your life. The key is knowing who you are and how your physical self reacts to different foods and exercise. Read the book, follow Jays' advice and your life will change for the better! Thanks Jay for a great book.

I never heard of Jay Cooper before I got this book - and I am not in the income bracket that allows for spa visits. I also can't weigh in on the Abravamel (sp) controversy, except to say that all diets seem to build on previous information. In general I am very leery of trying diet books - I feel that they are usually a waste of money. But a friend highly recommended this one, and after seeing how well she was doing I bought the book. I have found it to be a terrificly well organized and very livable plan that addresses all the issues of dieting, from exercise and energy level to body shape, food cravings and metabolism. I highly recommend it for those who, like me, have struggled with weight over the long haul and are burned out on fad diets. This is a well written and information packed blend of western and eastern research into what makes a body work, and how to fine tune it. More than just a diet - it is an easily followed road map to a healthier, and more energetic away of life - where weight loss is a natural event. Thank you Mr. Cooper and Ms. Lance!!

I was body typed by Jay in Green Valley, and I bought the book to keep up with the plan. I could never lose the "last 5 pounds" no matter how much I exercised or ate well. I finally lost those pounds when I followed my "Communicator" diet and cut out flour, sugar, etc... I highly reccomend this book and encourage everyone to look at the plans as a lifestyle and not just a temporary diet. Once you know your type, you will always be able to control your weight.

If you're into punk rock, this is the book for you! It isn't a dry history book, but rather a lively recounting of the real-life experiences of a young girl who lived through the heyday of punk rock. It's basically an inside look into her personal diary, and details some truly unforgetable stories. I won't give it all away - you've got to read it for yourself. Trust me, though, you're gonna love it!!

All I can say is that I felt that with each and every word written, that I was part of this punk scene that the author herself was in. As I read on and on, I visualized each and every day of her life and the lives of the characters. I felt like I was there. It would make a great film. I hope to see more books from this new author in the future. Kudos to her! A book well written for any age. I really enjoyed it and will let all my friends know about it. Cooper is well spoken and quite diverse.

Well, I've got to say that this quick-paced book was fun to read. The author obviously put her heart and soul into writing this memoir, and it shows. Her story was poignant at some points, exciting at others, often quite funny, but always entertaining.

As someone who witnessed the LA punk scene first hand, I found this book mirrored many of my own experiences, both good and bad. It brought back a lot of memories. Thanks, Aimee, for sharing this part of your life with us!

I read this because I've read other works by Cooper and think he's a first-rate historian. I also didn't know much about Jefferson Davis, except the things that get repeated in history books. This is a well-researched and well-written biography, and I learned a lot. Like one of the other reviewers, I wish there'd been an epilogue; Davis dies, the end. When I finished the book I thought of a line from a poem by Robert Lowell about another famous figure: "He was one of us only, pure prose." I don't know if that's because of the way Cooper presented Davis, or because Davis was, when it all comes down to it, "one of us"--no great hero, but someone who did the best he could.

The person who struck me as the most interesting was Davis's wife Varina, who captivated men as different as John C. Calhoun and Oscar Wilde and was an intelligent, educated, and strong woman. I hope somebody's working on a new biography of Varina!

The book is well researched and well written, and the style is highly readable. Having said that, it's not an engrossing book that's hard to put down either. Nonetheless, I plodded through it over a month and I am glad I did. Jefferson Davis remains an enigma to most Americans; how could someone who had studied at West Point, served in our military, been a Senator and a Cabinet officer lead a rebellion against the very nation he professed to love for so long? The book reveals the answer and makes a convincing argument that Davis neither hated The United States of America nor loved the vile institution of slavery. In his view, and perhaps in the view of many if not most of his Southern contemporaries, the largest viable sovereign political entity was the State, not the Union. Put simply, Davis was a Mississippian, and as long as Mississippi chose to associate itself with the other states of the Union, so too would Davis. But he believed very deeply in the Jeffersonian principle of decentralized government, and Federal mandates were an affront to his interpretation of the Constitution. The book makes his case admirably and tells the story of that period from an interesting perspective. It will not disappoint the reader whose views may be different than those of Mr. Davis.

I have always enjoyed reading historical biographies; in the past few months, I've read about such interesting figures as Thomas Paine, Henry Clay, John Adams and Daniel Webster. Now Jefferson Davis joins this group.

A common trait in these biographies (as well as others I've read) is that the writer, while usually objective, in general looks favorably upon his subject. To some degree, this makes sense, as the writer would not spend years of his life on a subject he really didn't like. With Jefferson Davis, a person who is often considered one of the villains in American history, this presents more of a challenge.

In this work, Davis comes off as neither a hero or a Hitler, but somewhere between: a strongly principled man who unfortunately had some majorly incorrect principles, especially when it came to slavery. It is a very interesting read, and though I disagree with the basis for the Southern cause, it was fascinating to read another point of view.

Although well-written, this book does have some flaws. Although reasonably objective, Cooper occasionally allows his pro-Davis bias to distort or omit certain facts. In addition, at times he skips around a bit in the chronology, which is a bit confusing. Nonetheless, there is enough good material here to rate it around four-and-a-half stars, which I round up here to five. To enjoy reading this book does not mean to agree with Davis; it just means you have an opportunity to broaden your knowledge of the Civil War era.