4 comments about Space (Magic Tree House Rsrch Gdes(R)).

1. Once you are 100 miles above Earth, you are in space. Anything beyond Earth's atmosphere is space. There are a lot of planets, stars, and space rocks in space.
   A spacecraft travels in space and carries supplies and people. A spacecraft has to go 25,000 miles per hour to get away from gravity and get into space. Spacecrafts have rockets to lift them into space.
   Fuel is burning in the rocket at very hot temperatures. The hot gasses come out from the bottom and push the rocket up. Rockets were used 1,000 years ago as fireworks and weapons by the Chinese.
   The Soviet Union and the Unites States had a race to have a spacecraft go into space. The Soviet Union sent the first satellite into space. A satellite is something that travels around a planet. The Soviet Union won that race. The United States put its own satellite into space and the race began.
   An astronaut is a person from America that is trained to go into space. A cosmonaut is a person from Russia trained to go into space. A person from Russia, or a cosmonaut, orbited the Earth in less than two hours. He was the first person to orbit the Earth.
   The United States and the Soviet Union had a race to get someone into space first. John F. Kennedy made a challenge to send someone to the moon before the 1960's were over. A lot of people worked for that goal.



2. My kids love these research guide books from Magic Tree House writers but this one was a disappointment. One whole chapter was devoted to the big bang theory which we personally don't believe in. They should have skipped this chapter and focused on facts.



3. The kids realy like the animations and presentations of this book. While it is definately not boring, the planets themselves get only one page each of factual info in super small text. The solar system overview chapter was great for group reading and was primarily what I used from the book, including a photo of a meteorite in comparison to the size of children. Translation: great as a fun addition to learning but not to replace hard fact texts and in-depth lesson plans.
   ----You don't need to read the accompanying Magic Tree House fiction book in order to use this research guide.



4. This is a bit out of date. Perhaps children won't mind. Pluto is no longer a planet. Plans for humans to go to Mars have been scrapped. The Very Large Telescope in Chile was completed years ago. Etc.
   
   It says there is no proof that UFO's exist when clearly objects that haven't been identified do exist, there's just no proof they are space aliens.
   
   But, nevertheless probably a fun book for kids who like science.

5 comments about Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money Modern Issues (Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. Vol 3: Modern Issues).

1. I was very disappointed by the latest issue of the 'modern issues' catalogue. There are at least two instances of incorrect page-headings, which are confusing, and one group of notes missed out completely - which suggests carelessness in editing the book. However my main disappointment is the number of issues which were new in 2005 or the first half of 2006 which have not been included - which, for a book dated and published in 2007 just is not good enough. If Krause Publications are going to make an annual out of the modern issues catalogue, then they must make the cut-off date for the inclusion of new issues much closer to the publication date. Why could they not put in the front a prominent note saying something like 'including all new issues up to July 2006'?
   
   I feel a bit cheated by Krause.
   
   
   Keith Potter



2. Having been a major collector of banknotes for 40+ years, I find the SCWPM series of banknote catalogs invaluable, but far from complete or accurate. This volume has improved graphics and updated pricing compared to the previous edition. The numbering system is chaotic, pictures misplaced, signature charts missing or incomplete, latest issues missing, etc. Mr. Cuhaj needs some help.



3. If you collect modern banknotes, you must own the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Volume III: Modern Issues (US$50, Krause Publications, ISBN 0-89689-502-5). The simple fact is that there is no other omnibus catalog that covers post-1960 issues in such detail. Now in its 13th edition, Volume III contains 12,000 illustrations of notes from over 200 issuing authorities, most with valuations in three different conditions. The SCWPM is our collector community's bible, and its "Pick" numbers are the lingua franca used worldwide to identify types and varieties. However, anyone who spends more than a few minutes examining the SCWPM soon discovers its many flaws.
   Let me begin by stating that I realize it is a gargantuan task trying to ensure the accuracy of so much detailed data on a subject that is sometimes obscured by intentional secrecy. With 1,048 pages, it's inevitable that minor typos creep in and omissions are made. Many errors I had spotted in previous editions have been corrected, yet new ones have cropped up. But the problems I have with the SCWPM are not minor, they are systemic. According to the back cover blurb, editor George Cuhaj compiles input from "more than 80 experts around the world." This alone probably explains many of the catalog's flaws. These unpaid contributors are anonymous, and they bring different levels of dedication to the task of updating their areas of expertise. As a result, the SCWPM is often inconsistent.
   For example, sometimes a note with a new date or signature combination gets a new type number, other times it warrants only a new variety letter, and other times it's just grouped together with several other dates. Australia, Switzerland, and West African States all have listings with extremely detailed varieties, while most other countries list only an issued note and specimen. Speaking of specimens, often they are listed without description or price. Does this mean they are unconfirmed or rare? And why is it that the introduction claims the variety letter "r" is used to indicate remainders, though Biafra's notes lacking serial numbers are given "b" variety letters and Cayman Islands uses "r" to indicate replacements? Rather than being systematic and predictable, the numbering scheme is arbitrary and subjective. Fortunately, renumbering has been held to an "absolute minimum" in this edition, but unexplained gaps from previous renumberings exist, as do new discoveries shoehorned into the inflexible scheme with numbers followed by capital letters to distinguish them from lower-case variety letters.
   The problem with inconsistencies extends beyond the pervasive numbering scheme to the issue of signatures. If a country's note varieties are clearly distinguishable from one another based upon other attributes--such as date or overall design--I understand there is no need to publish a signature table. However, it is unforgiveable to omit same if the note descriptions make specific references to signatures either by number or name. For example, Argentina SCWPM 275-282 refer to signature titles by letters, but the accompanying table from the 12th edition has been dropped. Likewise, Belgium SCWPM 134-152 refer to signature numbers that have never been documented in any edition. Unfortunately, the signature tables which do appear don't always include the signatory's full name, title, and term of service. In fact, Bhutan's signature table lacks numbers altogether, so references are confusing, to say the least.
   I'm happy to report that the list of banknote printers and their abbreviations has returned after being dropped since the 10th edition, but good luck finding it since it doesn't appear in the table of contents (hint: it's in the back of the book, sandwiched between full-page advertisements).
   Though it bears a copyright of 2007 and claims to cover modern issues from "1961-present," the 13th edition fails to include many recent releases one would expect. For example, there's no mention of the new families of notes from Azerbaijan and Mozambique introduced in 2006, nor of the European Union notes bearing Jean-Claude Trichet's signature, and these have been out for years. Nonetheless, I would recommend the 13th edition if for no other reason than its black-and-white images are much clearer overall than the muddy illustrations of the previous edition. While the front and back of most notes are shown, not all notes are depicted, and the images are just big enough to aid in identification, but not to savor the details. Inexplicably, all recent editions have also included eight pages in color of randomly selected notes without any commentary or obvious purpose. This costly insert should be put to better use--highlighting new color varieties or particularly attractive new issues--or dropped entirely.
   Aside from identification of note varieties, the other purpose of a catalog is to provide accurate values of notes. Here, too, the SCWPM provides questionable guidance. Many countries have not seen any valuation changes whatsoever over the course of several editions. This is simply impossible given the fact that all values are expressed in US dollars, and this currency has experienced a significant drop in exchange rates across the board over the past few years. For example, the high-denomination Haitian notes printed on Tyvek remain listed at relatively accessible prices, despite the fact that I have never seen these rarities offered for sale at any price. Even in those countries which have been updated, the new valuations are unreliable. For example, Romania's notes dated 2005 are all still priced below face value, though not as severely as in the previous edition. On the other hand, the prices of common recent issue Australian notes have spiked beyond reason. And some countries--such as France, Italy, and Qatar--have some VG and VF notes priced at face, despite being demonetized.
   If you collect the entire world, the SCWPM is the only game in town, and is a necessary reference well worth the price, even in light of its shortcomings. But if you focus on particular countries or regions, you'll want specialized catalogs instead.
   
   This review first appeared in print in the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Journal 46.3.



4. As a beginning collector, I didn't really know very much about this subject, and the book helped me immensly. I highly recommend this book both for novice collectors like me, and for those lucky individuals who have been doing it for years. An excellent source!



5. It was a pleasure to work with you. The catalog is very useful and it was delivered in no time. Thank you

2 comments about Pirates (Magic Tree House Research Guide, paper).

1. I personally far prefer the non-fiction companions to the Magic Tree House Books. The Magic Tree House books don't seem to have a lot of "meat" to them and aren't very interesting to me or many of my (...) grade students. The non-fiction companions are truly absorbing and interesting. I enjoy them quite a bit and look forward to getting more for my students, and forgeting the fiction books altogether.



2. I learned how the ancient Egyptians lived and what they did in their everyday life. I also learned about their burial chambers in the pyramids. They put paintings and all of their belongings in the tombs for use in their after lives. The pyramids were made of big stone blocks. Workers would move these heavy stone blocks into the a shape of a pyramid. I would recommend this book to any one who wants to learn about the ancient Egyptians.

5 comments about Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present.

1. Marks on pottery have always been of interest to me. Some are obvious and well-known and others obscure. Couldn't find all the marks I was looking for. Still a good book to have.



2. I haven't been happy with this book since I purchased it. Haven't found one mark from any of the pottery or china I have from this book. Only one or maybe two examples of the companies which made the pottery but not the marks. For example I can't even find the simple "Anchor" from Anchor Hawking Co.(There are plenty of other anchors). I have a very nice Blue "Old Fashion"/juice glass fron A.H. but I have never seen one in blue. Looked it up and could not find MARK in this book. I was very surprised. I've been thinking about purchasing the Second Edition of Kovels' book, but been holding back... Can anyone tell me if it is better or if it's just me, I hope..Mary, techmom@usamedia.tv (No Solicitors Please! Only those wanting to talk about this book please reply. NO SPAMMERS!!)



3. Bought this as a gift for my daughter and she has really enjoyed it's contents. Now she can see if the "Junk and/or Antiques" she has purchased has any real value!!



4. This is a good resource book. It has it's limitations, but I use it almost daily. I look up alot of ceramics marks, and I find the large majority of them in this Kovels book. It is great if you are looking for a specific makers mark, or decoratoras mark. The limitation is that there is no way to comprehensively view all marks from one particular maker. If you have a few treasures that you want to accurately identify, then it is very good. Don't get me wrong, I haven't found every mark I look for. But I haven't found a Marks reference that I do. This book provides a good clean and easy format to locate the mark I need, and quickly.
   
   Also, if you are looking for back ground info on the company, this isn't the book for you. While the Kovel's do an excellent job of showing literal thousands of easy to find marks, thats all they show. All in all a highly recommended resource. Any serious ceramics collector, dealer, or dedicated flea market/yard saler should have a copy.



5. If you collect this type of pottery, you will have to get this book sooner or later as it provides an outstanding reference to marks found on these items and so permits you to assess the age of the item. But the lack of any real advice, wisdom, guidance, explanations, etc. about the subject of collecting these pieces, knowing when marks are real or fake, and assessing the quality of the pieces is essentially nil. So you will have to learn pretty much everything you need to know from other sources. A real disappointment given that the authors are almost certainly know a lot more about the subject matter than they put into these books. M Pezim

5 comments about The Pillars of Creation (Sword of Truth, Book 7).

1. The fact that Goodkind follows a new set of characters in this novel instead of the main heroes of the series is not, by itself, a good reason to rate the book poorly, yet it seems to be the main reason given by most of the critics here. If anything, Goodkind should instead be praised for trying something a little different after the ambitious and successful Faith of the Fallen.
   
   As for how successful he is here, it's true that this is not among the best books of the series--some of the new characters are better than others, and some parts of the story more engrossing than others--but it is still quite good. I especially liked Althea and her husband Friedrich, and Tom. Jennsen is a mixed case, but more good than bad. Oba was a bit annoying. Sebastian is one of the best new Goodkind characters, good or evil (perhaps in this case not obviously either), in a long time. The section when he takes Jennsen to meet Emperor Jagang for the storming of Aydindril stands up to almost anything in the series thus far.
   
   And, as usual, Goodkind's story illustrates important political and philosophical themes. Here we have a novel about the crucial need of, appropriately enough in light of 9/11, good intelligence agencies (though this is hardly an Ian Fleming novel), and more deeply of using your own judgment rather than relying on what others tell you is the right or wrong thing to do. A worthy message well told.



2. I was very hesitant about reading this novel, given all the horrible reviews . I'm so glad I didn't listen to them, and pleased that I saw the common thread and was able to see past them.
   
   I don't know if the edition I read (paperback) was re-edited or something but I found the writing to be just fine. Yes, Goodkind says the same thing over and over, but he has done that on many books in this series and it is just something you endure or you don't. I can't see how someone could get to this point and suddenly see that?
   
   Yes, the story is NOT about Richard or Kahlan. If that bothers you then don't read this book. However, if you can get beyond that narrowing restriction you will be rewarded with a story about two people; one confused but good and one confused and evil.
   
   I personally enjoyed a book from the other perspective. I was drawn to Jensenn and hoping she would figure out the truth. I hated Oba and kept waiting for justice to find him.
   
   Now, a lot of complaint seems to be about the goat, Betty. Why? I have no idea. The goat represents the last remnant of her simple life with her mother. It could have been any animal, and a goat was a fine as any.
   
   Overall, I thought this novel was a real page turner. I kept wanting to know when or if Jensenn would figure out the truth, or when would Oba pay for his crimes. The novel was fresh and fun to read. Goodkind has created a world that is big enough to contain more than two characters and I applaude his choice.



3. PILLARS is a fine read. It is true that Richard and Kahlan have very few parts in the novel. However, the story serves as background noise that really helps the series as a whole. It is nice to see other perspectives, and I thought the book was very entertaining. Do not let negative reviews keep you from reading this book. It is a fun romp and a great adventure. I think it proves that Goodkind can do something in the future with other characters set in his fantasy world that will be fun to read as well. I would like to see him do some young Zedd stories...



4. This seems to be Goodkind's most hated book of the series so far. My take is that I enjoyed it, am looking forward to the next one, and it's not any worse than any of Goodkind's previous books in the series. Which is to say that it has a lot of faults despite being an enjoyable read. It's pulp fiction, not literature.
   
   At page 411, I figured out exactly what the plot was (good job deceiving me so long Terry, or maybe I'm just a really gullible reader). So after page 411, it was just about getting to the "surprise" ending that I had already figured out.
   
   Richard Rahl only shows up at the very end of the book, to offer some wise words of Ayn Rand inspired objectivism. How did he go from dumb trail guide to objectivist philosopher? The stuff he spouts off now would have seemed totally out of character if he had said it in the first book of the series.
   
   There are those who say that this novel tells us more about the history of the Rahl family, but I get the impession that Goodkind made all this stuff up just for this novel--it's inconsistent with everything in the previous books in the series.
   
   Oba, is he really evil? It seems to me that his mother mistreated him horribly, and then the Keeper, an awesomely powerful supernatural entity, took him over and was the one really running the show. I felt sorry for the real Oba.



5. The way that the Goodkind tells a story is absolutely amazing. I have read very few if any science fiction books but if they all are as engrossing as this book was I might soon find myself hooked. It would have got 5 stars but do to my lack of experience with the genre I only felt comfortable giving out 4 stars. Do not hesitate to read if you have the time, its well worth it.

5 comments about Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy.

1. The lanuage and visualizations are stunning. I enjoyed the pictures the author paints not just of the country itself but of the food and the people. The base story is a bit hard for me though, most of us that have such trials in our life can't afford to "buy" happiness so it makes the heroine a bit tiresome.



2. I picked up this book when it first came out and couldn't get through it because of the painfully detailed descriptions of the remodeling. This is less a book about beginning a new life in Italy and more about the remodeling of a house which just happens to be in Italy. I picked up the book again last week and did manage to finish it. I'm really surprised that this became a bestseller and would probably not read other books by this author. Julia Child wrote a wonderful, wonderful book called "My Life in France" that I would definitely recommend as a great example of travel writing.



3. I was so looking forward to reading, "Under The Tuscan Sun". An avid traveler, I love to explore various places through books since having 3 kids doesn't allow me to travel as much as I used to. I assumed the book would be good considering it was a #1 New York Times Bestseller.
   
   Maybe my expectations were too high. I found the book to be monotonous, laborious and rather self-indulgent. The relationships Mayes appears to have developed seem superficial at best and imagery of the old, deep south conjured in my mind as I read about her cook "Wille Bell" and her seamstress as a child in Georgia. I thought I would relate to this part of Mayes' life as I too grew up in Georgia, but, again, the absence of any emotional impact left me wanting just to finish the book and be done with it.
   
   Aside from the rehabilitation of her home in Tuscany which was written about mostly at the beginning of the book, I found the book to have a lack of continunity and really any depth. The self-proclamed pagan describes churches and locations, but doesn't capture the romance, innocence and intrigue that will keep you flipping pages.
   
   Mayes does appear to be a fabulous cook and I would probably like a cookbook by her. However, if you are looking for a novel with a plot to sink your teeth into, this is definitely NOT it. I much prefered "Eat, Pray and Love" and the first chapter (which I am now reading) of "Almost French" is wildly more clever and intriguing.



4. ISBN 0767900383 - As a fan of lists, I'm always curious about books that make bestseller lists. I rarely read them, but I'm always curious. This was the case with Under the Tuscan Sun until a rather beat-up, unsellable copy fell into my hands. My curiosity, but little else, has been satisfied.
   
   A recap of the plotline is usually the second paragraph for me. The trouble here is that this book doesn't actually have a plotline. The author and her boyfriend bought a house in Tuscany, living there during the summer and restore it and the land around it. Seriously, that's it: no actual point, no build up, not a character to root for (although there were moments I admit to rooting for the house to fall down on them, just to liven things up). So much for the recap!
   
   Beautifully written, Under the Tuscan Sun isn't without redeeming qualities. Tuscany sounds like a bit of Heaven on Earth and Mayes, reputed to be a good cook, turns out to be a decent writer, at least so far as descriptive writing goes. A few short sections are even well-done humor. For that, the richness of language, the way you can nearly smell the food and hear the quiet of the countryside, for that, Mayes gets 5 stars. For boring me nearly to death, ZERO stars! An average of 3 stars seems a reasonable compromise. There are definitely readers for this type of book, I just happen to not be one of them. If you're looking for a relaxing read, this one certainly fits your needs; if you want a storyline, something more exciting than recipes, this book is a snore - if your blood flowed to the rhythm of this book, you'd be dead.



5. This is a wonderful, wonderful, journey, adventure, book. By all means, it should be read....just not aloud by the author. Why do people think that if they write a book they have the skill to read it??

5 comments about Glamorama (Vintage Contemporaries).

1. This book is terrifying and exhilarating. I find Ellis' wording to be peotic. He is very good at describing every moment of the models life. If you enjoyed American Psycho, you will love this book.



2. Didn't even finish the book. I didn't care enough about the characters to continue. What do I care about what happens to a witless, self indulgent male model? I couldn't relate to it and it wasn't original enough for that not to matter.
   
   Ellis always gets thrown into a litery catagory with Chuck Palahniuk but at the end of the day, Palahniuk's books feel fresh and original whereas the Ellis novels seem redundant and not all that interesting.



3. This book is very much like American Psycho (although American Psycho is the superior novel). Victor Ward and Patrick Bateman struggle with the same issue of individuality and identity in an image obsessed culture where the glamorous veneer masks a bloody, disgusting underside. This book takes the idea of insanity to the max, with a spaced out vibe that works if you decide to go along with it. Although, at times at the end this book seems to just be random episodes that make no sense. This book is kind of like a Salvidor Dali painting in written form, it's surreal at times. I recommend the book only to fans of Ellis' other works, especially those who have read American Psycho and who can see Pat Bateman and Victor Ward as two sides of the same coin. The one difference of course is that Bateman is more philosophical and makes some sense of his situation, whereas Ward is entirely vapid. Pay close attention for a number of cameos by previous characters from works by Ellis and McInerny, especially a brief encounter with Pat Bateman!



4. This book goes by really quickly in the first half, and I was hooked. The second half went a little slower, but it seemed deliberate. There's so much imagery in this book that keeps re-occurring, and the author did an excellent job in setting moods with each "portion" of the book. I say this because it's structured in three small portions---one with our protagonist in New York living a fast and glamorous life, one where he is stuck on a cross-Atlantic ship in a dreamlike state, and one in Europe, where he's almost catatonic as everything around him spins out of control. I don't want to spoil the plot here, so I'll conclude with a definitive "Read it." It's not a "Must Read," but still very enjoyable.



5. From word one, you are dunked under the surface of reality and submerged into Victor's world. The book holds your head under while you struggle against the name-dropping onslaught of party boy conversations and narration. Ellis paints the 90s like a photograph.
   
   Just when you think you know the book's tone, just when you've become accustomed to vacuous Victor, cloying Chloe, antagonistic Allison, dangerous Damien...the book flips you on your head and the entire thing changes. I'd give too much away if I said anything else.
   
   Man, is it cold in here to you? Clean up that confetti over there before you go.

5 comments about Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins and Relics Revisited.

1. Both volume one and two are very interesting and well researched books.
   I traveled Route 66 a couple of years ago and reading the book was fascinating- now I know how many locations I went sailing past without a clue!
   When I next get a chance to do a repeat journey, I shall certainly re-read the books very thoroughly and travel slower so as not to miss such historic scenes.



2. this is a great book in my opinion i love it very informative nice pictures and comparisons from old-new of most photos of places .. i have been on bits of 66 over the years i may never drive the majority of it but reading this book made me feel like i did wonderful is all i can say



3. I was very disapointed with this book. I was hoping to get some information about route 66 as it is today, but it's all but gone now.
   
   What made it a bad book for me is they showed how it used to be then should it as it is today. I just wanted to cry. It would have been all right if they just showed the old or the new, but the before and after just about killed me emotionally.



4. Great Photographs, yesterday and today. Gives you a good feeling of the old Route 66.



5. This book is great to take a look into the past and the hearty souls that created the famous route..To read it is to take a trip into the past..It is a great book I throughly enjoy it.

5 comments about The Secret River.

1. This is a beautifully written novel about early white settlers in Australia and about the impact of such settlement on the indigenous inhabitants. It is also a novel about opportunities and opportunism.
   
   In 1806, William Thornhill, convict, arrives in New South Wales transported for the term of his natural life.
   
   In Kate Grenville's words: 'He had been condemned to death, and then to life.'
   
   He is assigned as a convict labourer to his wife, Sal, and 8 years later is free to claim 100 acres along the Hawkesbury River.
   
   William sees a future in New South Wales whereas Sal would like to return to London. This tension - between the known and the unknown - is one of the underlying themes of the novel. While personal to William and Sal, it also underwrites much of Australian colonial history.
   
   When the Thornhills move to the Hawkesbury we see firsthand the impact of european settlement on the indigenous inhabitants. While the novel concentrates on the european perspective, it does not ignore the original inhabitants.
   
   As The Secret River moves beyond the story of William Thornhill, convict, into the life of William Thornhill, emancipist, so New South Wales develops from a convict outpost to a european settlement in a foreign country.
   
   This novel was inspired by Kate Grenville's research into her own family history.
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



2. I bought this book by chance (nice cover).
   It is a good story and reads easily. The woman shines through beautifully and the husband plays his part well - a weak and slow witted person and yet a good husband and father. One son has the courage to rebel and shows the beauty of what man is capable.
   And isn't it a cooincidence that Australia just apologized to the autochtones for all of their inhumane treatment.
   The paralell between the European devastaton of the Americas and Australia is quite normal given the arrogance of the Occidental Civilization.



3. I read this for our local book group discussion. I got to a certain point, then could not continue, knowing how violent the story was becoming. Now, I will own up that I do not enjoy movies with violence, nor do I like books that are too graphic in their violent scenes. The Secret River had not only portrayed graphic violence, but also prejudice that mirrored our own country's shameful treatment of Native Americans and other people of color. Heck, our country certainly has a long history of prejudice against whites, too--think of European immigrants,e.g, the Irish, the Poles, etc. I visited Australia in 2007. In an isolated incident, I encountered an Aussie who vehemently stated "I HATE 'em" when our conversation turned to a discussion of Aborigines. At that point, I felt I was listening to an American White Supremacist rail against all people who were not "pure." Maybe this won't bother you, but it disgusted me, and knowing where the story was heading, I had to put it down. Grenville's writing did draw me into the story, and that kept me reading as long as I did. Her character development was generally satisfactory, yet some of her characters left me wanting more development. I won't advise against reading The Secret River; but readers who have a distaste for stories that include violence and intolerance---beware.



4. Kate Grenville's imagery is beautiful. This novel transports you back to life on the Hawkesbury 200 years ago, warts and all.



5. I found this book to be quite a mixed bag. I am fascinated by Australia and really enjoyed the historical information about living conditions in England and Australia, about the settlers sent to Australia as a sort of deliverance from what was really another planet and about the Australian aborigines and their reactions to the settlers/invaders--- all of this was well worth reading. It is somewhat Micheneresque, but better, I think.
   
   Now, on to "not my bag". There is a sort of sadistic streak in some current literature which requires that the reader bow his head and take a beating as his just reward in this hideous and flawed world in which we are all guilty of terrible depredations toward the innocent and the weak. I felt that THE SECRET RIVER partakes heavily of that cake, and having consumed it many times before, I just didn't want to eat it once again. I didn't want to read about the violence, the betrayals, the terrible weakness, misery and guilt of individuals/invaders/predators. That's why I have given a relatively well-written book two stars. I admit it's a personal vantage point which not everyone shares, and, no doubt, many others will find this book more enjoyable than I did.

5 comments about The Celebrity Black Book 2008: Over 55,000 Accurate Celebrity Addresses (Celebrity Black Book).

1. FANS FANS FANS
   I am a H U G E FAN of THE CELEBRITY BLACK BOOK, also of their amazing website. It has so much to offer the possibilities are truely amazing.
   It's a free trail offer so...How can you miss at that? Then a small monthly fee "if" you desire after your free trail is over the site and the information is valid changing and so worth the advantage it provides people not involved in their industry. However whom do you trust but need their help or voice or whatever? Well you found it this is the best path to take to find it and rely that the information that you get from them. I have been in marketing a long time and am familiar with many books like The Celebrity Black Book and they do NOT comapre first off they are a quarter the size and the information is so out-dated it is not worth the paper it is prnted on. You will find that Contact any Celebrity will make sure you get what you are looking for, as they are committed!!!
   Seriously by just exploring their website your marketing plans may even take a new turn. You will find ideas galore, amazing free offers, and million dollar ideas, ideas you have or have had and not know exactly how to accomplish it...Well some of those answers may just be here for you give you answer's or even a new idea. By just taking the time to investigate other peoples idea's, challenges, and success stories will give one an amazing insight into what you can hope to expect and or not expect.
   
   "You may learn a whole new idea that changes all your plans but makes all the difference in the world."
   
   [...]
   
   Happy hunting and best wishes. I had written one letter as a sample to see what kind of result I may expect and I was emailing back and forth within a half hour of my original email to this very HIGH profile singer from Ca. Now living overseas most of the time. I was amzzed. IT was my first attempt and I got results that told me be EXAXTLY sure what you are planning and have all decisons made before you make any contacts they can happen faster then you can imagine. This was a trail, and I made that clear to my party so luckily with the skills I have developed over the years I now know and have built a relationship with someone so I can go back to them again later when I am more prepared because I explained it was just a trail.
   I am lucky I have the gull and marketing experience of how to react and not knee jerk react or it could have gone really badly for me so my advise is to be prepared!!! You willbe amazed at how quickly it happens sometimes depending on their schedule's. It can be same day or overnight and sometimes take months to a year before you hear anything!
   So be prepared "Study success to be successfull"(C) 2000 TES
   
   H.A.R.P. Healing Arts Research for Pain, Inc.
   The Why Not Foundation
   
   Sincerely,
   Trudy Schwartz-Burrill
   President and CEO



2. Well, just knowing how difficult it is to find an address, at least the most current, makes this book worth the investment. Even though I was even able to find Stephen King's home address quickly using only Google, finding celebs isn't always that easy. Having said that, probably the best buy, if you're going to be needing addresses to the rich and famous over a lengthy period of time, is the online membership which you can cancel any time. However, if your need is temporary, get the book. Also, for you naysayers, this is a book of addresses, not guarantee contacts. To actually get in touch with the celebs takes certain protocols and persistence. Don't expect a letter and response, you're in. These people are busy and get a lot of mail from a lot of people. If you're serious, be a persistent, benevolent pest and you'll get results. Many letters are returned unanswered, but you've got to learn what to say and how to send your letters of inquiry. Good luck.



3. I got this book for my birthday. It's great for sending letters, but addresses are all it lists. There aren't any phone numbers or email addresses in this book, contrary to what I thought.
   
   I haven't tried sending anyone a letter yet, but I'll update my review with the results once I do.
   
   PS. This book really increased in price! I got it at like $40 (forty American greenbacks, in case the censor blocks it).



4. Having a non-profit foundation, this book has been a great asset. It has allowed me to contact celebrities that would have been difficult for me to contact.



5. I can't see inside this piece of garbage to see if it's more accurate than the 2007 edition which had a twelve-year-out-of-date address for me. But don't waste your money on either. There is this new-fangled thing called the internet.