Author Chris Kiana plunges the reader into a story with the contrasing images of the cruel and raw Alaska with the urban and seedy side of New York City. I particularly liked his pacing, and his introductory chapter gives us a taste of the shaman-like figure and his mission for his trip to New York.
Kiana sprinkles home spun wisdom and native humor into his tale, with his main character showing his shaman-like tendencies. The culture clash is quite evident on his adventures in the city. I liked his revelations on the use of "paper" in our lives to have great insight. In summation, the story is good and compact, with short chapters and was quite entertaining for the reader. Humor is imbedded in the plot along with unexpected flashes of terror.

I loved this book! If you want a cool {get it? She lives in Alaska} author to come to your scool,get Shelley Gill! I loved Kiana's Iditarod because it told me a lot of things.

I like this book because if you have a dream to be a dog racer I would recommend this book for you to read. I loved the illustratons. This is a great book because I like to learn about dogs.

I like this book because there were really good illustrations. I would recommend this book to my brother because he loves animals. I also liked that it was about dogs, and I love dogs! I am excited about her coming to my school.

Kiana's book is the perfect inspiration for all of those "would be hard bodied souls" like myself. With less than a year until my wedding (in Atlanta, GA) I am so grateful to have FINALLY found a book that is fun to read, easy to understand and very motivational. If you've ever put off getting into shape "until tomorrow", I urge you to pick up this book and move toward being fit today. I have!

I bought this book quite a few yrs ago and even bring it to the gym. Many people at the gym came to look at it and even bought it! The exercises, proper manouveurs, and various routines were very helpful. I especially appreciated how it catered everyone (whether you wanted to tone or build)

Kiana did an excellent job with this book.I wish she had more books out.Kiana if you are reading this please write more books!!I love your shows! Keep up the good work!!

Sincerely, Michelle Kiana tom fan :)

The most promising and interesting theme of this novel is the undaunted spirit of the Hawaiian people. Through the eyes of one particular family, the time frame is the 1930's through World War II, devastating the closely-knit community, many native Hawaiian sons lost in combat. The story moves back and forth: from Hawaii to the New Orleans jazz scene, Shanghai to Paris, and back. In the course of events, one heartbreaking message is the truly ignoble and inhumane use of euphemistically named "comfort women" by Japanese soldiers. These innocent women were harvested from city streets and villages to service their captors, their tragic borderline existence only recently widely discussed and documented for readers. Released after the war, their original numbers decimated, they became "ghost women", emaciated and most permanently physically and psychologically damaged.

The central theme, however, is the displaced love of Keo and Sunny. A gifted musician, Keo follows his muse and Sunny becomes his most ardent and loyal fan. As Keo disappears into his music, he barely remarks Sunny's search for her own affirmation in the search for her long-lost sister. Tragically parted by the war, Keo and Sunny endure years of separation as each is subjected to horrendous experiences as Japanese captives, each clinging to the memory of the other. But I had no clear sense of Sunny's personality from the beginning of her reciprocated attraction to Keo. Later, when Keo is agonizing over her whereabouts, a more particular sense of what he so desperately misses, other than adoration, would have helped me appreciate Sunny's qualities. The story changes locations frequently, and I found myself wanting more details of Keo's family and their ongoing struggles, how their ties to one another sustain them through loss and separation. I suspect the most potent material rests within the heart of this family.

Some editorial cuts may have better centered the story. Perhaps Davenport is intending to illustrate the rambling nature of Keo's search, his frustration and overwhelming loneliness, but I feel the novel loses its original vital focus. There are some hectoring passages at the end of the book on the issue of statehood, but my sympathies were already engaged. While certainly an entertaining and informative read, the novel would resonate more fully with fewer geographic leaps and already acknowledged social injustices added to the forum. An emphasis on the love story and tragic circumstances surrounding the lovers, especially the atrocity of "comfort women", was certainly sufficient to hold my interest.

There are not many books that move me to tears, but this one did. Several days after finishing this book, I am still affected by it. It is basically a love story about two people born in the Hawaiin islands. The man (Keo) is destined to become a great jazz player, and he falls in love with a Korean-Hawaiin woman (Sunny) who is haunted by her own issues. They end up going to Europe to pursue Keo's jazz career and end up parting as Sunny begins a search for her long-lost sister. When she leaves, she does it without actually telling Keo she is going. He finds out by waking up and finding her gone with a note. Keo begins his life-long search for his one true love. But unbelievably they both end up as captives during World War II. But life does go on after that, and they are both released from a hell you would not believe. I do not want to give too much away but there is much joy and sadness in this book. Just look at the cover. See how hauntingly beautiful Sunny is and read her and Keo's story.

I will not recount the story; the other reviewers do it, and for my money, the story is marvelous. Like so many, I did not want this book to end, and rationed reading it for that reason. I cannot think of any other writer I have ever read who can capture in concrete, substantial, palpable images abstractions like jazz, or pain, or love, or wistfulness. The visuals her words sculpt are staggering. Hardly essential to an appreciation of this magnificent work, if you have lived in Hawaii, ever had an appreciation of either or both of its indigenous and diverse cultures, been entranced by music, felt the power and mystery of natural things, it will resonate with you on innumerable levels. You will learn a fair amount of Hawaiian along the way if you care to, and you should, as it is a beautiful and evocative and incredibly musical language. The book is more than poetry--it is, in many ways, a great mele. It speaks of essences, of life's value, its challenges, its losses, its pain. There are parts as profound and compact in that as any philosophy one could want (the small chapterlet recounting Malia's last visit with Pono may be the best piece of writing in that regard I have ever read). The political material through the book is, if you read closely, not polemical, but balanced if with a clear but hardly simplistic preference. And on a societal level, it is a magnificent paean to the power of women, especially their power over men, wanted or not, and the consequences, marvelous and horrific, of that power. If you are a woman, or you truly love them as I do, you will hold this book fiercely to your heart. Those who say Ms. Davenport embraced too much in too complex a way--with which I totally disagree--would probably say the same of Thomas Wolfe, whose prose at times hers resembles, several of whose works I number among my favorites in the language. I would rate this book higher than any I have reviewed on Amazon to date, and among the best novels I have ever read--and I have read thousands.

I bought this book after seeing the author, Kiana Tower, on FOX-TV, and then hearing her on a radio station. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. What a funny book! I found the book so entertaining that I'm back here at Amazon.com buying a copy for a buddy of mine.

I liked the stories because they were all short, fun to read, and each one told a different piece of the story of Bay area geeks either having sex, hoping for sex, or having no hope at all of getting any! Some of the stories had me laughing out loud! I ended up reading half of them to my wife: "Hey honey, listen to this one!"

Like that other review said, truth is stranger than fiction! I found this book to be very entertaining.

This book was an absolute riot! It was like peeking into 100 bedroom windows! This book was all about people in the Bay area talking about their dating stories, including stuff like dating disasters, and the most unusual place they've had sex. What funny stories! The best part is-- all the stories are true! I think anyone would enjoy this book, whether they live in the Bay area or not. They could totally relate to the challenges of trying to have a meaninful dating life when you spend most of your life locked away in a cube, or both the dating bliss, and the dating disasters, that result from trying to meet people online. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever been in the dating scene! I give it 5 stars!

Great book! Lots of short stories about people in Silicon Valley going about their dating lives, and yes, even their sexual challenges! There's a surprisingly vivid dating scene in Silicon Valley! The story that takes place up against the statue of Willie Mays at PacBell Park was particularly funny.

I heard the stories were all gathered from genuine Bay area hangouts like craigslist. A great book!

SEX IN SILICON VALLEY is a unique non-fiction book that explores the sex lives of those who live in and around Silicon Valley. It is a compilation of first-person accounts obtained primarily through interviews and questionnaire responses, both in person and through the interner. Various topics covered include sex at work, public sex and 'solo' sex. Both heterosexual and homosexual lifestyles/explorations are included.

This is a neat collection of accounts and is very easy to read. Gossipy ' in the style of popular chatty magazine articles ' SEX IN SILICON VALLEY is a glimpse into the lives of Bay Area professionals ' mostly computer geeks of one sort or another. Often misunderstood, this book cracks open stereotypes in sometimes funny, sometimes meaningful and sometimes simply painful accounts of dating and mating in Silicon Valley. It's great for an afternoon of light reading, especially for a reader who is simply 'curious' about how other people live and love.

Brad Schoenfeld does a wonderful job with this book. It is well thought out -- and moves you from the beginning exercises to the advanced. I have been doing the beginner exercises for about 8 weeks now and have seen a tremendous improvement in my body -- and my energy as well.

It is imperitive that you have access to a gym to work out. Or else you will have to have an extensive gym in your home.

I really learned a lot from this book -- and have every intention to continue my work outs. I know that I can get to the advanced levels -- but I am moving slowly so that I don't injure myself.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about starting a weight lifting program. I have learned more from this book than from the "personal trainers" at my gym.

Kudos to Brad!!

Fitness is my passion and I'm always reading books and articles about fitness. After a while, a lot of the information starts to sound the same. What a refreshing relief to have found this book! This is the first book that I can say that I really learned something from in years. It is divided into three parts; body conditioning, toning and shaping and advanced bodysculpting. While there is good info throughout the book, I found the advanced bodysculpting chapters to be of particular benefit. These chapters show how certain exercises can be combined to achieve optimal definition. The sample routines are great and demonstrate exactly how to incorporate the concepts into a total fitness program.

Overall, the book is very well written and easy to understand. It's a great reference that I'll use time and again.

I've used many books of this genre in my workouts, and this is by far the best I have used. It is easy to read, clear and informative. "Sculpting..." has actually helped to change the shape of my body, not to mention the other benefits such as more energy, strength and endurance. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fitness--it is adaptable to both beginner and advanced workouts. I take it to the gym every day!

Having been born and raised in Hawaii I was familiar with Hawaii's history and culture before I read this novel. I would have to agree with many of the previous reviewers that Shark Dialogues does not always represent accurate historical fiction. And I would also agree with those that said that the book sometimes loses its focus and occasionally delves into extreme political activism.

That said, Shark Dialogues is still a wonderful read. You can feel author Kiana Davenport's passion for her Hawaiian heritage which is so strongly reflected in Pono, the powerfully haunting and mystical central character. And you can sense the great beauty of ancient Hawaii through Ms. Davenport's wonderfully rich descriptions of the islands, its valleys and its people.

Shark Dialogues is a saga of a culturally changing Hawaii told through a daughter of a Tahitian chief in the late 1830's through Pono through her four granddaughters and through the pearls that connect them all. Historically accurate? No. A wonderful read? Yes.

"'SAILORS, LEPERS, OPIUM, SPIES--with such a family history, how could we be anyt'ing but sluts?' Dese Jess's last words to her grandmot'er, Pono. Dat night Pono walk into da sea." Thus, begins this wonderful book of story, saga and myth.

As I read Shark Dialogues I grew to understand the power and sacredness of the Hawaiian Islands. Also the complexities of the people who have inhabited them. Complexities presented to us with complex and well defined characters -- Women characters! It was so nice to delve into powerful women characters. Beginning with Kelonikoa, a Tahitian princess on the run in the 1800's. From Kelonikoa came a pouch of black pearls, a diary, and a heritage of strong, tenacious women. Her daughter Emma, Emma's daughter Lili, Lili's daughter Pono, and Pono's daughters and grandaughters.

Pono, the most powerful, like the sea. Pono, who could dream-see and swim with sharks. Pono, who could be so cruel. Pono, who scared everyone, especially her grandaughter's Jess, Vanya, Ming and Rachel, all the fruit of this woman.

This book beautifully shows the continuous cycle and circle of life, as we repeat our ancestors as ourselves. Here, as mothers struggle to love and raise their daughters, and as women seek the same over and over, in their lives, their love and their men. Shark Dialogues is personal, political, historical and magical.

Written by a woman of Hawaiian descent who clearly loves her people, this family saga is the story of Hawaii itself. The central character is the matriarch Pono, whose life includes harsh realities and surreal myths. Her long and passionate love for her husband Duke has caused her great joy, but the situations they had to face together have required strength and courage.

Pono's four adult granddaughters, each born of a different mixed blood heritage and who now live in various parts of the world, come back to Hawaii to visit, forcing them all to come to terms backgrounds.

Their stories are all revealed though flashbacks, going all the way back through seven generations, mixing history with myth in a wonderful array of unforgettable characters. I'll never forget the story of life in a leper colony, or of life on a plantation. I'll long remember the mythical quality of the sea and its ability to both nourish and destroy. There's life and death and passion and joy. There's war and peace and destruction by both human greed and natural forces.

At 480 pages, this is a book to sink into and look forward to reading at the end of the day. A book that brings the story of Hawaii alive to the reader and a fresh retelling of truths and legends

Over all, I would have to say that I was disappointed with this one. I would definitely not call this one a sizzler. It was well written and some of the stories where interesting but it was in no way erotic or stimulating.

The book is basically a compilation of responses to a survey by people living in around New York. Kiana Tower colleted her information from both web based surveys and bulletin board ones. It was then organized into categories and the ones she deemed interesting where published in the book. The analysis of the survey results are given in one of the appendixes of the book.

To sum it up if you are looking for some stimulating erotic stories keep looking. If you want a peek in to the dating lives of New Yorkers and the affects 9/11 has had on them, then this may be the book for you.

If you've ever wanted to know if Sex in the City is reality or fantasy, Kiana Towers gives us a peep into the private lives of New Yorkers. And it turns out that truth is far wilder than fiction. Using replies to a questionnaire circulated on the net she has compiled a collection of stories that will make you shocked, amazed, jealous and put them down in a very readable book. In their own words men and women share their highs and lows, their struggles to find partners (or their struggles to get rid of them in some cases), and their delight at the unexpected bonuses sex can bring, all while rushing around the multicultural treadmill that is New York.

With sections like Dating Disasters and Challenges, Gay in New York, East Coast vs West Coast, there is just so much love-making going on. The storytellers are of all ages from 70 down and write of their experiences with an endearing freshness. We follow New Yorkers as they search their city for lovers (libraries score highly as a place to meet exciting partners) and take them home to find out if their performance matches their appearance. Or sometimes they do not make it home in time. New Yorkers enjoy making love in all sorts of strange venues. In Kiana's words, 'apparently, having sex in a taxicab is something of a required ritual for NYC residents'. Lesser mortals, whose idea of making love in strange places is limited to in front of the television after the kids have gone to bed, might cringe at the idea of ecstasy in the back of a cab. New Yorkers are made of tougher stuff and are not afraid to flaunt it in cabs, in Central Park, in restrooms of stores and restaurants, in convenient darkened doorways or just anywhere that two good people can get their parts together.

Kiana writes with a light heart and the result is a highly entertaining book that can be dipped into or read as a fascinating whole. An ideal stocking filler for Christmas, everyone will like it and it is tasteful enough to give to a maiden aunt. Or maybe not a maiden one; she might be tempted to join in the carnival.

I found this book to be very funny, and some of the stuff in there sent me running for my mate! Funny, and hot. I liked it a lot.

It also read very quickly. Perfect book for reading in the bathroom, or on an airplane, or at the doctor's office.

"100 Happy Naked" was definitely worth the money. I then passed my copy on to a friend because this one is definitely worth sharing.