The Marvel Encyclopedia
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • limited in its bio's
  • Tons of good information!
  • The Marvel Encyclopedia
  • so many errors!
  • It's not an encyclopedia
The Marvel Encyclopedia
Daniel Wallace , Tom Brevoort , Andrew J. Darling , Tom DeFalco , Peter Sanderson , and Michael Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

IllustrationIllustration | Commercial | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Defalco, TomDefalco, Tom | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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  1. The DC Comics Encyclopedia The DC Comics Encyclopedia
  2. Avengers: The Ultimate Guide Avengers: The Ultimate Guide
  3. The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga
  4. Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection) Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection)
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ASIN: 0756623588

Book Description

Marvel Comics' character roster boasts some of the best known and most popular characters ever conceived-heroes that are international household names, both as comic book stars and movie stars, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk and Wolverine. This unique, one-volume encyclopedia contains more than 1000 of Marvel's greatest, with full details of their powers and their thrill-packed careers. The encyclopedia's range of spectacular art features eye-popping work by Marvel's finest artists, while the authoritative text is supplied by a team of top Marvel comic book writers. In addition, double-page features, illustrated with classic covers, trace the fascinating story of Marvel Comics through the decades. The Marvel Comics Encyclopedia is an essential book both for new fans and for those who grew up loving the excitement, heroism and humor of the Marvel Universe. Includes a foreword by Stan Lee.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars limited in its bio's.......2007-09-19

Though the book is imformative, the bios are very limited. There are no scales to properly determine strength and intelligence. Also there are a lot of typos, leading me to believe that they didn't care much when they created this. If you want a short overview on marvel characters then this book is for you, otherwise don't bother.

5 out of 5 stars Tons of good information!.......2007-08-06

Great book for anyone. Being an avid marvel fan I thought I knew most everything, but I have learned a lot from this book. It is a good buy.

5 out of 5 stars The Marvel Encyclopedia.......2007-06-11

The book is well illustrated and has exhaustive description of each character of Marvel Comic Books.

3 out of 5 stars so many errors!.......2007-06-07

Like any Marvel fan I was very excited about getting my hands on this encyclopedia, only to be sorely disappointed by the amount of errors found within it's pages. Error examples include: page 46, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, an image of Nightcrawler is found under a listing for Black Tom Cassidy. Page 212 , an image of the Shiar imperial guardsman Nightside is shown under the character listing for Nightshade. Page 171 An image of the Asgardian character Lorelei is shown under the character listing for the Savage Land mutate of the same name. These are few example of the many errors throughout the book.

2 out of 5 stars It's not an encyclopedia.......2007-06-06

There isn't enough information on individual characters. (There are a lot of them, and there are pictures, but the pictures take up some much space that there's none left for details.)
Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do (JOSSEY-BASS EDUCATION SERIES)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do (JOSSEY-BASS EDUCATION SERIES)

    Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    5. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition

    ASIN: 0787974641

    Book Description

    Based on rapid advances in what is known about how people learn and how to teach effectively, this important book examines the core concepts and central pedagogies that should be at the heart of any teacher education program. Stemming from the results of a commission sponsored by the National Academy of Education, Preparing Teachers for a Changing World recommends the creation of an informed teacher education curriculum with the common elements that represent state-of-the-art standards for the profession.  Written for teacher educators in both traditional and alternative programs, university and school system leaders, teachers, staff development professionals, researchers, and educational policymakers, the book addresses the key foundational knowledge for teaching and discusses how to implement that knowledge within the classroom. Preparing Teachers for a Changing World recommends that, in addition to strong subject matter knowledge, all new teachers have a basic understanding of how people learn and develop, as well as how children acquire and use language, which is the currency of education. In addition, the book suggests that teaching professionals must be able to apply that knowledge in developing curriculum that attends to students’ needs, the demands of the content, and the social purposes of education: in teaching specific subject matter to diverse students, in managing the classroom, assessing student performance, and using technology in the classroom.
    Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • the best cookbook out there
    • Favorite
    • Good basic source
    • Love this book!
    • Are roasted red peppers the new sun dried tomatoes?
    Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

    Manufacturer: Better Homes and Gardens
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Ring-bound

    GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    Culinary Arts & TechniquesCulinary Arts & Techniques | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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    5. Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006

    ASIN: 069621881X
    Release Date: 2003-09-01

    Amazon.com

    Discover why every kitchen worth its salt has a flour-dusted, bouillon-stained, batter-encrusted and whisk-maimed copy.

    Book Description

    Includes two bonus chapters of recipes, menus, party and decorating ideas, and shortcut treats!

    Bonus Chapter No. 1: Holiday Menus

    Bonus Chapter No. 2: Shortcut Treats

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars the best cookbook out there.......2007-10-11

    this was a gift for my sister-in-law and I believe everyone should own a copy of this book. It is the most helpful general cookbook I have ever owned and I have given copies to many friends and family members.

    5 out of 5 stars Favorite.......2007-09-08

    This was my favorite cook book and my daughter thought so too, so I bought her this one for her new home.

    5 out of 5 stars Good basic source.......2007-08-16

    Great 'learn to cook' source. I sent each of my kids off to their first apartments with a copy.

    5 out of 5 stars Love this book!.......2007-07-24

    I borrowed the book from the library. This was the only cookbook that I borrowed from the library that I use practically everyday. After renewing the book three times, I think it was time to purchase it. The instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients simple, and I've only had something come out bad once due to a missed ingredient on my part. This book is really great for a beginner to intermediate - where fanciful is not necessary.

    4 out of 5 stars Are roasted red peppers the new sun dried tomatoes?.......2007-07-18

    The recipes are solid and practical. I use this cookbook as my starter when I'm planning meals for the week. If it doesn't have a recipe for a particular base, then I move on. It works well in that role. I have noticed a number of recipes that would've had sun dried tomatoes as a unique flavor in previous recipes now have roasted red peppers.

    The ability of the cookbook to stay open on it's own is a real bonus.
    Arnie the Darling Starling
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • OK, but there are better options in this genre
    • Darling!
    • Amazing!
    • Bravo!
    • Heartwarming!
    Arnie the Darling Starling
    Margarete Corbo
    Manufacturer: Fawcett
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
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    5. Providence of a Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone to the Birds Providence of a Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone to the Birds

    ASIN: 0449206548
    Release Date: 1985-01-12

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars OK, but there are better options in this genre.......2007-02-14

    I devour all books in the people-befriending-animals genre, especially ones where birds are concerned. While this one satisfied me by and large, I would just like to provide a tiny bit of criticism.

    I didn't care for the two episodes of the author's allowing Arnie, the wild bird she rehabilitates, to drink alcohol. Once, to the point of drunkenness. !!! This easily could have resulted in the bird's death. Obviously.

    I also didn't care for the author's apparent heavy smoking in the presence of Arnie as well as her cats. The obvious second-hand smoke issues aside, she mentions numerous episodes of the bird "playing" with cigarette butts in her ashtray. I just shudder to think how much "fun" the bird would have had if it had ingested some tobacco, or worse yet, gotten burned by a butt that wasn't fully extinguished.

    Nonetheless, the book was mostly enjoyable and I would ultimately recommend it. I'd say C+ or maybe B- depending on my mood.

    If you enjoyed this book, or even if you didn't, I would recommend Chris Chester's "Providence of a Sparrow" -- a memoir of a bird friendship that is glorious. Also, "That Quail, Robert" far outshines "Arnie"...

    5 out of 5 stars Darling!.......2004-06-06

    This is based on a true story. Margarete, who considered herself a typical grandmother, ran across a downed baby bird in her flower patch. She tried to put the bird back in the nest as a helpful soul, but that didn't work. She tried several times, describing her attempts to reach the nest by roof and ladder like a gymnastics move - remember, this is a grandmother. Each time she completed the task only to find the bird back in the flower patch down below. When she decided to raise the bird herself, it was of course only going to be temporary.

    This is a wonderful story of love and compassion, of companionship and triumph. Arnie the starling ended up being the thread that held many stories together in Margarete's life. A war bride from Munich, Margarete lived in Texas where she had run a pet clinic, among other things. She moved to Cape Cod with Arnie by the end of the tale, having had many adventures along the way. Margerete even shared the rejection letter from the Tonight Show. Maybe they didn't believe Arnie the starling could talk? "Good," was Arnie's reply.

    Arnie never did return to the wild, preferring the company of Margarete and her other animals, human food to wild offerings, and, of course, there would be no one to talk to out there! This is a lovely story, a touching story, one for kids and adults.

    5 out of 5 stars Amazing!.......2001-01-30

    It is the heartwarming story of a lady and her bird. Brings tears to the eyes! Superbly written! A great biography for any one who even remotely likes animals!

    5 out of 5 stars Bravo!.......1999-11-29

    Heartwarming story about a remarkable woman and the wild bird that captivated her heart.

    4 out of 5 stars Heartwarming!.......1999-09-15

    I found this charming book in a used bookstore when I visited my father in Texas. Sorry to see it out of print. A real treasure that is fun to read and very poignant.
    Powerful Teacher Education: Lessons from Exemplary Programs
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Powerful Teacher Education: Lessons from Exemplary Programs
      Linda Darling-Hammond
      Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      5. The Wisdom of Practice: Essays on Teaching, Learning, and Learning to Teach (JOSSEY-BASS HIGHER & ADULT EDUCATION SERIES) The Wisdom of Practice: Essays on Teaching, Learning, and Learning to Teach (JOSSEY-BASS HIGHER & ADULT EDUCATION SERIES)

      ASIN: 0787972738

      Book Description

      Powerful Teacher Education describes the strategies, goals, content, and processes of seven highly successful and long-standing teacher education programs - Alverno College, Bank Street College, Trinity University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern Maine, University of Virginia, and Wheelock College. All these colleges and universities have succeeded in preparing teachers to teach diverse learners to achieve high levels of performance and understanding. In discussing the common features of these programs, Linda Darling-Hammond shows what outstanding teacher education models do and how they do it, and what their graduates accomplish as a result. Powerful Teacher Education also examines the policies, organizational features, resources, and relationships that have enabled these programs to succeed.
      Necessary Sins: A Memoir
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Carelessness
      • A beautifully written book
      • sublime memoir
      • A love letter
      • A love story, not a fairy tale
      Necessary Sins: A Memoir
      Lynn Darling
      Manufacturer: The Dial Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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      5. On Chesil Beach: A Novel On Chesil Beach: A Novel

      ASIN: 0385336063
      Release Date: 2007-03-27

      Book Description

      When Lynn Darling met Lee Lescaze at the Washington Post, they could not have been more different. He was older, married, more “establishment,” a celebrated foreign correspondent and editor. She, who entered Harvard at age sixteen, was a brilliant wild child of the sixties. She lived life in the present tense, where every affair was an adventure. Then Darling fell in love and everything changed.

      This is a story of the many lessons love can teach us, of a marriage turned upside down and inside out, and all the tenderness, thrills, comfort, and yes, even disappointment, that comes with the territory. Lynn Darling thought she knew the narrative of her own life, until it really began with her “one true north,” and now, ten years after his death, her story is still unfolding.

      Customer Reviews:

      1 out of 5 stars Carelessness.......2007-10-18

      Although this book is well written by an author of established credentials, it is just another "tell-all" book of the "chick lit" variety, and it has a very one-sided perspective - that of the author. There was little sense of the personalities of the other members of the family described in the book except for the effect they had on the experiences of Lynn Darling, herself. This would be appropriate in a work of fiction. There, when the story is told in the voice of the main character, the limited perspective makes sense. But, even in good fiction there are still descriptive hints as to the reality of other characters in contrast to the overarching voice of the main character. This is a story about real people, but it comes off as more of a soap opera due to the lack of emotional insight. The narrator is trying to make sense of her life choices and the tragedies the choices have brought to her but only from an emotionally immature perspective. The trouble is that these tragedies affect the other real characters in the book in profound ways as well. The author has neither speculated upon this possibility nor dealt with it in any depth. Since the family she married into is a "real" family with "real" children, it would have been more empathetic if the author had protected their identity by using different names and details, or by creating a totally fictional account instead. Apparently the author had neither the imagination nor the insight to be so considerate.
      Darling's story is that of an ambitious woman, a journalist, who, feeling the biological clock ticking, fell in love with a depressed older man, who was medicating himself with alcohol and who held a high position at the Washington Post. He had already proved himself to be a top journalist during the Vietnam War and elsewhere and seemed to be a very accomplished person. She, a younger, aspiring person, held a lower position at the Post. This man had a real wife and real children, but one gets a sense in her book that Darling has purloined them into her universe - not just the depressed and alcoholic husband who fell for her charms, but the whole family. In the book it seems that she is trying to justify to herself the consequences that followed, albeit not very successfully. It is clear that the marriage was of no help to anyone but the author and her daughter, and only possibly the husband. The opening chapter describes a supposedly sexually liberated woman who finally fell in love, but such a woman is still responsible for her actions and the hurt that she does to others. This is not just her story. Until she has dealt with this fact in some greater depth, she should forbear to write about it or, at least, disguise or fictionalize it. That way she would show that she knows that it is only her difficult and sad story that she is telling.
      Reading between the lines it seems clear to me that her husband, Lee, descended into more depression in their marriage, especially after the death of his son, and that he may have been no happier than before he married her. It might be that he felt some sort of guilt for his carelessness to his previous family. There is no mention of that possibility in this book.
      In short, this story is about carelessness: the carelessness of the needy, the ambitious, the depressed and the emotionally undeveloped person. It is not an unusual story, and it shows no unusual depth of awareness or perspective. As nonfiction, it doesn't even give even a nod to the reality of the other people's stories. If one wants to read a great fictional book (or see the movie) showing the consequences of this sort of carelessness, re-read The Great Gatsby for depth, objectivity and good writing.

      4 out of 5 stars A beautifully written book.......2007-08-26

      "Necessary Sins" is a book to be read closely and savored for its beauty, and like many readers I fell under its spell and couldn't put it down. The language is lush, image-rich, begs to be read aloud.

      The early part of Lynn Darling's memoir sets the stage with her wild youth and her early writing career at The Washington Post. I found the wild child less convincing, possibly more described than demonstrated, the articulating of character flaws a bit abstract and analytical; not quite messy enough. But she's very persuasive as the unfocused writer panicking about deadlines, only as good or as bad as her last story.

      The middle part details her love affair with a married colleague, Lee Lescaze. Lee's marriage breaks apart because of the affair and Lynn and Lee marry, incorporating his three children and his older, established friends into their life -- "They were all very kind to me, but among them I felt like a kazoo in an orchestra ..." As their love and commitment deepen the reader gets a more detailed picture of how these emotional bonds affect the author's heart.

      The final part of the book is the payback, where the heavy price is paid for that love and commitment. Darling writes compellingly about the birth of their child: "The world shrank to just the two of us. My connection to Zoe had a love affair's tenderness, its violent pendulum from ecstasy to despair, its physicality, its wild unsteadiness." The losses are detailed in heart-rending prose and seem to support that prose more securely than the earlier parts of the book.

      Overall, "Necessary Sins" is beautifully written and tells an ordinary but moving story. At times the lyrical writing overshadows the story; it's a superb memoir of the author's feelings without, in the earlier sections, giving as much basis as it might have for those feelings. The excesses of her single life, the introspection about her family ("My family always lived in places where the trees had just been planted"), and even the angst about her career seem like prologue to the main story of her love and loss. While I found this book to be rewarding and beautifully written, it might have been more satisfying as a longer book.

      We all choose every day how to present ourselves to the world. In this memoir Lynn Darling offers herself to us courageously, and I'd like to get to know her better. Oddly, that may be easier in a book less personal and painful, and I'll be watching for more from her.

      I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates crisp yet lyrical writing and doesn't mind a sad story.

      5 out of 5 stars sublime memoir.......2007-05-11

      This is a beautiful book. It conveys all the simple hunger of young love and all the complicated pain of real life. I read it in one sitting, stopping only to get more tissues. It left this reader emotionally scoured, but able to look with fresh eyes on what it means to be a lover, a mother, a woman.

      4 out of 5 stars A love letter.......2007-04-16

      This is a self-deprecating love letter from Lynn to Lee. Anyone who has found themselves to have fallen in love during a ravenous and questionable affair will be able to identify with Darling's simultaneous certainty and uncertainty. I feel as though I have discovered a love letter in a bedside drawer and am reading it as quickly as I can, lest I be discovered by the owner.

      5 out of 5 stars A love story, not a fairy tale.......2007-03-30

      Lynn Darling is a wonderful writer, and in this memoir she tells the story of a true love that transformed her and that remains, years after her husband's death, the wellspring and center of her life. But she also shows the price he and she paid for their love story--a broken first marriage for him, guilt and pain for all involved, and the deep tragedy of the death of a child. A skilled reporter and stylist, Darling can create memorable characters and scenes. But what makes this book so powerful in the end is her refusal to spare herself or be less than candid about her motives and behavior. If you believe in love and in its power to redeem the soul (or even if you think you might), you'll find yourself thinking about NECESSARY SINS long after you have read the last page.
      Sloppy Firsts: A Novel
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Light, funny, and somewhat cliche
      • Light, Fluffy, And Entirely Unmemorable
      • Sloppy Firsts
      • Chuckle, Chuckle, Ha Ha, Hee Hee, Tear
      • Welcome Back
      Sloppy Firsts: A Novel
      Megan McCafferty
      Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      United StatesUnited States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
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      Accessories:
      1. Conair Pro Color Accents Temporary Hair Color Kit Conair Pro Color Accents Temporary Hair Color Kit
      2. Conair MDF2R Facial Sauna With Timer Conair MDF2R Facial Sauna With Timer

      ASIN: 0609807900
      Release Date: 2001-08-28

      Book Description

      “My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.”

      When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

      A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.

      Download Description

      When her best friend, Hope, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, 16-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. Jessica is a fish out of water at school, a stranger at home, and now -- with the only person with whom she could really communicate gone -- more lost than ever. How is she supposed to deal with the boy-and-shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad's obsession with her track meets, and her nonexistent love life? Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica's predicament, from the dark days following Hope's departure to her hopelessly mixed-up feelings about the intelligent and mysterious bad-boy who works his way into her life. Sloppy Firsts is right in line with some of the great teen crossover works of popular culture, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and is sure to appeal to readers of all ages who appreciate the inherent humor of high school angst.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Light, funny, and somewhat cliche.......2007-10-17

      Though we've seen countless novels like this one before, and countless characters resembling Jessica Darling, this book will make for a fun read. If you're in the mood for some teen-angst, high-school drama, this book hits the spot. There's nothing really unique about this novel, but Megan McCafferty still finds a way to make it so good, that you'll be eager for more.

      3 out of 5 stars Light, Fluffy, And Entirely Unmemorable.......2007-09-06

      After reading all the praise this book has gotten from the legions of readers who seem to find it absorbing, humorous, and realistic, I was disappointed to find both the plot and the characters extremely clichéd and formulaic.

      I'm not saying that I found the book horrible. It was very quick and light, written in a straightforward journal format, making it a fluffy, effortless read. If you're looking for a lightly humorous chick lit novel, this book will fill those requirements.

      However, if you're looking for a smart, unique novel that you're going to remember in years to come, I wouldn't recommend this. Most of the characters are either stereotypical or one-dimensional, with the exception of Marcus, who was quite unusual. Jessica was the traditional "smart, misunderstood runner girl". You can find her type in all sorts of teenaged novels. She irritated me. She was incredibly intelligent, a gifted runner, and great at writing, and yet her attitude toward life was generally pretty negative.

      With all of her talent, you'd think Jessica would be confident, not pessimistic, which is why she struck me as fake. As for her friends, they were like characters from a soap opera. The plot was monotonous and unsurprising, with no truly exciting twists, right up to the end, which was neither final enough to provide closure nor enough of a cliffhanger to have you eagerly awaiting the sequel.

      Instead of this novel, read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, or Just Listen, also by Sarah Dessen. I found all these novels to be much more realistic depictions of high school.

      5 out of 5 stars Sloppy Firsts.......2007-08-27

      I read this book a few years ago when I saw it in the book store. I'm a rather picky reader and thought this might be fun to pass some time. I was attached to the character Jessica Darling by the end of this book and even more thrilled to find out that there was a second out at the time. Even more so I bought the third one just as it had been released and the same thing now with the Fourth Comings. Megan has created a character that simply comes to life in the reading. I would suggest to most who like coming of age stories to read this. Its quiet heart warming.

      5 out of 5 stars Chuckle, Chuckle, Ha Ha, Hee Hee, Tear.......2007-08-16

      The first time I read this book, I was in 8th grade and I still love it to this day! I have read it at least 15 times and have never grown tired of it. Jessica Darling is me in a nutshell...if I were a female track star. Everything else is me...yes, I graduated salutatorian of my class and am currently going to Columbia University. I LOVE this series and you should too...especially if you are an angst-filled teenager.

      5 out of 5 stars Welcome Back.......2007-08-10

      As Charles Dickens once very aptly obsevered: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Of course Dickens wasn't referring to high school, but the French Revolution. But today, in our current American society his words can be no closer to the truth when discussing the legally mandated ritual called high school.

      Everyone has his or her story. From the glory days full of football games, after-hour parties, and social ruling to the lesser exuberant memories our being an outsider, not understanding anything going on around you, and the unfortunately bullyness. Yet despite the pangs of High School and the sometimes harsh memories that come along with it, it is a time in our lives that years removed somehow becomes glorified as "the best time of your life," wither that statement is true or not.

      McCafferty has constructed an unlikely heroine who reminds us exactly why we hated high school so much... and exactly why we will probably always look back on it with fond memories of times pass. Jessica Darling is you. Jessica Darling is me. Jessica Darling is everyone. Whither you can relate to everything she says, or just a few of the experiences she goes through during these novels, there is a little bit of everything within our heroine.

      Unlike the heroines of classic literature that defeat the sociality structures (Dicken's "A Tale of Two Cities"), learn the true meaning of love (a la Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"), Jessica Darling's one true clam to fame is not only surviving high school, but figuring it out before she leaves the hallowed halls. Most people figure it out sooner or later, but usually when they are removed from the experience.

      What McCafferty is trying to say to the audience at large is that life matters. Everything that has happened to you, is happing to you, and will happen you have an effect that you can never dream off. The point of life isn't just sitting back and waiting for the next step. But it is embracing the here and now.

      McCafferty is able to do these through a narrative that reads more like a self-aware John Hughes script, rather than 95% of book one would find in their local "young adult fiction" section. And the true genius and charm of the book doesn't from Jessica's stories of high school. But through your own memories, that while reading this book you are able to relive again vicariously through the eyes of Jessica. This book was not written for the tween set as a way to drool over what those "magical four years" will be like (a la "Dawson's Creek"), but as a way for people past that experience to look back and realize just how much their high school years truly means.

      I cannot recommend this book enough, especially to fans of the budding new genre of self-aware coming-of-age stories such as "Prep," "Boy meets Boy," and the "Rules of Attraction." In all honestly I must request that everyone in their post high-school years, but still young enough to remember the impact John Hughes has on society to order a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed in the least!
      Food Network Favorites: Recipes from Our All-Star Chefs
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • I lap up all Food Network books...
      • So-So
      • Wonderful
      • Fun Recipes
      • GREAT PURCHASE FOR GOOD FOOD
      Food Network Favorites: Recipes from Our All-Star Chefs
      Food Network
      Manufacturer: Food Network
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook) Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook)
      2. Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes
      3. Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time
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      5. Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style

      ASIN: 0696230216
      Release Date: 2005-11-08

      Book Description

      All-time-favorite recipes from some of the world's best chefs—from Paula Deen's homey, all-American fare to Wolfgang Puck's Euroasian cuisine.

      More than 120 of the best restaurant-quality recipes that can easily be prepared in home kitchens.

      All of the characteristics culinary fans have come to expect from Food Network—great recipes, reliable cooking tips, and easy-to-understand instructions.

      Behind-the-scenes back-kitchen chit chat with some of the world's hottest chefs.

      Question-and-answer sessions with each chef about his or her passion for food, favorite ingredients, and secret vices.

      Exclusive photos of the all-star chefs taping shows on-stage at the Food Network studios put readers in the kitchen with their favorite television personalities.

      Numerous how-to photos and detailed text guarantee recipe success every time.

      Customer Reviews:

      3 out of 5 stars I lap up all Food Network books..........2007-08-07

      Or I should say I used to. I bought this one without really looking inside because I had had such good experiences in the past with FN books. I haven't made one recipe out of this book. I was also dismayed to find repeat recipes found in the other cookbooks by the same chefs (I already owned)! It was like a compilation of a few recipes from already published cookbooks.

      If you want a good FN cookbook...buy the one that the people behind the scenes put together...it's called Food Network Kitchens Cookbook. It's much better than the celebrity chef compilation.

      3 out of 5 stars So-So.......2007-06-06

      I got this book cus i am some what of a collector of cookbooks, and all I have to say is that it is so so. I own alot of the food netowrks chefs books, and i found that all the recipes that are in this book, are in the books i already own, so if u own Rachael Ray, or Giada, or Tyler, or Bobby, and Paula books I wouldnt buy this, it is nice to see all of them in one, but like i said it is so so.

      5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2007-02-18

      I really enjoy this cookbook between the wonderful recipes & pictures. Had a dinner party last night & made the Corn Casserole. Its a keeper EVERYONE raved & it was soooooooooooo easy. I can't wait to try others.

      4 out of 5 stars Fun Recipes.......2007-02-14

      This cookbook has very interesting,fun recipes and info about each celebrity chef. If you are a food network fan, I would definitely recommend it.

      5 out of 5 stars GREAT PURCHASE FOR GOOD FOOD.......2007-01-09

      I BOUGHT 2 OF THESE BOOKS AND GAVE 1 AWAY AS A GIFT. I LOVE IT AND SO DOES THE PERSON I GAVE IT TO. EASY TO USE RECIPES FROM CHEF'S THAT WE JUST LOVE
      How to Boil Water
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • A must have for both beginners and others in cooking
      • great cookbook for anyone at any level of cooking
      • The GREATEST COOK BOOK ever
      • Great if you've never stepped foor in the kitchen before!
      • ready to begin independent living
      How to Boil Water
      Food Network Kitchens
      Manufacturer: Food Network Kitchens
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
      Culinary Arts & TechniquesCulinary Arts & Techniques | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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      2. Tyler Florence's Real Kitchen:  An Indispensable Guide for Anybody Who Likes to Cook Tyler Florence's Real Kitchen: An Indispensable Guide for Anybody Who Likes to Cook
      3. Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook: Over 200 Recipes for Easy Entertaining Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook: Over 200 Recipes for Easy Entertaining
      4. Quick Fix Meals: 200 Simple, Delicious Recipes to Make Mealtime Easy Quick Fix Meals: 200 Simple, Delicious Recipes to Make Mealtime Easy
      5. Food Network Favorites: Recipes from Our All-Star Chefs Food Network Favorites: Recipes from Our All-Star Chefs

      ASIN: 0696226863
      Release Date: 2006-09-26

      Book Description

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A must have for both beginners and others in cooking.......2007-10-03

      I got this book a few days ago randomly because well I like the Food Netword and it looked good. I figured it would go on my shelf like the other cookbooks and I'd have new recipes to work from. Then I opened it...it not only gives you some great recipes but it also (as others have said) gives you basic insight and instructons on how to shops, where to put the food in the fridge, how to pick a meat, how to cut things and what you need in your kicthen to cook. You really cannot get better than that. I started cooking when I met my now husband and sure I've cooked but this book brings it to a whole new level and really does answer the questions I just never really knew (like where to store things in the fridge!!!)

      5 out of 5 stars great cookbook for anyone at any level of cooking.......2007-09-12

      My 10-year-old is learning to cook, and she loves to look through cookbooks. We both enjoy this book because it touches on some basic hints that we both can use.

      5 out of 5 stars The GREATEST COOK BOOK ever.......2007-09-04

      Alright, where do I start? If you are thinking to buy this book for yourself to learn to cook, BUY IT! If you are considering it for a wedding gift, or graduation gift - BUY IT! In fact, buy more than one. This book is the perfect gift.

      So far I have made several recipes, and I am AMAZED at how good each one is. My husband is thrilled I've found this book. I am cooking more than ever, only because I can't wait to taste how good the next recipe will be. I am continually pleased.

      I can't stress enough: BUY THIS BOOK.

      4 out of 5 stars Great if you've never stepped foor in the kitchen before!.......2007-06-09

      This gives you STEP BY STEP instructions on how to make hard boiled eggs, baked potatoes and other simple procedures that all new cooks should learn. It has lots of photos so you can see how your food should look.

      5 out of 5 stars ready to begin independent living.......2007-05-12

      Excellent book for those beginning their independent living journey,i.e. first apartment, newlyweds,etc. Even those who don't have a flair for cooking will find many helpful hints and tasty,easy recipes.
      Second Helpings: A Novel
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Second Helpings? Yes Please.
      • Loved it!!
      • Great Read!
      • Fabulous
      • Second Helpings
      Second Helpings: A Novel
      Megan Mccafferty
      Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      United StatesUnited States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
      ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Sloppy Firsts: A Novel Sloppy Firsts: A Novel
      2. Charmed Thirds Charmed Thirds
      3. Fourth Comings: A Novel Fourth Comings: A Novel
      4. What My Mother Doesn't Know What My Mother Doesn't Know
      5. Keeping the Moon (reissue) Keeping the Moon (reissue)

      ASIN: 0609807919
      Release Date: 2003-04-22

      Book Description

      “Knowing that I’ve just done something that will take decades off my parents’ lives with worry, you’ll excuse me for not getting into the fa-la-la-la-la Yuletide spirit this year. . . . The only difference between Christmas 2001 and Christmas 2000 is that I don’t have a visit from Hope to look forward to. And Bethany has already packed on some major fetal flab. Oh, and now Gladdie doesn’t need to ask a bizillion questions about my boyfriend, because she’s already gotten the dirt from you know who.”

      Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica, but her best friend, Hope, still lives in another state, and she can’t seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew, her annoying so-called friends. To top it off, Jessica’s parents won’t get off her butt about choosing a college, and her sister Bethany’s pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household.

      With keen intelligence, sardonic wit, and ingenious comedic timing, Megan McCafferty again re-creates the tumultuous world of today’s fast-moving and sophisticated teens. Fans of Sloppy Firsts will be reunited with their favorite characters and also introduced to the fresh new faces that have entered Jess’s life, including the hot creative writing teacher at her summer college prep program and her feisty, tell-it-like-it-is grandmother Gladdie. But most of all, readers will finally have the answers to all of their burgeoning questions, and then some: Will Jessica crack under the pressure of senioritis? Will her unresolved feelings for Marcus wreak havoc on her love life? Will Hope ever come back to Pineville? Fall in love with saucy, irreverent Jessica all over again in this wonderful sequel to a book that critics and readers alike hailed as the best high school novel in years.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Second Helpings? Yes Please. .......2007-07-29

      After a cliff hanger of an ending that we experienced with "Sloppy Firsts", "Second Helpings" is a welcomed read.

      Jessica and Marcus's relationship is much different in this novel, than in the previous. Mostly due to the fact that Marcus had confessed he originally was interested in Jessica as a sexual conquest. I, once again, was thoroughly entertained by the character of Marcus Flutie. He has this inane ability to understand people and their motivations. And by people, I mostly mean Jessica.

      Compared to "Sloppy Firsts", I think that "Second Helpings" has improved. We now are quite familiar with all of the characters, and yet McCafferty continues to surprise us with revelations about everyone.

      While "Sloppy Firsts" ended in heartbreak, "Second Helpings" ends in a very different manner. I think that readers will be entertained to learn how Jessica deals with the changes in her life, and the discovery of different aspects of the lives of her friends. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quick, and entertaining read.

      5 out of 5 stars Loved it!!.......2007-06-05

      I do not know if I liked "Second Helpings" better than "Sloppy Firsts" but I know I am awaiting to read the third (which I just ordered).
      "Second Helpings," was LOL funny and very interesting. The protagonist has an awesome outlook and personality that keeps you glued to the book. This book is good for young adults, as well as adults (I am 22).
      One of my favorite books!

      5 out of 5 stars Great Read!.......2007-01-09

      I bought this book for my younger sister. She loved it so much she had me read it, although I am out of my teen years this book was entertaining in reminding you how "dramatic" teen life was. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good laugh.

      4 out of 5 stars Fabulous.......2006-10-28

      I absolutely adore the Jessica Darling books. I love that these books are amusing yet not totally trivial. Pick it up, and you won't be able to put it down. I rated the book 4/5 stars because, let's face it, nobody actually talks like Jessica and her friends.

      5 out of 5 stars Second Helpings.......2006-07-06

      The book came in with in 2 days and in perfect condition as the seller had promised

      Books:

      1. The Pacific and Other Stories
      2. The Restoration of Paintings
      3. The Shadow Roads: Book Three of the Swans' War (Swans War)
      4. The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
      5. The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
      6. The Ultimates, Vol. 1
      7. There's a Nightmare in My Closet (Pied Piper Book)
      8. Too Big for Diapers (Too Big Board Books)
      9. Tres Logos
      10. US Spacesuits (Springer Praxis Books/ Space Exploration)

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