Twisted

Book Description

High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy—and Tyler's secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world. In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler's pitchperfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author's award-winning, widely read work.

Customer Reviews:

Yeah.......2007-10-16

That's what I thought when I put this book down.
Yeah.
That's how it was. How it is. There's a choice before everybody: life or death, going back to hell or becoming someone new.

My daughter is a junior in high school. On most days, we are at opposite ends of the earth, shaking our heads at one another between hugs, rolling our eyes between the laughter. But every time we read a Laurie Halse Anderson novel together, we're one for a while. We get it.

Yeah.

We were intrigued to see Ms. Anderson writing from the male perspective this time. She did a brave, honest job and my daughter and I have lots of fodder for discussion once we stop nodding and our knowing smiles slip away.

There were some echoes of Speak in this for me, only through the eyes of a male character. For me though, that was a plus. We're looking for to the next one. In the meantime, we'll be reading this and the others again.

Stunning Inisght and story.......2007-09-29

Laurie Halse Anderson is the author of 5 novels and 3 picture books. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards and many recommendations. Each of her books that I have read has been excellent and this one is no exception. The dust jacket states "Everybody told me to be a man ... Nobody told me how." Anderson captures the essence of the journey from a boy to a man.

Tyler Miller had been caught defacing school property, and now he is a hero to some, and an outcast to others, and is trying to find his way in the world. He has done community service all summer at the school, and worked for a landscaping company.

Now he must return to school and face the students and teachers who know what he did and the punishment he received for it. The school year begins badly; at a party he is knocked into a tray of glasses and cuts the feet of the Alpha female of the school, who happens to be the women of his dreams, Bethany Milbury.

Tyler is forced to take Bethany a cake as an apology for the accident. They become friends, and seem to be sort of dating. Then Bethany gets trashed at a party, and Tyler does the right thing. Yet Tyler broke his curfew from the court and that is just the beginning of some serious problems in his life. Unfortunately someone takes advantage of Bethany while she is drunk and most people think it is Tyler because of his reputation.

Most people think he did it. The cops keep coming by. He is attacked in school and out of school. He struggles with what to do, how to be a man. Can he learn how to be a man; can he take control of his life that seems completely out of control?

This book does an amazing job of capturing the angst of growing up, of finding your place in the world. It shows clearly the transition from boy to man, and then end of high school and moving on to the rest of life.

Anderson, as a woman, surprised me with he ability to write about becoming a man; her insight and clarity are awesome. This book should become a classic. Much like her earlier novel Speak I believe this book should be on the reading list for every high school or university Children's Literature course.
The book leaves you wanting more. The reader will want to know what happens next. Where is Tyler in a year, 3, 5 or 10? These questions will haunt you after you finish the book.

(First Published in Imprint 2007-09-28 as 'Short Titles With Varied Depths.')Speak

twisted indeed.......2007-07-28

Tyler Miller, former nerd, returns for his senior year with a new buff bod, courtesy of the manual community service he was forced to perform for graffitting the school. To his surprise, school Queen Bee Bethany Milsbury starts paying attention to him. This causes conflict with his nemesis, Bethany's twin brother Chip, and is complicated by the fact that Bethany's dad is his father's boss. When he rejects her (drunken) advances at a party, things become complicated when anonymous nude camera photos of Bethany wind up on the Internet. Suddenly, the police are paying attention to the former school defacer and he faces hostility from the other students. Like Melinda in "Speak," he has a dysfunctional family and minimal support from peers and adults. As he begins to implode from the pressure, finding a way to clear his name and stand up to the bullies in his life looks more and more difficult.

Pros: The sympathetic characters (Hannah and Yoda) were appealing, but the bullies and Bethany, the school princess, were stereotypes. Other messages were basically what we've seen in teen movie after teen movie. Abusing your kid is bad because he will eventually snap. (Ferris Bueller's Day Off). Messing up in Little League scars child and dad for life. (Parenthood). Rich people are soulless, decadent zombies. (Virtually every movie ever made.) I wish the author had tried to turn the formula a little more inside out, the way the "Ordinary People" author did when she made the Bad Dad a Mom. I enjoyed the book until the end, but felt it painted an inaccurate portrait of what recovering from clinical depress is like. It's usually two steps forward and four steps back at a time for the average person. You don't just reach a turning point, gain the ability to stand up to anyone in your way, and then your tormentors start backing down in record numbers. Melinda's journey from victim to survivor in "Speak" was far more believable because it took place over an entire school year, not a semester like in "Twisted."

(This is where the review loses objectivity.)
Some reviewers have written about the great message this book sends. I disagree. Standing up to one's abusive parent is NOT the same as facing a school bully or even a school authority figure, like a principal, and to imply that it is does a disservice to people who are victims of child abuse and who have to co-exist at least until they come of age. Threatening one's father with a baseball bat probably won't have the same effect as it does in the book, i.e. Domineering Dad bursting into tears and apologizing for years of cruelty. If they were capable of feeling such remorse, they probably wouldn't be abusing you that badly in the first place. Right?. Taking Tyler's route might make you feel like more of a "man," but you're likely to wind up on the streets or in the hospital. At least outside of YA lit or Hollywood. Maybe this isn't what the author intended at all, but it's what I wound up taking away from the book.

Captivating.......2007-07-01

Captivating is overused when it comes to describing books-- except for this one! I didn't think that Anderson could top "Speak", but she did!I read it and could barely give myself time to sleep. I loaned the book out to several of my high school students; they, too, read it in a couple of days, loved it, willingly discussed it with me and other readers, and kept passing it on. A wonderful book to "hook" high school age kids on reading. My only caution: buy two copies. If you loan one out, you will not get it back.

Not the best........2007-06-26

This book had a good story line but lacked detail, always led up to what was gonna happen, and left at a very blank point. It needed a more interesting ending, and it needed to describe everything a lot more. It was an alright read but too predictable. I have read a lot of books and this one wasn't one of the tops.

Python in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))

Average customer rating:

Great python reference...
A fine quick reference which should be on every Python programmer's desk.
From zero to Pythonista in less than 700 pages
Just what I needed
An excellent reference book for Python

Python in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))
Alex Martelli
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596100469

Book Description

This book offers Python programmers one place to look when they need help remembering or deciphering the syntax of this open source language and its many powerful but scantily documented modules. This comprehensive reference guide makes it easy to look up the most frequently needed information--not just about the Python language itself, but also the most frequently used parts of the standard library and the most important third-party extensions.

Ask any Python aficionado and you'll hear that Python programmers have it all: an elegant object-oriented language with readable and maintainable syntax, that allows for easy integration with components in C, C++, Java, or C#, and an enormous collection of precoded standard library and third-party extension modules. Moreover, Python is easy to learn, yet powerful enough to take on the most ambitious programming challenges. But what Python programmers used to lack is a concise and clear reference resource, with the appropriate measure of guidance in how best to use Python's great power. Python in a Nutshell fills this need.

Python in a Nutshell, Second Edition covers more than the language itself; it also deals with the most frequently used parts of the standard library, and the most popular and important third party extensions. Revised and expanded for Python 2.5, this book now contains the gory details of Python's new subprocess module and breaking news about Microsoft's new IronPython project. Our "Nutshell" format fits Python perfectly by presenting the highlights of the most important modules and functions in its standard library, which cover over 90% of your practical programming needs. This book includes:

A fast-paced tutorial on the syntax of the Python language
An explanation of object-oriented programming in Python
Coverage of iterators, generators, exceptions, modules, packages, strings, and regular expressions
A quick reference for Python's built-in types and functions and key modules
Reference material on important third-party extensions, such as Numeric and Tkinter
Information about extending and embedding Python

Python in a Nutshell provides a solid, no-nonsense quick reference to information that programmers rely on the most. This book will immediately earn its place in any Python programmer's library.

Praise for the First Edition:

"In a nutshell, Python in a Nutshell serves one primary goal: to act as an immediately accessible goal for the Python language. True, you can get most of the same core information that is presented within the covers of this volume online, but this will invariably be broken into multiple files, and in all likelihood lacking the examples or the exact syntax description necessary to truly understand a command."
--Richard Cobbett, Linux Format

"O'Reilly has several good books, of which Python in a Nutshell by Alex Martelli is probably the best for giving you some idea of what Python is about and how to do useful things with it."
--Jerry Pournelle, Byte Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Great python reference..........2007-02-19

Python in a Nutshell is a excellent reference book, all python programmer must have one in the desk.
The online documentation for the python language is good, but some times is difficult to search for a feature of the language, in this book is easy to find anything about python.
This book complements perfectly the official library and language references, and covers almost everything you will ever need.

I Learn python with this book, but i only recommend the book for people with knowledge of other programming language, if you are new in programming and wants to learn python this book is not good for you (try Learning python by David Ascher and Mark Lutz), if you already have programming skills this is the perfect book for learn python.

The author explain the language in a very simple way with good examples, and don't wast time explaining the basics of programming, the book starts with a introduction to the python language, in chapter 2 the author explain the installation of various python interpreters, from chapter 4 to 9 the author explain the core of the python language, in the rest of the book the author cover the python library and extensions modules, network and web programming with python and in the last section the author talk about the various ways of embedding and extending the python language, in my opinion the book is well written and very easy to read.

I highly recommend Python in a Nutshell, for all programmers who wants to start coding in python, and for all python programmers as a language reference.

A fine quick reference which should be on every Python programmer's desk........2006-11-05

Alex Martelli's PYTHON IN A NUTSHELL: A DESKTOP QUICK REFERENCE offers Python programmers one-stop reference shopping for any quick consultation. Project details blend a quick tutorial on syntax and explanations of Python programming basics with coverage of exceptions, modules, strings and more for all Python's built-ins and key functions. A fine quick reference which should be on every Python programmer's desk.

From zero to Pythonista in less than 700 pages.......2006-10-15

First, one caveat: before reading this book, get a feeling for Python from the official tutorial, and some of the excellent tutorials and book available online (e.g., parts of "Dive into Python"). The greater the experience you have with other languages, the shorter the warm-up period. Then, buy this book. The chapters on the language description and OOP are models of clarity and brevity, in any book/reference and any language. All the other chapters are extremely useful too. This book complements perfectly the official library and language references, and covers almost everything you will ever need. It truly is the ideal reference book, and an incredible value for the money. I just hope that Alex Martelli will keep future editions below 700 pages while adding material on other GUI frameworks and PyPy.

Just what I needed.......2006-08-21

Well organized comprehensive desk reference. Can serve as an introduction to Python for a reader willing to do some heavy lifting.

An excellent reference book for Python .......2006-08-11

Never got the 1st ed. so I got the 2nd ed. as soon as it came out last month (yes, I've been waiting for it :-D). I have to say I am not a Python expert but have been using C and other programming languages for years. I was looking for a book which can help me learn Python and also can be used as a reference. Now I am very happy I found it and it reaches my expectation. It's a solid book with 690+ pages full of everything I need to know about Python. Highly recommended !

More Twisted: Collected Stories, Vol. II

Average customer rating:

A Murder and Mayhem Bookclub review
Fantastic
Loved It!!
The Brilliant Twists of Jeffrey Deaver
I loved this book!

More Twisted: Collected Stories, Vol. II
Jeffery Deaver
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1416541187

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver has famously thrilled and chilled fans with tales of masterful villains and the brilliant minds who bring them to justice. Now the author of the Lincoln Rhyme series (The Cold Moon and The Bone Collector, among others) has compiled a second volume of his award-winning, spine-tingling short stories of suspense.

While best known for his twenty-four novels, Jeffery Deaver is also a short story master -- he is a three-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader's Award for Best Short Story, and he won the Short Story Dagger from the Crime Writers Association for a piece that appeared in his first short story collection, Twisted. The New York Times said of that book: "A mystery hit for those who like their intrigue short and sweet . . . [The stories] feature tight, bare-bones plotting and the sneaky tricks that Mr. Deaver's title promises." The sneaky tricks are here in spades, and Deaver even gives his fans a new Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs story.

Deaver is back with sixteen stories in the tradition of O. Henry and Edgar Allan Poe. His subjects range from a Westchester commuter to a brilliant Victorian England caper. With these intricately plotted, bone-chilling stories, Jeffery Deaver is at the top of his crime-writing game.

Customer Reviews:

A Murder and Mayhem Bookclub review.......2007-09-02

In 2004 there was TWISTED. Two years later, we have MORE TWISTED. Author Jeffery Deaver, poet and former folksinger but best known in our world for writing the Lincoln Rhyme forensic crime novels here puts his hand again to the short story, presenting his second body of collected short works. All are in the mystery/suspense line, and all contain stings in the tail. It has been mentioned that this device in itself becomes formulaic in repetition, so it really is best to dive in and out of this book and not to take it all in at one sitting. We imagine that this is the beauty of the short story in that commitment can be low with still a great reward possible at conclusion. A little misdirection can go a long way and Deaver uses this device to have his readers genuinely surprised as what may have led them to think so soon that the good man is good, and the bad man is bad. Some efforts to have the reader look the other way in MORE TWISTED are more than obvious than others but with the necessary economy in structure and length that must be made best use of in the short story, Deaver strips it all down to bare bones with a masterful hand.

In "Chapter and Verse", police ask the local priest for assistance with what seems to be a coded biblical message, written on a scrap of paper and left at the scene of a murder. But are the police really asking the right person, even if this priest that no one has ever seen before was the handiest man to ask at the time? A mother asks herself where did she go wrong when her daughter, after so long, asks to visit her in "Born Bad" and must steel herself for the final mother/daughter confrontation. "Double Jeopardy" spins out the story of yet another shark lawyer who doesn't believe his client is a good guy, but defends him anyway and pays an unexpected price.

If you're of the popular opinion that there can never be too much time spent with Lincoln Rhyme, rest easy as the former NYPD officer and his team make their appearance in "Locard's Principle", a tale of what happens when the only witness to a shooting becomes a hot target for the killers who know what she has seen.

As Jeffery Deaver is such a major player in the world of crime fiction, it is gratifying to see the author put in a few words about the etiquette of his craft and the level to which some writers may choose to take the fear factor. Below is a quote from an explanatory afterword to the short story "Afraid", in which a young woman is whisked away to a secluded hideaway by her new lover, who turns out, of course, not to be the romantic prospect she had hoped for.

Deaver:
"I always remember that my job as suspense writer is to make my audience afraid but never disgusted or repulsed, as happens when there's graphic gore or violence against, say, children or animals. The emotion that fear engenders in thriller fiction should be cathartic and exhilarating. Yes, make your readers' palms sweat, and make them hesitate to shut the lights out at night - but at the end of the ride make sure they all climb off the roller coaster unharmed".

Reading Jeffery Deaver is always a treat and with MORE TWISTED, it's possible to take time out every twenty pages or so to take a breath. Without the plot restraints of a full length novel, Deaver takes his characters, using the sparsest of narratives, to the fight or flight moment of their lives. When you're next waiting for that train or for the school bell to ring out at the end of the day, Jeffery Deaver's collection of short crime bites should prove to be excellent company.

Fantastic.......2007-05-27

This is a great book of short stories by Jeffery Deaver. Mr. Deaver is one of the best, if not the best mystery writer in the business. I have read every book he has written. You can't really solve the crimes, but you can guess where the author is going. I guessed every story except "Tunnel Girl". He blew me away with that one. I guessed the conspiracy scenario. I recommend any book that Mr. Deaver has written.

Loved It!!.......2007-05-07

I loved the Twisted, and More Twisted did not disappoint. I love everything Jeff Deaver writes, and the Twisted series is just a blast!!! Don't miss it!!

The Brilliant Twists of Jeffrey Deaver.......2007-02-07

Once again, Jeffrey Deaver provides a collection of short stories where nothing is what it seems... all the way to the last twist ending.

The real gems in the book are "Born Bad", about a mother who can't understand what went wrong when raising her daughter, "A Dish Served Cold" about a man living in terror of death by a stalker, and "The Commuter" where a man's attempts to solve his personal and business problems via cell phone during the commute leads to shocking consequences. In addition, Lincoln Rhyme fans will enjoy "Locard's Principle" where Sachs and Rhyme follow the evidence in the murder of a wealthy philatrophist.

Deaver never ceases to amaze, and just when you think you have the story figured out, you can count on him to surprise you once again.

I loved this book!.......2007-01-19

This book is not a follow on to the first book, Twisted, but I found myself comparing them both all the time I was reading it. They are different in that this new book seems to be more in-depth in the story work. It was an absolutely excellent read and I found it hard to put down once I started.

The stories are very well thought out and I still couldn't work out what the twist was going to be until it appeared right in front of me.

Another triumph by Jeffrey Deaver - well worth reading.

Average customer rating:

Very Good Story
Good, but not my favorite Dekker book
Blew Me Away
Ok, predictable and annoying
Sorry to be a naysayer because I think Mr. Dekker is no doubt an intriguing person

Three
Ted Dekker
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0849943728

Book Description

Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where your closest friend could be your greatest enemy.

Kevin Parson is driving his car late one summer day when, suddenly, his cell phone rings. A man who identifies himself as Slater speaks in a breathy voice: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high.

Kevin panics. Who would make such a call? What sin? Kevin ditches the car. Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness.

From the #1 best-selling fiction author comes a powerful story of good, evil, and all that lies between.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Story.......2007-10-10

I recently read Thr3e with my husband. We both enjoyed the story and the many twists it takes. There is a good moral lesson to the story, which could have been explored more in depth. However, reading this story opened many conversations for my husband and I. I found the book easy to read and hard to put down at times. The characters were well developed and the plot interesting. I wish it would have explored the Christion undertones more, being a Christian Fiction Novel. All in all, a book worth having.

Good, but not my favorite Dekker book.......2007-09-20

While I very much enjoyed this book and found it a solid, good read that quickly kept me turning pages to find out what happened next, it's not my favorite of Dekker's books. I would have to say the Black/Red/White trilogy is by far my favorite, followed by the Martyr's Series books.

Blew Me Away.......2007-09-15

Meant to give it 4 1/2 stars. One of the best reads this summer, for me. I usually can guess an outcome but not in this one (although I can honestly say I figured it out close to the end right before the unveling). But I won't ruin the surprise ending. This book was well written and I literally did not want to put it down. If you like psychological and "thinking" thrillers, this one's for you.

Ok, predictable and annoying.......2007-09-15

This book was just ok with some annoyingly predictable parts.

**Spoiler**
If you have seen movies like Fight Club or read other books with split personality characters you can start to tell who they are when no one talks to these people in the book/movie in person and only over the phone.

Then to have one person with 3 personalities was just annoying especially when he had to shoot himself to get rid of them.

Sorry to be a naysayer because I think Mr. Dekker is no doubt an intriguing person.......2007-09-13

I am sincerely happy for the people who gave this book high reviews as that means that it was good for them that Mr. Dekker wrote it. And while I'm glad for him that so many people enjoyed it, I would like to add that I'm not one of them. (There are many 5 star reviews for it, so those who want that aspect can refer to those reviews.) However, from my point of view, as someone who had really enjoyed a previous work ("Blink")by Ted Dekker, I would like to say that I agree more with the reviews that have less than 5 stars and that had difficulty with the psychological premises the author used that (in my opinion) overrode common sense in the book (and left some technical loopholes) and which offered that incredulous ending.

I really wanted to take the ride that this book offered and I have to admit I got pulled in at the beginning.. but the whole story began to feel contrived and oppressive and by the time I finished the book, I wasn't left with any positive feelings. There wasn't any real clear message of hope, that a normal everyday person could walk away with, as the main character's resolution is too extreme and far-fetched. And perhaps it's supposed to be allegorical at that point, but the rest of the book isn't written in that style, so I felt cheated at the end. By the last quarter of the book, I really wanted a different ending than the one I got. One that would have been more intriguing to me... (next sentence is for those that have read it already...) would be something like Slater being Kevin's twin brother that Balinda had locked down there in that basement and had done a different reality experiment on than Kevin. Sorry.. couldn't help putting that out there. I really did feel cheated over the ending taking a --perhaps surprising ending to some-- but ultimately easy way out of the maze the author had created.

p.s. I really did enjoy Ted Dekker's Blink book and passed it on to others. His Showdown book was too gory for my tastes, (still have those nightmarish & gross images in my mind and I only got a little way into the book!)and so took it back to the store. As for Three, I actually put it in the trash (hard for me because I love books and find any reason to keep them) as I didn't think it was groundbreaking enough to keep or inspiring enough to give it to anyone else.

Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems

Average customer rating:

Twisted Whiskers
Great
Interesting, but a bit Holistic for my taste
Solve Cat Problems!
The most comprehensive feline behavior book I've read

Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems
Pam Johnson-Bennett
Manufacturer: Crossing Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0895947102

Customer Reviews:

Twisted Whiskers.......2006-08-15

Excellent and entertaining book on understanding, enjoying, and modifying the behavior of our furry little (or big) feline friends.

Great.......2006-07-01

This book will help you know your cat better than you ever thought possible. It's a fast reading and provides lots of ideas about how to manage problems with your cat. Required reading for everyone who lives with a kitty.

Interesting, but a bit Holistic for my taste.......2005-10-08

While there's nothing wrong with Holistic approaches to dealing with problems in people or cats, this book falls into the category of those that tend to advocate one approach and not address others. While it is interesting and useful for the approaches it presents, it's only one side of the story, and only one set of approaches.

Pairing this book with "The Cat Who Cried for Help," which addresses other approaches, has been a great way of getting many pieces of a complex puzzle, but I still wish I could read my cats' minds.

Solve Cat Problems!.......2005-07-09

When you want to know why your cat does something, ASK! This author was recommended by my vet as I tried to solve weird behavior only a cat has! I found several solutions which will help as I enjoy a pet!

The most comprehensive feline behavior book I've read.......2005-06-05

How many times have I wished Dr. Dolittle could come visit me and just talk to my 16-year-old curmudgeon and have Rambo pass along what's got him yelling all night.....

"Twisted Whiskers" is the next best thing. Pam Johnson discusses a wide variety of feline behavior problems in cats' terms so we can form better human-feline cohabitation.

Her chapters on "Old Age" and "Depression" were indispensible in dealing with Rambo. In addition, Johnson talks about natural remedies rather than having us end up with a generation of doped-up furbabies. Johnson lists the Bach's Flower remedies and their appropriate applications and doseages for felines.

Excellent read! Highly recommended for new and old-time cat companions.

US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man

Average customer rating:

US Misandry.
Great Piece of Gonzo Journalism
SOME of "US Guys"
brillant (of course)
Versatile

US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man
Charlie LeDuff
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1594201064

Book Description

Heir to Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charlie LeDuff scours the country, tossing back whiskey with the seedy, the dreamy, and the strange in search of the soul of the American male.

No one knows life's underbelly better than New York Times reporter Charlie LeDuff. Christened the "bibulous scribe of the working class" by his peers, he's made a career chronicling, with dead-on feel for character and idiom, the gritty lives of the drifters, the forgotten, and the strange-people washed up and washed out on alcohol, broken dreams, lifetimes of hard living. Willing to follow his subjects where no respectable white-collared man would dare go, he is clearly-and admittedly-a writer "not for people who have doormen, but for doormen." And while his wholly original coverage of this beat has brought him acclaim as a journalist, it has also made him something of a working-class hero.

Who better, then, to examine what it means to be a man in modern-day America? US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man is LeDuff's equally intoxicated and intoxicating journey across the country in search of the heart and soul of today's American male. With characteristic audacity, compassion, and humor, he takes part in a Bacchanalian Burning Man festival in Nevada, clad in a Mohawk and little else; trains with the sadhearted Russian clown of a traveling circus; leads a cavalry charge down the Little Bighorn River with war reenactors; joins a C-level professional football team; infiltrates a West Oakland bike gang that holds fight parties; travels with Appalachian snake handlers and tent revivalists; and covers a cowboy love story at a gay rodeo ("Not like the movie. Life is never like the movies. Life is messy and complicated and self-loathing and funny"). At each juncture LeDuff faithfully records their religion and sins and racism, their freaks and misfits, their search for the American dream, and the sweetness they find in living it out, if only for a moment.

Customer Reviews:

US Misandry........2007-10-03

With the subtitle, "The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man," readers can easily discern just how slanted and biased Charlie LeDuff's account of the direct sex is in US Guys. His subtitle, were it to be used in the context of women, would be tantamount to a hate crime. The author would never do that though because, as he admits in the Preface, "I hardly understand women." No doubt he is right but also apparent is his gaudy ignorance of men.

The text is devoid of psychological revelation concerning males, but it does effectively illuminate the pervasive misandry endemic to our culture. Mr. LeDuff possesses as many negative assumptions about men as a Womyn's Studies professor, and he gladly shares them throughout the narrative.

Consider the supposition that time spent brawling with a gang of bikers elucidates the reason "why the American man is so aggressive and angry." It does...assuming one was already convinced of the fact beforehand. The person who is hungry for actual knowledge knows otherwise. Behaviors exhibited by belligerent derelicts cannot be extrapolated to the broader population. After all, deviants are, well, deviant. They are not the norm. The average male neither commits felonies nor scraps on a daily basis.

Yet, in his attempt to depict the soul of the American male, Mr. LeDuff exclusively seeks out the company of freaks. The fallacious menagerie is incorporated by bums in Tulsa, gay rodeo cowboys in Oklahoma City, players on a marginal semi-pro football team in Amarillo, the East Bay Rats motorcycle gang in Oakland, jockeys in Miami, the denizens of the Burning Man festival, and reenactors of the Battle of Little Big Horn. These fellows are no more representative of "US Guys" than my political views are indicative of those held by the average Chicagoan.

The title of this book really should be, "News of the Weird." Of course, that would never sell like one purporting to outline the pathological nature of males. Reports of masculine abomination are precisely the type of thing which fly off the shelves in this country. These essays actually appear to have been created for another purpose altogether. The same topics are covered in episodes from LeDuff's Discovery Channel "Only in America" show. His decision to formally link his experiences to misandry may have been just an afterthought.

US Guys has been dubbed Gonzo journalism which, given the broad confines of the genre, it probably is despite Mr. LeDuff having little in common with Hunter S. Thompson. His travelogue is more in the tradition of Confederates in the Attic as, here too, an intrepid anti-liberal elitist ventures out to our non-Eastern expanses to report back on all the rubes and crackers he came across on the journey.

The pretense that American men possess "true and twisted minds" will undoubtedly endear the author to his intended audience as they regard the nefariousness of men as being an undeniable truth (see the oeuvre of Maureen Dowd). I am sure it sold quite well among those who perpetually look down on their fellow citizens--except for reasons relating to the troika of race, sex, and class. Mr. LeDuff's missive was penned exclusively for the active parishioners of the church of political correctness. Everything they need to reinforce their preexisting superiority and prejudice is here.

Great Piece of Gonzo Journalism.......2007-09-16

Charlie LaDuff is simply a great journalist. He has the knack to write an interesting story about things that shouldn't be that interesting. He could spin anything into a good story. US Guys is less about the men of America and more about America itself. I highly recommend this book for just about any audience. You will learn a little something, and even if you know it all you will certainly find LeDuff's writing style fun

SOME of "US Guys".......2007-08-19

I'm sure if LeDuff felt that some white collar writer were lumping all the men of his generation into some group, he'd rant and rave against such stereotyping. But he's eager to do the same, throwing out sweeping generalizations about the men of his generation (once called "X" now called nothing in particular, he asserts). To draw on his experiences at Nevada's Burning Man festival and say his generation "meanders through life without purpose, charting with a broken compass" sounds nice and deep, but in all honesty, are the people who trek into the Nevada desert (or join the gay rodeo circuit, fight-club motorcycle clubs, or bottom-rung football teams) truly the standard-bearers of an entire generation?
Sure, LeDuff, go ahead and write about the down-and-outers, but don't lump everyone else born in the same couple of decades into your groups of directionless losers. Your stories are an interesting look at a small group of disaffected American men, not all of us, so jump down off your high horse of judgement and recognize the limits of your choice of experiences.

brillant (of course).......2007-07-04

I caught Charlie's interview on the "Colbert Report" and just had to go out and buy his book. As it turns out, I knew Charlie from Ann Arbor, and he's at least as brilliant now as he was then. Bravo.

Versatile.......2007-06-03

Whether blue collar, white collar; whether a pragmatist or philosopher, this book will give you something to talk about. No matter what type of crowd I'm around, a beer hockey league or a wine and cheese party, I can bring up this book as a conversation piece. That rarely, if ever, happens with a book. Worth the read.

Average customer rating:

A Murderous Twofer
Sloggish, Boring, and trite
Where did the villain come from??
twisted patterns
Thoroughly enjoyable.

Twisted: A Novel
Jonathan Kellerman
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345465261
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Book Description

Hollywood homicide detective Petra Connor has helped psychologist Alex Delaware crack tough cases in the past. And in Jonathan Kellerman’s New York Times bestseller Billy Straight she took the lead in the desperate hunt for a teenage runaway stalked by a vengeful murderer. Now the complex and wryly compassionate Petra is once again at the center of the action, in a novel of cunning twists and page-turning suspense.

Lifeless bodies sprawl in a dance-club parking lot after a brutal L.A. drive-by. Of the four seemingly random victims, one stands out: a girl with pink shoes who cannot be identified–and who, days later, remains a Jane Doe. With zero leads and no apparent motive, it’s another case destined for the cold file–until Petra decides to follow her instincts and descends into a world of traveling grifters and bloodthirsty killers, pursuing a possible eyewitness whose life is in mortal danger.

Finding her elusive quarry–alive–isn’t all Petra has on her plate: departmental politics threatens to sabotage her case, and her personal life isn’t doing much better. If all that wasn’t enough, Isaac Gomez, a whiz-kid grad student researching homicide statistics at the station house, is convinced he’s stumbled upon a bizarre connection between several unsolved murders. The victims had nothing in common, yet each died by the same method, on the same date–a date that’s rapidly approaching again. And that leaves Petra with little time to unravel the twisted logic of a cunning predator who’s evaded detection for years–and whose terrible hour is once more at hand.

“Why is it so hard to put down a Kellerman thriller?” asks Publishers Weekly. “It’s simple: the nonstop action leaves you breathless; the plot twists keep you guessing; the themes . . . are provocative.” Those in need of still further proof that “Kellerman has shaped the psychological mystery novel into an art form” (Los Angeles Times Book Review) need look no further than Twisted.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Hollywood homicide detective Petra Connor has helped psychologist Alex Delaware crack tough cases in the past. And in Jonathan Kellerman¿s New York Times bestseller Billy Straight she took the lead in the desperate hunt for a teenage runaway stalked by a vengeful murderer. Now the complex and wryly compassionate Petra is once again at the center of the action, in a novel of cunning twists and page-turning suspense. Lifeless bodies sprawl in a dance-club parking lot after a brutal L.A. drive-by. Of the four seemingly random victims, one stands out: a girl with pink shoes who cannot be identified - and who, days later, remains a Jane Doe. With zero leads and no apparent motive, it¿s another case destined for the cold file , until Petra decides to follow her instincts and descends into a world of traveling grifters and bloodthirsty killers, pursuing a possible eyewitness whose life is in mortal danger. Finding her elusive quarry alive isn¿t all Petra has on her plate: departmental politics threatens to sabotage her case, and her personal life isn¿t doing much better. If all that wasn¿t enough, Isaac Gomez, a whiz-kid grad student researching homicide statistics at the station house, is convinced he¿s stumbled upon a bizarre connection between several unsolved murders. The victims had nothing in common, yet each died by the same method, on the same date, a date that¿s rapidly approaching again. And that leaves Petra with little time to unravel the twisted logic of a cunning predator who¿s evaded detection for years - and whose terrible hour is once more at hand. "Why is it so hard to put down a Kellerman thriller?" asks Publishers Weekly. It¿s simple: the nonstop action leaves you breathless; the plot twists keep you guessing; the themes . . . are provocative. Those in need of still further proof that Kellerman has shaped the psychological mystery novel into an art form" (Los Angeles Times Book Review) need look no further than Twisted.

Customer Reviews:

A Murderous Twofer.......2007-01-06

Petra Connor again stars in TWISTED, after BILLY STRAIGHT and a bit part in an Alex Delaware novel, A COLD HEART. She's an interesting character with enough emotional depth and history to draw most readers in. The ensemble cast backing her, including her love interest and a 22-year-old genius that loves working in the murder field, offer a lot of possibilities too. Although the abridged book is a good listen, read by Lindsay Crouse, the emphasis seems to be more on Petra's person life than either of the two murders she's investigating. TWISTED misses the mark on presenting a thrilling whodunit.

Jonathan Kellerman is the bestselling writer of the Alex Delaware novels featuring a child psychologist who consults for the Los Angeles Police Department. He and his bestelling wife Faye have started writing together, and their son Jesse is a rising star in the novel trade.

TWISTED has two mysteries going at one time. Petra is called to the scene of a mass shooting and struggles to put the pieces together as to who the unidentified girl was and why she was killed. In the meantime, her brilliant understudy, a 22-year-old college professor named Isaac Gomez, comes to her with what he believes is a serial killer who's been striking every June 28th. The book takes place in the month of June, so another killing -- if Gomez is correct, and he is -- is right around the corner. The novel's strengths are in the showcasing of Petra and Gomez's personal lives outside of the murder investigation.

However, the novel's weaknesses are the lack of pursuit, to a degree, of the murders. While Petra puts together a fairly good case against the mass murderer who killed the teenagers, the serial killer case seems to come together more as luck and out of left field. There was no opportunity to match wits with the author because you don't get to see all the cards.

Lindsay Crouse reads the audiobook and does a fabulous job of keeping the pacing and the narrative tension in play. She's a reader I'll definitely be looking for more from.

TWISTED will satisfy Kellerman fans, but isn't the best place new readers can discover this author. It would probably be better to read BILLY STRAIGHT or A COLD HEART first. That way you'll see and understand more of Petra's history by the time you pick up TWISTED.

Sloggish, Boring, and trite.......2006-12-19

Not a very good book on any level. Not horrific, but overall really lame. A whodunit that you could never predict, because there was nothing to predict. It's like the author wrote the book and then when it came time to publish it, chose a character at random that 'did it' and wrote the last 10 pages. So save yourself some time, read the last few pages and make up your own adventure.

Where did the villain come from??.......2006-11-20

Am I the only one who read this book?? The Killer's identity is revealed only in the last 20 pages or so. There were no clues prior to that as to his identity, except for the existence of a chat room - out of left field. And why didn't the librarian get more credit in the end in solving the crime? Also, there was no connection between the drive-by murders and the serial killings. What a long book to slog through, for such a disappointing ending!!

twisted patterns.......2006-09-25

From reading mysteries, I gather that some serial killers are caught because they unconsciously fall into habits; once someone cracks the pattern, the bad guy goes down.

Kellerman is a superb author. Even the minor characters are alive and believable. The stories are well constructed, the writing is excellent. But for the second K novel in a row, I have spotted the bad guy the moment he appears. I have surprised myself. It seems that Kellerman introduces the bad guy at about the same place in the novel, and they dress similarly. Interesting.

Twisted moves right along at a fast pace. Once you start, you won't want to put it down. See if you spot whodunit. Is Kellerman becoming a creature of habit too?

Thoroughly enjoyable........2006-07-16

This novel features Detective Petra Connor, previously featured in several Alex Delaware novels as well as another of her own called Billy Straight. I like her - she's cute, she's talented, she's tough ... She can't have children, though, and she's always whining about it. I just want to tell her: So you're sterile - get over it! You're young, you can adopt, it's not the end of the world! She also thinks about Detective Milo Sturgis a lot - he's the main detective in the Alex Delaware novels and Petra has worked with him a few times. As often as she mentions him, though, it's obvious she has a crush on him. And why not? He's tough, fair, charming - safe as only a gay guy can be.

Anyway, in this one, Petra's partner, Eric Stahl (who we first met in the Alex Delaware novel Cold Heart) is now her lover and is training in anti-terrorist tactics in Jerusalem (where he meets Detective Daniel Sharavi, star of his own novel The Butcher's Theatre and with whom Petra worked in Survival of the Fittest) I like Eric - he's weird, he's cool and I hope the author keeps him around. Oh, and there is a cameo appearance by Santa Fe Detectives Darrel Two Moons and Steven Katz from the book Double Homicide. Maybe I'm weird, but I like crossovers, so that was fun.

So, with Eric gone, Petra is working alone again - this time on a drive-by shooting that killed four young teens in front of a theatre. Plus a boy-genius arrives as an intern and she is assigned baby sitting duty. Isaac really is pretty sharp, though, and he discovers an annual serial killing pattern, which sets him and Petra off on an unsanctioned investigation that takes on more and more urgency as the fatal date draws nearer. So, it's a race against time and requires a certain bucking of the system since, for some unknown reason, Petra's Captain doesn't like her - he thinks she is some sort of prima donna, I don't know. So, there's lots of tension, some angst, some steamy sex (Yeah, Eric returns), plus a few surprises along the way and it kept me turning the pages, so what more can a reader ask for?

Isaac is such a cute character - he provides much of the comic relief in this one. He sets everything in motion with his discovery, but then we are entertained by his less than stellar love life and his involvement in the climax is just hilarious. I have to wonder how much of himself the author put into Isaac.

The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook: Dyeing, Painting, Spinning, Designing, Knitting

Average customer rating:

The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook
Great Photography, Spinning Section Could be Stronger
Another frontier
A Great Reference Book
For those of us who spin, knit, dye... but still don't knit socks!

The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook: Dyeing, Painting, Spinning, Designing, Knitting
Lynne Vogel
Manufacturer: Interweave Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1931499160

Book Description

With simple directions and tips on how to dye, paint, spin, and knit yarn to create authentic socks, this book offers all the information necessary to fashion socks with personality. Included are innovative patterns and tips for knitting socks with customized fit—even for all ten toes. Safe and easy directions are given on dyeing yarn from pour-dyeing methods to dyeing with Kool-Aid. With photos and illustrations of finished examples, sock patterns such as newborn socks and magic genie toe socks, and advice on how to create one-of-a-kind projects, it will appeal to all levels of knitters and spinners.

Customer Reviews:

The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook.......2007-08-09

The directions for mixing dyes and using them to dye and paint roving and yarn are excellent. They are clearly written and illustrated. The directions for socks are equally well written and easy to follow. The photographs are wonderful and make me want to make almost all of the projects!

Great Photography, Spinning Section Could be Stronger.......2007-04-10

This book lived up to my expectations in some areas, but not others. I don't really blame it for coming a bit short because it tries to do so much. It aims to be a guide through the process of dyeing, spinning, designing, and knitting socks. I found the dyeing section highly useful. The differences between hot pour and cold pour dyeing are clearly discussed with large, clear step by step photos. In general, the photography in this book is one of its best attributes. I also learned a lot in the section discussing how to manipulate a painted roving to obtain a wide variety of effects in the finished yarn. I was a bit disappointed in the scant coverage of the technical aspects of spinning. Vogel prefers singles or 2-ply yarns, while I was looking for advice on how to spin a sturdy 3-ply for durable socks. The sock knitting section contains pretty standard info, but may be more complete than other books. Short-row, heel flap, and several types of afterthought heel are discussed, with information on mending and reknitting each type.

Another frontier.......2007-03-09

This book is like playing a video game where you reach higher and higher levels. It is an adventure in new experiences, and takes sock knitting up a notch. All I need to do now is raise and sheer my own sheep to spin the yarn and I've come full circle! This is a must-have for the adventurer.

A Great Reference Book.......2007-01-14

As a spinner, dyer and knitter of socks, I find this book an excellent addition to my library. It is easy to follow and well illustrated, with good information about the wool to choose for spinning. Lots of great ideas for dyeing and keeping colours alive and easy instructions for newcomers to sock knitting.It has my recommendation anytime.

For those of us who spin, knit, dye... but still don't knit socks!.......2007-01-07

I spent a few days in bookstores picking up every single book on spinning, knitting and dyeing because I wanted to dye a silk/ wool blend i created and wanted specifically to knit socks... a problem i have had!
This is a TREASURE of a book and one that will be very well worn!
Although the book is not thick it is well worth the price. You will learn about dyeing roving to create gorgeous yarns, a Kool aid technique, some hints and tips on making the dye process easier.. and then the piece de resistance... how to make PERFECT Socks!!
The chart on gauge, including Wpi and what needle is best for that, and the detailed chart on sock guage.. it is a wonderful thing.. and something i did not find in internet searches.
It is fun, colorful and very inspiring.. and a definite must have to add to your knit or spin library! I only wish I could sit and spin or knit with these gals... what talent..and gorgeous socks fall from their needles.. I think NOW i can finally knit socks well and definitely without second sock syndrome!
See my first fiber spun in many years at [...]
When i get the rest of the yardage complete ( 325 yds) will be knitting socks!!
GET THIS, you won't regret it!

Twisted: The Collected Stories of Jeffery Deaver

Average customer rating:

Not as good as his full length books
Exciting even as a textbook at school
Sixteen little gems
PUTS ME TO SLEEP!
Expect the unexpected ... and still be surprised!

Twisted: The Collected Stories of Jeffery Deaver
Jeffery Deaver
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743491599
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver delivers an electrifying collection of sixteen award-winning stories that will widen your eyes and stretch your imagination. Diverse and provocative, Twisted showcases Deaver's amazing range and signature plot twists: a beautiful woman goes to extremes to rid herself of her stalker; a contemporary of William Shakespeare vows to avenge his family's ruin; and Deaver's most beloved character, brilliant criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, is back to solve a chilling Christmastime disappearance.

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"New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver has long thrilled fans with tales of masterful villains and their nefarious ways, and the brilliant minds who bring them to justice. Now the author of the Lincoln Rhyme series has collected for the first time his award-winning, spine-tingling stories of suspense -- stories that will widen your eyes and stretch your imagination. A beautiful woman goes to extremes to rid herself of her stalker; a daughter begs her father not to go fishing in an area where there have been a series of brutal killings; a contemporary of the playwright William Shakespeare vows to avenge his family's ruin; and Jeffery Deaver's most beloved character, criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, is back to solve a chilling Christmastime disappearance. Diverse, provocative, eerie and inspired, this collection of Jeffery Deaver's best stories exhibits the amazing range and signature plot twists that have earned him the title ""master of ticking-bomb suspense"" (People). With nods to O. Henry and Edgar Allan Poe, these beautifully crafted pieces, never before compiled in one volume, pulse with subtle intrigue and Deaver's incomparable imagination. "

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as his full length books.......2007-08-12

I am a big fan of Jeffrey Deaver, I think he is very clever and original in his work, and deserves the readership that he has garnered over the last few years.

Yet this collection did little for me. I tried to like the stories and they were at times ok, but I just found myself trying to guess the sting in each tale and not really relating to the story at all. The stories were not enough for me to get involved and to care about what was happening.

This is for the ultra-serious Deaver fan, while others would do better to look at his Lincoln Rhyme series which are brilliant.

Exciting even as a textbook at school.......2007-06-19

As someone who have been teaching English at college in Japan for some time, I was always seeking for a good "authentic" material, which is at the same time instructive and entertaining. This book turned to nicely meet both criteria in the classroom with vibrant colloquial expressions and intriguing plot lines. Unlike other textbook materials accompanied by ubiquitous problems and exercises, Twisted made an instant hit among the students although not without big challenges. For students unfamiliar with American crime novels, the sheer volume of size was a big barrier. Plus cultural and social dimentions were a stumblig block as well. For how much familiar are the expressions or names to non natives like us: COPS, Roseanne, HBO, Give him one-way ticket..., burning bushes, Victoria's Secret and so on. Especially the "yellow diamond" in "The Fall Guy" was the hardest nut to crack. The students and I assumed it to be some precious stone featured in a song of Michael Bolton, which, according to our native colleague turned to be a mere road sign. Anyway based upon the intensity of my students' attitude, I seem not to have mistaken the choice of textbook this semester and I will certainly encourage to read further into a Lincoln Rhyme feature for their summer break fun.

Sixteen little gems.......2007-06-01

Good value this - sixteen short stories instead of one, but some of them might have been stretched out to become full-length novels by other authors. They're not great tales, but collectively they make a compulsive case for you to 'add to basket'. Apparently some have criticised the Olde English tale "All the World is a Stage" (which includes Shakespeare as one of the characters) but I thought it was very authentic given the American hand that wrote it! There's also a mini Lincoln Rhyme story, and several tales in which the baddies get away with it! A good way to introduce yourself to Jeffrey Deaver, if you're not a fan already.

PUTS ME TO SLEEP!.......2007-05-31

This is a great collection of short stories! I keep it by my bed and when I can't sleep, I read one of the stories. They remind me of Alfred Hichcock's style of writing. So imaginative! I can always get right to sleep afterward because the stress of the day goes right out the window as I'm enjoying Deaver's tales!

And...I've just ordered Volume II!

Expect the unexpected ... and still be surprised!.......2007-03-26

In his introduction to "Twisted", Deaver acknowledges his personal delight with the experience of writing short stories. He suggests that because readers don't invest the same time or have the same emotional involvement in a short story as they would with a full length novel, the author is free to play an entirely different game - to hit like a sniper's bullet, to make the story fast and shocking, to make good bad or to make bad badder. But, Deaver says the most fun he had was to make really good really bad.

But - make no mistake - Deaver brings to the short story all the sophisticated skills that have been the foundation of his success as a novelist. He has a gift for dialogue, vivid characterization and suspense and his stories show deep insight into the emotions, the motivations, the fears and the love and happiness of his widely varied cast of characters. Despite its fundamentally gritty nature, his writing shows uncommonly refreshing humour and a capacity to convey deep feeling.

Doubtless everyone will come away from reading "Twisted" with their own personal set of favourites. I was fond of "Lesser-Included Offense", a crafty tale of shifty, cut-throat legal maneuvers during the capital trial of an accused murderer; "Gone Fishing" in which a daughter begs her loving father not to go fishing in an area which has been the site of a series of brutal killings; and, finally, "Nocturne" which begins with the theft of a priceless Stradivarius violin at gunpoint and ends with a ... well, you're going to have to read it yourself!

The dust jacket reviews liken Deaver's mastery of the short story twist to O. Henry and Edgar Allen Poe. I was reminded of Jeffrey Archer's "A Twist in the Tale" and Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected". For some easy going but compelling, rapid-fire, high quality toilet or beach reading that you can pick up and put down without losing the thread, "Twisted" will be your cup of tea! Definitely recommended.

Paul Weiss

Garden of the Perverse: Fairy Tales for Twisted Adults

Average customer rating:

You don't have to be "twisted" to like this one!
A Different Take on Erotica

Garden of the Perverse: Fairy Tales for Twisted Adults

Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560257547

Book Description

We all grew up with weird tales from the Brothers Grimm, the charming Disney stories, and the other childhood rhymes and verses. But even when we first heard them, we questioned the obscure motivations of the principal characters. Our curious minds wondered why a smart girl with a red hood would wander into the forest alone or what circumstances would force a woman to live in a shoe.

Now that we're all grown, we know that sex often explains the seemingly inexplicable — and that's what writers show us in this delightfully twisted volume of alternative fables and fairy tales.

Rather than play with existing tales, Garden of the Perverse is a showcase for the delightfully wicked imaginations of erotica's top authors as they create new and wholly original myths and fables. Though reminiscent in flavor and style to traditional fairy tales, these stories wander into new and unique lands of surreal eroticism, exploring sensual and fetish dynamics in a diverse scope of fantastic places, bizarre creatures and adventures.

Garden of the Perverse captures the imagination with as much story craft as eroticism, and gives free rein to these talented writers with their brand of new fairy tales to tell.

Customer Reviews:

You don't have to be "twisted" to like this one!.......2007-09-17

"The Garden of the Perverse" is a great book of erotica. I liked that the stories weren't derived from older fairy tales, but new ones were brought to life for readers. It really sparked my imagination and was a thrill to read. I also would recommend Dead Sexy: Two Tales of Vampire Erotica as well.

All in all, a great erotic read. Don't pass it up!!

A Different Take on Erotica.......2006-06-09

This work is a different take on Erotica. Sure there have been various erotic anthologies, even a waterproof version for bath tub use. But this one was based on "Fairy Tales for Twisted Adults." Many begin with "Once upon a time, There was a woman once, There was once," pretty typical fairy tale intros that quickly devolve into the "c" and "f" words along with some very descriptive literary imagery of male and female body parts. For an intro that REALLY grabs you try "TORTURE. DOES ANYONE alive even know the meaning of the word?" Wow, that's a hook that will draw in a reader. It's from the JJ Giles selection: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall. It's a clever little tale of retribution with some vivid imagery, surely a selection in this tome not to be missed. I won't give away the ending. Bryn Colvin's selection, The Jealous King and The Generous Lover, is a very fairy tale genre set piece that could be a morality play for children...if you take out the various male genital, tongue and [...] references and concordant acts. The selections are just long enough for a bedtime story read, although you may not want to drift right off to sleep after such reading. Garden of the Perverse is a fun and different read and has something for most everyone.

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