The Metabolism Advantage: An 8-Week Program to Rev Up Your Body's Fat-Burning Machine---At Any Age

The Metabolism Advantage: An 8-Week Program to Rev Up Your Body's Fat-Burning Machine---At Any Age
Average customer rating:

Great content, but....

Awesome book

Nothing new, and that hasn't been done better before

If you have no clue where to begin, this is a good place to start; otherwise, steer clear

Basic and effective

The Metabolism Advantage: An 8-Week Program to Rev Up Your Body's Fat-Burning Machine---At Any Age
John Berardi
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Weight Loss | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

LL Cool J's Platinum Workout: Sculpt Your Best Body Ever with Hollywood's Fittest Star

New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle

Nutrient Timing: The Future of Sports Nutrition

Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way

Greens Plus - Greens+, 9.4 oz powder

ASIN: 1594863237
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Revving up the body so that it optimizes nutrition andturns flab into lean body mass can be accomplished easily and quicklyand at any age, even after the bodys metabolism has supposedly slowed down. Thats what sought-after fitness trainer and nutrition expert John Berardi demonstrates in this new book. Drawing on the best scientific research, including his own ongoing studies, Berardi has developed a supremely effective plan that enables his clientswho include athletes, models, and ordinary men and women of different fitness levelsto stoke their metabolic fires, burn more calories, build lean muscle, and improve their health, too!

Customer Reviews:

Great content, but...........2007-07-05

Although the way that Dr. Berardi explains his program takes almost anyone by the hand to achieve excellent benefits, at the time he suggests recipes for any meals, he just considers American culture, leaving out any other out.
Even when at his web page, there are members from all over the world using his program, that by the way, really works.

Awesome book.......2007-05-14

This book is extremely informative and has some great recipes. It is a little hard to follow the diet exactly because it is a little more strict than say "The Abs Diet" , but definitely filled with great info that I needed to know.

Nothing new, and that hasn't been done better before.......2007-05-14

Clunky style, ego-ridden reading. You get much of the same done better in the Absdiet series (same publisher, I believe). Over-priced, over-hyped, and just a PITA to read. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad place to start. But so many have done it as well, and certainly better, it's hard to give this more than an average rating.

If you have no clue where to begin, this is a good place to start; otherwise, steer clear.......2007-05-13

Right up front, please do not take my mediocre rating of this book as a similar pan of John Berardi himself. Based on what I know of him from his articles on "testosterone.net" and elsewhere, I am sure that he knows and understands a hell of a lot more than he can pack into a book aimed at the diet-and-weight-loss demographic. This book is obviously his attempt to branch out from the hardcore muscle and fitness crowd and reach a broader audience.

Pros: The book has a lot of good basic info on the roles of nutrition, diet and exercise in achieving personal fat loss and figure shaping goals. If I had a friend who had no clue where to begin, this is one book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. And Berardi's writing style is encouraging and entertaining - he knows how to write for his audience without being dull, pedantic or overly self-important (always a plus).

Also a "pro" is the book's emphasis on interval training for cardio health and fat loss. Berardi makes a very good case for this relatively new protocol which may help many people stuck on treadmills for the last 20 years understand why they are still pudgy, and what to do about it. I couldn't write a better, more convincing and usuable cardio/aerobic routine if I'd had a month to write it.

Cons: The book's format and content has Rodale Press all over it. Rodale Press publishes "Men's Health" and "Prevention", 2 magazines that have been recycling a set of 30 articles each - supplemented with various "factoids","breaking news", and "helpful hints" boxouts - over and over for the last 25 years. And with the exception for the advice on interval training, "The Metabolism Advantage" is really just a repackaging of the diet and exercise advice from a prior book, "The Abs Diet", as well as every "Men's Health" diet and exercise article from the past 5 years. If you've read that book, you don't need this one. In fact, if you've read ANY other recent exercise and diet book (including the ones by Oprah's trainer Bob Greene), you don't need this one. I suspect that Berardi, left to his own devices and not forced to shoehorn his book into the Rodale Press "house style" could have written a much more helpful and innovative book than what we have here. But Rodale Press isn't about innovation - it's about the same mainstream fitness and health thinking that have dominated self=help and fitness magazines since the dawn of Pritikin and Ornish.

This last caveat especially applies to the actual weight training routines in the back of the book: they are a total rehash of the same articles that "Men's Health" (and "Men's Fitness" and "Exercise for Men Only" and all the other non hardcore fitness mags) have been churning out for at least 25 years. While the emphasis on free weights over machines is good, these routines are boring, linear, one-dimensional and self-limiting; any average trainee will plateau (or burn out) on these exercise and routines very quickly and will need to look else where for more sophisticated advice. Some of the exercises are worthless, but they are included because they are always included in material like this. Some (like the Overhead Squat) are difficult-to-impossible for the average beginning trainee to perform safely and properly without proper personal coaching, yet they are presented here as if they are no more complicated or productive as the worthless ones. As I said about, Berardi obviously knows a lot more about resistance training than he tries (or is allowed) to include here, and so the book in that sense is something of a disservice to the reader.

Still there is more good than bad about the book; I plan to purchase it when it comes out in trade paperbook to share with my friends who have been stuck on the treadmill for the past 20 years.

Basic and effective.......2007-03-31

A basic and effective diet and exercise program that will help you manage your calorie intake and burn-off.

Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever

Average customer rating:

Trainers in a Book
Interesting book, very different approach but similar recommendations compared to other books
Best Book Out There
the very Best information by qualified nutritionists!!!
it sucks

Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever
Lyssie Lakatos , and Tammy Lakatos Shames
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

SuperFoods Audio Collection CD: Featuring Superfoods Rx and Superfoods Healthstyle
Jumpstart Your Metabolism: How To Lose Weight By Changing The Way You Breathe
Turn Up the Heat: Unlock the Fat-Burning Power of Your Metabolism
NutriSystem Nourish: The Revolutionary New Weight-Loss Program
Make Over Your Metabolism: 4 Weeks to a Faster Metabolism and a Fitter, Firmer You

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0743245482

Book Description

"I can't loose weight because I have a terrible metabolism"

You may not realize it, but you can take control of your metabolism.

Identical twins and registered dietitians, Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames embarked on a twin study to determine precisely what does -- and doesn't -- increase the rate at which our bodies burn calories and fat.

Their findings? Small changes have big results.

The nine weight-loss principles -- and the 200 tips that help you incorporate them into your lifestyle -- in Fire Up Your Metabolism are surprisingly simple: Eat breakfast before you get to work. Learn which sugary snacks trump others (peanut M&Ms boost metabolism, but Twizzlers don't). Drink water, which is essential to burning calories. Always eat dinner, even if it's late. Focus on muscle building, not cardiovascular workouts.

With Fire Up Your Metabolism, you won't have to avoid restaurants or follow a diet (though one is included if you like regimentation). The fatigue and distracting hunger that derail most dieters won't affect you because revving your metabolism is all about eating. You will enjoy breads and other carbohydrates. You will boost your metabolism with power proteins, including hamburgers, and avoid other proteins that bog you down. You will indulge in snacks you thought a dieter could never touch.

Lyssie and Tammy's clients have experienced not only dramatic weight loss but also the thrill of having more energy than ever before. Now you, too, can rewire your metabolism to lose weight fast and forever.

Download Description

"""I can't loose weight because I have a terrible metabolism"" You may not realize it, but you can take control of your metabolism. Identical twins and registered dietitians, Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames embarked on a twin study to determine precisely what does -- and doesn't -- increase the rate at which our bodies burn calories and fat. Their findings? Small changes have big results. The nine weight-loss principles -- and the 200 tips that help you incorporate them into your lifestyle -- in Fire Up Your Metabolism are surprisingly simple: Eat breakfast before you get to work. Learn which sugary snacks trump others (peanut M&Ms boost metabolism, but Twizzlers don't). Drink water, which is essential to burning calories. Always eat dinner, even if it's late. Focus on muscle building, not cardiovascular workouts. With Fire Up Your Metabolism, you won't have to avoid restaurants or follow a diet (though one is included if you like regimentation). The fatigue and distracting hunger that derail most dieters won't affect you because revving your metabolism is all about eating. You will enjoy breads and other carbohydrates. You will boost your metabolism with power proteins, including hamburgers, and avoid other proteins that bog you down. You will indulge in snacks you thought a dieter could never touch. Lyssie and Tammy's clients have experienced not only dramatic weight loss but also the thrill of having more energy than ever before. Now you, too, can rewire your metabolism to lose weight fast and forever."

Customer Reviews:

Trainers in a Book.......2006-11-14

In the introduction there is a quiz which reveals if your metabolism is slowing. Your score is an indicator on how many percentage points you should follow in the book. But there is so much information just what constitutes a percentage?

Throughout the book there are tips on certain food groups and/or individual brands of food. It also includes Myth busters which reviews certain myths about food with updated info. Chapter 5 Favoring Fabulous Fats provides plenty of information that will help manage fat intake and power up metabolism. Additionally, I like the self dietary experiments that the two presented ie What happens to your body when you skip breakfast? Lack of sleep? Not enough water?

Interesting book, very different approach but similar recommendations compared to other books.......2006-07-07

If you are struggling to lose weight this book takes a very interesting approach. The authors are twins and they use themselves as human guinea pigs to show the reader what difference their recommendations will make on the human body. From a scientific perspective I found this approach to be fascinating.

The book is subdivided as follows:
1. Get Ready, Get Set, Get Fired Up
2. Mixing Nutrients to Maximize Metabolism
3. Choosing Carbohydrates Carefully
4. Power Proteins versus Problem Proteins
5. Favoring Fabulous Fats
6. Banishing Breakfast, Beware
7. Missing Meals: Misdemeanor or Manslaughter
8. Where there is a Will there is Water
9. Sleep Satiated versus Sleep Starved
10. Fidgeting, Frolicking and Keeping Fit
11. Muscles Make Magic
12. Sample Daily Menus

The authors provide sound nutritional and exercise advice for those that are motivated to get themselves into better shape. I do not find the authors advice to be overly difficult to follow, but I might be in the minority. I recently switched to a mostly vegan lifestyle for health reasons. It is amazing what all of us can do or accomplish when we are properly motivated.

I have summarized my observations regarding the books content below.

Pros:
1. Sound recommendations that all of us have read before backed up by personal experience
2. Easy to read and understand
3. Detail adequate for the general audience
4. Provides exercises for both the home and the gym
5. Specific recommendations in terms of food consumption
6. Target Heart rate given for optimum exercise efficiency

Cons:
1. I would have liked to see pictures or drawing for the exercises so that people knew that they were performing the exercises correctly.
2. I would also have liked to see a summary of their recommendations
3. Cutesy chapter titles are annoying

Overall, I feel the authors did a credible job covering the topic of health from a nutrition and exercise standpoint. If you are ready to make some changes to your life, and are looking for a kick to get you started this might just be the book for you.

Best Book Out There.......2005-10-24

Listen, we all know the basics...eat less, exercise more...BUT this book tells you how to do this simply and compactly. The book is worth the money for the tips alone but it also offers great lists showing what a real portion is (something we all need to be reminded of), what foods you should have all the time, some occasionally and some rarely. They don't cut any food out of your diet, just explain to you how often you should eat it. Wonderful book for those of you who aren't looking for that miracle, wonder diet and just looking for something that makes sense. My husband and I now tell people we are on a new "food program" not a diet. We are losing without being hungry or frustrated and losing at a responsible rate.

the very Best information by qualified nutritionists!!!.......2005-09-04

I can honestly say that this book has finally given me an END to the search for the correct diet and exercise and metabolism information.
They are RIGHT ON with every "discovery"
and recommendation that they make. My health is much better for their expertise...and I will be writing to the authors to thank them for a great resource.

it sucks.......2004-10-22

A really disliked this book. I only lost 5 pounds in a month! Yes, I was following the procedure. Just keep this in mind when looking for this book.

Turn Up the Heat: Unlock the Fat-Burning Power of Your Metabolism

Average customer rating:

The man should know better.
This Program Works!!!
Best Book on Nutrition and how it affects us
Not a crazy diet
This is an education in nutrition--no more fad diets!!!!!!!!

Turn Up the Heat: Unlock the Fat-Burning Power of Your Metabolism
Philip L. Goglia
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Healthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever
Jumpstart Your Metabolism: How To Lose Weight By Changing The Way You Breathe
Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight:: The Negative Calorie Effect
7-Minute Miracle: Breakthrough Program to Banish Spot Fat Forever
Oxycise!

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0452283477
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Book Description

Discover the program that has worked for hundreds of thousands of people, including countless celebrities and athletes, helping them to achieve permanent weight loss and healthier lives.

Turn Up the Heat provides a thoroughly documented food management system personalized to each individual's metabolic type-fat-and-protein efficient, carbohydrate efficient, or dually efficient. The system is comprised of three components: eating the right kinds and amounts of foods in the correct sequence; following a specific exercise program based on the individual's metabolic type; and drinking the appropriate amount of water daily. Including easy-to-use questionnaires to determine your metabolic type, weekly food plans, and a 2-week Quickstart plan, Turn Up the Heat will forever break the apathy and frustration of dieters who just never seem to get to their ideal weight.

Download Description

"Discover the program that has worked for hundreds of thousands of people, including countless celebrities and athletes, helping them to achieve permanent weight loss and healthier lives. Turn Up the Heat provides a thoroughly documented food management system personalized to each individual's metabolic type-fat-and-protein efficient, carbohydrate efficient, or dually efficient. The system is comprised of three components: eating the right kinds and amounts of foods in the correct sequence; following a specific exercise program based on the individual's metabolic type; and drinking the appropriate amount of water daily. Including easy-to-use questionnaires to determine your metabolic type, weekly food plans, and a 2-week Quickstart plan, Turn Up the Heat will forever break the apathy and frustration of dieters who just never seem to get to their ideal weight."

Customer Reviews:

The man should know better........2006-06-13

Would you trust a doctor who confused plants with animals? Mr Goglia does this when he calls yeast a bacteria. They are not the same.

Secondly, would you trust a doctor who told you to take poison. Mr Goglia does this when he advocates that you drink an ounce of water for every pound of body weight per day. I weigh 260 pounds. That means I would drink 260 ounces or 33 8-ounce glasses or over two gallons a day. Has he never heard of hyponatremia? This condition exists because you drink so much water that you deplete the sodium in your blood. Does he allow salt, the best source of sodium for most of us, in his diet? What would you guess? If you guessed "No!" you'd be correct.

This Program Works!!!.......2006-04-15

Not only does Philip's food program work in losing extra body fat, it keeps you sane too. There is no more question about what will I eat today? Not only did I read the book, but I see Philip in his office for personal nutrition counseling. This is the only program that has EVER worked for me. Philip is a genious! I've learned more from him about nutrition than any doctor or trainer.

Best Book on Nutrition and how it affects us.......2006-03-24

This book does not take too much time to read. It is written in a great format. First the schooling of nutrition and the different metabolic types. Next how to determine which type are you. Then it goes into the way the program works with different levels, and portions of foods to increase and get your body to the best metabolic state, and the highest metabolic temperature. (100%)I thought the most important fact was that after considerable weight loss, the program keeps adjusting to the new weight. I think it is important to point out just as Phil Goglia pointed out, weight is not as important as the "space you occupy". I recomment this book to everyone who ever wanted to know why they couldn't pack on muscle easily, or why diabetes is becoming an epidemic in this country, or why they are overweight or lack energy etc.. Will answer many questions.

One thing, I still think the water thing is too much. I had to cut it down. It kept me going to the bathroom all day!!

Not a crazy diet.......2005-11-20

I think the science behind the ideas in this book is good and it makes sense, it's definitely NOT a typical "insane" diet, especially considering the amount of daily calories I'm supposed to ingest is about 35-40% more than what I would have doing Weight Watchers or Ediets.
That is the part that I see a lot of people having difficulty with; actually raising your calories instead of lowering them(that is, if according to the test in this book your metabolism is not efficient enough). The idea is to picture your metabolism as a furnace, and you need to add fuel to the fire regularly or it sputters out and tries to conserve itself(that is by hoarding fat instead of burning it because it doesn't know when you're going to feed it again).
I do wish there were more recipes instead of suggestions. It tells you exactly what types of food to eat, so it is easy to adjust to your own menu and likes, but I personally would like it if it was even more explicit and included recipes and menu's. They do have a cookbook for the program on the website which I might try out. Also, I didn't see any allotment for small amounts of fat to add, for example if you wanted a tablespoon of olive oil to your salad. It seems to be discouraged on this program but I need a bit more fat in my diet to feel satisfied.
Overall this is a good low-fat program that is adjustable according to your metabolic type. If I get good results from it what I may do is tweak the percentages(I'm Fat/Protein Efficient) to 45% Protein, 30% Fat and 25% Carbs and see how that works.

This is an education in nutrition--no more fad diets!!!!!!!!.......2003-10-22

Here it is short and simple...I never dieted my whole life. I have now reached that over 45 age and experienced some shocking changes. OK, I figured I would starve myself for awhile, etc. etc. Result? I got fatter. My husband brought me this book and my first instinct was to toss it out, but he made me promise I would read it. Here I am thirteen weeks later and two sizes smaller. I have not been hungry one day. I believe so much in this program that I encouraged my sister to buy the book and to talk to our Aunt who is almost 80 yrs old and obese. After 10 weeks my sister lost 30 lbs and 4inches around her thighs. My Aunt lost 20 lbs after just 9 weeks. She actually walked a flight of stairs that she hasn't done in years. Her doctor is ecstatic! They are both sticking to it and said it is really easy to follow this program. I won't get into all the lab results, but for example my ratio went from 3.5 to 2.7! The best thing about this program is that I feed my family everything I eat! No special grocery lists that gets so expensive. We all like the change in our nutrition. This is a realistic way of eating and exercising. This is a change of life that is attainable for anyone. Also, I have called Phillip to ask questions...he actually called me back! He is great! He really listened and helped me. Thanks, Phillip! You will be hearing from my mother and father-in-law soon!

Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke

Average customer rating:

One of the saddest stories I have ever read.
Lesser-Known Abuses of Power
Buy it for the story, keep it for the writing.
I Couldn't Put This Book Down!
Martyrs Who Should Never Have Been

Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke
Dean Kuipers
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Criminal Law | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint
Why Marijuana Should Be Legal
Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan
Pot Planet: Adventures in Global Marijuana Culture
Romancing Mary Jane: A Year in the Life of a Failed Marijuana Grower

ASIN: 1596911425
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Book Description

The gripping story of two marijuana advocates gunned down by the FBI after a five-day standoff.

On a mission to build a peaceful, pot-friendly Shangri-La, Tom Crosslin and his lover Rollie Rohm founded Rainbow Farm, a well-appointed campground and concert venue tucked away in rural Southwest Michigan. The farm quickly became the center of marijuana and environmental activism in Michigan, drawing thousands of blue-collar libertarians and hippie liberals, evangelicals and militiamen to its annual hemp festivals. People came from all over the country to support Tom and Rollie’s libertarian brand of patriotism: They loved America but didn’t like the War on Drugs.

As Rainbow Farm launched a popular statewide ballot initiative to change marijuana laws, local authorities, who had scarcely tolerated Rainbow Farm in the past, began an all-out campaign to shut the place down. Finally, in May 2001, Tom and Rollie were arrested for growing marijuana. Rollie’s 11-year-old son, who grew up on Rainbow Farm, was placed in foster care – Tom would never see him again. Faced with mandatory jail terms and the loss of the farm, Tom and Rollie never showed up for their August court date. Instead, the state’s two best-known pot advocates burned Rainbow Farm to the ground in protest. County officials called the FBI, and within five days Tom and Rollie were dead. Obscured by the attacks of September 11, their stories will be told here for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

One of the saddest stories I have ever read........2007-01-27

Thank you, Dean Kuipers, for writing "Burning Rainbow Farm". It is one of the saddest books I have ever read. I live on a small farm in Maryland, and my closest friends and I can relate to the murders of these young free men, who only wanted to be left alone to burn one, and live in peace.
Whatever happened to the American right, to left alone?
I highly recommend this book to anyone that believes freedom, is free.

Lesser-Known Abuses of Power.......2007-01-04

Most Americans know about the abuses of government power that resulted in Waco and Ruby Ridge. Most people do not get quite as excited about less drastic and dramatic abuses of power, including violations of our Bill of Rights that have become so frequent that we no longer notice them. Most Americans should know about the deaths of Rollie Rohm and Tom Crosslin at Rainbow Farm but do not because of an accident of timing; the events at Rainbow Farm unfolded just days before 9/11. Journalist Dean Kuipers examines with an insightful and critical eye the lives and motivations of hemp activist and unapologetic capitalist Tom Crosslin, his gentle lover Rollie Rohm, and their associates from many different walks of libertarian life, ranging from Tommy Chong to Merle Haggard to the Michigan Militia. Kuipers brings to life the stories of these drug reform and property rights activists who were most definitely breaking the law, but who by no stretch of the imagination were the perils to society that the law enforcement bureaucracy believed them to be.

Kuipers also applies his analytical and descriptive abilities to the Michiana Rust Belt towns and cities that Crosslin and Rohm called home, including Elkhart, Indiana, the RV Capitol of the World--the hometown of this reviewer. Kuipers' perceptions of this depressogenic area ring true in more ways than I want to count.
--Christine A. Whittington

Buy it for the story, keep it for the writing. .......2006-10-25

The chaos and seemingly unneccessary killing of these two pot activists would've been enshrined in the pantheon of strange, over-government reactions -- think Wacco, Ruby Ridge, etc. -- had 9-11 not upturned the political landscape. Thankfully, Dean Kuipers didn't forget, and returned to his childhood area to pen a masterful, well-paced story that is not sentimental or overly judgmental but instead keenly observed with smart reportage and an almost noirish writing style.
You may not respect or even like the protagonists, and Kuipers does not
give them the kit-glove treatment as he shows they defied an insecure prosector in oh so many ways and fired shells at the SWAT folks. You do
come away scratching your head -- and this is where the book transcends its liberatarian, quasi-militia ganja promotion -- about how marijuana,
as with so numerous issues, came to be viewed so differently by the feds than from the constituency they serve.
While I wish the book would've been shorter and that the scene/fact-setting info. was better integrated into the more brisk, novelistic portrayal, overall Kuipers does what so many other non fiction writers can't: he keeps you interested, has a knack for using the right phrase to fit the genre, and leads you expertly down the farm road to an horrifically inevitable bloodbath.
Make no mistake: this is a book to curl up with, whether you believe weed is God's medication and a relaxant for overwrought world or a gateway to crack-ho death. How the gov't can make itself king and over-step the people's authority -- confiscating property, independence, your livelihood, even your soul -- is disturbingly and fascinatingly retold by a writer who has his chops down.
Highly recommend, and this isn't my normal fare.

I Couldn't Put This Book Down!.......2006-08-13

The story told within the pages of this book is one of the most compelling stories I have ever read. I could not put this book down! It reads like an episode of 48 Hours Mystery. Dean Kuipers starts off by telling you basically what happened on Labor Day weekend, 2001. Then goes back in time and not only fills you in on the history of the two main characters, Tom and Rollie, but also introduces you to a myriad of other very interesting people, all very real with their own stories to tell. Not only that, it also gives you an over view of just about every aspect of the movement to legalize cannabis, especially as it relates to the state of Michigan. His retelling of these events is exceptional, considering he culled all the information from interviews and documents collected over a 4-year period.

It is, which is obvious to people who are familiar with this story, about the rise and fall of Rainbow Farm, and the death of the two main owners and operators of the farm. For those unfamiliar with the story, Rainbow farm was a site for cannabis activism and related festivals in the latter half of the 1990's. It is about that, but also about so much more. It is about property rights, the War on Drugs, intolerance, persecution, zealous prosecution, and the mistakes that some of us make in the face of those things. It is also a window into the culture of the last 30 to 35 years and how that has changed. Mr. Kuipers manages to convey all of this, without getting bogged down with too much info on the history of the Hemp movement and all that goes with that. His style is very easy to follow and kept my interest all the way through.

This book would be a great companion to Smoke and Mirrors - The War on Drugs and The Politics of Failure by Dan Baum. That book sort of ends, where this one takes up, although I would say that this is more of a close up view whereas Baum's book is a wider angle. Both books reveal the ridiculousness of the laws in our country concerning Cannabis and how enforcement of those laws is out of control. I recommend this book to everyone, whether you are a Cannabis activist, a casual observer, or just a registered voter that would like to read a balanced view of how our tax dollars are wasted on mostly non-violent users and people who would probably like to grow a little, in the privacy of their own homes for medicinal and light recreational uses.

Martyrs Who Should Never Have Been.......2006-07-18

It isn't explicitly in the Bill of Rights, but it ought to be: The Right to Be Let Alone. The story of two martyrs who died pursuing this right is told in _Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke_ (Bloomsbury) by Dean Kuipers. The story of Tom Crosslin and his partner Rollie Rohm never got all the attention it deserved, since the dramatic climax happened on the Labor Day weekend just before 9/11. Kuipers brings it back, a detailed and intelligent look at the way the War on Drugs has been waged within our borders. You don't have to be in favor of legalization of drugs or even decriminalization of marijuana to realize that this sad battle which reflects badly on all participants never should have happened.

Tom met Rollie, a handsome seventeen-year-old, in 1990. Rollie had been married and had a son whom he adored, but it was love at first sight when he and Tom met. With Rollie, Tom purchased 34 acres of farmland in rural southwest Michigan, and they named it Rainbow Farm. Tom's construction crew and odd-job men became a sort of commune for the farm, a place of remove, where Tom and Rollie and their work crews and friends could have cookouts and parties and not worry about bothering or being bothered by those around them. They were eager for a lot of different types of people to show up at Rainbow Farm, have fun, and be left alone. "This is a place about alternative lifestyles," Tom liked to say. "Being gay is just one of 'em. Smoking pot is just one of 'em. There's a bunch more, and this is a place where people can be free." They started having pot festivals, refusing to allow harder drugs, and refusing to let people sell pot, but encouraging sharing. The local prosecutor didn't like it, and fired with the possibility of claiming the valuable land as assets for the cops, he was eventually able to charge Tom and Rollie with manufacturing drugs. They Rollie knew that they would be losing the farm if they went to trial, and having said sad goodbyes to many who had come to hang out there over the years, they forced a last stand. Tom got assault rifles and let any potential invaders know that the farm was mined and booby trapped (but it was not). He set the buildings of the farm on fire, and fired at police. The FBI was called in, and no one found a way to break the siege, which inevitably led to Tom's and Rollie's deaths.

Tom and Rollie do not turn out to be flawless heroes; Rollie may have just been going along with Tom's plans, but Tom's plans did include the weapons, and firing at police and a helicopter. Their persecutors, however, should not have been hounding him over the years for a relatively harmless weed which drug warriors can't differentiate from truly harmful substances. Rainbow Farm sounds as if it was a happy and useful place, and the world is worse off without it. Tom and Rollie were, before the persecution took hold, philanthropists, Republicans, and prosperous businessmen. This is a story vividly told, and valuable, but sadly, this is just one of thousands of stories of wasted lives and wasted legal efforts as the persecution of marijuana users continues.

Average customer rating:

Intense! Highly recommended
A Hot Summer Read!
Just a little smokey
hot sexcapade novellas
If you're passionate and adventurous, this book is for you!

Burning Up: Tales of Erotic Romance
Nina Bangs , Kimberly Raye , Cheryl Holt , and Patricia Ryan
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Unwrapped (Time of Your Life)
Seduction by Chocolate (Leisure Romance)
The Pleasure Master
Night Games
An Original Sin (Wink & a Kiss, 3)

ASIN: 0312311087

Book Description

Nina Bangs, Cheryl Holt, Kimberly Raye, and Patricia Ryan are all well-known for writing the sexiest, most creative romances around. And in Burning Up, they showcase their talents and ratchet up the heat. From 1867 New York City to Regency England; from modern-day Texas to sometime in the future, these four stories will take readers on an erotic tour through time-and true love.

Customer Reviews:

Intense! Highly recommended.......2003-08-20

Authors Nina Bangs, Cheryl Holt, Kimberly Raye, AND Patricia Ryan combine their talented pens for a sizzling collection of novellas. These powerful tales of seduction and pleasure will keep the blood simmering with their intimate detail and erotic possibility. As sexual intensity increases, so also do the demands of the heart. In this volume spanning time and distance, these authors will leave the reader BURNING UP.

"The Flame" by Nina Bangs: Serenity So-Fine time travels from the year 2700 to 2003 seeking an erotic work of art called the Flame. As curator for the Galactic Museum of Erotic Art, Serenity has added many erotic works to the collection, but none has called to her so much as this one. In a time when sexual attraction has been reduced to negotiation and necessity, the Flame speaks to her a way almost primal. When she arrives, Serenity learns that sculptor Justin Hill exudes the very primal heat her world has lost. Unfortunately, she arrives a bit early and the Flame has not yet been created; indeed, Serenity will become the focus of inspiration for the sculpture.

"The Wedding Night" by Cheryl Holt: In 1815, Ellen Foster agrees to a platonic marriage with Lord Stephen Banbury, exchanging her wealth for his title. Little does he suspect that she very carefully chooses him to be her husband, or that her virginal exterior conceals a passion driven woman determined to lure her new husband into their wedding bed. Certainly Stephen's reputation for lewd behavior and a fabulous ass promise a bad-girl want-to-be a wild night if he will only abandon his determination to keep his distance.

"Burn, Inc" by Kimberly Raye: Determined to prove her abilities to her family, Gerry Baxter is producer for an erotic movie company called Women on Top. Production is complete on the first nine films of a ten part series for HBO, but their contract hinges on completing the entire series. Unfortunately, the woman who usually serves as the driving creative force for the company has defected to marriage and a honeymoon, leaving Gerry to complete the project. Ragweed and poor inspiration threaten disaster so Gerry calls Logan, believing he is Dr. Love and can inspire a few ideas for the final shoot. Mistaken identity and sensual promise lead to an unexpected encounter filled with eroticism.

"Possessing Julia" by Patricia Ryan: Widow Julia Hughes needs to loose her virginity within the next two weeks, or her secret will be discovered. Everyone assumes that her son was fathered by her first husband. Now she plans to marry a man just to provide him with an heir. Concerned for her son's well-being, Julia finds a unique solution. Her aunt makes a deal with Clay to show Julia the ways of love making, including how to enjoy and how to please a man. But after such a marvelous intense interlude, both Julia and Clay will face great difficulty to return to their previous lives and plans.

A Hot Summer Read!.......2003-08-06

I found this book to be a great hot summer read and was thrilled with the new authors that I read. I am a huge fan of Cheryl Holt and Kimberly Raye so Nina Bangs and Patricia Ryan were wonderful surprises for me.

I felt that the love scenes in all four books were scorchers but not used as filler but were important parts of the stories, and yes they were erotic but not as erotic as other titles in other romance lines. Still these four short novelles were fast reads and well worth picking up.

Just a little smokey.......2003-07-09

I thought Burning Up was pretty tame as far as erotic romances go.For those of you that have found the Kensington books a little too explicit, Burning Up will probably be more to your liking.

I happen to enjoy the Kensington books and Burning Up didn't do much for me except for the excellent story by Patricia Ryan.
I've read and re-read that one three times already. It's absolutely what I would have liked to have read in the other stories- explicit love scenes, angsty emotional characterizations, and the ultimate "awe, that's soooo sweet" moment at the end.

I found Nina Bang's story didn't really have enough flow to keep me engaged or interested though the premise is unique, and I always give Nina Bang points for originality and humor though her writing style does not appeal to me. The other two stories were rather uninspiring.

hot sexcapade novellas.......2003-07-07

"The Flame" by Nina Bangs. In 2700, Serenity, curator of the Galactic Museum of Erotic Art, believes one item would complete the collection, but needs to go to 2005 to buy The Flame from the sculptor Justin. He has not found the model to bring to life his mind's picture until the so-fine appearance of Serenity.

"The Wedding Night" by Cheryl Holt. In 1815 London, impoverish Lord Stephen weds wealthy American Ellen, who must persuade her spouse that she married him for the way he enflames her blood and not his title.

"Burn, Inc." by Kimberly Raye. When her partner eloped just before the tenth video is filmed, women's fantasy filmmaker Gerry finds her movie failing to heat the crew. Gerry asks Dr. Love to help her. Logan arrives to see the place where the porn moviemaker, who eloped with his brother, works. Gerry thinks this is Love and finds the inspiration to complete the series.

"Possessing Julia" by Patricia Ryan. In 1867 NYC, though she is a widow with a son, Julia remains a virgin worrying how her fiancé will react to that bit of news. She heeds the advice of Aunt Eunice to find a man to teach her how to make love. When her deceased spouse's cousin Clay arrives for the first time in six years, Julie sees it as a sign, especially when he agrees to tutor her.

Though the four tales cross different sub-genres, each one will arouse the reader (timed for when my spouse was off) with fun story lines and great lead couples. Fans of erotic romantic anthologies will appreciate these sexcapade novellas.

Harriet Klausner

If you're passionate and adventurous, this book is for you!.......2003-07-03

Burning Up!
Over the years I have read many steamy romances that have made my pulse race and my body glisten (sweat just doesn't sound as poetic). I've also had the opportunity to read women's erotica with the mistaken assumption that it would leave you as breathless as a well-written romance novel. Erotica, in general, gives readers the "shock and awe" of a sexual, often carnal exploit but show no true emotion between characters. Romantic erotica, on the other hand, gives romance readers the perfect combination of both, offering unbelievable sensuality along with a deep love and respect between the characters.

In this new and powerfully titillating Novella collection, award winning authors Nina Bangs, Cheryl Holt, Kimberly Raye and my favorite, Patricia Ryan, treat readers to an erotic escape like no other. The stories are fresh, well written and exquisitely sensual filled with a deep abiding romance that will leave your senses reeling but thoroughly satisfied. Read it if you dare and discover a side of romance that will blow your mind!

Amazon.com

Ellie has started to believe she won't survive the war. Their band of eight teenage guerrillas is down to five now--Robyn and Corrie and Chris are dead, and only she and Homer and Kevin and Lee and Fi are still trying to sabotage the enemy who has taken over their country. They're growing numb and soul sick from the violence, because they've been fighting for a long time--through four previous novels, actually: John Marsden's Tomorrow: When the War Began, The Dead of Night, A Killing Frost, and Darkness Be My Friend. At the same time, they are normal teens who kid around, fall in and out of love, and think long thoughts about the meaning of life.

It is this poignant human dimension that lifts Marsden's series above the run-of-the-mill spy action novel--that and the fact that nobody is better at writing about things blowing up. And his scenes leading up to the explosion create tension so powerful it is almost unbearable to keep on reading--but impossible not to. In Burning for Revenge, the five have been abandoned in enemy territory when the New Zealand general decides that they are not valuable enough to send a rescue helicopter. Without any definite plans, they sneak into the back of a truck, only to find themselves at the end of the ride deep within the enemy's airfield. How they battle out of the situation and leave the enemy's air power in ruins makes a breathlessly exciting story that will not disappoint the many teen fans of this excellent series. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

The journey to Stratton isn't an easy trip, especially when the enemy's headquarters lie somewhere along the way. And that's exactly where Ellie and her friends unwittingly find themselves. With only five of them against hundreds of armed soldiers, escape seems like a suicide mission. But Stratton is where Ellie's grandmother lives, so the journey must be made -- even though the odds aren't good.

Ellie must summon all of her courage and guerrilla instincts to survive the latest high-stakes installment of the action-packed Tomorrow series.

Customer Reviews:

Another excellent addition to an addictive series........2007-03-24

The Tomorrow series of books by John Marsden got me through High School (as a lucky New Zealander, I have had the books since the 1990's). I awaited every new instalment with excitement and trepidation. `Burning for Revenge' was no exception and it delivered everything I was hoping for and more. `Burning for Revenge' is a nice return to the action, gunfire and explosive situations after a more sober `Darkness Be My Friend'. One book from the Tomorrow series features a warning quote: "do not start at night". This is completely true in `Burning for Revenge' - the reader is urged on to continue reading until the last page is turned, and is left gasping for breath and reaching urgently for the next instalment.

If you have enjoyed the Tomorrow Series, be sure to catch the Ellie Chronicles ( While I Live (The Ellie Chronicles) )that continue the story of Elle after the peace settlement.

Non Stop Action.......2005-11-01

Burning For Revenge will keep you up all night, that's for sure. There is a lot of non-stop action packed in this book, more than any of the previous books. Marsden makes you visualize the fear felt by the characters while escaping constant pursuit. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

great.......2004-01-23

this is the best series i have ever read. i am currently reading the other side of dawn and i am sad that i am almost finished. i have not found any books that are as great as these so i might as well just read them over and over again. i just hope there are other books as mesmerizing as these out there...

Tomorrow When The War Began.......2003-03-28

The book was great! It had a lot of action. It really kept you in suspence. It didnt seem like the book was very long but probably because it was such a great book.

The greatest war story/comming of age tail ever told.......2002-06-30

I was first introduced to this serioes at school, we were assigned to read it for English, before this book all books assigned to us in school were all garbage and I expected the same, as did most the other students in my class, most wouldnt bother to read it, so the teacher read it aloud in class, for most of it upuntil the half way mark I ignored most of it, until it dawned on me that this book was actualy sounding o.k. When I got home i got my copy from the bookshelf and actualy started to read it, and I read at any chance I had, and when I finished I read the second and third and then had to wait while the rest were written and released
The amazing story starts off with a group of teenagers going camping, and when they return the find the Australia has been taken over by another country, they go to the bush again to hide, but can't just sit back and do nothing and decide to fight back in what ever way they can, although unconventional, when all is said and done and the series is over they made a huge impact on the war, sometimes planned, sometimes fluked, of coarse not all survive and with every loss you can not help but feel the emotional pain of the others, it is the best comming of age story I have read, and although it is listed as a young adult series, it will be unforgetable to all ages and you will develop a bond with Ellie, Homer, Kevin and the rest of the gang, I have never fell in love with any fictional charactors the way I did with these guys, not even in T.V series
A story like this comes along once in a life time, do not, and I mean do not missss this book

Average customer rating:

Fear Street Rocks
Danny's review
Best One Of The Fear Street Saga Series
Cursed Forever
the burning

The BURNING (FEAR STREET SAGA 3)
R.L. Stine
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Horror | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The SECRET (FEAR STREET SAGA 2) : THE SECRET
The Betrayal (The Fear Street Saga 1)
A New Fear (Fear Street, Saga 1)
Daughters of Silence (Fear Street, Sagas 6)
House of Whispers (Fear Street Sagas 2)

ASIN: 0671868330

Customer Reviews:

Fear Street Rocks.......2007-09-03

I am 24 years old and I still love Fear Street. I read this saga over 10 years ago and I started thinking about it a few months ago for some reason. I looked in book stores but it was order only, so I didn't bother. Finally my husband told me to go on Amazon and order it. After all, we would be going to the beach for Labor Day weekend and I don't like going into the water, so reading material is a must.

I'm almost done with the first book, and I love it. I feel like a teen again.

Danny's review.......2005-12-12

I was reading The Burning by R.L. Stine. This book was a pretty good book; out of ten I would give this book a high eight. I liked this book because of all mystery and horror combined.

In this book it is told by Nora Goode, who is married to one of the Fears. In this book it is about how this guy Simon Fear goes to this party and falls in love with Angelica Goode. But Angelica has two guys that are really wealthy and smart and handsome. So Simon kills both of them and marries Angelica. Then bad luck comes back to Simon. He kills his own daughter. Now Daniel has to go for Simon's birthday.
and mystery. They would like this because it is all mystery and horror. So read this book
A person who would like this is a person who likes horror

Best One Of The Fear Street Saga Series.......2004-10-23

This is the 3rd book in the series. It's about a girl name Nora & a boy name Daniel want to stop the curse of the family. They think that the only way to end it forever is to get married. This book actually need 10 stars because it was better than the other 2.

Cursed Forever.......2004-07-31

The Burning is one of the sagas set in days of old explaining the curse that possesses Fear Street.it is an interesting read but it involves much death and is not a cheery book by any means.So I am wondering if it is really worth it.There isn't really a positive aspect or moral to it.Except, perhaps, that the Fear family's own evil is what eventually destroyed them.

the burning.......2004-05-22

ummmm for the reviwer of August,23, 2001
A customer from Connecticut it was William Goode the father of Susannah not George that was her baby brother that moved to another family. Just so you know

The Burning: The Unseen Trilogy, Book 1 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover)

Average customer rating:

Super Reader
Not what I was expecting
Burning
The Burning
wicked

The Burning: The Unseen Trilogy, Book 1 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover)
Nancy Holder , and Jeff Mariotte
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Mysteries | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Series | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Door to Alternity: The Unseen Trilogy, Book 2 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover)
Long Way Home: The Unseen Trilogy, Book 3 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover)
$Monster Island (Buffy the Vampire Slayer\Angel) (Buffy/Angel Crossover)$ Monster Island (Buffy the Vampire Slayer\Angel) (Buffy/Angel Crossover)
Tempted Champions (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Seven Crows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel)

ASIN: 074341893X
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Book Description

It's summertime in Sunnydale, and Salma de la Navidad, a friend of Buffy's from Sunnydale High, needs help. She and her family immigrated to America, and now she fears her brother, in an attempt to gain social acceptance, has stumbled into supernatural gang warfare. To make matters worse, an unknown creature has been doing a little night stalking. Buffy is certain that this new demonic presence has its roots in L.A. -- Angel's turf. So with the help of the Slayerettes, she heads off to battle demons -- both actual and personal.

Meanwhile, in the City of Angels, Cordelia stumbles upon a vampire-worshiping cult of runaways as Angel investigates an invisible presence wreaking havoc in the local prisons.

Now Buffy and pals must deal with identity crises of their own. Buffy may be the Chosen One, but she is, ultimately, expendable. Angel is unique, yet his particular status isolates him from humanity and monsters alike. So while all wonder -- do I make a difference? -- the humans and demons who surround them answer that question in astonishing ways...

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-06

Take some shadowy unseen monsters, add in a young gang of vampire worshippers, two poltergeists in a family, some of the Russian mafia, some gangs into magic, a few bent cops, and nobody is quite sure where this is going. It all starts when a rich girl tells Buffy her dilettante brother is missing, and Cordelia runs into some stray girls who want to be vampires.

At the end of the book, many monsters start appearing, and no-one knows why. A bit all over the place, this one.

Not what I was expecting.......2004-05-25

When I first read the back of this book, I was so excited. It sounded like an excellent read. I waited until all three books came out and then I bought them. And then I read them, and was extremely disappointed.

Nancy Holder is my 2nd favorite Buffy/Angel book writer behind Christopher Golden. I hadnt read a book of hers that I hadnt liked, until this one. I was just so surprised at how poorly they were written. It seemed as if the author had only seen one or two episodes of the show and based their writing on that which confused me because Holder had written so wonderfully in the past.

The characters just didnt seem right. Buffy would say stuff that I just didnt see Buffy saying. All of the characters personalities were just so off. And Faith wasn't really in the series at all until the 3rd book.

I love Nancy Holder and I would recommend that you buy any of her other books, just not this one.

Burning.......2003-12-23

"Unseen" is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel crossover triligy focusing on a group of kidnapped teenagers. Salma, a privliged Mexican at Sunnydale Collage, goes to Buffy and Willow to help with her brother who went missing. Meanwhile back in Los Angeles, Angel gets involved with a man who was framed by crooked cops, and his psychic son. Cordelia and Wes track down a bunch of vampire worshiping teenagers. All of these stories do not come together in this book. But there is a lot of conflict; Angel seems at odds with Riley (Buffy's new boyfriend), LAPD detective Kate Lockly, and even Buffy herself. Xander get envious of Spike because of him and Anya having so much in common; Giles and Wesley have a battle of the experts. I liked this book, and I couldn't wait until the next one. One little problem is that the "Unseen" series isn't as good as "The Gatekeeper Triligy" or "The Lost Slayer" series, but still pretty good.

The Burning.......2002-04-29

After reading this book I got hooked on the u.p.n. drama BuffyThe VampireSlayer and you will to. I don''t want to go into detail because I might give away the ending so my advice to you BUY IT...
READ IT...
WATCH IT...

wicked.......2002-02-28

i've read this one and the second and i think they're both brill! capturing of the imagination and mind opening!

Beyond The Burning Time (Point Signature)

Average customer rating:

An Amazing Book!
Burning with RAGE!!!
My Review
So far a 14 year old reader
Very good historical fiction

Beyond The Burning Time (Point Signature)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Ransom of Mercy Carter
A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials
Poor Richards Almanack
Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley (Great Episodes)
Tituba of Salem Village

ASIN: 0590473328

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Book!.......2005-12-08

Beyond the Burning Time is a wonderful book! Once I started it, I couldn't put it down! Kathryn Lasky has a talent for explaining and telling about the Salem Witch Trials. The book is about twelve year old, Mary Chase and her family. This book has amazing detail! It feels like you are in Salem Town and you can feel the paranoia of the Chase family. The trials they go through are too much for me! All in all, Beyond the Burning Time is a wonderful, well- written novel that anybody can love! So..... READ IT!!

Burning with RAGE!!!.......2004-03-18

Mary and her brother, Caleb, lost their dad to a raging fever after he caught a chill. Their mother was widowed, but still wanted to fulfill her husband's dream of growing/making things that would be shipped around the world. They finally did it, but when they get it going, Mary's mother is accused of witchcraft. There have been some girls who have been "afflicted." They are the ones who cried out that they saw the "shape of Mary's mother" doing witchcraft. Caleb thinks that he sees a pattern of the people being accused. He thinks that this whole "strangeness" is due two a rival of two groups over money. Mary is positive that her mother isn't a witch. She is determined to save her mother before it's to late. Can she save her mother in time with the help of her brother? Lasky has captured the thoughts and feelings of Mary and Caleb. It feels like you are right there with them. You want to cry for them and RAGE AT THE UNFAIRNESS OF IT ALL along side them.

I thought that this novel was very emotional. It told of the unfairness of the Salem Witch trials. It also had examples of discrimination and tolerance.

My Review.......2004-02-20

Beyond the Burning Time
By: Lasky, Kathryn
Reviewed By: R. Gandhi
Period: P.1
It starts out in the village of Salem. Mary Chase and her widowed mother, Virginia Chase, tend a farm with the help of a friend named Gilly. Gilly is soon chased away because he was caught spying on Virginia Chase. Caleb is Mary's brother and works as an apprentice nearby at a shipyard. Soon rumor spreads around that witchcraft is going on in Salem. Innocent people are wrongly accused, taken away for a dehumanization exam, given a trial, and later hung. Mary Chases' family isn't affected until Virginia was accused. Caleb is frightened and takes Mary to Boston where Mary works in a tavern. However, Boston is where Gallows Hill is located. Also, the new governor wants to continue the witch trials. Therefore, Caleb and a new character, Captain Coatsworth chart a plan and save Virginia Chase before her hanging. Virginia gets her foot amputated and later marries a Captain in Jamaica.
This book was very intoxicating! Since I am deeply interested in the supernatural world, I thought the book was great! The author was also descriptive. I could see a movie of the book in my head as I was reading. One great example is, "The girl's tongue lolled out, long as an eel. Her eyes widened. She began making the most piteous cries." Another great example is, "...dusk had settled thickly on the land. They moved quietly through the deepening shadows to the lilac bush. Inside the house they could see the glow of several candles and kerosene lamps."
This book was not very dislikable. At times it got somewhat boring. However, you could read on without falling asleep. Also, directly after the tedious part came something that was quite interesting. One example is when Gilly came to his door and saw an underskirt that was blown to his door accidentally. This short part was a bit tedious. As the story goes on he spies on Virginia to see what her legs look like because he has never seen a woman's leg. This is how he was chased away.
My favorite part was when Abigail Williams becomes afflicted. The author becomes more descriptive. Abigail Williams is described to do many unusual things. One unusual thing is listed above when her tongue lolled out like an eel's. One of the most disrespectful things I thought she did was saying her father's name. It was disrespectful because if you were afflicted and you said someone's name, it was like accusing them of being a witch. Her father is a Reverend and was saying a sermon at the time.

So far a 14 year old reader.......2003-01-28

I am only on chapter 16 of this book but so far I must say that it is very enjoyable. I just started reading it but once I read it I could not put it down. There are some dull points to the story however such as when the author goes on for a page about Gilli's eating habbits. The book is very detailed and though it doesn't have much in the line of action, it is some how still addictive with it's suspence. If you enjoy stories about long ago when many people were thought to be witches then you will most certainly enjoy this colorful tale of witch trails, lies, and suspence.

Very good historical fiction.......2002-10-17

Beyond the Burning Time was a gripping account of the Salem witch trials told through the eyes of a 12 year old girl named Mary Chase and her family. Mary is caught in the turmoil of the Salem witch trials when her mother, Virginia Chase, is cried out as a witch. Now, with the help of her brother Caleb, she must save her mother from the evil of the village. Will they succeed? A great historical fiction that shows the inner turmoil of the village and the innocent victims in a greater light. I liked this book because it showed how much the victims of the Salem witch trials suffered and also showed how far the girls of the community would go to cry out on people as witches. However, there wasn't really that must character development, and you couldn't connect with Mary Chase, the protagonist as much.

Average customer rating:

Happy Birthday Jenna
Burning Bones- Mysterious Flames
Burning Bones- Mysterious Flames
Even with certain downsides, it's still 5 stars
Another great novel from Christopher Golden

Burning Bones
Christopher Golden , and Rick Hautala
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

Mysteries | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Skin Deep
Head Games
Brain Trust
Last Breath (Body of Evidence)
Throat Culture (Body of Evidence)

ASIN: 0671775847

Book Description

"It's quite a mystery, isn't it? I mean, how do you burn someone to death in public, and not have anyone notice?"

Two people burst into flame, burned alive in front of plenty of eyewitnesses with no obvious cause. Spontaneous human combustion is a bizarre phenomenon, but according to published accounts, it happens. Could that be what occurred here? Or is it murder?

As Jenna Blake turns nineteen, she is getting over a recent breakup and is rekindling an old flame. Between her personal life and college, she has enough on her hands. The last thing she nees is another nasty little puzzle.

But the burn victims' clothes weren't flammable, the crime scenes reveal no evidence of arson, and nome of the various witnesses can provide anything resembling a clue. In fact, she and Slick are just beginning to re-evaluate their faith in rational, scientific explanation when the fire claims another victim, and an incredible explanation presents itself. Even as they struggle with their discovery, the danger hits far too close to home...

Customer Reviews:

Happy Birthday Jenna.......2004-02-04

Jenna Blake, assistant to a Somerset Medical Examiner, has just celebrated her nineteenth birthday, and getting over a recent break-up, while at the same time rekindling an old flame with a certain Somerset Police Officer. On top of all of that, she has a new mystery to solve. Innocent people are being set on fire everyday, yet there is no evidence of arson, and there are no witnesses who can say anything except "They just went up in flames." The only possible conclusion is spontaneous human combustion. But that is conclusion is quickly put out, when an unusual turn of events suddenly presents itself, along with an incredible explanation to the deaths of the innocents.

I was hesitant in purchasing this book, as I was worried that Golden's usual sense of mystery and horror would not be present, since he was writing with a partner, Rick Hautala. Boy was I wrong. This book was just as good, if not better than the previous books in the BODY OF EVIDENCE series. Golden and Hautala's writing was immensely enjoyable alongside one another, and is a treat for all fans of either author. A must-have.

Erika Sorocco

Burning Bones- Mysterious Flames.......2003-04-15

Three people are mysteriously burned to death, two of whom in front of a multitude of eyewitnesses. "How could something like this happen?" is the question on everyone's mind, especially when a member of the Somerset Police Department's own becomes the fourth victim of the flames. Could spontaneous human combustion, the ability of a person to burst into flames without reason, be the cause of these deaths? Or, could a man named Victor Frost have single-handedly murdered these individuals with the touch of a finger?
I give this book five stars, because it was an excellent mystery that kept me in suspense. The cause of the murders (pyrokenesis) was fascinating, but even more remarkable was the insight of the main character, Jenna. The authors too, clearly demonstrated a keen knowledge of the events that occurred in the novel, making the plot realistic. I would recommend "Burning Bones" to anyone looking for a good mystery with a surprising twist.

Burning Bones- Mysterious Flames.......2003-04-15

Even with certain downsides, it's still 5 stars.......2003-01-11

Burning Bones was overall was suspenseful, and certainly not predictable. So far I have followed every book, and I do think this was one of the most trivial cases, but what puzzles me is that it is so far from human belief, where all the other books are more murder/ish cases- I'm not ruling out the whole idea, because I do believe anything is possible, but it seems unlikely in the series. But I suppose that's why they wrote it like this??? Overall, the book is great and almost makes me want to be an ME, or at least the assistant, and if like mysteries but not the same old monotonous mysteries, I recommend this book- or any other Body Of Evidence book!

Another great novel from Christopher Golden.......2002-03-22

Jenna Blake is back for another round, and this time around, things are gonna get hot! When a man bursts in to flames for no apparent reason, Jenna finds herself wrapped up in yet another mystery. The writers take us on a rollercoaster ride, as we watch things unravel, up until the very end, when a vicious killer attempts to take the life of someone very near and dear to Jenna.

This book follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, and lives up to the standards set by them. If you are a Jenna Blake fan, you will enjoy this book as well.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books