No comments about Serenity Six-Shooters & Spaceships (Serenity Role Playing Game).

5 comments about Brown Belt Sudoku (Martial Arts Sudoku).

1. There's nothing objectively wrong with this collection of puzzles. I've completed fifteen of them so far, and it's been relatively enjoyable. The problem is the difficulty, or lack thereof. I have not had to make one single "pencil mark" in any of the puzzles. To be sure of the lack of challenge, I turned to the back of the book and completed the last ten, which confirmed that every puzzle in this collection can be completed without any notation or advanced techniques. Considering I bought this thinking it would be challenging, it has hardly lived up to its purpose. Still, it can be fun to pass a few minutes here and there with the book, so I wouldn't consider it worthless. If you consider yourself an advanced solver, however, skip this.



2. I actually received this entire series from my brother, who although he couldn't get into the Sudoku mode himself appreciated my passion for it.
   
   I enjoy all levels of Sudoku, and tend to select the difficulty of the puzzle I do on the basis of how I'm feeling rather than on what I believe my ability to be. One of the benefits is that the easier puzzles provide one with a sense of accomplishment that can help neutralize a blue spell or a negative life experience. (I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the seretonin level of the brain is significantly effected by this process which may be what gives these puzzles their reputation for "addiction.") The mid-level and difficult puzzels, provide a sense of a challenge well met. In short they give one a bit of a buzz.
   
   I have to say, however, that I actually found some of the Green Belt puzzles more complicated than some of those in this book. It seems almost as if the author generated a bunch of puzzles and divided them up between two volumes to which he gave different relative lables quite randomly. That said, I found them all very entertaining.



3. I did all the puzzles in the "Brown Belt" book, although I had to skip a few and "cheated" on a few more by looking at the answers. When the book was nearly finished I was hoping to get the "black belt" version for Christmas, but a friend gave me a second copy of this Brown Belt one. I was amazed to find that the first few I could do using the method I use to start each puzzle (starting with the nines, I look for a 9 in two cubes and try to figure out the missing one in the third cube) without doing my normal horizontal, then vertical, then cube by cube. I was surprised to find that the puzzles do get harder, even though they don't seem to. Now I'm wanting to move on to the Black Belt Black Belt Sudoku (Martial Arts Sudoku) book, but the reviews are pretty abysmal. Oh well, I'll give it a try anyway.... [bragging rights: I do mine in ink with no side notations :)]



4. "Not easy but not really hard. It is a step above the Green Belt which is what you'd want in the progression." Thus saith my husband, doer of Sudokus.



5. This is a very good Sudoku. Just right for someone who is pretty savvy about Sudoku.

1 comments about Fantastic Locations: The Frostfell Rift (Dungeons & Dragons Supplement).

1. I have all the "fantastic locations" maps, this one surprised me with a two storied building. The module is not that great but it works just fine with inexperienced players and a little modifications in the plot would make it great for those game groups looking for a visual description of the setting, but If you're looking for a good module, I don't think this is good for you, only if your interest is to bring more maps to your miniature battles.

3 comments about The Family Manager's Guide To Summer Survival: Make the Most of Summer Vacation with Fun Family Activities, Games, and More!.

1. Sure kids need some time to relax over the summer but quickly become bored. What's a busy parent to do ?
   I was delighted to discover this book after reading about in in the Maine Sunday Telegram. The author advises really listening to your children's input on what excites them, but also wants the parent to offer suggestions and set limits.
   A child may think watching cartoons non-stop makes a fun summer. This book gives ideas (tennis, hiking, other exercise or structured programs). I highly recommend investigating the free programs at your local public library. They might be able to lure your child into reading for pleasure (or reward).
   The book wants you to get resourceful and creative with your children. Learn origami or stamp collecting or take turns with other parents teaching the children new skills.
   The author also suggests a designated "pickup time" each day to gather up the toys and do a 10-minute clean up. Great idea!
   There are lots of things to do in the summer with children and many are inexpensive. Turn off the TV and turn on your family to having fun together this summer.



2. There were some helpful worksheets and ideas, however, over all it is geared toward the working mom. Also if you homeschool - most of the ideas don't fit but some could be modified.



3. I'm psyched for summer. I'm a SAHM and just read this tonight (I did do a lot of skimming as far as the actual crafts and stuff but read all the introductory text in each section).
   
   I have no idea why someone would say this is geared toward working moms. There is a part in the beginning saying how to ADAPT it to working moms, but most if it deals with what to do with your kids on a day-to-day basis in the summer to help them entertain themselves (and avoid the "I'm bored" monster) along with teaching different values and focusing on different areas of their growth. I actually don't think it would work that great for working moms - did I miss something?!
   
   There is a lot that I skipped over, such as how to help them earn money doing different summer jobs, and with any "list" type book of tips and ideas, there are some I already knew and a lot I probably won't use. However, just the craft part alone is worth the cost of the book. I got it from the library but am on here right now finding a copy to own so I can highlight and dog ear.
   
   There are many many craft ideas that are actually cheap, unlike a lot of craft books and magazines that require you to buy special expensive ingredients and ending up with crafts that the kids can't even make well so the parent ends up taking over. The ingredients in here that look like they might be costly are used over and over again so at least you are not buying a big box of something like Borax or liquid starch and only using a tablespoon. And the crafts seem to be easy enough for the age range of 6-9 that I'm looking for. There are enough crafts that I'm interested in that I actually think it would take several summers to do them all!
   
   I've already enrolled my 9yo and 6yo in a few day and overnight scout-type camps but was looking into some expensive daycamps at the Y and elsewhere (starting at $200 a week for both boys - yikes!) to keep them occupied during the day, since I plan to turn the tv and video games off for the summer. Now I realize I can actually enjoy doing camp-type activities with them without Mom getting too bored, and still have enough time to do the things I, myself, need and want to do this summer. Especially since there are a lot that require planning on my part but that they can implement all by themselves.
   
   BTW, it has definite Christian overtones. If you are not big on Christian literature, as I am not, don't be turned off. It's not preachy and there is plenty here for parents of any religion or even no religion, like me.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Beer Drinking Games, Revised Edition.

1. This book is a must for any college student or just someone looking to have a good drinking game experience. The simple synonyms alone for getting sick and being drunk are a reason alone to buy this book, not to mention the 50 or so games which by any standards are down right fun and "entertaining". I suggest that anyone looking for some really good drinking games buy this book, its sure to make a dull night on campus turn into a wet, beer soaked one real quick!!!



2. I'm at a loss to describe the beauty of this book. It just resonates with my sole.



3. This is the greatest book ever written!!!



4. I remember the excitement of opening my high school graduation gift from Aunt Beatrice. It was this book. My Aunt B assured me that this book was the key to a fulfilling and successful college career. As I begin my junior year, I reflect on my college times thus far and realize that Aunt B was right.

   This book definitely helped make the transition from high school to college a smooth one. I was able to participate in all the fun games on campus with working knowledge of the correct rules. In a few cases, I was able to introduce upperclassmen to new games and intervene/referee during controversial moments in play.

   In just a few months, my little brother will be graduating from high school and embarking on his college experience. I will be purchasing this vital reference volume for him. How proud he will be to put this book alongside his dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia set. This book is an excellent gift for a new grad, a college kid, or a middle-aged guy needing to brush up on his favorite games. Bottoms Up!!




5. Yale must be more fun than I thought...

3 comments about The Michaels Book of Arts & Crafts (Michaels).

1. This is a solid book with great crafting ideas. It's ideal for someone who may want to learn a new craft. There are lots of ideas and instructions for a variety of crafting topics. There are also variations on the ideas that they give you. Some topics are candlemaking, soapmaking, mosaics, jewelry making and lots more. I'm a little surprised that currently Amazon is not offering the book at a cheaper price as that's why I usually buy my books on Amazon. But at least you get $25 worth of tips and ideas. Although my favorite crafts are scrapbooking, cross stitch, wreath making and home decor, I'm always looking for that something extra to learn about. This book is a great all around craft book. Enjoy.



2. This is a beautiful book to page through. The pictures and techniques described are extremely inspiring. The only issue I have with the book is that it's very wordy in some places. I would like to see more pictures of each step, instead of paragraphs explaining what to do, with only the final product to look at. A very small quibble, though. This is an excellent book, and I definitely recommend it.



3. While I'm not a "crafter," I do enjoy some of the great items and techniques that many crafts offer. I bought this more in the hopes of finding a nice jumping off point for getting into some areas of crafting. I found that and MORE! This book has not only many different types of crafts, there are also several projects for each type that walk you through them, step-by-step. Additionally, there is discussion of different techniques and tools used in each of the crafts.
   
   Lastly, the very best part of the book are the short photo galleries at the end of every chapter showing other projects that have been done using the techniques from the book. This is a fabulous resource for creative ideas!
   
   While the book as a whole may be a a bit rudimentary for a regular crafter, if you are just getting started and want a great reference tool along with some well photographed inspiration... THIS is the book for you!

5 comments about Cormyr (Forgotten Realms: The Cormyr Saga, Book 1).

1. First off, let me assure you that "Cormyr: A Novel" really is just that- a novel. It really isn't the first installment of a trilogy, even though it's officially part of one, and so it doesn't hurt one bit to read it alone. That said, it's good enough that you'll probably want to read the sequels. I, for one, am going to.

   The style of the novel is similar to that of Elaine Cunningham's "Evermeet: Isle of the Elves," in that it's both a history and a current-time adventure. Alternate chapters skip between parts of Cormyr's history, touching on varioius kings, their wizards, and important events. Some of it ties into the present day storyline, though it's largely just instructional in explaining how Cormyr's politics work. This isn't bad, however, since authors Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb make it all an exciting read.

   The current day storyline is simply great. There's murder, intrigue, sex, and all the other good stuff that makes a believable fantasy world. The plot starts off with a bang and just doesn't let up, and although it isn't too hard to figure out what's really going on (I was onto one of the 'masked villains' from practically the start) it's still a great pleasure to read.

   If I had any complaint about the story, it was what happened to Thauglor, the great Purple Dragon. I'll leave it to you to read and find this out, but suffice to say he deserved a bit more for the character development he gets early on, not to mention the fact that he graces the cover of the book.

   Aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed Cormyr, and would recommend it without hesitation to any fan of the Forgotten Realms or fantasy lovers in general.




2. Well I have to say I had the book for atleast 2 years before I actually got onto reading it, I read the first couple of pages a couple times cause I stopped reading it for long periods of times cause I was afraid of reading such a big book.

   The first fourth of the book I'd say was confusing and it took me a while to know what was happening till it hit me and I fell in love with it, I couldn't put it down! I loved it so much I decided to start over again and read it for my English grade in summer school I had two weeks 3 hours a day to read and in the last minit of the last day I finished the essay and got an A+ on it.

   Awsome book don't say it's a bad till you read it all the way through, it's worth it. It may be big and take a long time to read but I never wanted it to end.

   -VickyGeez




3. Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, CORMYR sheds light on the history of the Kingdom of Cormyr set in the magical world of Toril! The book is so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. The experienced authors, Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb, have truly outdone themselves and have presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work, RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies, and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Magic, Elves, Dragons and Heroes are all about. In conclusion, it's what Fantasy reading SHOULD be. A GREAT book indeed and a must read if you love Fantasy and especially if you love the Forgotten Realms! DON'T MISS IT!!!



4. It took me a few years to get around to this treasure chest of Realmslore. It has been sitting in my collection since 1997. At first, I felt it was not a part of the Realms I could care about for nearly 500 pages. Was I wrong! This title hails form Greenwood and Grubb, The original creators of the realms since 1987. The cover was the legendary purple dragon. What a tribute and a rosing tale!
   
   It started out rather dry and longwinded. Then, rather than turning into the typical fast paced excursion through the Realms, it unfolded into a classically planned, engrossing "old fashioned potboiler" I remember reading as a youth in the 1970's-80's. Hard to believe for this genre, indeed! Not great liturature, but totally enthralling and a book that will stay with me long after finishing it.
   
   There are parts of the novel that could have been longer. In particular, the various historical episodes that seemed too short. It could have easily been extended 300 more pages with a little more time. Drat those publishing deadlines! Mr Greenwood colors it with many colorful and lusty characters without turning it into "racy" fiction he has put out in the past. Mr Grubb, on the otherhand provides strength and depth rarely seen in modern fantasy. Its too bad he doesnt write more Realms fiction. Giogi Wyvernspur is a great creation of his. The Realms were greatly enhanced with his touch.



5. Greenwood has a spectacular imagination. I will give Greenwood credit, that he can come up with some incredibly interesting fantasy. The creator of the realms is, of course, brilliant.
   
   That said, his novels are always good premises, written very poorly. There are lines in this book, that are so poorly written that I am supprised they made it past the editors.
   
   The book switches every chapter from the present day, to the past history of Cormyr. The historical chapters are interesting and nice to read, each one is like a short story in an anthology book about the history of Cormyr itself. The present day chapters are repetitive in the extreme. How many ways can Greenwood explain the same thing in chapter form? Apparently, TONS of slightly different ways. I got so tired of different nobles complaining about the "High Wizard" being a traitor with no basis. OK, we get it, the "High Wizard" is a thankless job and everyone always assumes that you are trying to take over, even though you are like a thousand years old, have NEVER shown ANY disloyalty, and are more powerful personally then the entire city put together. Some of the historical chapters even beat this dead horse.
   
   But the straws that broke the camel's back were the two problems that are so typical to all of Greenwood's books. First, almost every charachter was defeated by what I call "bang on your keyboard naming." Vangerdahast (the main character), Gantharla, Filfaeril Selzair Obarskyr (one person, 8-9 sylables), Eregar Abanther, Baerauble Etharr, Glarasteer Rhauligan, Amedahast. What in the world? How are you suppsed to keep these people stright? Guess what? Terry Brooks writes fantasy also, with names like Shea and Flick. Why Ed? Why so much of a mouthful for all your charachters? Second, the females in the book are crying whining fools. Even the supposedly intelligent wizards fall for the first guy to say a kind word. In the real world, if a guy that a woman barely knows tries to kiss her hand, she views it as creepy at best, but do it in a Greenwood novel, and the woman can't get her panties off fast enough. The main charachter, Vangerdahast, a pudgy, black haired, bearded guy (look up a picture of Ed Greenwood), who is explained to be an average or less, looking guy, and guess what, the HOTT buxom redhead stripper at the local dive tavern is all over him. Oh wait, not only the one stripper, but every female that isn't a priest or in the direct line for the throne.
   
   Well, I still would recommend this book, but ONLY to people that are crazy about the realms, like me. Mostly, for the history alone. But if you are looking to get into the realms, read something by Salvatore, or Byers. Actually, if you aren't absolutely crazy about the realms, I would say to skip this book entirely, like most of Greenwood's books. Still, if you must read a Greenwood book, I would recomend this one, it is the best one I have read, and I have read his entire Elminster series.

1 comments about Make It in Minutes: Greeting Cards (Make It in Minutes).

1. I LOVE this book. I've been making cards for a couple of years now, so I have some experience. That said, the cards are easy to assemble using materials most of us cardmakers already have on hand.
   
   Beginners should be OK with the instructions -- there aren't step-by-step diagrams, but there is a full-page color photo of each card, and fairly detailed instructions for how to put it together. Basic techniques and materials are explained in the first chapter, with photos of each item/tool.
   
   The book is hardcover, spiral bound, so it lays flat. Nice touch!
   
   I love the variety, too -- birthday, baby, friendship, thank you, sympathy, and love/wedding.
   
   The designer uses embellishments in new ways, and offers suggestions for alternatives and substitutions. I found myself looking at a design and thinking "oh! THAT'S a neat way to use one of those - never thought of doing that ... "
   
   This will be one of my "go to ..." books when I need to put something together quickly. It's a great source of inspiration. Well done.

2 comments about Game Design: Principles, Practice, and Techniques - The Ultimate Guide for the Aspiring Game Designer.

1. Recently I started to entertain the idea for a game prototype I had in mind, since I was a bit green on the process I wanted to find a book that will cover the basics and make it all crystal clear for me. Unfortunately most books on the topic were severely out of date, unnecessarily complex or even too expensive to warrant a purchase. That's when I found Game Design: Principles, Practice, and Techniques and being recently published, it was an added bonus. This book not only takes the reader through the entire process of the production cycle, but it keeps everything light and entertaining with just the right balance of type and a wealth of colored illustrated pages, just the way I like it. And with illustrations on practically every page, it wasn't hard for a visual guy like me to read the book from cover to cover. (Why are there no programming books like this is beyond me)
   
   Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, and Nic Cusworth keeps the book extremely consistent between the three of them, so well in fact that you won't realize when another author took over.
   
   The book is broken up into 3 chapters; the first begins with a brief history in video games and takes you through the genres, styles and popular game mechanics used today, which are broken up with practical case studies.
   The second chapter then moves unto elaborating on what you previously learnt and applying it to the real world. Everything from creating a game design document to gathering inspiration for concept art, level design and actually taking you through the process of creating a low poly solider from concept to completion. However keep in mind most of the topics are just the fundamentals to get you going, and rarely spans more than two pages since there's so much to cover, but it's all well written and flows like a gentle summer breeze. The third chapter then takes you through the pitching process, prototyping and a discussion on industry standard tools.
   
   All in all it was a great book to read and money well spent, I've learnt quite a bit, and the only topics I wished they covered more was some programming and asset management, but as it stands the book still makes a great reference and resource.
   
   Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Especially if you're a bit fuzzy on the process of taking a game from idea to prototype and beyond. Here's hoping for a 2nd edition expanding into more advanced discussions.



2. Just a caution for buyers - this book has no code what-so-ever. It is meant for english/literature majors. It has terms about different genres of games and different types of games like the HUB game etc. The information is useless. Why on earth would you want to know things that are obvious and of no use? I don't get the point of this book. If you are a person who doesn't know how to define the term "game" or who has never heard of "game", well then maybe this book is for you.

No comments about The Art of Jewelry: Plastic & Resin: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration.