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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: URBAN K Womens Semi Sheer Lace Sexy Bralette; Brand: URBAN K; Review: I hate bras so started looking for bra lettes Love them exactly what I was looking for! I definitely recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 14k Yellow Gold-Filled Embossed and Hand Engraved Cross Pendant Necklace, 18"; Brand: Dear to Me; Review: Beautiful I love it ! Wasn't sure if it was going to be like the picture because no one left pics and it didn't have many reviews but glad I took a chance the packaging it came in is so cute it came in a little black box and it's good material; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OLRAIN Womens High Waist Ripped Hole Washed Distressed Short Jeans; Brand: OLRAIN; Review: I'm usually a size 7 in jeans but I ordered a size 6 , I'm 5'2 & 133 pounds but they didn't have size 7 as an option hence why I'm giving it 4 stars , material is nice an a little stretchy but feels a little tight on my thighs , on my waist it is perfect though , high waisted and not too tighg I didn't want to order a size 8 and it be completely baggy though because I am kind of petite . I'm going to keep the shorts but next time will probably size up in these; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breckelles Womens Roma-61 Strappy Heels Sandals Cherry 8 B(M) US; Brand: Breckelle's; Review: Love these my new favorite pair of shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BomDeals Women's Sexy Sleeveless Bodycon Midi Bandage Party Evening Dress; Brand: BomDeals; Review: I ordered based on this vendor having good reviews but no , this dress feels really cheap. I'm usually a medium I'm 5'2 and 133 pounds, I ordered a small because I wanted a tight fit and this dress is loose still I can only imagine if I orders my correct size. I'm returning this it's not what I thought it would be; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hawaiian Sterling Silver With Yellow Gold Flashed Plumeria Toe Ring With Synthetic CZ Accent; Brand: Maile Silver; Review: It's so beautiful and comfortable I love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MapofBeauty New Long Cosplay Party Warm Blonde Straight Wig 100cm; Brand: Cosplay Wig; Review: Very stringy, excessive shedding, very thin. you can see right through the wig to the wig cap. Not worth my $10 at all.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LES Lesbian Tomboy Short Vest Chest Binder Tops; Brand: Ostart; Review: Works well. material's comfortable, doesn't ride up or shift. Great for crossplay. (cross-dress-cosplay); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MapofBeauty Men's Short Straight Wig Cosplay Costume Wig (Black); Brand: MapofBeauty; Review: Quite, QUITE small. Looks great but I can only stand to wear it for so long before I get a massive headache.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Piece - Portgas D Ace Cospaly Backpack Bag; Brand: Lando; Review: Absolutely love it. Great quality, I use it for school and it does it's job well. It carries multiple college textbooks and it really comfortable to wear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LOUISE MAELYS 31" 80cm Red Long Straight Anime Cosplay Costume Party Wigs; Brand: Louise Maelys; Review: Gorgeous wig, great thickness, SO SOFT, and easy to comb through. Little to no shedding and the color is amazing. I wish every cosplay wig could be of this quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ABC(TM) Women Faux Leather High Waist Skater Flared Pleated Short Mini Skirt (Asia M); Brand: ABC(TM); Review: It's really cute and comfortable, just a bit short; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naruto Fourth Hokage Uzumaki Tsunade Pendant Necklace Blue; Brand: Digimate; Review: I love this necklace so very much. I wear it every day, it's ten times more gorgeous than the picture, and people keep asking me if it's real crystal. Very durable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shoes 18 Womens Canvas Shoes Lace up Sneakers 18 Colors Available; Brand: Shoes8teen; Review: Very very narrow shoes. If you've ever fit into your shoe size in a wide modification these will not work for you. Build is somewhat flimsy but you get what you pay for.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Maped Precision Bow Compass 3 Piece Set, Assorted Colors (291010US); Brand: Maped Helix USA; Review: The teacher really thought the metal compasses were better for students. Came on time and as promised. Comes in a sturdy plastic case so it doesn't get squashed in the backpack. Much better price than in local office supply stores (where primarily I could find plastic ones). Don't cha just love Amazon.com Prime!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PARKER QUINK Rollerball Pen Ink Refills, Medium, Black, 2 Count; Brand: Parker; Review: I love my pen but getting refills is hard. This is the right refill for my Parker pen but the refill is terrible quality. The ink just doesn't flow well at all. I was hoping that once it got started it would be okay, but I've had it for a few months now and no change. Bummer.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Elegant Block Tape Dispenser; Brand: Acrylichomedesign; Review: This tape dispenser sits in my busy kitchen and I really love it. My old standard, blue office dispenser was knocked off the counter by one of my kids and it broke. When I went to replace it, I saw this one for just a few bucks more. It is worth it. It's funny, but everyone has commented upon seeing it. It is very beautiful (for a tape dispenser!) and it works well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DecoBros Mesh Desk Organizer with Double Tray and 5 Stacking Sorter Sections, Black; Brand: Deco Brothers; Review: Easy to assemble, good quality, great for organization.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DYMO LabelManager 420P High Performance Rechargeable Portable Label Maker with PC or Mac connection (1768815); Brand: DYMO; Review: In the first few days I had it, the printer went offline and wouldn't print, the labels jammed, I uninstalled the software and reinstalled it, then it printed. Next day, it was offline again and would not print. Software is simple but also lacking. It can't print very far to the edges or margins. The tape/labels were nice quality but the machine itself was a bomb.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Imperial Resort; City: Sunny Beach Burgas Province; Review: this hotel is definetly worth its four stars all inclusive package was really good and little jimmy the barman was excellent.the food is not four star it was just say warm and did not have any pictures of the meats that were on to tell you what you were eating.plenty of choice for bread and salads soups were nice,pasta,and breakfast choice was good and the pizza hut had fresh made pizzas,salad,waffles crepes ice cream the only let down was the food was not hot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Britannia Leeds Bradford Airport; City: Bramhope Leeds West Yorkshire England; Review: Booked this hotel with parking for our recent holiday abroad.excellent location value for money would definatly book to stay here again.also had the three course carvery food was good would recommend staying here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rosamar; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: Food was a bit repetitive.arrived to a room with two single beds and a set of bunk beds in.the hotel was supposed to have been refurbished there was no way the rooms have been done.pool on the small side.maid service excellent room cleaned every day and clean towels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Adelais; City: Tavronitis Chania Prefecture Crete; Review: stayed at this hotel 6th october for a week.its rooms are really clean for a 3 star hotel.the soft drinks such as sprite,coke is watered down.food was just ok.wasnt much to do but went for a quiet hol theres buses running to chania every 20mins.beach is about a 5 minute walk very pebbly but the sea is lovely once you get in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Northern Lights Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: i stay at this hotel quite often.michelle the owner is a brill host the atmosphere is first class.i am going back to this hotel at easter then again in june.it is value for money and the breakfast is first class i highly recommend staying here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northern Lights Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: Stayed at this hotel for my birthday celebrations and what a fantastic weekend we had.there was seven of us and michelle who owns the hotel was a great host as always and the breafast is first class.looking forward to returning back to the hotel in june.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Era Park Apartments; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: I have just returned from la era park after ten days with friends.our apartment was overlooking the pool on the 10th floor and had great views.its location is central for old and new town and has plenty of restaurants and bars around it.rooms were clean and spacious.the pool was nice but hotel gets stag and hen dos on a weekend.hotel is on a slight incline.i found hotel value for money and a will stay here again in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Babylon Hotel; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: I went to the babylon rooftop bar on my visit to benidorm i found the barman friendly.we had chilled beer glasses its nice and relaxing for a drink on a hot day.will be calling back next year.i did not stay at the hotel so i cant give a review of rooms.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trafford Hall Hotel; City: Trafford Greater Manchester England; Review: I stayed in this hotel which was in a good location and was right near the metro rail.however the room we were given was not worth the money the shower didnt work or the electric sockets.need updating and the handle off the window came away in your hand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn Durham; City: Durham County Durham England; Review: have stayed here twice before have had no problems at all with the rooms.receptionist really helpful and pleasant.close to a1 had a three night stay here i would stay here again as its close to durham city; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tees Valley Apartments; City: Middlesbrough North Yorkshire England; Review: Stayed here last night no heating the apartment was supposed to sleep four we came to have something to eat there was only one fork.put washing in washing machine couldn't get it out dodgy handle.ran a bath the tap was broken.holes in walls not worth the money to stay in these apartments.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Nadler Liverpool; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: Just got back from staying at this hotel had a fabulous stay.staff were really friendly we were greeted by Damien and Lee on arrival.location of hotel was really good bars and restaurants around it and Liverpool one a two minutes walk away.rooms were very clean towels changed everyday and room cleaned.I would definitely recommend staying at this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leekworth Caravan Park; City: Middleton in Teesdale County Durham England; Review: Went to leek worth the 11th March for two days.we had purchased a tent and wanted somewhere local to set it up.arrived at the site to be greeted by Robin who was very helpful.the pitch we had was lovely overlooking the river.Middleton in Teasdale village was a short walk we called in the three tuns for a drink everyone is really friendly.my partner cut her finger on a kitchen knife really badly we were due off the site at twelve but had to drive to Barnard castle for sterile strips.I rang robins mum to explain what had happened she said its ok there's no rush to be off the site.I highly recommend this site we will be returning soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palm Court Apartments; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: Had a great time at the palm court apartments.staff are friendly rooms were clean and it wasn't noisy.set back off the main bar areas it's quiet.cafe mallorca was good for food and great prices.would recommend these apartments pool was clean friendly atmosphere.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alua Hawaii Ibiza; City: Sant Antoni de Portmany Ibiza Balearic Islands; Review: Hotel is absolutely lovely we are staying here all inclusive in a room with a sea view.rooms are spacious and modern.pool area is a bit small adults only sun terrace is nice with comfy sunbeds with views over the bay.staff are really helpful if you have a problem.food is good.I would definitely recommend this hotel five star.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Belfast City Centre Alfred Street Hotel; City: Belfast Northern Ireland; Review: stayed at the premier inn on Alfred street with friends for three days the hotel is really nice and was reasonably priced.it is central for everything we had the breakfast one morning there was plenty to chose from.we had a double room that was spacious and modern.the service was good clean towels every day everyone was really helpful.we will definetly stay here again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nadler Liverpool; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: This is my second stay at the hotel is wouldn't stay anywhere else.staff made us feel welcome as soon as we walked through the door thank you michaela and Damien from the I'm a celebrity team.i highly recommend this hotel central for everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FBC Fortuny Resort; City: Maspalomas Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: Me and my partner stayed here for 11 days.we were greeted at reception by a very nice member of staff all the staff are really nice as are the cleaners.our bungalow was cleaned everyday towels were changed.food was nice at complex.the supermarket is open 24hrs.pool area is nice plenty of sunbeds.we opted for a bungalow overlooking pool had our own sunbeds and table and chairs.i highly recommend these bungalows.there isn't much around the area it's a 20 minute walk to maspalomas centre we got taxi to Playa de ingles on a night which was 4 to 5 euros each way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Janki Executive; City: Aurangabad Aurangabad District Maharashtra; Review: I liked the hotel pretty much, very helpful and good staff. A nice exeprience and would like to stay again. we really liked the roof top restaurent Fusion! the arrangements and decorations were awesome on 31st night. Thankyou all for making ma trip special :-); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Merwara Palace; City: Ajmer Ajmer District Rajasthan; Review: we were two female travelers , safe and nice place... decorated in a historical way with high roof ceilings, spacious rooms, with a nice lobby area. the location is just awesome. very close to dargah..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Howard International Hotel; City: Mussoorie Dehradun District Uttarakhand; Review: I booked this hotel by reading online reviews, also the best part was this is a pet friendly hotel, and they allowed my little pug to stay in. we stayed at 2nd floor,booked 2 rooms, one suite and other super deluxe, the construction , which is renovated area, the room lightings were awesome however more work is required in getting clean and comfortable beds, and blankets, it was too cold but the blankets were very dirty, also the room service tea is terrible, we complained several times but no help. the suite is good with two double beds and beautiful lightings, a big family can easily stay together, however the bathrooms need a air freshner or smthing as 2nd floor is below ground level and is kinda dump.. with a dump view from windows.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Park Plaza Faridabad; City: Faridabad Faridabad District Haryana; Review: Very nice property , in close proximity to surajkund.. Nice food, i loved the cheese cutlet with french fries.. Rakhi has been really nice in assisting with all my queries.. didnot get to spend much time this time, but will definitely come for a longer stay next time; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nandini Residency; City: Naddi Dharamsala Kangra District Himachal Pradesh; Review: After staying for one night at Royal palace resort, this turned out to be a blessing. a real value for money with natural scenic beauty. nice restaurant and rooms have a standard since they have tie up with OYO rooms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Palace Resort; City: McLeod Ganj Dharamsala Kangra District Himachal Pradesh; Review: Insensitive staff in search of the ways to earn money. forced us to pay for early checkin even when it was available no free upgrade given as promised while booking. terrible room conditions, spider on walls, bathroom walls leaking, pathetic room service even a tea takes an hour to reach; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Goa Candolim; City: Candolim Bardez North Goa District Goa; Review: Nice hotel, pool facing rooms are good, bathrooms are small , buffet spread is good. Staff did not cooperate to give us an hour of late checkout, even though we checked in at 8 pm in the evening. Overall a nice property but services could have been better; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel LN Courtyard; City: Ajmer Ajmer District Rajasthan; Review: Nice modern property.. clean nice rooms, stayed in suite. reasonable prices. average food, breakfast can be improved. overall very good stayed for second time with my mother and other relatives booked two rooms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Leopard Tree; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Merriman Page; Review: Having been to Kenya many years ago, I felt drawn to this story. Especially since I currently work at a children's home. This book touched me deeply. Filled with hope, innocence, and wisdom, it will carry you on a journey with 3 children who don't know that they probably can't accomplish what they have set out to do, which is to change the world. They only know that they must try. Reality can shake us out of our comfortable places, can make us want to 'be the Change' we want to see in the world. This sweet sad story of courage should be read by all who claim to care. I sincerely recommend that you take the journey to Oz with these very real kids and fall in love with them and their cause. They may change you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innocence Lost (Ghostspeaker Chronicles Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Patty Jansen Page; Review: Good plot. Good characters. Great writing. Would have given it a 5 star rating if the book had not stopped (note that I did not say "ended") in the middle of the story. I am just old fashioned enough to believe that a book should tell the story start to finish. Sequels are nice for new adventures for the same characters, but not to finish the first story! Cliff hangers are ok, but after the first plot has been completed, not in the middle of it. Price was right (free) but it was a teaser, not a complete book. So many authors are doing that these days. I definitely try to avoid "those" books.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Vampire's Mail Order Bride (Nocturne Falls) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen Painter Page; Review: A funny, sassy romp through a friendly monster laden village is just what is needed to brighten anyone's day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Emilie: The Acadians; Author: Visit Amazon's Cherie Claire Page; Review: As an individual of French descent, Growing up on the fringes of Cajun country in Louisiana, this book was a must-read. Very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wild Hunt (Faerie Sworn) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Ron C. Nieto Page; Review: If you are into faerie fantasy, this series for you! I was compelled to read each succeding book, not because the story was incomplete, but because there was more to the story. The primary characters, Lily & Troy, develop and evolve into wiser individuals. Watching that evolution, through shock, turmoil, fear, gentleness, humor and love, was a journey of intricate emotional paths. Much like the faerie & mortal paths they traveled as the adventure unfolded. This story was a chance encounter for me that grew into a lesson of caring and communication. Good job, Ron Nieto, I feel like I personally ventured into faerie land.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PattyBoutik Women's Bolero Button Long Sleeve Blouse; Brand: ; Review: Love the style, looks great feels very comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine West Women's Melancholy Suede Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Very comfortable looks great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curvi Shapewear Women's Underwire Body Slimmer With Hidden Bra; Brand: Curvi; Review: Fits great, would help if it had more padding in bra area for Mir uplift in breast area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Moda Win-40 Women's Knee Thigh High Platform Round Toe Boots; Brand: Top Moda; Review: Lie them very much; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: V-Luxury Womens 33-PAGE5 Closed Toe Over The Knee High Heel Boot Shoes; Brand: V-Luxury; Review: Love them, perfect fit. Easy to walk in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happiness (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Basketball Diaries (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jackie Brown: Collector's Series (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foxy Brown (1974); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stigmata (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman & Robin (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carrie (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting: Collector's Edition (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hannibal (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Slums of Beverly Hills (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now Redux (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: To Die For (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1954); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hairspray (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jerk (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boys Don't Cry (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Benny and Joon (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dog Day Afternoon (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Zoe (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Bigger (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pretty in Pink (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pecker (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Say Anything (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Johnson Family Vacation (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jesus' Son (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Liza (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waking Life (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roger & Me (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Party Monster: The Shockumentary (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 3 (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Parenthood (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 2 (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 2 (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 4 (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Michael Moore's The Awful Truth: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super Troopers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bonnie and Clyde (1967); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Canadian Bacon (1995); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Flirting with Disaster (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Better Off Dead (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reality Bites (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Girl (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Weird Science (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers (1991); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dazed and Confused (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Advocate (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Opposite of Sex (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks: Uncensored (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dancer in the Dark (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crash (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roger Dodger (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House of Yes (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jacob's Ladder (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: sex (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Ruth (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Family Guy: Vol. 1: Seasons 1-2 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saved! (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 12 Angry Men (1957); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Straight Story (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pollock (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Accused (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Earth Girls Are Easy (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Man on the Moon (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hamlet (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Open Water (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Short Cuts (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Piano Teacher (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Doubletree by Hilton London Islington; City: London England; Review: Clean, convenient and good breakfast. Close to a lot of shops and restaurants. A few minutes walk to Angel tube and King's Cross. Bus stop across the street. Check in was efficient and staff was helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mount N Lake Motel; City: Wofford Heights California; Review: This is just the place for us for a restful sleep after a day of river and mountain adventure. Room with mini kitchen was nice and clean. Hot water was abundant. Quiet at night but not too far from town and other attractions. We don't need some fancy lodging just to sleep. There are chairs and tables at the patio for some relaxing converstion before calling it a night. Woke up refreshed, relaxed and sipping coffee at the patio with a view of the park across the street. The kids had fun at the playground while the adults got ready for the day. Price is right for a long weekend getaway. We were not even charged extra for more people accomodating the two rooms we used. Free wifi has great connection considering they were fully booked and all of us in the group were using it at the same time. Will recommend to pratical not fussy traveler.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Candle Bay Inn; City: Monterey Monterey County California; Review: For the price this lodging it is just what we need. I don't expect anything fancy when all we need is a place to sleep. There is small fridge to keep our water. Wifi reception was pretty good. Clean, cozy and it's on motel row surrounded by establishments such as restaurants, banks, grocery etc. Denny's is across the street. The owner is helpful and gave us a map of the city. I have 2 small kids so parking right infront of our room is a plus factor of this site. I would stay here again if I am at the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 101 Guesthouse; City: Reykjavik Capital Region; Review: This lodging is very basic but would be perfect for those who just wants a neat and accessible place to sleep. I have a reserved a single room but was given a room with two beds across the kithcen/dining room and bathroom. The bus hub is on the corner side. This hub is for public and tour buses. Laugavegur street where this place is located is the center of shops and restaurants in the city. It is also walking distance from the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral, The Perlan, Sun Voyager and the harbor. Don't go to the front desk at the ground floor. That is for the 4th Floor Hotel which is also on the same building. 4th Floor Hotel owns the restaurant across the elevator. The front desk iof the guesthouse is not always open. It opens around 8am. If your arrival is early morning take the lift to the 3dr flr and buzz the intercom button at the reception and your call will be answered by the front desk clerk on duty at 101 Hotel across the street. You can leave your luggage there and start walking around town which is what I did. The kitchen/dining area and the shower rooms needs a renovation. Kithchen is old and sticky. Shower cubicle has rust and needs a soap holder. Front desk clerks are helpful. So far the location is the greatest thing about this place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: N1 Hotel Victoria Falls; City: Victoria Falls Matabeleland North Province; Review: This is the place to stay at Vic Falls town. It is the center of everything. Next door is the shopping center The Elephant Walk and an outdoor market. The Three Monkeys restaurant is also next to it. The staff of this hotel are courteous and very helpful. They have attended to my needs all through out my one week stay. My room is just right for a solo traveler. It is cleaned everyday with fresh towels and toiletries. It has aircon, ceiling fan and TV. I also get two bottled water everyday, tea, sugar, creamer and instant coffee. Room comes with an electric kettle. They provide towels for swimming at the pool. For $5.00 breakfast is served at the small restaurant on the premises. There are 3 reasons I did not give a five star rating. One, the hot water is only good for 5 minutes. Second, there is no elevator. For those who have difficulty climbing stairs this would be a big no factor. Third, Wifi is allotted for 500 mb. Guest always have to request from the front desk wifi user name and password. Would I stay here again? Depends if I could still climb those stairs when I get back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa; City: Riverside California; Review: This Christmas display is one of the magnificent events in Southern California. The whole hotel building is spruce up not only with lights but life size Christmas characters in motion. Take a ride in one of the horse pulled lighted carriages such as Cinderella pumpkin, trolley, wagon and sleigh. The rides takes you around the outside perimeter of the hotel filled with revellers. Inside there are also some holiday trimmings good for another photo op. Be prepared to stand in line so long you would not even know where it starts. One tip is to make a reservation in one of the restaurants inside that the guards would allow you go right in. I usually dine at the La Camapana that is next to the gate. It is a garden restaurant spruce up for the holidays. Santa also visits every table and you could have as many photos as you want with him no extra charge. There is a steak restaurant and a bar too. Behind the hotel is a promenade with food and gift booths. Further down the promenade is a carousel and a mini ferris wheel. Portable toilets stationed at strategic locations. Come early to avail of the parking close to the venue. I parked at a private lot for $7.00 which is 300 meters away. It's one of the holiday to do for the experience and have your holiday social media photo. Festival has no entry fee.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective (Teacher Guide); Author: Stuart Scott; Review: If your having problems with your wife or need to understand what you are to do for your soon to be life long wife I need to read and keep this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business Essentials); Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Collins Page; Review: A must read and understand the meanings before anything well change.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good to Great CD: Why Some Companies Make the Leap.And Others Don't; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Collins Page; Review: Wow! A must read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pass Your Amateur Radio Technician Class Test - The Easy Way; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Buck Page; Review: about taking the exam after reading this book. Good that is needs to be said. Thanks for giving me confidence I needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Solar Power: The Ultimate Guide to Solar Power Energy and Lower Bills: (Off Grid Solar Power; Author: Mark Prentice; Review: Very informative and surprising. Never knew about the solar running shoes. Thanks for the information. Easy to read and understand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ARRL's Tech Q & A; Author: Visit Amazon's ARRL Inc. Page; Review: Well worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shipping Container Homes: Steps and tips on How You Can Build a Shipping Container Home Quickly and Save Money; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin klein Page; Review: Very informative and a good read. Easy to understand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raspberry Pi 3: The Ultimate Guide on how to design and build your own projects with Raspberry Pi 3; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Laurence Page; Review: Easy read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ashland Springs Hotel; City: Ashland Oregon; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights while I attended a conference held at the hotel. The hotel is extremely well located, just a block from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival theatres. However, I was disappointed with the rooms and amenities in the hotel. The rooms are tiny. "Small" overestimates the size of the room. Ours was scarcely big enough to hold a queen bed, two under-sized bedside tables, and a small desk. The closet was pint-sized, and the bathroom was similarly small. The fitness room was actually across the street and consisted of a tiny, very stuffy room with 2 machines and a couple of mats and free weights. The most negative aspect of my experience was the over-powering floral aroma. The halls reeked of the scent of flowers, natural or synthetic. Our room had a prominent smell from the lavender sachet the staff had helpfully placed on the bed. Even the soaps and lotions were highly scented. As one who has significant sensitivity to nasal irritants, I spent the first day at the hotel sneezing and wheezing and generally feeling miserable. Even at a group rate, the hotel was very expensive. Unless you particularly love historic hotels and simply must be in close proximity to the theatres, I would find another place to stay in Ashland.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nathan Hotel; City: Hong Kong; Review: My family and I ended up spending 6 nights here because we had a problem with our flight out of Hong Kong. The hotel staff was kind enough to let us come back to the same room on minimal notice. We were very impressed by the nearly instantaneous response to any request we made. The breakfast was very good, with some different offerings each morning and very attentive wait staff. The gym was small but remarkably well equipped. The location was very convenient to anywhere in Kowloon and to the Jordan MTR to Hong Kong and beyond. The only negative aspect of our experience was that the room and accoutrements were almost literally a little frayed around the edges. The carpet was worn and had at least one stain. The towels and bathrobes were sometimes slightly frayed.We had a new, flat screen TV, but the furniture seemed a little old. I would definitely come back here. With luck, they will have updated their carpet and towels by the next time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Somerset Ho Chi Minh City; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: We spent 5 nights here as a family of 3. We were amazed how large the suites are and how much they include. Each suite has a washer/dryer combo included, plus a full kitchen. The pool is quite large and is very clean. There is also a reasonably well equipped exercise facility. The hotel is not in the very center of HCM city, but it is an easy walk or short taxi ride to restaurants, museums, and other attractions. The staff are polite and helpful, though English is sometimes a bit of a challenge. The only downside to the hotel is that the carpets tend to be quite worn. Otherwise, it is a great place to stay with a group or family.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pavilion; City: Phnom Penh; Review: We stayed at the Pavilion for 2 nights in January. The main appeal of the Pavilion is the charming setting. The owners have turned a old villa into a small hotel. The grounds are especially appealing. The pool itself gets sun,while the loungers surrounding it are covered by dense foliage, creating a feeling of privacy. The staff at the pool are attentive, bringing iced tea without being asked. The staff in general are very eager to assist. They are happy to change larger US bills for single dollars, which are very much needed in Cambodia. They will gladly make restaurant reservations and quickly resolved a problem with our room key. The breakfasts are also lovely (not much choice, but what's not to like about delicious fruit, bread, and eggs?) The only downsides to the Pavilion are the size of the bathroom, the relative lack of cleanliness, and the lack of sitting furniture in the rooms. As others have said, the bathroom is tiny. The toilets by the pool were always dirty. Our room was basically clean, but there were smudges and black fingerprints on the walls, and the walls and floors in general could have used a thorough cleaning. The Pavilion is a lovely place for a few nights, but not for an extended stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Golden Temple Hotel; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: We stayed in a triple room for 3 nights. The facility is beautifully constructed and decorated. The swimming pool is a delight to look at as well as to swim in. The staff are uniformly pleasant and helpful. All kinds of extras magically appeared, from drinks by the pool or computer to a complementary massage. The breakfasts were tasty, and the one dinner we ate here was good and was also reasonably priced. The location is convenient to the center of town. Having said all that, I was disappointed that our room was not user friendly. There was scarcely any room to set down our suitcases, let alone unpack. There was almost no space for toiletries in the bathroom. The bathroom shower was part of the bathroom proper. The toilet and shower were on the same side of the curtain, so the toilet got sopped every time someone showered. The drain was slow, and the hooks were positioned such that anything hung on them got wet when someone showered. Our room safe did not work, either. Finally, our room faced the street and was very noisy. Our balcony practically touched that of the hostel next door.The lack of practicality made our stay less pleasant than it should have been.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baan Bayan; City: Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan Province; Review: My husband and I stayed at Baan Bayan for 3 nights after spending 6 days in Bangkok for his business meeting. In BKK we stayed at a large, inefficient hotel. We were thrilled the instant we arrived at Baan Bayan, and we remained enchanted and delighted during our entire stay. The facility is small and quiet, a perfect place to relax, enjoy the beach, and get away from city life. Coincidentally, our visit was at the same time as a 5 day Thai holiday, so the beach was hardly deserted, but it was very pleasant nonetheless. The hotel is right on the beach; one could not ask for a better location. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and maintained. Our room was spare but had everything we needed, including a fairly large fridge. The decor was lovely. The pool area was very pleasant. Twice were able to snag one of the 2 open air cabanas that look out over the Gulf and that catch the breezes; this was a most enjoyable way to spend the day. Food service at the pool was more expensive than in town, but that would be expected anywhere. Breakfast was plentiful and generally tasty. The two pools are small, but unless you want to swim laps, they are fine for splashing around and cooling off. The staff were uniformly gracious and helpful. Most spoke English better than the staff at our Bangkok hotel, and we had fewer housekeeping issues than in BKK. We used the complimentary shuttle bus into the center of town each evening. Our return flight was very late at night, and we did not need to leave Hua Hin till evening. Although we could not arrange a formal late checkout because new guests were coming in, the manager very kindly allowed us to store our baggage and even arranged for us to use an extra room to wash and change clothes before leaving for the airport. As with any facility, we encountered some trivial problems. The shower curtain was not quite long enough to prevent quite a bit of water from leaking out during every shower, for example. The only significant negative is NOT specific to the hotel and is not at all their fault. Specifically, there was a lot of trash the beach and in the water all up and down the beach. Maybe there are cultural issues, or maybe the infrastructure to collect trash is lacking, or maybe there are other explanations. In any case, it was unpleasant to see. The Baan Bayan staff duly swept up their small beach every morning, but by afternoon, the trash had accumulated again. It is a very long journey from my home in the US to Hua Hin. If I ever travel there again,though, I will most definitely stay at Baan Bayan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Mar Bravo; City: Nazare Leiria District Central Portugal; Review: This hotel is very well located in the center of Nazare. It is right on the town square, which means it can be noisy on weekend nights. The rooms are small and sparse. Our room was not clean; there were numerous long, dark hairs on the floor of both the bedroom and bathroom. The towels were thin. One had to ask for a hair dryer; they were not provided routinely. The bed was adequate. One does not come to Nazare to sit in a hotel room, but this room was very unappealing, and I was glad to leave it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lisboa Plaza a Lisbon Heritage Collection; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: Based on amenities and price, the hotel rates a 3.5. However, it is very centrally located and has excellent access to subway and bus transportation. Therefore, I rate it a 4. The common areas of the hotel are very atmospheric and very old world. The decor is lovely. The staff were courteous, friendly but not gushing, and the breakfast was wonderful. However, our room was small and very cramped. The bathroom was a bit better, still cramped. The towels were rather worn. For the price, I would expect a larger room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Vintage House Douro; City: Pinhao Vila Real District Northern Portugal; Review: This is a very luxurious hotel in an out of the way town in the heart of the Douro valley. It is more of a resort than a hotel. The grounds are immaculate and gorgeous. The swimming pool was cool and refreshing. Most, if not all, rooms, have a balcony with lovely views. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The bathroom was also unusually spacious and was decorated with colorful tiles. The only drawbacks to the room were the low lighting and lack of wifi in the rooms themselves (it was available in the main lobby only). I would gladly stay in the hotel again, but there is little to do in the area other than visit wine vineyards.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Astoria; City: Coimbra Coimbra District Central Portugal; Review: This hotel is very centrally located in Coimbra. The view from the windows facing the street is wonderful. The hotel was once a classy place, but it is way past its prime. The beds are noisy and uncomfortable. The rooms are musty and are not particularly clean. The hallways are dark and dank. Wifi is available only in the lobby. The place has the potential to be a first class hotel with a massive overhaul, but at present, it is barely a 3 star hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Olissippo Saldanha; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We stayed here for one night at the end of a 12 day tour of Portugal. We chose it because of proximity to the airport and perceived value. We were not disappointed. The hotel was easy to access via Metro; it is actually one 2 lines and is only a half block from the station. Despite its nearness to a major intersection, the hotel is actually very quiet. The facility is quite new. It is ultramodern in decor. The lobby was actually rather bland, but it was clean and comfortable. The room felt very spacious even though its dimensions were not particularly large. it was well lit and was comfortable. The bathroom was also very modern and had a wonderful shower. The staff were friendly and helpful. We did not eat there, but there are numerous restaurants nearby. This hotel has the potential to be a 5 star hotel--it just needs a fitness center or a pool. At its present pricing, it is real bargain!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: M Ar De Ar Aqueduto; City: Evora Evora District Alentejo; Review: This is a new property in a very old town, but it was built with taste and style and so does not seem out of place. The entire property feels spacious and luxurious. The rooms are large and spotless. Bathrooms are also ultramodern, with a glassed in bathtub and a separate shower. The staff are friendly and helpful. We did not use the pool, but it looked inviting. The only downside was lack of time to enjoy the place; we were here only one night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wallace Inn; City: Wallace Idaho; Review: We stayed here twice, a week apart, going to and from Montana. Each time our room was clean, spacious, and comfortable. The room itself had a couch and table as well as the standard desk and bed. The bathroom is fairly large, and everything works. The staff are very pleasant. The pool and hot tub were enjoyable. The front desk has several brochures on the small town of Wallace, and the town turned out to be quite interesting. The only downside is that there is no elevator, so luggage has to be dragged up stairs. Breakfast is not free, either.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glacier Trailhead Cabins; City: Saint Mary Montana; Review: As many others have noted, the cabins are very well located near the St. Mary entrance to Glacier National Park. Our cabin was very private, with a distant view of the mountains. The facility is very clean, and the beds were comfortable. The hot water worked well. The electricity never failed us. The downsides of the facility are the staff and the lack of amenities. The staff were young Asian women who spoke very little English and could not answer simple questions, such as where the nearest laundromat was or what restaurants were nearby. It is hard to believe that a place catering to tourists would not train their staff to answer this type of simple question. Although we were prepared for the fact that the kitchen facilities were in a pavilion, we were not prepared for the distance between that pavilion and our cabin, nor for the fact that the barbeque pits were all clustered by the pavilion, and that no supplies at all were provided. I have not explored other cabins in the area, so I have no basis for local comparison. However, we have stayed in cabins in many other parts of the West and have found those cabins to be much better appointed and supplied. For the price, I expected a little more than we got.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Richland Tri Cities; City: Richland Tri Cities Washington; Review: This venue provides amazing quality for the price. The location is right on the river, and the views are gorgeous. The rooms themselves were comfortable and clean but nothing special. Breakfast was excellent, with a large menu. The pool and hot tub were pleasant and well maintained. Staff were cordial and helpful. The only suggestion for improvement would be clocks with luminous dials.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: China Creek Cottages; City: Willow Creek Humboldt County California; Review: We stayed here for one night. We stayed in cottage 6, which may be one of the smaller cottages. It was fine for one night but, but the living area was a bit cramped. The furnishings were very nice and were obviously quite new. The bathroom was particularly spacious, and the shower was lovely. However, there was only one chair, and the only eating area was outside. We had not planned on doing any cooking, but if we had planned on it, we would have had a difficult time; there was no table and next to no counter space. If I were going to stay for more than one night, I would choose a larger cabin.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Yreka; City: Yreka California; Review: This is a basic motel, nothing fancy, but it is conveniently located and is clean. All the appliances functioned well. The bed was comfortable. There were very few restaurants around, but that is not the fault of the motel!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Kastanienhof; City: Berlin; Review: This is a small, family owned hotel in the former east Berlin, now a very trendy part of town. The area is a great place to experience cosmopolitan Berlin and to people-watch. A wide variety of restaurants are within easy walking distance. The hotel is right on a tram line, which is very convenient. However, rooms facing the street can be very noisy at night because of the trams. Rooms facing away from the street are much quieter. The rooms are typical European size, very clean. Mattresses are very soft, which seems typical for Germany. Staff are friendly and helpful and generally speak English well. We had desk fans in both our rooms (we had to change rooms due to noise from the street), so I presume there is no air conditioning, and the rooms were quite hot. This should not be a problem most of the year, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Latran; City: Cesky Krumlov South Bohemian Region Bohemia; Review: Charming small hotel slightly off the main drag of this small town. Rooms are fairly small but nicely furnished and are very clean. Everything in bathroom worked properly. No air conditioning, but the nights are cool so the rooms do not get too hot. Staff are friendly. Breakfast was a bit spartan but perfectly adequate. I would not hesitate to stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Martha Dresden; City: Dresden Saxony; Review: Stayed one night with a group. Rooms are average size for Europe, clean, reasonably comfortable. Wifi worked most of the time. Breakfast was comprehensive. The only negatives were lack of air conditioning and lack of ability to heat water for coffee or tea in the room. Mattresses were very soft, but that seems to be the standard for Germany. Staff were friendly. The hotel is about 15 min walk from the old town, but the walk is pleasant and flat; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: EA Hotel Embassy Prague; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: This hotel has the appearance of a 4 star hotel and has the potential to be one. However, it is not yet at that level, primarily because of lapses in housekeeping and maintenance. The property is located about 15 minutes walk from Prague's main attractions. This is a plus, as the center of Prague is very noisy and crowded. The lobby is very attractive, even containing a small atrium. The rooms also look quite attractive at first glance. The breakfast was very comprehensive and very tasty. The front desk staff were unfailingly polite and helpful. The hotel is air conditioned, though the air conditioning works only when the windows are completely closed. However, as stated above, there are notable lapses in housekeeping in maintenance. Some examples: On arrival, I found a stain on the sheet of my bed, and I found a very long, dark hair on the bedcover. In the bathroom, the soap dish in the shower was not tightly attached, so it wobbled. Ditto for the showerhead. The shower drained properly only when the drainstop was removed entirely. Some of our towels had holes in them, and all were on the thin side. One day, 4 towels were removed, though only 2 were on the floor, but only 2 were replaced. I spoke to the front desk staff about theses issues. They were very apologetic. The sheets and towels were replaced, but the mechanical issues were never addressed. We stayed here with a tour, so I do not know exactly what the rooms cost. However, I expect there are better lodging options in Prague.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boutique Hotel am Stephansplatz; City: Vienna; Review: This hotel is smack dab in the middle of Vienna, on Stephanplatz. When eating breakfast, you literally look at the square and the entrance to St. Stephen's cathedral. There is a U-bahn station literally outside the door, as well, allowing easy access to the airport or train station. you could not ask for a better location! The rooms are good sized, and the bathrooms are remarkably large for Europe. We had both a tub and a shower in our bathroom, and tissues as well as some toiletries were provided. The beds were comfortable. Our room was air conditioned and was fairly quiet. Drinking water was provided every day, though tap water in Vienna is excellent. Rooms also have a minibar large enough to store a few water bottles. Everything was very clean. Front desk staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast room staff, for some reason, were rather surly, but the breakfast itself was excellent. The fitness room was inexplicably hot, and there seemed to be no way to cool it down. Other than those minor negatives, staying here was a very positive experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Maison d Angkor; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: This is a small, quiet hotel a bit outside the city center, on National Road #6. it is fairly close to the entrance to Angkor Wat. It is set up like an old French villa complex. Each small building holds only a few rooms, and the buildings are separated by beautiful gardens. The central courtyard area features a large pool, with a small restaurant located poolside. Staff were very friendly and did their best to be helpful. My room was very comfortable. I especially enjoyed having the ceiling fan in addition to the air conditioner. The furnishings were sparse but comfortable and practical. The bathroom was quite large. The lighting was not very good, unfortunately, in either bedroom or bathroom. There was a nice balcony outside the room, but there were no screens and no mosquito netting, so it was not practical to leave the balcony door open at night. Breakfast was adequate but not exactly filling. Restaurant staff do not speak very good English, which can create minor problems. The one dinner I ate there was good but nothing to get excited about. The pool was a delightful place to swim laps. The only problems were that some of the tiles around the steps to the pool had come loose and the lighting around the pool was not very good, making it difficult to see where I was going when I swam in the early evening. If not for the lighting issues (rooms and pool) and the loose tiles near the pool, I would rate the hotel 5 stars. I was assigned to this hotel by a tour company; I was on a short tour after spending several weeks as a volunteer in Cambodia. It is not geared towards solo travelers, but it worked out reasonably well for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Les Florets; City: Gigondas Vaucluse Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: We stayed here 2 nights during a spell of very hot weather. The hotel itself is beautiful inside and out. The grounds are absolutely lovely, with extensive woods and attractive plantings throughout the grounds. Furnishings are simple but tasteful, and our bed was comfortable. The bathroom in our room was quite modern. Unfortunately, the cold water was tepid and the hot water was scalding in both the sink and the shower. I don't know if there was a plumbing problem or if this is a common finding in French hotels; I noticed the same issue in at least one other hotel in Provence. It was extremely hot during out stay, and ice is not generally available in French hotels, so it would have been nice to have cold water available from the tap. There was no air conditioning and no fan. Given the hot weather, I would have very much liked to have had cold water, a fan and/or ice available to us. Our room looked out over the patio/restaurant/bar and was slightly noisy during the hours the bar and restaurant were operating. Once the restaurant closed for the night, it was blissfully quiet. The owner, Thierry, is the 3rd generation of his family to run the facility. He and his wife manage both the hotel and the restaurant with loving care.Their son is working in the restaurant, so hopefully this attractive facility will stay in the family for at least one more generation. The hotel has a top notch restaurant (reviewed separately) that serves dinner, and breakfast was also very tasty. I gave the restaurant a 5 star rating. I give the hotel 4 1/2 stars rather than 5 simply because we had no way to cool down during very hot weather.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Citotel Imperial; City: Sete Herault Occitanie; Review: Stayed one night at this very generic hotel close to the beach. There is nothing special at all about the place except that it is well located near the beach, it is very clean, and everything works. The rooms are quite small but functional. Staff are friendly and helpful. Breakfast was surprisingly complete. The view from the rooftop bar is wonderful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alex Hotel Spa; City: Marseille Bouches du Rhone Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: The hotel is very close to the Gare St. Charles, the Marseille train and bus station. It is a 15 min walk from the center of town, the old port, and the African markets. Rooms are small, typically European, but there is an unusual amount of storage/closet space. The bathroom is clean and serviceable. The air conditioning works well. Hot water and instant coffee and tea are available in the room. Breakfast is available for an extra charge; it is quite comprehensive and is best for brunch. Staff are friendly, particularly on evening shift. Our room looked out on the back of the hotel and was pretty quiet. Rooms looking out on the busy front of the hotel might be noisier.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Central; City: Avignon Vaucluse Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Stayed here one night. The main selling point is its central location; near the train station and easy walking distance from all the Avignon tourist sites. Room was on the small size but was serviceable and air conditioned. The bed was comfortable. Staff were friendly. Despite being located on a main drag, our room was very quiet. Breakfast was disappointing compared to other hotel breakfasts--would recommend going elsewhere. It was likewise disappointing that we had to pay extra for use of the elevator. I have never encountered this phenomenon before.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Auberge des Seguins; City: Buoux Luberon Vaucluse Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights as part of a hiking trip. The company organizing the trip had (intentionally) set our expectations pretty low. We were pleasantly surprised by what we found at the Auberge. The setting is amazing--the lodge sits at the base of a huge cliff and is very close to the only river in the Luberon region. Our room was relatively large, simply furnished, but pleasant and well ventilated. It stayed surprisingly cool in very hot weather. The beds were comfortable. The bathroom was dreadfully small and cramped, and there was definitely mold present in the shower. The pool is large but very cold (it is not heated). In the very hot weather it was refreshing, though. Pool towels are not provided. The meals were definitely better than expected. The first night we had a massive tray of local hors d'oeuvres followed by very tasty trout, fresh from the river. And for the first time in a week, a decent quantity of vegetables were served with dinner! Dessert was also delicious. The second night we had a piece of quiche as a starter that was almost big enough to be the main course. The main course was chicken which was a tad dry but still good. Breakfasts featured home-made jams and honey as well as fruit and bread. Unfortunately, protein was lacking except for creme fraiche. The Auberge packed us picnic lunches as part of our hiking trip, and these were the best lunches we had on the entire trip. There is no cellphone or wifi reception at the Auberge. This was fine with me, but tech-dependent travelers might find it problematic. There is a landline in case of emergency. One of the staff members speaks good English. The rest of the staff has limited English skills. My basic French was perfectly sufficient to allow for good communication, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel du Soleil SPA; City: Saint Remy de Provence Bouches du Rhone Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Hotel du Soleil is well located, near the old town of St Remy and a short distance from the Van Gogh museum/clinic and the Roman ruins. Our room was of average size and was blissfully cool despite very hot temperatures outdoors. The bathroom was spacious and very clean. Closet space was good. Our room had a hotpot and instant coffee/tea. Ice was nearly impossible to obtain, though. The pool was refreshing in the hot weather, and there were plenty of lounge chairs in which to relax. Breakfast was plentiful and included plenty of protein. We came early, so quantity was not a problem. The staff were quite friendly and helpful , though a bit harried. The only negative was lack of an elevator. I would certainly stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn O Hare Airport; City: Schiller Park Illinois; Review: The facility is close to the airport and offers reliable, free shuttle service. Good for one night before and early flight, but I would not stay here otherwise. That's the upside. The downside is that the rooms are dingy and dated. Bathrooms are old and are barely clean.Staff are courteous but not very friendly. There was quite a bit of noise in the parking lot in the middle of the night, probably from late night drinkers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Chicago Downtown; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: The hotel is very well located; it is an easy walk from Union Station, CTA stations, and all downtown venues. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. Rooms have nice sized refrigerators and microwaves. Breakfast was very good, though supplies of some foods were running low. Although I was very close to an elevator, the room was reasonably quiet. All in all a very good value.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amble Inn; City: Medora North Dakota; Review: This small hotel is located very close to TR National Park. The proprietors are helpful and own an interesting bookstore adjacent to the inn. The room was quiet and clean. It included a decent sized refrigerator and a microwave. The bed was comfortable.The bathroom was very spacious and had plenty of towels, but it needed better lighting, especially in the shower. The town of Medora is very tiny and lacks even a basic grocery store, but everything was in easy walking distance. the price of the room was a bit higher than I anticipated, but there aren't many lodging options in the area, so a little price inflation is to expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coast Hilltop Inn; City: Pullman Washington; Review: This is a reasonably priced, clean facility just outside the center of Pullman. It was blessedly quiet, and the bed was extremely comfortable. The room was good sized and had all the basic amenities. The breakfast was a real disappointment, though. There were 6 different kinds of cereal, of which 5 were sugary. The eggs, sausage and pancakes were cold and inedible. The only flavors of yogurt were highly sugary orange or lime , neither of which could be considered "standard" yogurt flavors. It is odd that a hotel that provides such a great sleeping experience offers such a lousy breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intercontinental Costa Rica At Multiplaza Mall; City: San Jose San Jose Metro Province of Sa; Review: Stayed here with a tour group. I would not have chosen this place on my own. It looks very ornate, but when you give a closer look you see the cracks. The bathroom literally had cracks in the tub and sink and chips on the floor. One of the lamps did not work. The beds were comfortable. The A/C worked. On the plus side, the food was very tasty, and the gym was fabulous (although it is unclear why it was necessary to blast music at all hours) and had the best water in the hotel. Tour groups must get a good deal at this hotel. It's certainly not representative of Costa Rica, and it is out in the suburbs. If you are looking for local flavor, go elsewhere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Schermer; City: Westendorf Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: My family & I have stayed in this hotel for our winter vacation (Dec 18th-Dec 24th). The hotel’s staffs were friendly and would not spare an effort in assisting you. We have stayed in a suite and a superior room which both were spacious and flawless. The hotel has a great location with a few minutes walk to the slope. The food was good and fresh though it was limited to a few choices. If you are traveling with a family, this is definitely the hotel to stay in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort Spa; City: Kfardebian Mount Lebanon Governorate; Review: My friends & I have stayed in this hotel for the second time for our ski vacation. The hotel enjoys an excellent location with its own ski slope. We stayed in the presidential suites, which is a two bedrooms suite with a two and a half bathrooms. Everything in the suite was spacious and clean including the bathrooms (though some of the bathrooms accessories looked like they have been used up). The hotel provided a very good service with a friendly staffs’ attitude. The quality of the food was excellent and offers a variety to choose from.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: W Taipei; City: Xinyi District Taipei; Review: I have stayed in the hotel for my business trip to Taipei for two days. The hotel is one of the newest built hotels in the city and it is not far from the iconic Taipei 101. It is meticulously clean. The room was spacious, extremely comfortable bed, and nicely arranged. It offers a very good gym with top brand machines. The breakfast buffet was good with variety of food to choose from. One thing however, I didn’t like was the load sound of the music which you can hear at the entrance and the lobby area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Riyadh Hotel Towers; City: Riyadh Riyadh Province; Review: I have stayed in this hotel for one night last December. The hotel located on King Fahad Road “High Way 65” which makes it easy to access the hotel. It is located only few kilometers away from the heart of Riyadh where you can find all the shops and restaurants. The hotel offers rooms and private villas with their own private parking which I like the most about this hotel. The hotel is not new and you can easily spot that once you enter the hotel’s premises. I have stayed in a two bedrooms villa which has a living room, dining room, two bed rooms, kitchen, and 1.5 bathrooms. The hotel main building is nicely maintained and clean, however the villa which I have stayed in looked like it was used extensively.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Dar Al Tawhid; City: Mecca Makkah Province; Review: I have spent 5 days in this hotel back in the month of December. I would have to confess that this is one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. The hotel enjoys an excellent location with only few steps away from Almasjed Alharam. I’ve stayed in a two bedroom suites with a city view. It has two spacious bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. It is located in a congested area however it is always easy to access the hotel from the main road. It was well maintained and clean. The breakfast buffet was excellent and there was a variety of choices to choose from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort Spa; City: Kfardebian Mount Lebanon Governorate; Review: This is my third time Im staying in this hotel for my skiing trips in Lebanon. I usually stay in their suites however this time I had to stay in their family room since the hotel was fully booked. The hotel enjoys an excellent location. It offers a lot of facilities to its guests including its own private ski slope. If you go to the -2 level you can find several ski shops to rent your gear from, several retail shops, a mini grocery store, and a cinema. The breakfast buffet was excellent and offered a verity of delicious food to choose from. The room was large enough to accommodate three beds comfortably. The bath room was clean and spacious. I liked the Nespresso machine in the room which you can find in any of their rooms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Beirut; City: Beirut; Review: I have spent one night in this hotel after finishing my 4 days skiing trip in Faraya. It is an elegant quiet hotel with excellent location. It is located in downtown Beirut with only few steps away from their nice Yacht marina and about ten minutes walk to the famous Solidere and Beirut Souks. The room is spacious and offers a large balcony, extra comfortable bed, and a nice sea view. The bathroom is also spacious and offers both shower area and a bath tub.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol; City: Jochberg Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: I have spent a 10 days with my family in this hotel. We had a suite and a regular room. The hotel enjoys an excellent location, which is only 8.5km away from kitzbuhel. Jochberg left is located within a walking distance or you can start from either Passthurn or Kitzbuhel and ski down to the hotel. In the lobby, you can find an excellent skiing shop, a retail shop, a skiing school, and a kids club “ where your kids can spend a whole day with out getting bored”. The lobby is spacious and provides several seating areas around the fireplace where you can enjoy your cup of coffee after along skiing day. Our suite has a bedroom and a separate living room. The bedroom is spacious and has a bathroom, a separate area for the bathtub and the shower, and a fireplace. The living room is spacious too and it has a full bathroom, a sofa bed, a small kitchenette with a nespresso machine, a dining table and a fireplace. (Both the bedroom and the living room share the same fireplace). Our other bedroom is spacious also. It has a bathroom and a separate area for the bathtub and the shower. The breakfast buffet is great and offers a variety of food to choose from. For the other meals the choices are limited but the food is excellent. The hotel’s staffs are professional, friendly and would not spare an effort in helping you. (Especial thanks to Sebestian Herzog).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien Taipei; City: Xinyi District Taipei; Review: I have spent a three days in this hotel during my business trip to Taipei. The hotel located not far from Taipei 101. It is surrounded by a few shopping malls which are within few walking distance. The hotel is clean and quiet. The room: The room is spacious and offers a large cabinet space, a large desk area, a small sitting area, and a nespresso machine. The bathroom: it is spacious also and offers both showers and bathtub, an electric toilet, and it is separated by a glass wall from the bedroom. Gym: the size was good with plenty of state of the art fitness machines. Breakfast: was great with verity of food to choose from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: I have spent two days in this beautiful hotel during my business trip. The hotel location is excellent with only few walking steps from Siam Paragon. My room was the premier. It is located on the first floor with the view of the pool. Both the room’s and the bathroom’s sizes were good. The bathroom offers both shower and bath. A glass wall separates it from the bedroom with an automatic curtain for the privacy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shilla Seoul; City: Seoul; Review: I have spent three nights in this hotel for my business trip to Seoul. The hotel is located in the hart of Seoul however due to its large premises you have to take a taxi or do a long distance walk if you need to get anything from the city. The executive room is spacious and offers plenty of cabinet space for your clothes. The bath room is large in size and offers both shower and bathtub with a Molton Brown amenities. Gym; is large in size and offers all the machines you need for your exercise. Breakfast; is good with verity of food to choose from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raffles Makkah Palace; City: Mecca Makkah Province; Review: Location, The hotel is located in the Abraj Albait Complex, in the first tower to the left of the clock tower. By being part of this large complex, it is some times require you to wait for few minutes to get into the first elevator which takes you to the hotel's main entrance. However when it comes to the hotel's own elevators, you don't wait for more than a minute which is a "plus”. Service, The service is very good from all aspect starting with the limo service, reception (thank you for the upgrade to Haram view) and the room service. Room description, This is a two bed rooms Haram view suite with both of the rooms and the living room has a ka’aba view. It has a bedroom with a comfortable king size bed and the other one with a twin beds. The living room has a setting area, a small dining table with four chairs and a tiny mini bar counter. There are two and a half bathrooms; two of them are very large in size and have a shower, bathtub, two sinks, and ablution area (which you don't find in any other hotel) the third one is small in size and located in the living room. There are three LCD TVs and free internet service with a moderate downloading speed. Restaurant, It is a large size restaurant, nicely decorated and table scarcity is not an issue. Most of the restaurant is facing a large indoor hall with an exception of a small peak of the Haram. The buffet is excellent and offer variety of excellent food..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jumeirah Frankfurt; City: Frankfurt Hesse; Review: The hotel is located in the heart if the city with plenty of surrounding good restaurants. Both the room and bathroom were spacious and clean. Very good food quality and representation. Professional staff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Villa Magna; City: Madrid; Review: I have spent one night in this elegant hotel for my business visit to Madrid. The sitting area in the lobby is large and quiet. Both the bedroom and the bathroom are spacious, clean, and well laid out. The restaurant in the lobby is quiet and offer very good quality food. The staff are professional and prompt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: I have spent one night for my business visit. Positives: Very good location in the heart of the city. Room and bathroom are spacious and clean. Excellent quality food. Negatives, expensive Internet AUD 29/ 24 hours; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Grande Bretagne a Luxury Collection Hotel Athens; City: Athens Attica; Review: I have stayed in this hotel for one day for my business trip in Athens. It is a classic hotel that enjoys an excellent location where you can walk to most of the ancient sites. The restaurant in the eighth floor enjoys an excellent view of the city. The size of both the room and the bathroom are very good. The hotel's staff are prompt and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: I have spent three nights for my business visit to Sydney. Positives: Locations: very good location in term of both business visit and vacation since it is located within walking distance to a lot of corporates in downtown Sydney and one block away from the shopping area. Rooms: very good size with spacious clean bathroom. Internet: fast, cost AUD 20 for 24 hours and can hook up three devicess. Negatives: The level of noise is high. The voices of people in the corridors feels like they are in your room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong; City: Hong Kong; Review: Ive spent two nights in this hotel for my business trip to Hong Kong. Location is perfect with a walking distance from the business district and the shopping stores, hence It doesn't matter wether you are there on business or pleasure, it is the place to be in. Excellent service is provided by all staff. The room is large and spacious. It provides study desk, separated toilet from the bathtub and the shower area, Hermes toiletries, nespresso machine, and a steamer to iron your cloth with instead of the ordinary iron! The gym was good in size with plenty of technogym machines. Last but not least the food quality in the Cafe causette is very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel; City: Portland Oregon; Review: I have stayed in this hotel with my family for three nights during our vacation. We have stayed in the one bedroom apartment which is located out side the hotel main building but straight on to the marina. The apartment was spacious and offered one bedroom, living room with a sofa bed, dining area, full kitchen, a fire place, and a bathroom. Excellent staff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Park City Autograph Collection; City: Park City Utah; Review: I have stayed in this hotel for six days with my family for our winter vacation. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being in the middle of the canyons resort from one side and park city and deer valley resorts on the other side. The farthest one which is deer valley is only may be 5 miles away. I have stayed in the cottage luxury 2 bedroom suites which is a cottage luxury suite connected to a grand luxury suites. The end results are two spacious bedrooms, a full kitchen, a kitchenette, two living rooms with sofa beds, one dining table, three full baths, two hut tubs, and six fire places. One important thing to note here the cottage was meticulous clean. The cottages are located outside the hotel’s main building which is a short walk. Cars are not allowed to park in the front of the cottage but you can use the main parking of the hotel or pay a $ 17 and use the indoor parking. Breakfast, the food selection is limited but both of the quality of the food and the staff service is excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lotte Hotel Moscow; City: Moscow Central Russia; Review: The hotel locates in the heart of the downtown along with some other five star hotels. The room was large in size with comfortable bed, large Flat screen TV, study desk, and good size closet. The bath room is spacious with a separated toilet from the shower and bath area. The gym locates in the basement with plenty of techno gym machines that you can choose. Very food section for the breakfast buffet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Hyatt Paris Vendome; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: I have spent four nights in this hotel for my business trip to Paris. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being on Rue de La Paix on Place Vendome. It is surrounded by brand names boutiques and some excellent restaurants which makes it an excellent choice for both leisure and business. Attentive staff. Both the room and the bathroom are spacious, comfortable and meticulously clean. The quality of food is excellent. The gym size is good with adequate number of machines to choose from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois; City: Basel; Review: The hotel locates on the river with a walking distance to the heart of the city. The staffs were friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet was very good with verity of food to choose from. Both the room and the bathroom were spacious and clean. FREE MINIBAR!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: I have spent two nights with my family in this hotel. I booked a sunrise/sunset suite ,with my AMX centurion, which was up graded to a presidential suite "thanks & appreciated". The suite looked nicer than the pics on the website with a magnificent strip view and the airport's runway. The suite has a large setting area, large dining table, a kitchen, one and a half bath, walking closet, and a large bedroom. The hotel doesn't have a casino however you can access the Mandalay bay casino from the C floor. The breakfast buffet is excellent with verity of good quality food to choose from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marriott s Newport Coast Villas; City: Newport Beach California; Review: The hotel locates on the Coast Dr off high way 73. It locates on the side of the valley with an amazing ocean view. I have stayed in a two bedroom apartment which offers two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a washer and dryer. The hotel offer verity of services such as barbecue station to enjoy your day. The property was quiet and clean. I believe this is the best Marriott I have ever stayed in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Peninsula Beverly Hills; City: Beverly Hills California; Review: The hotel has an excellent location on Santa Monica blvd with a bout 10 minutes walk to Beverly Hills' iconic street rodeo Dr. Though the street is some what busy it is quiet in the hotel. The room is clean and spacious with a study desk, LCD TV, and a good size closet. The bathroom is spacious with a separate bathtub and shower. Breakfast only served through a la cart menu with a superb quality. The gym locates on the fifth floor with good number of machines. It has about 5 trade mills, few bicycles, and several other weight lift machines and some free weights. Last but not least the service in this hotel is excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz London; City: London England; Review: I have tried several 5 stars hotels in London however this one is different when it comes to service or if you want to say it correctly “Etiquette”. I have spent a week with my family in a two interconnected rooms. The bedrooms were spacious in size with very nice decoration, fireplace, small study desk, and a small setting area. The bathroom was spacious as well with separated shower, bathtub, and Asprey toiletries. The breakfast was excellent in term of food quality and selection. The staffs were helpful and offered a superb service. Finally to fully enjoy this hotel, you have to go for the afternoon tea.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disneyland Hotel; City: Chessy Marne la Vallee Seine et Marne Ile de France; Review: I have spent few days in this hotel with my family when we visited disneyland in early august. The hotel has an excellent location by actually being the gate for the Park and it is the the nearest one to it compared to the other ones where you have to actually walk a little bit. We have stayed in two interconnected rooms with twin beds. The rooms are spacious with a small dinning table, good size closet, and spacious bathroom. The hotel is made off two building with sky way connecting the two togethers. It has a small gym, swimming pool, kids club, and a game room. The breakfast buffet verity was ok with good quality food. The room service verity and quality was limited but very good. As a guest of this hotel you get one fast pass for each person each day which make it easier for you to enjoy the park specially when the waiting time can reach up to two hours!!!!!! Also your kids can meet the Disney characters inside the hotels hence you can avoid the long queues in the park.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong; City: Hong Kong; Review: This is my second stay in this hotel in the last four months. I have stayed two nights here for my business trip to HongKong. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being connected to the IFC, which is a high end shopping mall with plenty of very good quality cafes, and overlooking the Harbor. The hotel offers an excellent service in everything you require. The room was spacious with a large closet, study disk, LCD TV, and a nespresso machine. The bathroom was large with two sinks, a separated shower from the bath and L’occitane toiletries. The quality of the room service food was excellent. The Gym was large also with plenty of technogym machines and free weights. (ie 8 treadmill).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: I have spent 5 nights in this hotel during my business trip to DC. I have stayed in the grand premier room with one king bed. The room was very spacious with a large closet, love chair, and a study desk. The bathroom was large with two sinks, a bath tup, and a spacious shower. It has a nice two floor gym with multi technogym machines, a nespresso machine and a multi flavors Juices to choose from. The breakfast menu was very good with very good quality food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Resort at Pelican Hill; City: Newport Beach California; Review: I have spent 5 nights in this hotel during my vacation in California. I have stayed in the four bedrooms villa, which has an ocean view, spacious and meticulously clean. What I liked about this hotel that its feels more like an upscale neighborhood rather than a conventional hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaza Al Madina; City: Medina Al Madinah Province; Review: I have stayed in this hotel for three nights during my visit to Madinah. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being close to the haram. It locates in the second row from the haram which is only few steps away. My family and I have stayed in the three bedroom suite which constitute of one bedroom with a queen size bed and two bedrooms with two single beds each, a living room, and two and a half bathrooms which are separated from the bedrooms. The two large bathrooms have a good size shower. The breakfast buffet was good with good quality food. The diner buffet was ok with good quality food too. In the living room you can find free bottles of water, different flavored tea and a nespresso machine. The wifi connection was weak and it all depends on your location within your suite. The hotel staff are professionals and very helpful. Special thanks to Abdulaziz(from the reservation desk) This is a 5 star hotel however it is a bet tired.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Majestic Hotel Spa Barcelona; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: I have spent two nights in this hotel during my visit to Barcelona. The hotel located in the heart of the city in the middle of the shopping area and a couple of kilos from the old city. I have stayed in the junior suite which was made of a bedroom and a separate setting area. The bed room was small in size with barely enough room to place your suit case. The setting area was ok in size with a small sofa and a study desk. The minibar had a nespresso machine with capsules that you have to pay for each usage. The breakfast buffet was good with good quality food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breidenbacher Hof a Capella Hotel; City: Dusseldorf North Rhine Westphalia; Review: My friends and I have stayed in this hotel during our visit to Düsseldorf to attend the boat show. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being in the heart of the city. On one side of the hotel you can find numbers of brand names shops and in the other side restaurants and cafes are available too. We have stayed in the deluxe room with two large size single beds. The room was spacious. It had a sofa bed, a desk, and most importantly a nespreso machine. The bathroom was large in size with a separate bathtub and shower. I liked the lobby set up where the reception desk is located immediately after you enter the hotel however you need to have a key to enter the large seating area of the lobby so you can enjoy the coffee and the juices.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel d Inghilterra Roma Starhotels Collezione; City: Rome Lazio; Review: I have stayed three nights in this hotel during my business trip to Rome. The best word to describe this hotel is location by being in the heart of the shopping area and few meters away from the Spanish steps. The staff service was very good. The breakfast buffet selection was limited. The hotel doesn't have a gym but you can access a one close by.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rosewood Beijing; City: Beijing; Review: I've stayed two nights in this hotel during my business visit to Beijing. The service level was outstanding on all aspects, from check in, staff service, to check out. The hotel location is excellent by being in the middle of the city. The room was spacious with study desk, walking closet, comfortable bed, and a nespresso machine. The bathroom was laid out well with two sinks, large shower, huge bathtub, and a separated toilet area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hotel Brussels; City: Brussels; Review: I have spent one night in this hotel during my business visit to Brussels. The location of the hotel was excellent by being in the heart of the city next to the premium brands. I've stayed in the panoramic suite which was spacious with a large toilet. The setup of the room was very good and relaxing. The food served at the lobby was excellent and the breakfast buffet was limited.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Toronto; City: Toronto Ontario; Review: I have spent three nights in this hotel during my business visit to Toronto. The hotel location was excellent by being on yorkville ave. with a few steps a way from the nice area of shops, restaurants, and cafes. The room was spacious with a spacious bathroom. The room lay out was a typical four seasons hotel with modern touch ( which I loved). The hotel has an excellent large gym with many trademil machines made by matrix, several cross trainers, weight lifting machines, free weights and stretching room. The service was excellent too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mandarin Oriental Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: I spent 3 nights in a marina view king room. The size of the room was just adequate. It has comfortable bed, a study desk and flat tv. The bathroom size was ok with a separated shower and tub. The room service is exceptionally good with very good quality food. The breakfast buffet is good too with verity of food to choose from. The wifi is fast and free and the concierge man is the best when it comes for restaurants recommendations. Cons: -In our first two nights here there was a conference going on hence it was crowded and you need to queue for the elevator. -There is no electricity socket next to bed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Leela Palace New Delhi; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: If you are coming to Delhi, you should look no where else's to stay. I've stayed in this hotel for four nights when I visited Delhi for business. The hotel enjoys a large lobby area with a nice garden view. The room was spacious with comfortable bed, study desk, and couch. The bathroom was spacious with a separate bath tub and shower area. I dined in both the restaurant in the lobby area and the Italian restaurant in in the 10th floor which all were excellent. Last but not least the staff service was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Frankfurt Opera; City: Frankfurt Hesse; Review: I spent two nights here during my visit. The hotel enjoys an excellent location by being around the corner of the shopping area and street. The service was very good. The room and the bathroom were clean and spacious. The bathroom toilet was separated from the rest of the bathroom with an electric toilet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: I spent two nights in this hotel when I visited Boston. The hotels enjoys an excellent location by being in the heart of the city and across the street from the Copley mall. I booked a delux king which was upgraded to a suite by the hotel since I made the booking with AMX. The suite was spacious with a spacious bathroom. The bathroom has a separated shower from the bathtub which is always a plus. The gym was small in size with few trade mills and cross trainers to use. The staff service was very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Lemonade Trick.; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Corbett Page; Review: I read (multiple times) and loved this book when I was a kid. I recently brought all my old books from my mother's house, and am reading them to my children. My 8 year old son and 4 year old daughter LOVED this book! Scott Corbett draws you into the story, and keeps you alternately laughing, groaning, and shouting "Oh no!". We have added Corbett to our list of favorite authors, and are reading more "Trick" books, as well as some of the other serial books he wrote. This book is definitely one you want to have in your home library, so you can read it again and again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregory A. Freeman Page; Review: for everyone who loves freedom. This is such an important story, and such an important lesson. It only took ONE Communist operative in British Intelligence to turn the tide, against the Partisans and in favor of Tito and Communism. We read this as a family read-aloud a couple of years ago, and it has stayed with me. I consider it a true classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (Fox): S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure; Author: Visit Amazon's William Goldman Page; Review: I purchased this book as a family book. The main book is, but there is another section at the end, entitled "Buttercup's Baby", which is NOT suitable for families. There was NO indication of this in any of the information given on the website. I was not pleased with this. I can do this book as a family read-aloud, but will not be able to put it out for my children to read on their own. I would appreciate it if Amazon gave complete information regarding products.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: No Time to Sew : Fast & Fabulous Patterns & Techniques for Sewing a Figure-Flattering Wardrobe; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Betzina Page; Review: I have had this book since it was first published. I do not remember where I bought it, but I do not believe I had to buy the patterns separately. I am fairly certain they came with the book. I believe I belonged to a sewing/craft-book club, and this is probably where I bought it. It may be that the patterns were included, and the price probably reflected that. I do know the Amazon description does make it sound as though the patterns come with the book. The fact that so many people have expected the patterns to come with the book and have been upset and/or disappointed when they didn't should tell someone at Amazon that they need to change the review to reflect the fact that the book is JUST the book. That being said, I have enjoyed, over the years, looking through the book and thinking about things I want to sew. I have yet to use any of the patterns. There are really only a couple I would seriously consider. The t-shirt of course, and perhaps the vest. I have read some good things about the comfort of the palazzo pants, so I may try a pair to lounge around it at home. The gore skirt is a classic, and it is probably one I will eventually make. Some of the styles were "iffy" when the book first came out. The cowl neck is not a classic style, and raglan sleeves (the dress) only look good on certain people. People with sloping shoulders benefit from avoiding raglan sleeves. The book makes for excellent reading, and gives the reader some great ideas for putting together a wardrobe. There are a lot of great tips to help make one's sewing easier and more efficient.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Twain Page; Review: My son is almost finished reading this, and my daughter is part way through; she has to snatch it when my son doesn't have it. They are both really, REALLY enjoying it! Mark Twain was a master, and this book really shines. This is a nice copy, with illustrations, and is easy to read. I am patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting my turn, as I read the book so long ago I don't remember much. :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Z. Apocalypse (Hunting); Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Cole Page; Review: How exciting to find out that a third book is out in this series! My daughter has already read it, and says it is soooooo good! I told my son he could read it before me, but he started on A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and wants to finish that before starting this one. Sooooo, I wait. But if it is anything like the others I know I will be on the edge of my seat and staying up way too late to read! Steve Cole really knows how to put a story together!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Hear America Singing!: Folksongs for American Families with CD (Treasured Gifts for the Holidays); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Krull Page; Review: We checked this book out of the library, and my daughter loved it so much I bought her a copy. It was used, but in good shape, and she is really pleased with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peter and the Starcatchers (Starcatchers (Paperback)); Author: Dr Dave Barry; Review: What a great adventure for the entire family! My husband and I enjoyed this audiobook, and the subsequent ones, every bit as much as our children. In fact, my husband has been listening to the audiobooks on the way to and from work each morning for the last few weeks. My daughter listens before she goes to bed, and I listen whenever I have the opportunity. We are all on a different CD at any given time. LOL If you are looking for an "exact" life-of-Peter-Pan, then of course you won't find it here. But the story is so inventive and the narration is well done, and all in all this is a great product. We have checked the audiobooks out from the library, and have been debating whether or not to buy the print books or the audiobooks. We have finally decided on the audiobooks, because they are so enjoyable to listen to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cro-Magnon 25,000 BP; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Rourk Page; Review: This book would give a pretty good overview for elementary children, but it would be better if an adult read it aloud and discussed it. The book skims over pre-historic tribal life, and unless you have already done some reading on it - such as the Earth's Children series, which though extremely well-written is not appropriate for children/families - you are likely to miss a lot. The book reads somewhat like a fifth grade paper. Of course, it is a short book, so there is not a lot of room for expansion, but the description and reviews gave the impression that it was more involved than it really is. I would have really liked to see the attention to detail and character/story development found in the Earth's Children series, but without the "adult" graphic sections. I was disappointed, as I had intended this book as a gift for my history-loving son. If the book were rated for elementary children, I would probably give it four stars. But because it is rated up to adult, I am rating it 3 stars because it really misses that mark; it is just "okay".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New American Cursive II (Quotations from Famous Americans); Author: Iris Hatfield; Review: My daughter used italic - both print and cursive - until she was 12, and then decided she wanted to learn a more traditional cursive. I took her to Mardel to look through some handwriting books and let her choose the one she wanted. She chose the first book in this series. She said she loved being able to draw in it as part of the work. There are many great handwriting books out there, but my daughter has been so happy with this one, and that makes me happy with it as well. I was delighted to find that it used Scripture, though there is a level two book available without it for people who prefer that option. She worked through the first book in record time, and could hardly wait to get the next one. She does this on her own, and I periodically look at it. But I can see the results in her writing. She learned cursive very quickly with this book, and is enjoying it very much. Her writing is legible, and she is developing her own style. I really appreciate the fact that the book allows her to go at her own pace and learn cursive on her own. I worked with her on the first couple of pages, then she just took off - so I let her go. Again, there are pages that instruct the student to draw, so if your child enjoys art this is an excellent handwriting series to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arabel's Raven (Arabel and Mortimer); Author: Visit Amazon's Joan Aiken Page; Review: I checked this book out from the library for my daughter. She loved it so much she read it aloud to me after she finished it. It was hilarious. She continued to talk about the book months after we took it back to the library. So, I came to Amazon and bought her a copy for Christmas. She couldn't have been happier. The story of Arabel and Mortimer (her raven) takes you on a wild ride, out of the house and through the town. Just don't leave out anything you don't want Mortimer to eat! Oooops, what happened to the stairs? ;-) We sought out other Joan Aiken books after our great experience with this one. Not a single one has disappointed. Joan Aiken is permanently on our list of favorite authors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life of Fred Fractions to Pre-Algebra 5-Book Set : Fractions, Decimals and Percents, Elementary Physics, Pre-Algebra 1 with; Author: ; Review: Just as the elementary series books are, the Pre-Algebra books are fun, engaging, and VERY educational. It is hard to describe the feeling you get when you hear your children laughing and realize it is because they are "doing math"! Math is presented in the context of real life, and related to everything under the sun, which of course IS real life. When a concept is presented, it is because there is a reason for it. I was planning to use Life of Fred as an enjoyable supplement, but when I realized how comprehensive it is I made it our primary math curriculum. I only have two problems: My children are frequently still doing math when they might have been doing English, because they just don't want to stop; I have just one of each book, and my children are often in the same book. This means they take turns snatching it when the other one isn't looking. Quite nice problems to have, if you ask me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Every Day; Author: Visit Amazon's David Levithan Page; Review: I'd like to put a negative in front of the star number - then I would have checked 5. This book had an interesting premise, but very quickly went downhill. What people used to recognize as blatant sin was portrayed as accepted, and the book actually actively promoted it. I would not recommend this propaganda.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern; Author: Visit Amazon's Lilian Jackson Braun Page; Review: I am SO enjoying this series. I bought the set and was so pleased that it had almost every book in it. I knew there would be a few missing, but there were only two or three that I had to buy separately. The set also included three books from a different cat series, which was a nice bonus. The seller did a great job of putting this together. I have enjoyed getting to know Jim, Koko, Yum Yum, and the myriad other characters in Jim's life. I am about a third of the way through the series, and am finding each book to be better and better. If you like mysteries, cats, Shakespeare, or just plain fun, this is a great series. I do recommend starting at the beginning and reading the books in order, as they build on one another. Lillian Jackson Braun has moved onto my list of favorite authors!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fireproof; Author: Alex Kendrick; Review: The author did a very nice job of putting the movie in book form. I watched the movie, which was excellent, then ordered the book. The book "filled in" a few things and brought the story to life even more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twenty Years After (Wordsworth Classics); Author: Alexandre Dumas; Review: I read The Three Musketeers and loved it. This book really dragged for me at the first though. I read the first chapter or two, let it sit a day or so, then went back and read it again. Had I not found The Three Musketeers so delightful I might not have continued with this book. I did though, and it picked up about halfway through. By that time I found myself looking for moments I could grab the book and read some more. I enjoyed the rest of the book and went on to read The Man in the Iron Mask. I did not realize that there are actually two books in between this one and the last one, so if you want to read the series do try to get all five. This is a trilogy, but the third book is split up into three, the last of which is The Man in the Iron Mask. I still enjoyed the three books I read, and immediately read The Count of Monte Cristo afterwards. It was even better!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Makos Page; Review: My 14 year old daughter found this book at the library and checked it out, then kept her nose buried in it until she finished. She couldn't wait for me to start it. I am now at the beginning of Charlie Brown's first mission and am keeping this short because I must get back to the book before I go to sleep. We have studied WWII extensively for years, and never tire of learning more about the Greatest Generation. This book gives us insight into some of the greatness on the "other side". My daughter loved this book so much - and I already agree - that I ordered our own copy. It hasn't arrived yet, but my daughter runs to the mailbox every day, hoping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Park South Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: I've stayed at the Park South 6 or 7 times primarily due to the location being perfect for my needs. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to look elsewhere for my next trip to the Gramercy area. While the room is decent for the price, I'm just so fed up with the unprofessional and incompetent staff in this hotel. Upon my last stay, I had an executive King room reserved. When I entered the room there were two double beds and it was handicapp accessible. I was told at the front desk that this was an executive king!! WOW. Another employee then told me I have to request "Must be a King" even though my reservation was for an exec King. So stupid. When I asked for a restaurant reservation in the city, they woman at the desk said: "You want me to make your reservation?" I understand that NYC is not known for butt-kissing, but the staff has been downright rude. Only the bellman recognized me from previous stays, and is the one lone bright spot on the staff. But you would figure they would have something in their system that I'm a regualr guest at this place or something. The room is decent, probably a good deal at less than $200 as this hotel does include a nice buffet breakfast, but for anymore I wouldn't do it. So many properties in the city are courteous and helpful beyond expectations. You'll just find aggravation at this place for no good reason.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Mount Laurel; City: Mount Laurel New Jersey; Review: This Westin is a bit below average in comparison to other similar properties nationwide. Overall, I thought it was a poor value at over $100/nt. I kept thinking I can stay in downtown Philly for cheaper and nicer most of the time. It shouldn't be like that right? The Good: -Expansive free parking lot with convenient back entrance. -AV port connections in front of the desk for easy access -Central AC was quiet and worked perfectly in the 100 degree weather -Bar in the lobby is nicely done The Decent: -I prefer my mattress a little firmer, but the heavenly bed was comfortable and clean; -Pool area was to be expected I guess. Nothing impressive, but functional -Gym was small, but had nice equipment overall -Front desk staff was friendly and professional. -Internet was more slightly more reasonable than I am used to seeing at 9.95 per day. The bad: -I thought the bathroom was quite dreary overall; poor lighting, not so nice overall. -Shower/tub combination was small and had below average water pressure -Toilet was unsightly with no tank. Just a bowl. -TV is a bit small, the I do not like that it has Showtime instead of HBO. Feels like they are being cheap by doing this? -Drip style coffee machine instead of pods like other similar level properties have -Room felt a bit barren and stark overall. -Very dusty desk and TV area. I had to wipe it down; Room felt like it had not been used for a while. -Mini-bar was half-empty upon check-in, and was not refilled throughout the stay. The ugly: nothing Overall, I would return, but only at a lower price point as there is no reason whatsoever to consider this place a 4* property in my eyes. More like a solid 3.5*; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Metropolitan New York City; City: New York City New York; Review: The Good: -4 second walk out the door to 51st street Subway to get anywhere easily -The cookies they give out are on point -All front desk staff were outstanding. They care about guests needs as individuals. -Room was clean and bed was comfortable as to be expected. -Lobby is nice enough and comfortable to sit. -Close to Ess-A-Bagel, one of the top bagel places in NYC -Midtown East location is very convenient to everywhere incl. airports. -Rates under $165/nt pre-tax is a decent deal for a quick visit. -If you do airtrain to E train from JFK, location is REALLY on point. The Bad: -This area of midtown is a mad-house both day and night. One of the nosiest parts of town. -NYC rooms are small, but it cannot get smaller than this. No table, no where to sit. -Bathroom is too tiny, even for NYC. -The rooms are recently remodeled, but they are still a bit shoddy to me. The Ugly; -This is considered a 4-star property, and there is no central AC. It is a wall unit. -The guest hallways are rundown -They charge $2 per bag to hold luggage (4-star property does that?) -Overall, the hotel is average. For these accommodations, paying over $165 per night IMO is a poor value. -; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Flushing LaGuardia Airport; City: Flushing Queens New York; Review: This Hyatt Place just opened in early June right off Main St. in Downtown Flushing. Everything is brand new which is great, and there are some noticeable touches to this Hyatt Place that made it a great stay. If the Flushing area works for your needs, this Hyatt Place is 100% your best hotel choice in the vicinity. The Good: -Brand new; everything fresh and clean -All hotel staff professional and very caring for guest needs; even better than many 5* -Nice large bathroom with shower/tub combination -Large TV with Directv and many channels. -Nice views of Manhattan from the room -Free shuttle to LGA; takes about 5-10min -Nice Complimentary buffet morning breakfast; also includes congee and miso soup offerings -Nice little indoor lap pool on the top floor -Fitness center with brand new equipment with a nice view of Manhattan skyline -Less than 5min walk to many excellent diverse Chinese cuisine -5min walk to 7 train (last stop on the 7 line which runs express to Grand Central Terminal) -5min walk to Target shopping area -Good value The Bad: Nothing The Ugly: Nothing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AC Hotel by Marriott Bella Sky Copenhagen; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: Stayed 3 nights on a weekend leisure trip to Copenhagen; basic queen bed room with view of the city. For me, the hotel worked out great, but as a leisure traveler looking to tour Copenhagen, just know what you are getting yourself into. THE GOOD ---Great rate on 3rd party sites if you can get it. ---Included breakfast is exceptional, and served in a large comfortable space ---Elevator system and speed is excellent for such a large busy hotel ---Sleek, modern design in common areas; sky bar was enjoyable as well ---Wi-fi reliable; also easy to quickly print something for free downstairs at hotel computers ---Great fast and free round trip shuttle to CPH (starts after 6am) ---Front desk staff friendly and accommodating throughout our stay ---Metro station is a solid 10min walk from the hotel ---Even though it was packed at the hotel, it never felt too swamped by people, even at breakfast. ---Room was quiet even close to elevator, view nice to have a view of the city and metro. THE BAD ---Room was a touch too small for a hotel not located near the city center. There was no sitting area, just a bed and desk attached to the wall. ---Bedding is decent, but not great, IKEA feel to it for sure. ---Bathroom is poorly designed in terms of overall functionality, and too small ---Would be nice to provide free rental of a power adapter/converter for guests in this kind of large newer hotel. ---Closest food market like IRMA is far, about a 20min walk, and there are no other markets right nearby ---No ATM in the hotel any more for some reason. THE UGLY ---All provided bath towels were thin, cheap, stained, and worn out. They need to be replaced OVERALL 4* out of 5. Even with the small queen room for 2ppl, this hotel would still be my #1 choice to stay again in Copenhagen at a discounted rate, but at their normal hotel rates I would look elsewhere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Long Island Brookhaven; City: Farmingville Long Island New York; Review: I have stayed in Hampton inn's across the U.S. for business travel. This is the worst I've stayed in to date. The room was dank and smelled awful. Shower handle was broken, front desk recommended showering at the pool area until Maintenance came in later that morning? Wow. Not a good place. At minimum in a hotel over $100/nt, the rooms need to smell normal, and the shower needs to work properly. Disgraceful place. Free wi-fi absurdly slow as well. Location of the hotel is also stupid. Logistically, the hotel is also terrible. You have to enter through one entrance only driving through a nursing home to reach the hotel. The exist is only one way so you have to go out of your way 7min to make a u-turn way down the road and head back the other way. I hate this place.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach; City: Honolulu Oahu Hawaii; Review: I love this place if the price is right. I wouldn't pay more than $200/nt to be sure, but the I am have stayed here 3 times and have always been comfortable. The tower in the back away from the breakfast has a little nicer bathroom, but the rooms are smaller and views are worse. Depends on what you prefer. The tower with the breakfast can have spectacular views of Diamond Head from the lanai. The best part is the size and comfort of the rooms. They are new, well sized, and modern, and seems like they are taking good care of them. The only major problem with this place is the elevator speed in the tower where the breakfast is. It can take seriously forever, and leave you stranded if you are on a high floor. They need to re-do the elevator situation. The breakfast itself is also fairly week, but it's a standard hyatt place breakfast. They used to have Starbucks but changed to Seattle's best. Coffee was not very good now. Place gets very busy sometimes is a problem. The pool is not really a usable pool, it is very tiny.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Palatka; City: Palatka Florida; Review: Solid budget hotel, especially for Palatka. Had 4 rooms for work purposes, stayed 6 nights through Hurricane Matthew. Hotel is brand new which is its best asset. I very much appreciated the staff, especially Bobbi and Marisa, really enthusiastic and caring, I very much appreciate they took good care of us. Breakfast was on point daily, all and all a comfortable Hampton Inn that proved to be a life saver through Hurricane Matthew, they never lost power.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glam Hotel; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: Stayed one night. Booked a superior triple room thinking it would be adequate for 3 adults just for the one night. 2/5 stars = poor choice The good: >>>Convenient to Milano Centrale 3min walk. >>>All staff very friendly and helpful including front desk, maintenance, and breakfast. >>>Included breakfast has a nice array of offerings. >>>Early check-in granted >>>Good view from room balcony of centrale >>>Shower had good water pressure (no tub) The bad: >>>The layout of the superior triple was terrible. King bed in the center of the room, small bed against the wall. No space for luggage. No chair, no space to do anything. A terrible room spatially speaking. The shower faces the entire room with no privacy. >>>The dark black tile in the bathroom and shower is not appealing at all. Poor design. >>>Balcony is nice for fresh air, but it is more like a fire escape in terms of functionality. Small, no chairs, not usable really. The ugly. >>>Room and hallway carpeting worst I have ever seen the in the entire world for hotel at this price point. It isn't even carpet actually. It is like walking on pure concrete covered by thin yarn. Unacceptable, would not stay here again based on this alone. >>>Room smelled strongly of raw sewage upon check-in. I opened the balcony door for 30minutes and the smell did not dissipate. No idea where it was coming from or why. I was quickly given a new room on the other side that didn't smell, but it was a downgrade to a room with no view and poorer layout. I have never stayed at another hotel in Milan so I have nothing to compare this place to. I would stay elsewhere regardless solely because of room quality at this price point. Probably a better choice for a solo traveller in a normal room I imagine, but the smell issues and carpet make me think this place is probably risky all the around.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 1byone 2,400 mAh Rechargeable Battery Case for iPhone 5/5s, External Protective Charging Case (Apple MFi Certified), Gold; Brand: 1byone; Review: 24 October 2014 Update: The kickstand, although never used, has already snapped off. The 1Byone battery case for the iPhone 5/5s is quick to put together and not too heavy. All you need to do is pop the face plate, slide your iPhone into the tray (the connector pins from the case go into the phone's charging/docking port) and snap the face place back on. You will notice two things straight away. One, your headphone jack is now a deep crevice due to the battery pack. Supplied with this product is a headphone jack extender, so no worries there. Secondly, your standard charger won't work as you no longer use your iPhone's charging/docking input. The new input is on the side of the case, which you also receive a new `cable to USB' with the product. The product itself is designed to give your iPhone battery a charge when you need one. The battery case acts as a portable charger. It doesn't extend the battery, but rather recharges it. So yes, it `extends' in a sense, but I don't want you to think your internal battery will automatically last 1.5-2x longer Admittedly, I had to read how this operates a couple times. To summarize: To charge both your phone and the case, you just plug it. No, that step didn't confuse me! Moving on. When your iPhone battery needs a charge, just push and hold the power button (back of case) for a few seconds. This starts the charging of your iPhone's battery. After it is charged, just push and hold the power button (back of case) for a few seconds to turn the backup battery off. That's it. When you get the chance, plug your phone into a charger and your iPhone and the battery case will recharge. There are four small LED lights on the back of the battery case. If you power on the case they represent, from left to right, the back-up battery's current capacity: 75-100%, 50-7%, 35-50%, and 1-20%. I'm on the fence, but went with a 5-star rating because it works as intended. The downside, if you by chance have a 1Byone 4-Port charger, is that the two U-stations no longer allow for horizontal holding (battery case is too wide). Reviewed October 2014: Product provided by 1Byone; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nexcon Solar Charger 5000mAh Rain-resistant Dirt/Shockproof Dual USB Port Portable Charger Backup Power Pack for iPhone 6 plus 5S 5C; Brand: Nekteck; Review: This is my first adventure with a solar panel charger and I was pretty excited to get my hands on one. It works as advertised, is about the size of the RAZR HD and iPhone 6, and is a great back-up when you aren't near power. Overall, it is a nice design (I got the blue trim version). There are 2 USB 2.0 ports which allow for two devices to charge simultaneously. I was impressed with the sensitivity of the solar panels. The green LED indicator tells you the battery is charging. The blue LED indicator tells you how much charge is held in the battery. I drove with it on my dash, but to avoid sliding I had it in the far corner over a molded, plastic speaker grate. There are a few items included in the package. 1) One-foot USB to micro USB, which connects directly to all Kindle models to date and many Android phones, so no need to buy more cables. Apple fans: you will need to use your own 8 or 30 pin to USB cable. 2) A micro USB to male 40-pin adaptor (5-10 dollar value at this date). 3) Small carabiner (standard quality found at some retail stores, gas stations, etc). It is good enough to handle this product's weight. I prefer screw-lock carabiners for that extra security, but I've been told I'm neurotic. Although the instructions are full of typos and formatting issues, they are easy to follow. One idea - I have a very inexpensive 'sun light' lamp on my desk. And yup, it charges the solar panel great. As with any product I buy or test, I will update my comments and rating based on negative issues. October 2014; Product supplied by Nexcon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Okra Magnetic Vent Phone Car Mount for iPhone Android All Smartphones GPS Devices; Brand: Okra; Review: Depending on your vehicle, this is either a 5 star or a 2 star. The product is simple and clean. The feet have a solid, weighty rubber cross-hatch profile. The round magnet is also covered and looks clean. To install you just slide the product on the vent shutter. You have three options on how to mount your phone. You can use the circular (with adhesive) and stick it on the back of your phone (or phone case). That is the method I chose and it works great. You can also use the square metal plate included and put it between the back cover and phone. Lastly, you can place the square metal plate inside your phone (pop the back). Personally, I wouldn't choose this method. The effects of a magnet on your electronics: Research suggests that magnets will not hose your smartphone. The magnet with this product is strong, but not as strong as a hard-drive magnet. IF you use a digital compass on your phone, the magnet may affect your readings. However, if you are running GPS - those are satellite signals and will not see any interference. It you have one of those swanky phone covers that holds credit cards, then do NOT use this product. Will you like this product? It all depends on what car you drive. On a FJ this product is outstanding. On an Envoy, not so much. The weight of your phone on the vent will let gravity win and your phone will angle down. However, if they are angled into the mold of the dash, then it WORKS. Look at the first vehicle product picture. If your dash looks anything like that, you are good. Tested November 2014: Product supplied by Okra; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Motorola DROID Turbo, Metallic Red 32GB (Verizon Wireless); Brand: Motorola; Review: You may want to hold this in person and compare with the ballistic nylon version as it will be up to user preference. This is a high-end smartphone packed with some serious hardware. Before I get to that, I am a Droid fan and my last few phones have been by Motorola. My house is split as there is a big Apple fan. Im also very impressed with Samsungs Galaxy line. In sum, I appreciate other companies and phones, but I feel the Droid Turbo by Motorola will launch into popularity. What would drive you to this? For me, it was the multitude of features, but the battery (3800MaH) is a big one. No, talking about batteries isn't sexy, but with the turbo charging, it only takes 15 minutes (yes, you are reading that right) to get around eight hours of life. Admit it that is pretty sexy. There is a reason there is a huge aftermarket for battery cases, chargers and gizmos, after all. I went with RAZR over iPhone two years ago and a big driver was the battery life. Motorola has made it a no brainer for this new two-year commitment. The last Ill go into detail is the screen (Gorilla 3, AMOLED). It is a great size but is smaller than the iPhone 6+ and Galaxy Note 4. It is impressive; 565 PPI with 16 million colors. Bright, crisp great for zoom-ins, games and media; even checking work email here and there, which I discourage. Other highlights are the 21MP camera with dual LED flash (4K video capture) and user facing 2MP capable of 1080p video capture. It comes loaded with KitKat and the 2.7GHz processor with 3GB RAM can handle pretty much anything you through at it. Lastly, it has a nice menu features for the camera, but if you are a heavy, heavy phonetog, the Galaxy may be your thing. AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) in case you were itching to know; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gear Beast Air Vent Secure Grip Smartphone Car Mount - Vent Mount; Brand: ; Review: I can't wholly recommend this product as it depends on three pretty important, personal criteria. 1) Your phone. Make sure it is listed on the product description. It holds the iPhone just fine. If your model has side buttons, I'd advise looking closely at the product pictures. If your buttons are further down the side, you may lose functionality if they are covered with the padded side clamps. 2) Your vehicle. Well, specifically your vehicle's vents. Do they stick out? If so, this product has a fairly large profile. On one hand, this is a plus as your phone won't cover the vent on hot and cold days. On the other hand, it sticks out pretty far and depending on location, you may bump the unit and possibly damage your phone or the holder. If your vents are more streamlined or subdued in your dash, then this may be a good product for you. 3) Personality. I have a magnetic clip for my vehicle and love it. I slap my phone on and grab it on the way out of my vehicle with ease. I like this. However, I had to stick a small metal disc on the back of my phone. And yes, that would cause some phone lovers to freak out. This device holds your phone firmly. When you want to take your phone with you, you need to depress a button that will slide the side pads out. When you load your phone, you need to squeeze them into place. I don't like that. Yes, this is a bit long-winded, but I'm trying to cover all the bases. Lastly, like I said, it holds an iPhone perfectly. But, if you have a battery case attached, it will be too heavy and the cradle may aim down. Again, it depends on your vehicle. I've enjoyed other products from Gear Beast, but this one is `okay'. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OPTIKAL SelfiePAL Wireless Bluetooth Remote Shutter Stick with Mount Clamp for Various Devices (iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5,; Brand: OPTIKAL; Review: I purchased this for a co-worker. She enjoys it and has already put it through the ringer: Trust this, as she is a big selfie/picture poster. When used with an iPhone, the mounting is secure and the multi-angle for the cradel is very handy. The bluetooth is easy to pair and works perfectly fine. The rigging is better than some of the other selfie sticks I've seen and played with. The downside is the stick only controls the shutter. There are other models out there that have zoom in/out controls.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PowerLead JCCD1018US1 Nekteck 3100 mAh Battery Case External Protective Charger Charging Case Backup Pack Cover Juice Bank for IPhone; Brand: PowerLead; Review: Any battery case will add weight and depth to your device, which until tech changes substantially, is simply the price you pay for extra juice. Ive tested battery cases before, so I figured this would be just another one for a different phone. The good news is this product is lighter than I thought it would be. Although it is bigger than older iPhones, the design provides a sleek feel with rounded corners. This is a back (battery) case as well as a minimalistic front cover. iPhone 6s have 1810mAH batteries, so adding a 3100mAh (fully charged) battery will recharge your phone 100% with room to spare. Your headphone jack will be recessed once inside the case and Nexcon provides the headphone extension adapter as well as the microUSB cable to charge. The design lines up with the camera, buttons and ports. Due to the added weight, Im not prone to use battery cases as the daily driver, but they are good to have handy on trips and in emergencies where you cannot find an available charge and/or cable. You can elect to charge and toss the case in your purse or briefcase. However, if you don't mind the weight this case is durable enough to take daily abuse. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mpow Cheetah Sport Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Headphones Stereo Sport Running Gym Exercise Headsets Earphones-Retail Packaging-Black; Brand: Mpow; Review: Tested on an iPhone, the audio is quite good. The design is outstanding. Many runners complain of Bluetooth and in-ear buds falling out. I would be shocked if you didn't find these steps above the competition. They have thick plastic that curves around your ear and the behind-the-neck cable is tight. I jumped around, shook my head like I was possessed and whatnot and they stay firmly attached. Pairing was easy and charging doesn't take long. The product includes the charging cable (USB 2.0), small, medium, and large ear bud tips, and directions. The hands-free calling feature is on par with the price-point. The microphone is fine. In short: Huge points for the design of them staying securely on ears. As with any product, I will circle back if there are significant issues. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Selfie stick,URPOWER Bluetooth Monopod Selfie Stick Self Portrait Pole with Remote Shutter Button for iPhone 6, 6 Plus; Brand: URPOWER; Review: This iteration of the `Selfie Stick" works just fine. The handle houses the charging port and the on/off switch, as well as the shutter controls. The wand is completely collapsible and provides sufficient support when extended. A couple things I like: Pairing is a snap, as is the shutter control. The wand is attached to a 180 degree adjustable head with a standard camera mount set. If you are not using a camera, the phone holder screws on the pole's mount quite easily. From there, you just place your phone in the clamp (padded, Left and Upper adjustable clamps) for a secure fit. The only reason why I'm rating this 4 star is because of the upper clamp. I pinched my finger in three times already. Perhaps you will not have this problem, but I wanted to point the design concern out to any potential buyers. To fully charge - about an hour - is quick since the battery is only 45mAh. It is plenty of juice to take a massive amount of photos on one charge.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sport Wireless Headphones Stereo Bluetooth Headset,SOLEMEMO Bluetooth 4.0 Exercise/Running/Jogger/Sports/Gym/Hiking Headsets Earphones Earbuds with Clear Sound,Hands-free Calling,and In-ear Design(Red); Brand: Solememo; Review: This is the same product as the Escem (different vendor) that I was able to test recently. When paired to an iPhone, these are freaking amazing. We are talking full bass, mids and highs. Crystal. Clear. Quality. It ALMOST made Coldplay sound decent. Of all the inexpensive Bluetooth headphones I've tried, these, hands down, have the best audio range. Well, with one caveat. I paired it to an Android phone and I had some issues. I had to crank the headphones to one notch below max, then crank my device to get things loud enough. I'm beginning to think Motorola is lacking on the audio functionality. I tend to always have issues with either loudness or cutouts. I was nowhere near impressed with the full dynamic range of the audio. So - Droids may be a hit/miss but worth the chance as you can always return the headphones. Just make sure that the order is "fulfilled by Amazon." Functionality: A little wonky, but a minor nuisance. Two things stood out: The power button is on the right earphone and in the exact spot where you will push when putting the headphone on. For pure music use - this may be annoying until you get used to the device. Luckily, once you have the headphone on, you won't need to fuss with button. For phone conversations, the button placement is perfect. The other strange thing is that there are batteries in both the right and left headphone. You tether them together with the included microUSB. You'll wrap this behind your neck, which is quite common. However, when you go to charge your headphones, you need to remove the tether and use the USB(2.0) Y-split to microUSB cable(included). Now, as far as design goes : A+. The buds sit firmly in place and the ear hooks are thick and hold the headphones securely. They are quite comfortable and don't seal or get "sucked into" your ear, which some people find utterly annoying. These feel like regular ear buds. One small item to point out - almost all Bluetooth headphones have this tiny little rubber microUSB cover that is an annoyance to pry off to charge. This product does not have that. The box includes an extra set of bud covers, the charging and tether cables and directions. It is definitely a Chinese product but the English is good enough to follow along. Lastly, even with the mentioned functionality concerns, the sound quality more than makes up for the times when you have to charge the unit. My wife has already commandeered the product. And yes, I will more than likely be the one having to charge it. Tested January 2015; Product supplied by ESCEM. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S and 6 Protective Case by French Bull - Florentine; Brand: WITHit; Review: This is a nice looking and feeling iPhone 6 case that comes in an equally nice package. Yes, it sounds odd to say that, but it is a classy design with a bulldog cutout so you can touch the case. Thus, a solid presentation for a gift giving occasion. *Shock-absorbent case that is pliable *Lightweight and hugs the phone *Vibrant colors If you are looking for a more whimsical case vs. the standard black, grey, or white, then you may want to consider this product. If you click the vendor's name, you will find a variety of different designs. I will circle back and update this review if there are any issues (color fade, easily scratched, etc.). Tested February 2015; Product supplied by iGenio. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AVANTEK 20000mAh Portable Charger Power Bank with 4.8A Output - White; Brand: AVANTEK; Review: This is the largest capacity portable battery pack I've tested. It is hefty - the specs say .88 lb. I need to purchase a scale as it feels over a pound to me. This thing is all battery, which is exactly what you want in a product such as this. It sports Samsung lithium battery cells and is advertised at a full charge in 10-12 hours (AC) with 90% conversion efficiency. The capacity is insane - 20,000 mAh and it outputs two independent 2.4 A, which will make all Apple fans extremely happy. If you are new to battery packs and/or mAh (milliampere hour), 20,000 is large capacity when you compare it to your device's battery capacity. For example, common device batteries (mAh): iPhone 6 = 1,810 = 11 Recharges iPhone6+ = 2,915 = 6 Recharges Galaxy S5 = 2,800 = 6 Recharges iPad Air 2 = 7,340 = 2 Recharges Kindle Fire = 4400 = 4 Recharges This is a short list for perspective. You can look up your device's battery capacity to see how many recharges you can get out of 20,000 mAh. Included in the box are instructions, a USB to mUSB cable and an AC adapter. What is great is you use the adapter that connects to a USB cable. So, added bonus, you can use the adapter with other cables that use proprietary connectors. Tested February 2015; Product supplied by Avantek. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Selfie; Brand: Newisland; Review: Until a few months ago, I had no idea what a huge market these selfie sticks had become. Most are Bluetooth, which pairing is a snap and the battery life is robust. However, this particular stick is not Bluetooth, and honestly, I like that just fine. The construction is the common twist and lock engineering that is found throughout the marketplace. A few notes of interest: > 3.5mm plug-in to your device for extended shutter control > No pairing or battery charge needed > Gimbal can articulate 90 degrees with lock-down > Mirror included so you can utilize your back camera vs. front camera (usually less quality) > Stick comes in draw-string pouch for storing/carrying On the mirror - which is shiny plastic and has two small notches to snap into the phone cradle - a brilliant idea, but construction suggests it will not last too long. I could see future iterations of this concept include a slide out mirror, which would be quite beneficial. Lastly, what if you don't take self portraits? Like me, I'm taking pictures and not staring in them. With that in mind, this is still a useful product. You can get some angles that would be impossible to get unless you laid down or stood on a ladder. My daughter's birthday for example: I was able to get extreme low angles (quarter inch off the floor) as well as 10 foot high angles shooting down on kids, presents and balloons on a table. You can't capture that even if you are tall, without some sort of extension. In sum, this product is easy to use. The articulating gimble is nice. I don't mind the wire vs. Bluetooth, and the construct is on par for the marketplace. Whichever selfie stick you chose - have fun and be creative! The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 7 Screen Protector, iPhone 6s Screen Protector, New Trent Arcadia Premium Thin Clear Transparent Screen; Brand: New Trent; Review: First, I'm not a fan of this style of screen protectors, so take that into account. You will receive directions, 3 screen protectors, and cleaning cloth to first remove smudges from your screen. There are tabs on the screen protector to help with the installation. The process using static to adhere to your screen so there is no worry about residue once you decide to remove the protector, or put on a new one. > Ease of use > Provides scratch-resistance protection > Inexpensive The cons for me: > Would like to see the protections go all the way to the edge of the screen (not just the touchscreen) UPDATE: Changing my rating to a 5 Star. I've used this as well as other film screens and they are all pretty much the same and work as advertised. Tested March 2015; Product supplied by vendor. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Case, Verus [Thor][Charcoal Black] - [Military Grade Drop Protection][Natural Grip] For Apple iPhone 6 6S 4.7; Brand: Verus; Review: Verus' aptly named Thor case is a bit larger than most cases. It reminds me of the kid-friendly Kindle covers. All four corners bulge out a bit to add extra protection for corner drops. I lean toward minimalism, and this case definitely falls in line. The Charcoal Black is black-on-black with a dimpled back and solid uppers and sides. It is wider than normal and comes in around 3 inches. These cases are engineered to be a snug fit and are easy to put on. All ports and buttons line up just fine. As far as cases go, this is a pretty popular model (at least on Amazon). If you want some 'flair', check out the Electric Blue or Hot Pink. The case comes with a one-year warranty. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Case, Verus [Iron Shield][Satin Silver] - [Aluminum Metal Frame][Drop Protection] For Apple iPhone 6 6S 4.7; Brand: Verus; Review: IF you use OEM lightning cable and bluetooth headphones (or OEM headphones), then this is a 5 Star case. I've used it for a bit and originally rated it highly. The lightness and the attractive aluminum frame are killer. However, you may be disappointed when plugging in headphones or lightning cables that are not OEM. Some, not all, aftermarket products will have too much of a profile (rubber around connector) to correctly seat into the ports. I have two corded headphones that are too thick to clear the frame and I have to remove it when listening to music. Verus' Aluminum Case Iron Shield is pretty sharp looking in person and is my new daily driver. If it scratches easily or if I have other issues I will go back to another case and update the rating here. First, follow the directions. Yeah, I'm not kidding. There is a method to getting this sucker on your phone in less than 5 seconds. Once you do, it is equally easy to remove. However, bypass the directions and you may Hulk out in frustration. I did. I advise not having children within the range of your voice on the first attempt. Most cases I've used are Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is plastic commonly used in a wide-variety of cases. This case has a thinner skin as the aluminum frame is just that - a frame. The button response is quite good and the ports line up flawlessly. It has a minimal profile and is light and form-fitting.. The cases comes with a one-year warranty. Tested March 2015; Product supplied by Verus. Opinions, good or bad, are 100% my own.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Case, Verus [Damda Slide][Champagne Gold] - [Wallet Card Slot][Heavy Duty Protection] For Apple iPhone 6 6S 4.7; Brand: Verus; Review: Verus' Card Slot Case (Damda, Champagne Gold) provides protection and built-in storage for your license and debit/credit card. It is a little bulkier than other cases, so you should consider if you want a secret compartment or not. Overall, It looks good and has a good feel. The side grips provide just enough give to feel good in your hand. I'm not sold on the longevity of the sliding door. Where this is a cool feature, it may also be the demise of an otherwise fun and useful case. Only time will tell to be honest. Of course, I will circle back and update if there are issues, but you may want to press deeper into the lower rating reviews to see how many folks have issues with the slider. It fits your phone like a glove and is easy to install. The buttons are responsive and the ports are easily accessible. I did note there is a slight notch surrounding the headphone port to allow for 45/90 degree headphone jacks. The case comes with a one-year warranty. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: IPOW Universal Long Arm/Neck 360° Rotation Windshield Dashboard Car Mount Cradle Holder System for Phones iPhone 6 6plus 5S,iPod; Brand: IPOW; Review: Ive tried numerous vent/cradle phone holders and I just don't like the end result due to the combined weight and gravity pulling the phone down too much. Overall I really enjoy the concept of this design. Although Im not a fan of adjustable clips to hold your phone, this design makes it easier. Id compare the clip to a hair clip that has rubber grips to hold your phone securely. 360 degree rotation Easy to mount phone Very adjustable with quality suction cup I drove 90 minutes and putting the unit for optimal use equated to having the long arm extended with one slight curve. This of course will vary with make/model and preference. The weight of the phone and cradle coupled with varied road conditions caused too much bouncing for my liking. The base stayed in place and the phone was completely secure but it was causing a distraction for me. So, personally this is an average product and I won't be using it. However, I give it high marks for adaptability, suction cup strength and the easy-to-use cradle. Tested March 2015; Product supplied by vendor for review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Selfie Stick,ELEOPTION 3-In-1 Self-portrait Monopod Extendable Selfie Stick with built-in Bluetooth Remote Shutter for iPhone 6 Plus 6 5S 5C; Brand: Eleoption; Review: There is an insane amount of vendors and selfie-sticks on the market. Many are the same, just rebranded and I believe all come from China. Some are wired where others are Bluetooth. Ultimately, they all share a similar design. A mount, a button, and a collapsible stick. On the latter, the two main designs are the pull/twist and the pull. This is a wireless (Bluetooth), pull out and push in to collapse stick. It comes with a pouch, which is too small to hold the stick and the two mounts. It will fit the mounts just fine. So, a flaw there. However, a plus is this is the first of many sticks I've played with that provide two different mounts, or cradles, to better work with different sized devices. The mount, without using a cradle allows you to secure a regular camera. The shutter control is the one button on the grip and the port to recharge is on the base. It is a standard USB to mUSB and the cable is provided. Tested March 2015; Product supplied by URPOWER for review. 4.6 Stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6 Case, Caseology [Fusion Series] Scratch-Resistant Clearback Cover [Black] [Dual Bumper] for Apple iPhone 6 (2014); Brand: Caseology; Review: This is an inexpensive, minimalist case that provides quality protection and port access. The back is clear and if Caseology would load a template on the product page, one could customize the back of their phone with proper cut-outs quite easily. Printing on a decent stock paper, you can enjoy photos, one-of-a-kind designs, or, well, whatever you want. So, HINT to Caseology. The frame is matte black with glossy black front and back bumpers. Okay, the important stuff: The bumper frame allows you to put your phone face-down with protection. The buttons are responsive and the back cut-out for the lens and flash are spot-on. What I noted as above average: the bottom design. The case provides passage for a fairly large headphone jack. The thickest corded headphone jack I have is the brainwavz S1 and it fits fine. There are a handful of cases I've tested where this is not the case. The 8-pin port is also open enough for aftermarket lightning cables. If you are in the market for a low-key phone case, this fits the bill. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge Safe Slider Case For iPhone 6 (Aqua/Gold) - Protective Soft Interior Scratch Protection - Trendy Color Scheme; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: This looks like a basic case, but there are actually a couple important features packed into the design. First, don't be alarmed when you get the case and the bottom piece falls off. Until you slide your phone in to expand the bumper, the bottom will be loose. Once you slide it in, attach the bottom and you are secured. > Microfiber padding vs standard TPU on back of phone > Phone slides in, so no jostling corner-to-corner to install phone > Button response is great and ports line up perfect > Provides lip on front to protect front of phone when on a flat surface This is a flashy color with gold color accent. It is easy to install. Tested March 2015: Product supplied by Mediabridge for unbiased review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Battery Case, iPhone 6 Battery Case [Ultra Thin 12.9mm]; Brand: UNU; Review: Let me begin by saying that I find the extra weight and bulk of ALL battery cases a bit cumbersome, but they do come in handy. Since I have cables at work, home, and vehicle, I'm rarely down to 'Oh @h! t ' battery levels. However, there are times and places that extra juice really makes a difference (emergency rooms, theme parks, layovers, outdoor events, etc). Any battery case will add weight and depth to your device. I've tested a handful of battery cases; some good, some okay, and some surprisingly light. This case, rubberized black, has a good grip with quick button sensitivity and open ports. Where this case has a thin profile, it adds some height to your iPhone6. Your phone has an 1810mAh battery and this case, when fully charged, will add approximately 2400mAh. So, basically if your phone is dead you can charge it back to 100% capacity. I don't trust any cases to charge to their stated max capacity. Your headphone jack will be recessed once inside the case and UNU provides the headphone extension adapter as well as the microUSB cable to charge. The brief video shows how easy it is to install. UNU also includes a screen shield (film) with this package. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Selfie Anytime Monopod Selfie Stick with Extendable Handheld Wireless Bluetooth Built-in with Handle for Iphone 6 Plus 6 5s 5c; Brand: Selfie Anytime; Review: Other selfie stick products come with a desk (mini) tripod or other variants. This one has decent construction. It will also hold more than a phone as you can mount cameras with a .25 inch tripod mounts (common). It collapses and extends easily just pull and turn each section and you are half way there. There is not a clip to hold the Bluetooth shutter remote, which I find a bit odd as other similar models do. The included clamp mounts on the .25 inch tripod mount and holds your phone securely. You have the option to swivel the holder as well. For the GoPro (and other cameras) option, you take the clamp off and attach directly to the tripod mount on your device. Easy to use!! This is a fun product so go out and take some great pictures! Tested April 2015. I received a promotional code for this product in hopes of an unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: S6 Screen Protector, LK [3 Pack] Premium HD Clear Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy S6; Brand: TicTacTechs; Review: You will receive directions, 3 screen protectors, and cleaning cloth to first remove smudges from your screen. There are tabs on the screen protector to help with the installation. The process using static to adhere to your screen so there is no worry about residue once you decide to remove the protector, or put on a new one. If you follow the directions, you will not have air bubbles. If by chance you have a couple air bubbles near the edge, I've found that they work themselves out the same day. > Ease of use > Provides scratch-resistance protection > Inexpensive All these screen protectors are pretty much the same, less the branding. If you don't like film, do a quick search for tempered glass screen protectors. Tested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor in exchange for an unbiased review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lighting to 30P Adapter, 8P to 30P Charge; Brand: Hutou; Review: From the product description you know this is a wireless mouse. When it comes to inexpensive mice, I'd rather cut to the chase vs. regurgitating product description. What you really want to know: Yes, it works just fine. + I'm pretty impressed with the button sensitivity + Extremely easy to set-up (truly is plug and play) + Two settings for "on" which is very, very nice. One provides for the nice looking lights. The other kills the lights. + Forward/Back buttons for thumb + Sides are plastic, but top is very comfortable + Auto turn-off feature - great battery saver Side note: directions say it takes 2 AAA, but it takes 1 AA (not included). The receiver mounts in your mouse when in transport. It makes your mouse non-usable, which is an excellent idiot-proof design. Meaning, if your mouse isn't level, you will turn it over and see the plastic protruding from the base. This is your gentle reminder: put that into a computer's USB slot. Attached picture shows the mouse in the first "on" setting next to the tiny receiver that is on a PC's USB 3.0 Port. Perhaps I'm partial to the color, but I'm surprised I'm giving a 'cheap' mouse such high marks. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ZhiZhu® 8000 mAh Solar Panel Charger Portable Waterproof/Shockproof/Dustproof Power Bank for iPhone 6 Plus 5S 5C 5; Brand: Zhizhu; Review: A rugged and robust 8000mAh battery provides a great deal of backup power. This solar panel can recharge this battery pack, but it will be slower than three-legged turtle sprinting blindfolded in the dark. In case you are wondering, that is really, really slow. So slow, it isn't worth the effort. But, if you charge this up with the USB cable and use sunlight to top it off, you are good to go on filling to at/near capacity. Some positives: + Flashlight is decently bright and has on, S.O.S. (repeating) and strobe settings. + The case has good grip + Directions are entertaining The Cons: - 1.0 Amp output - Low-level solar panel Directions (translation) highlights: #5: Do not put this product on the water, Light or damp rain Cream. #7: Please keep this product and related accessories, to avoid home Easy reach of children. In all, this device does what it sets out to do - providing backup power to mobile devices. I'm knocking a star because it is only 1.0A output. Tested April 2015; Product supplied by vendor for unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iphone 6 Case [4.7 inch] , [Touch Series] View Window [Kickstand] [Wallet Case] Premium PU Leather [Stand; Brand: ivencase; Review: Case: Ports are wide open and ready to be used. The camera on the back has a perfect cut-out. The tray is plastic and the bumpers feel like gel cases. In any event, it holds your phone securely. The volume buttons are covered by the case but sill allow for use. However, the silence button is covered and you'll need to open the front to get at it. This is common for this style of case. The back acts as a landscape kickstand. Okay, the front. If you don't take calls often, then the window is of practically no use. You can check the time and see one alert (message, appointment, etc), but there is no touch-screen use through the window. The bar below allows you to answer an incoming call since it is touch sensitive. Cool if you talk a lot, not so much if you don't. I was provided the Gold version from the vendor for this unbiased evaluation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Waterproof Case, Ghostek Atomic 2.0 Series for Apple iPhone 6 & 6S | Underwater | Shockproof; Brand: Ghostek; Review: A for effort on the concept. Directions on how to use this case are inside the case. So, to save you from any frustration or damage, just pick a corner on the front of the case and start prying off. Once you get started, it is quite easy. The black trim acts as a gasket and secures on a raised ridge to keep sand, snow, water and dirt off your phone. Test your case first and once you are satisfied, putting your phone in is pretty easy. A couple notes: - Dont puncture the small semi-opaque square on the bottom of your phone that covers your bottom microphone. It defeats the purpose. - Your speaker will be hidden behind an interior cover which will affect sound quality A couple good things: + This case is super light + Aluminum bumper If you use BT for audio/microphone then one issue is negated. I dig the concept and the 4-split PSd elements picture makes me cackle out loud. I advise you to not drop your phone into fire during an earthquake. I've tested a couple dozen iPhone 6 cases. To me, this is a 10-15 USD product. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zohmo Battery Case Charger 3,000 mAh Compatible with Iphone X; Brand: Zohmo; Review: Short answer: It works, has two 2.1A USB ports, and the prongs collapse for storage or transport. This design is slightly smaller than other charging hubs I've used. Placing the prongs into the outlet with branding right side up means your ports are top loaded. No issue there, but you'll want to make sure to plug it into the top outlet so your cords don't interfere. These are pretty common - various vendors with similar or slightly tweaked designs. This product works as advertised. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6 4.7'' Back; Brand: Beittal; Review: This is a simple, inexpensive slim iPhone 6 case. It has a back cover with open face and aluminum bumpers. The product description says "Mental Bumper", but I assure you it doesn't have any issues to deal with. There are no instructions, so to save you some headache - slide the back plate out the top. Once you do it, you will have the "A-ha" moment and know this is the only way it is supposed to come on and off. Then, drop you phone into the case and slide the back plate down from the top. I'm not ashamed to admit that it took me about 4 minutes to finally get it seated properly. There are two notches on the plate that catch (by design) in the channel. The bit I kept having issue with was the last millimeter. Instead of trying to slide things further, just pop one side and then the other (you are trying to clear a small plastic lip). Once you do it once - it is a piece of cake. The button response is perfect. The case is light. It looks good but with this case (pretty much all aluminum bumper cases) you may have issue with after-market headphones and charging cable clearing the port openings. I have some cables that will and others that won't. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. Also included in the phone box was a screen protector (film) and the most oddest bonus prize - a bookmark - paper with a butterfly that sticks out. Hmm. Maybe this case is a tad Mental...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ESR Case for iPhone 6/6s, Three Layer Heavy Duty Shockproof Protective Case [Free Screen Protector] [Metal Design]; Brand: ESR; Review: Used on iPhone6: I wanted to check out this style based on appearance. It is clunky, which happens when you add more protection to a case. So if you want a slim case, keep on keeping on. This is an easy to use case for sure. Just pop your phone in and you are set. The buttons and ports line up as you'd expect. The response on the buttons is fine. If you are a nail-bitter though, you will have a challenge using the silent switch. I like the build for sure. Plastic back (pick your color) with the steel frame attached to the TPU wrap-around case. It has a good feel in hand. For headphone and power, you are good with original bits and you have some breathing room on the headphone jack. The bumper is raised so it provides screen protection if you put your phone face down. Included in the box is a screen film protector. I've learned that phone cases are often fairly generic - different vendor, different price. There are aluminum bumpers with a sliding back plate, jelly cases, rugged, some with stands, etc. In all - maybe 15 or 20 different styles. I stopped accepting cases for review because they end up being pretty similar, if not identical. I did select this one and another one to check out recently because they looked a bit different. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. The current price is 12.99USD.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2 Pack Apple 38mm Watch Screen Protector (38mm Series 3/2/1; Brand: Live2Pedal; Review: Knives are ridiculous when it comes to material, weight, and cost. What feels comfortable for you, is effective at the task, and is in budget are all factors. Stainless steel knives are pretty common and range from a couple bucks to a couple hundred. Thus, carbon coated stainless steel, also comes in a variety of quality and cost. Are these knives better than sliced bread? No. They are pretty and can handle regular prep work in your home kitchen. If you don't have a nice set of knives, or are looking to try out carbon coated, then this is a fun way to get some work done. If you've ever left a stainless steel knife sitting in a sink with any fluids for too long, you know the annoyance of little brown spots. With this set, the handle is plastic, the body of the blade has printed designs, and the carbon reduces rust. That said, a coating won't last forever. Well, it just won't last too long, period. This three-piece set comes sharp. Depending on use, you will want to sharpen them from time to time. That goes for these, as well as expensive knives. In all, I don't have any complaints about this set. I'm quite confident the print will become marred through more use, washing, and sharpening. If you find these budget friendly, they are quite useful. The sheaths are a nice addition. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.. If I experience any issues after numerous use and washing, I'll circle back and update these words. So far so good. At the time of this posting, these knives are currently unavailable and the price isn't posted. I'll keep my eyes open for when that changes. Based on the price, my opinion may shift.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ANLENG Portable Aluminum Metal Stand Phone Mount for iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus Samsung Galaxy S4 S5 Note 3 4; Brand: ANLENG; Review: There is a large variety of stands, stand cases, etc., on the market, so finding one to fit personal taste and budget is rather important. Personally, I liked the sleekness of this metal stand and opted for the silver and white version, which is the lesser expensive model listed on the product page. If you are looking for a stand/docking station, I wouldn't choose this model. Yes, there is a circular cutout, but it doesn't line up with your port (on any device that I can see) and you'll have cord management issues if you try to retain the utilitarian look of the stand. If you are looking for a sleek stand that holds your phone upright or horizontally at a fixed angle capable of webchat/facetime, then this stand meets that need. The plus side - even if you have a bulky phone case, this still works. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Airsspu Virtual Reality Headset 3D VR Glasses Google Cardboard for iPhone Samsung Note LG HTC Moto 4~6 inch Smartphones for; Brand: Airsspu; Review: You won't be picking up the ladies with this on your face, but for some quick escapism, it actually is pretty fun. Although the padding makes the unit comfortable against your face, it is a little front heavy, so I suggest kicking back and relaxing. I downloaded a couple VR apps for iPhone and was surprisingly impressed with how this headset performed. The front plate comes off easily to allow for heat release from your phone. In the main chamber are two slides that can be pulled out to secure your phone; much like a phone cradle. Just turn on your VR content and close the lid. There are two dial settings to help get everything in focus. On the top is the focal distance and the side knobs are the pupil distance. I didn't see too much change on the focal distance, but did on the pupil adjustments. This is a fun toy for geeking out, but that will come down to available content. I grabbed a quick screen capture off Cedar Point VR, which is a decent roller coaster. I'm assuming things will get better as we march forward, so the market may be pretty thin for this unit. The company sent a promotional sample for evaluation without promise of a review. I have a different model/vendor unit en route to make a better comparison, so I'll return here for any important updates. Again, the screen grab below is to illustrate the split screen. When wearing this headset, the layers merge and you can look all around to see other scenery while flying down a roller-coaster.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Petit Palace Posada del Peine; City: Madrid; Review: We just left this hotel in Madrid. This is a great location right off Plaza Mayor. The front desk staff were very nice, but the room was very small and had a LOT of problems! Light bulbs out (never fixed after reporting), toilet seat broken and laying loose (fixed after reporting) and trim broken on the main writing table...it looks like this hotel needs a lot of loving maintenance attention.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Toledo Perrysburg; City: Perrysburg Ohio; Review: We loved our 3 night stay at this delightful hotel right in the Levis Commons shopping and restaurant area. The hotel was clean and beautiful. The staff were all very engaging and pleasant. Someone has spent some time encouraging this delightful culture within this service team. Well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Schuck Boutique Hotel; City: San Miguel de Allende Central Mexico and Gulf Coast; Review: Wonderful bed and breakfast inn with great service, delightful owners and fantastic views. We loved our room, the Jacaranda Suite, which walks out to the upstairs patio with great views. The breakfast each morning was lovely and a great chance to share our days adventures with all the other very nice guests. The owners, Susan and Chuck are delightful as are all the Front Desk staff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Boutique 1850; City: Guanajuato Central Mexico and Gulf Coast; Review: Beautiful rooms and hotel. Great service by the staff, especially Betty. Great location right on the Jardin Square. Very nice complimentary breakfast off the special menu next door at Casa Valadez. Right in the heart of historic Guanajuato. Our beautiful room, the Master Suite Maria was right on the main square..that was fun and useful for our explorations, but it was also pretty noisy late into the night, despite the excellent window. We used our ear plugs and it was fine then. They could use better reading lights in the rooms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holbox Hotel Casa las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel Spa; City: Holbox Island Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We loved everything about this little hotel. It is on a great stretch of beach with just a very short walk into town. The rooms are delightful, most with great views, and the restaurant served a great complimentary breakfast as well as a very good lunch and dinner. All the staff were friendly, professional and courteous. Special kudos to Emma who was so sweet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Le bleu est une couleur chaude; Author: Julie Maroh; Genres: young-adult, comics, graphic, romance, fiction; Review: I read the English translation of this graphic novel. Would probably be 4 stars, but I just really don't enjoy graphic novels. I keep trying to like them, which is why I read this, after hearing really good things. Loved the message that love is love and can see how this would be a powerful read for young people grappling with all kinds of teen issues, real and imagined.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sarah on the Potty; Author: Pauline Oud; Genres: children; Review: This is an excellent, matter-of-fact book on toileting. My toddler loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure; Author: Patricia Ellis Herr; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I absolutely loved this book. I love the author's voice and the way she speaks to her daughters and encourages them. I couldn't put it down!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide; Author: Rebecca Eanes; Genres: non-fiction, children; Review: I wanted to love this book. It has some great stuff, some unrealistic stuff, and a lot of basic information on positive parenting. It doesn't really account for differently wired kids and asynchronous development. It also glosses over how truly challenging it is to embrace and put into practice this type of parenting. The overly-simplified, "this is a magical cure all for every parenting challenge ever," sunshine and rainbows feeling was off-putting to me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The River at Night; Author: Erica Ferencik; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This book was INTENSE. I don't read a lot of thrillers, but I couldn't put it down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New American Best Friend; Author: Olivia Gatwood; Genres: non-fiction, poetry, fiction; Review: I especially loved "Ode to my Bitch Face" and "Ode to the Women on Long Island."; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Pousada Lavramor; City: Lencois State of Bahia; Review: We went there 2 weeks ago. We were very satisfied with the pousada. The owner (Golan and Losi) are very friendly and helps you with everything. You could see that they dont have a pousada just for money, but because they love their job and love to share their knowlge about the eare. On the day we left, they agreed to serve us an early braekfast, so that we could catch the morning bus to Salvador on time. The rooms are simple but clean. You get a lot for the price you pay, and it is 100 meters away from main square. Go there!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London Tower Bridge Hotel; City: London England; Review: Clean. Friendly stuff. great restaurants and public houses near by. A bit far from the London bridge tube station. Good value for money. Recommend for families. Pizza restaurant and supermarket just across the street.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rochat; City: Basel; Review: The hotel has friendly staff clean rooms and a very big shower head. The price is affordable. Good location. Take Tram 11 from Basel HB and get of at university hospital station. Very good. I recommend the hotel for a Basel vacation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Adler Zurich; City: Zurich; Review: Since it’s the first time for me to Visit Zurich i booked a hotel in the old part of the city. Location is very good. Near public transportation. Friendly and helpful staff. Rooms are nice and clean. Some of the walls are hand painted. Breakfast is good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostel the new day; City: Busan; Review: Great location. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Clean and tidy. Affordable prices Parking in the building. All the facilities you need are in the hostel. Near the beach and subway station. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bilbao Metropolitan Hostel; City: Bilbao Province of Vizcaya Basque Country; Review: The hostel staff was friendly and helpful. The room was nice and clean. Affordable price. Lots of young tourists , many of them do the north Camino. The kitchen didn’t have a stove so you can’t really cook.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Kevin Harvick to surpass an Earnhardt milestone at Talladega; Abstract: Kevin Harvick's NASCAR career doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon but it will reach an interesting milestone on Sunday.; Category: sports
Title: 76 richest members of Congress; Abstract: In the earliest days of American independence, members of the federal government were not paid a salary as most of them were wealthy to begin with.; Category: finance
Title: 'You're no Sully': Southwest pilot Tammie Jo Shults, who landed plane safely after passenger was sucked out of window, reveals how sexist critics undermined her heroic actions and branded her a failure; Abstract: Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 pilot Tammie Jo Shults says her landing in Philadelphia on April 17, 2018 hasn't received the same attention as Captain Chesley Sullenberger's 2009 New York landing.; Category: travel
Title: Anne Hathaway wore an eye-catching tiered maternity blouse on the red carpet; Abstract: The actress wore the outfit while attending the red-carpet premiere of "Modern Love," an Amazon original series, in New York City.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive in Pakistan for royal tour; Abstract: She and Prince William just touched down at Nur Khan Airbase.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Trusted Private Secretary Has Resigned; Abstract: She stepped down from the esteemed role on Friday.; Category: lifestyle
Title: USWNT star Carli Lloyd: World Cup was 'worst time of my life'; Abstract: Even though she set records and won her second consecutive Women's World Cup, USWNT star Carli Lloyd said she was frustrated by a diminished role.; Category: sports
Title: Mama June enters plea in cocaine case...; Abstract: Mama June was not present at the courthouse, but her lawyer entered a not guilty plea.; Category: tv
Title: 16-Year-Old College Student Takes All the Same Classes as Her Mom After Inspiring Her to Go Back to School; Abstract: "You'd be surprised how many students were like, 'I wish my mom would go to school with me,'" said mom Kathy Earheart.; Category: news
Title: Security camera spots SOS from woman lost for three days in Australia; Abstract: "There was a bit of euphoria that, wow there's our break," police said of the the SOS message.; Category: news
Title: Chelsea Clinton debunks rumors of running for New York Rep. Nita Lowey's seat in Congress; Abstract: Chelsea Clinton appeared as a guest co-host on "The View" Wednesday following the fourth 2020 Democratic debate.; Category: news
Title: Lee Ann Walker receives 58 penalty strokes at Senior LPGA; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Elton John calls Michael Jackson 'mentally ill,' Tina Turner a 'nightmare' in new book; Abstract: In his candid new autobiography "Me," Elton John opens up about his friendships with Freddie Mercury and John Lennon, and past tiff with Tina Turner.; Category: music
Title: Quick Jack: The Safer and Faster Alternative to a Floor Jack; Abstract: We show you how to set up Quick Jack, the faster and safer alternative to using a traditional floor jack and jack stands.; Category: autos
Title: Tamron Hall says she 'never dealt' cocaine after reports say she confessed to doing so; Abstract: Tamron Hall issued a statement in response to the Daily Mail reporting that she confessed to facilitating the sale of cocaine as a teenager.; Category: tv
Title: Barbra Streisand shares cartoon of Pelosi killing Trump with her stiletto heel; Abstract: Performer Barbra Streisand shared a cartoon of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi killing President Trump with her high heels.; Category: music
Title: Atatiana Jefferson's funeral to be held Thursday, family attorney says; Abstract: Attorney Lee Merritt said on Twitter Atatiana Jefferson's funeral will be held Thursday, October 24, 2019.; Category: news
Title: Lou Palmer, ESPN's first 'SportsCenter' anchor, dies at 83; Abstract: Two of Palmer's original colleagues at the network Chris Berman and Bob Ley remembered his contributions as "a true ESPN original."; Category: sports
Title: Charlize Theron Says Playing Megyn Kelly Was 'Harder' Than Portraying a Serial Killer; Abstract: Charlize Theron: Playing Megyn Kelly Was 'Harder' Than Playing a Serial Killer; Category: movies
Title: He dropped an amazing 475 pounds, then ran Detroit's marathon; Abstract: Once one of Michigan's most obese people, this man shed so much weight after changing his lifestyle, he ran the Detroit marathon.; Category: health
Title: Enough Fentanyl To Cause 4M Overdoses Seized In Single OC Bust; Abstract: The 18 pounds of fentanyl has a street value of $1.25 million.; Category: news
Title: Celebrity kids then and now: See how they've grown; Abstract: See what the children of Bobby Cannavale, Ray Liotta, Jude Law, Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, James Gandolfini and more stars look like now.; Category: entertainment
Title: Want to retire and live in an RV full time? 8 things you need to know; Abstract: 8 tips to retire & live in an RV; Category: finance
Title: Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS shows the future that's driving luxury; Abstract: We get behind the wheel of one of the most beautiful concepts of 2019 to find out why it's so important to Mercedes-Benz, and why it's such good news for drivers who actually want to drive.; Category: autos
Title: Nurses reveal 10 things they wish they could tell patients, but can't; Abstract: Nurses wish they could tell patients that not all doctors are the same, and that a hospital isn't a hotel.; Category: health
Title: Mourners, constituents pay tribute to US Rep. Cummings; Abstract: Mourners, constituents and other well-wishers paid respects to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings on Wednesday and a long line of speakers praised him as his body lay in repose at a historically black college in Baltimore ahead of the first in a series of services. During an evening ceremony at Morgan State University, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland told the hundreds of people gathered at Morgan State University on Wednesday that...; Category: news
Title: Dignitaries honor Rep. Elijah Cummings in the US Capitol, remember 'the moral force of his life'; Abstract: A choir sang from the balcony and light streamed in from a skylight Thursday as U.S. House and Senate leaders of both parties paused at the Capitol to honor the late Baltimore congressman and civil rights advocate Elijah Cummings, a sharecroppers' son who said he was shaped by his humble roots. "Elijah Cummings never forgot where he came from and never lost sight of where he ...; Category: news
Title: Angelina Jolie opens up about how her mom's breast cancer affected her; Abstract: The Oscar-winning actress made certain "medical choices" in the hopes of living longer than her mother and grandmother, who both died from the disease.; Category: health
Title: Michigan pays UCLA $1.5M to cancel home-and-home series; Abstract: The Bruins and Wolverines were supposed to meet in 2022 and 2023, but Michigan paid $1.5 million to cancel the series.; Category: sports
Title: Aspen Ladd's suspension for scary weight cut lifted after showing focus on 'real weight loss'; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: American Airlines flight attendant's song inspired by Kylie Jenner goes viral; Abstract: "I feel like many airline passengers have gotten so used to the basics of flying that when they hear something out of the ordinary such as me singing 'rise and shine,' it puts a smile on their face."; Category: travel
Title: Matt Tifft will miss rest of season after suffering seizure at Martinsville; Abstract: John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 36 car for Front Row Motorsports the final three Cup races of the season.; Category: sports
Title: Joe Biden reportedly denied Communion at a South Carolina church because of his stance on abortion; Abstract: Joe Biden has a complicated history with the Catholic Church.; Category: news
Title: Rare Vixen Motorhome For Sale Is One Of Nicest We've Seen; Abstract: One of about just 300 made.; Category: autos
Title: Antonio Brown Calls Out Patriots to Pay Him for Weird Reason in Since-Deleted Tweet; Abstract: It wouldn't be a proper Monday morning -- or any morning, for that matter -- without Antonio Brown taking to Twitter to propose a completely senseless idea. Well, the out-of-work NFL receiver is back at it again, and he's going after his former New England Patriots. Brown has been no stranger for going on social media rants of late given all his newfound free time, and he took to Twitter to call out the Pats after they... posted an innocent...; Category: sports
Title: Taylor Swift's emotional moment with Kelly Clarkson's 'Voice' contestant; Abstract: Taylor Swift shares an emotional moment with Kelly Clarkson's team member, who revealed she was only there because of Taylor.; Category: video
Title: 41 Heartwarming Photos That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity; Abstract: These true stories might make your heart swell three times bigger.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 650 people formed a human chain to move children's books from one library to another; Abstract: There was a GoPro camera on the library's "Chicken Little" book as it was passed from hand to hand.; Category: news
Title: Why President Trump's kids are probably celebrating his move to Florida; Abstract: The No. 1 reason billionaires decide to move.; Category: finance
Title: Woman Finds A Giant Wild Snake Just Chilling In Her Bed; Abstract: A 7-foot-long carpet python was slithering over her bed.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Here's the sweet story behind the sparkly dress scientist wore to NASA; Abstract: The futurist received a specific request from little girls.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Far-reaching snowstorm may take shape over US; Abstract: A winterlike pattern will continue to unfold across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation into next week as a brutal one-two punch of bitterly cold air plunging into the United States will set the stage for another major storm.; Category: weather
Title: Man runs race in full SWAT gear, saves a life, then proposes -- all in a matter of moments; Abstract: The finish line of the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K Run changed life-as-they-know it for Chicago Police Sgt. Mike Nowacki, his girlfriend, and a complete stranger with "serendipitous" timing.; Category: news
Title: Snow crab sells for record price in Japan; Abstract: A "five shining star" snow crab was auctioned off in Tottori, Japan for a record-breaking 5 million yen ($46,000). wide.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: The Geno Smith coin toss conspiracy is the dumbest thing in Seahawks' win over 49ers; Abstract: Did Geno Smith say "heads" or "tails" in the coin flip for overtime?; Category: sports | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Smith Page; Review: nice book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder, Newest Ed, completely revised; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary W. Cornog Page; Review: Fun book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Verzuh Page; Review: Seems to be a good book; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gluten-Free Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Baking Revolution Continues with 90; Author: Jeff Hertzberg M.D.; Review: difficult recipies; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Boxed Set; Author: Visit Amazon's Ransom Riggs Page; Review: Great set; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Natural Language Processing with Python: Analyzing Text with the Natural Language Toolkit; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Bird Page; Review: Good book but doesn't include as much information about NTLK that I wanted; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: THE INNOVATION FORMULA; Author: Visit Amazon's Amantha Imber Page; Review: Good content but basically reviewing articles already out there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Hunters receive ominous warning as fall season gets underway; Abstract: Montana wildlife officials have cautioned hunters, as the fall pheasant season gets underway, that they should anticipate bear encounters.; Category: sports
Title: Trailer - Greener Grass; Abstract: Official Trailer; Category: movies
Title: Boy, 8, reels in world record tiger shark; Abstract: An 8-year-old boy reeled in a fish of a lifetime, and it will be a smallfry world record, assuming the IGFA approves it.; Category: sports
Title: Senate to try to override Trump emergency declaration veto Thursday; Abstract: The Senate on Thursday will attempt to override President Trump's veto of a resolution nixing his emergency declaration on the border wall. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) set up a veto override vote for Thursday at 1:45 p.m., as he wrapped up the Senate's work on Wednesday and set the schedule for Thursday. The vote will come less than two days after Trump vetoed the resolution, which passed the House and Senate last month. ...; Category: news
Title: A 2,000-pound great white shark is swimming off the coast of Florida; Abstract: A great white shark that weighs over 2,000 pounds and measures 15 feet, 5 inches long has been swimming along the US East Coast.; Category: news
Title: Cornell student, 18, found dead in gorge after frat party, reports say; Abstract: A top Ivy League student was found dead Saturday afternoon in a New York gorge after he left a fraternity party and disappeared Thursday night, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: Hunter Bravely Wrestles 16-Foot Burmese Python; Abstract: Inside Edition is stalking snakes with a man who was hired by the state of Florida to hunt pythons. The state's python epidemic began in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed a reptile zoo and 900 pythons escaped. The pythons have been destroying the fragile Florida Everglades ever since. Mike Kimmel told Inside Edition that he grabs them and holds them in a case in his truck. What he does, he said, is "not cruel. ... We go about a specific way. This snake does not suffer. I love wildlife."; Category: video
Title: Juan Soto gets payback on Alex Bregman with bat-holding celebration; Abstract: Perfect response.; Category: sports
Title: When Costars Clash: 13 Onscreen Pairs Who Were Allegedly Feuding Offscreen; Abstract: Chelsea and Heather, Jennie and Shannen, Nicki and Mariah these celebs weren't afraid to speak their minds about their co-workers; Category: entertainment
Title: Watch Hilarious Moment When A Gorilla Encounters Aggressive Goose; Abstract: Watch the hilarious moment when a gorilla encounters a goose.; Category: video
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Two dead after small plane crashes into SUV in Florida: Police; Abstract: Two people have died after a small plane crashed into an SUV while trying to make an emergency landing on Thursday in Florida, authorities said.; Category: news
Title: Jorge Masvidal earns BMF title amid epic 2019, calls out Canelo Alvarez; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Why Emma Watson Is Calling Herself 'Self-Partnered' Ahead of Turning 30; Abstract: Watson opens up about the stress of turning 30 in the cover story for the December issue of 'British Vogue.'; Category: entertainment
Title: Gilroy mom suspected of killing 2-year-old daughter allegedly told dispatcher she 'just snapped'; Abstract: A Gilroy mother suspected of drowning her 2-year-old daughter told a dispatcher she "just snapped" as her child gave her "a hard time," according to a court document.; Category: news
Title: Chuck Woolery: Supporting Trump 'pretty much destroyed my career'; Abstract: Supporting President Trump and taking a conservative stance in public ruined Chuck Woolery's career and got him shadow-banned from Twitter, said the former game show host on "Fox & Friends," Wednesday.; Category: tv | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Coconut Mallory Resort And Marina; City: Key West Florida Keys Florida; Review: I have a bi annual Timeshare which i had not used prior to this trip. Its a studio unit which was in great shape and was very clean. The pools were nice although a little cool. The Hot tub was having some issues two of the days we were there, but was fixed midway through our trip. Overall the stay was pleasant, nothing to complain about; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: Stayed two nights 11/2-11/4. we were able to check in early at 1PM, front desk staff was friendly and helpful, which was nice after traveling by train for 4.5 hours. Bell/door staff were helpful with locations to eat off property and directions, as well as getting cabs quickly. Our room was very clean and had great finishes and nice linens. The rain shower was nice and soothing after after long walking trips exploring the city.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pheasant Run Resort; City: Saint Charles Illinois; Review: Stayed two nights for a wedding that was off site. the decor was a little dated in the public areas, but didnt look run down by any means. Our room in the tower looked like it had been updated within the last few years. Service was a bit too casual. The server in Harvest allowed one guy to charge the entire breakfast tab for 9 people to a room without checking ID. My other buddy who wasn't there was not impressed by the $190 charge on his room, but paid it without making a fuss at check out to avoid getting anyone in trouble. They have a pool that is half indoor, half outdoor which seemed neat, but i wasnt able to take a swim as we were busy with offsite wedding activities. The bourbon street area was cool, looked great in my buddy's groomsmen pictures. Was a little disappointed with the Jambalaya bar, after the wedding the bar was full of people willing to pay the $8 for a cocktail and they closed and kicked everyone out at 1:00, it seemed like poor management, those kinds of things make it no surprise to me that they do not have more money to bring the property up to date.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rosen Centre Hotel; City: Orlando Florida; Review: I stayed at the Rosen Centre for the Agilysys Insight users conference. Everything about the hotel went smoothly, the rooms were nicely updated, and included nice amenities like in room safes, and small fridges. The banquet food service was very smooth as well, they kept things moving and had nice selections in both their entrees as well as their hors d'oeuvres. The scheduled meals and breaks were always on time which is nice when you have a full day of seminars. We did eat at the Everglades restaurant, which could use an update, the large animal statues of native Florida wildlife, didnt go very well with the $40 steaks on the menu, or the upscale look it has from the lobby area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: We had two rooms reserved for us and another couple. We showed up early around noon and went to check in, the rooms weren't ready as we had booked riverview rooms. We came back around 4 and they got us checked into two riverview rooms, but they were not together, not a big deal, the only unfortunate thing was double beds. We were celebrating our anniversary weekend, and double beds were less than romantic. other than that the room was nicely redone. the bathrooms were supermodern and appeared clean and everything worked well in the room. Our view was great, looking up the river toward the willis tower. we would stay here again. Staff was friendly, bell service was a little slow, but helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villas at Regal Palms Resort Spa; City: Davenport Florida; Review: We booked at The Villas at Regal Palms through an exchange with our timeshare, it was great. The townhouse was in great condition and had nice amenities. The only downside was the distance to the pool, the buildings in the timeshare program were in the opposite corner of the square complex, but there was parking so we just drove over. The pool area had a lazy river as well as a waterslide, which was fun. The restaurant service was not very attentive, and it was on the expensive side, so we only used it once.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microtel Inn Suites by Wyndham Manistee; City: Manistee Manistee County Michigan; Review: We had a queen suite room, it has a great layout for us and our friends to hang out before we ventured out for the night. We are used to a king so the queen felt small for us. It would be nice to have a king option.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Comstock Inn Conference Center; City: Owosso Michigan; Review: We stayed here for a wedding in September. The rooms were not impressive by any means. It was like a time capsule from the early 1990's. housekeeping did a great job, as the room was clean. the downstairs bar and restaurant was affordable and had good food and drink prices. The part that makes this place so awful is the management, specifically Sam. First during check in, the manager was helping check people in. there was not really a line as some people were getting waited on and others were not, he barked at us that someone else would help us. We checked in with a very nervous seeming young lady. She swiped my credit card and then continued with the process. then she seemed confused and asked for my name and my credit card again. i was nervous that she had authorized my card on another account, but had not. After checking in and getting keys, hauling our stuff up a very hot and very slow elevator into another very hot hallway. we got to our door and our keys didnt work. back down to the slow hot elevator. At the choatic front desk i explained that my keys didnt work, the manager mumbled something and took my keys and reencoded them. No checking of my last name, no checking of my ID. as a hotel manager myself, i cringed at the lack of concern for guest safety and security. the next day, a couple we were traveling with left very early and left my sunglasses at the desk and asked if they woudl give them to us when we checked out. Because it was 6:00 am when they left, they didnt say anything to us, because the desk said they would handle it. We checked out in person at the desk, got a reciept and left. When i got home and found out that my sunglasses were at the desk we checked out at, i called to see if they woudl mail them to me. They said they would have to charge me. i asked to talk to the manager, he refused to speak with me. They offered again to write down my credit card number and leave it for him to send them out the next day, i felt very uncomfortable with this as they didnt seem organized enough to keep track of items. He made the girl working at the desk play middle man with me. when i asked why they werent available to me at check out, she said his repsonse was " How were they supposed to know who i was? They didnt know what i looked like and i should have asked for them." The answer to this is simple, i physically came to the desk and checked out, using my name and room number. I wasnt able to ask for them, because i didnt know they were there, only the hotel staff knew they were there. bottom line, his staff made a promise they couldnt follow up on, and he shoudl have sent my; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: X-Men: Days of Future Past 1 VHS; Brand: ; Review: Another fine X-Men adventure stretching across time to change the past so there will be a future, if thats possible. By the way how did we get the professor back?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Collateral; Brand: Tom Cruise; Review: The seller delivered on time and product was as described. The movie wasn't one of Tom Cruise's greatest but it was entertaining enough to be worth watching.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Brand: Martin Freeman; Review: Excellent prequel of Lord of the Rings as a bunch of little people team up with a wizard to start a quest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek Into Darkness; Brand: Simon Pegg; Review: Thrilling and action packed with a twist of fates. Also, Spock, the only being in the universe that can consult with himself about past events that have still yet to happen and not need a shrink.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Melody of Oblivion: Monotone; Brand: ; Review: Tom plays a human who is a part of the defense and repair team that watches over Earths last ditch effort for re-purification Or is he???; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Brand: Martin Freeman; Review: If you like the fantasy world of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, then you will more than likely enjoy this. If you haven't seen any of those see the hobbit first.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DCU:Justice League:Flashpoint Paradox; Brand: Nathan Fillion; Review: Not really what I expected.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Brand: Hugh Jackman; Review: Not the greatest of the X-men series but still a good show. Lets you see Wolverine getting molten metal injected into his bones. Lets you know how Wolverine lost his memory after getting a metal skull. And suggests where most of the students came from but that part is a bit inconsistent with some of the other movies.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Brand: James Franco; Review: This was a well made movie. Though I don't want to give anything away, I can say that it was a modern, down to Earth, almost believable adaptation of how the whole thing begins. You know, how the apes got smart in the first place. Just be sure you pay attention to the very end as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Amazing Spider-Man; Brand: Andrew Garfield; Review: I didn't like this version very much. I just think it could have been better. But it was still a cool SiFi movie.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; Brand: Andy Serkis; Review: Not as exciting as I had expected it to be but still very interesting and somewhat dramatic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014; Brand: ; Review: This is a fairly decent movie but tended to play more on the secondary supervillain than on the one we expect to see here, the Goblin. But in the end some changes come about that could make for an interesting start to how they may go about making a Spiderman III.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Shadows Region Free UK; Brand: Johnny Depp; Review: Funny and a little dramatic with some twisted romance mixed in. But I am also a Johnny Depp fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 2015; Brand: ; Review: I liked this movie. If you've seen the ones before it then you've got to see this one. It sets you up for the last one which has a bit if a twist in the end so you've got to see it, it's good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet W. Hardy Page; Review: Not just for exploring a poly relationship. For it re-enforces a woman's positive view of sex, her sexual and sensual self. Because if a slut is a female that is comfortable in herself, then I am a proud slut.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Line (Witching Savannah); Author: Visit Amazon's J.D. Horn Page; Review: Well written. With rich characters and a story that seemed to wrap around you and carry you along. There was a unique, almost tactile feel in texture. Felt the heat of each day. That, to me, is good writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NYPD Red 2; Author: ; Review: Read the first one and have been waiting for this one for awhile. Now I'm just wondering how long I'll have to wait till the next. As with the first, captured me in the first few pages and didn't let go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Housewife Assassin's Handbook (The Housewife Assassin Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Josie Brown Page; Review: Quick, fun pace....thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been trying to find a book to capture my attention for a couple weeks and this one did in the first couple pages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Obsession in Death; Author: Visit Amazon's J. D. Robb Page; Review: I've read all 40...one would think at some point I would have gotten tired of the series.....the reason I haven't is that each and everyone is fresh. At this point I know and care about the characters, I like that .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Job (Fox and O'Hare); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: I'm so very happy that I've read all 3 of these. Once again a delightful read. The balance of interesting story and characters makes this series worth the commitment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outcry: Holocaust Memoirs; Author: Visit Amazon's Manny Steinberg Page; Review: The personal honesty....humanity....hope and grief...all wrapped in this very raw sharing.....I felt honored....and humbled by this man's strength. Again...Thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember! (Translated) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Marcel Scharfstein Page; Review: Give this man a hug. He opens his soul and offers the reader the bare harsh truth of what he experienced. Hard to read at times, yet felt honored by his truth. I can try to imagine....but know I am unable to come close to true understanding.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NYPD Red 3; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: This one.....well meandered is the word that comes to mind. It took me two weeks to finish because once I had read about 40% and had put it down. I read three other books before forcing myself to finish it. A real shame because I had really looked forward to another Red ....I will still look forward to the next one....after all...not every book in a series is always great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Walking Dead Survival Instinct - PS3 [Digital Code]; Brand: by
Activision; Review: excellent condition of the box and cd. thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Destiny - Standard Edition - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Activision; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tom Clancy's The Division - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Ubisoft; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Gold Edition) - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Activision; Review: Excellent....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sims 2: Apartment Pets - Nintendo DS; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: Good..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars - Nintendo 3DS; Brand: by
Atlus; Review: Excellent...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Piece: Unlimited World: Day One Edition - Nintendo 3DS; Brand: by
Bandai; Review: Excellent.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Disc - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Telltale Games; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unravel - PS4 [Digital Code]; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: Excellent..; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: McCormick Sausage Flavor Country Gravy Mix, 2.64 oz; Brand: McCormick; Review: Love this gravy mix.....add milk to it.....creamy....!!! My husband loves biscuits & gravy on weekends....he enjoys this gravy.....easy to make....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SACO Mix 'n Drink Instant Skim Milk, Fat-Free, GMO-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, High Calcium and Protein, Makes 40 Quarts; Brand: SACO; Review: This is such a value.......!!! My husband and I enjoy the convenience of fresh made milk in a box. I would recommend this product to anyone that goes through a half gallon of milk every 3 days.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 48 Ounce; Brand: Pompeian; Review: We use extra virgin olive oil for almost all our cooking. This is such a value, just store it in the pantry and refill your olive oil misto, or drizzle a little over your food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sugar In The Raw Natural Cane Sugar 16 oz -- 100 Packets; Brand: Sugar in the Raw; Review: This sugar in the raw is a new experience......the sweetness lingers...much better than artificial sweeteners......I use this in cooking as well as to sweeten my coffee....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise 30 oz; Brand: Hellmann's; Review: Hellmann's is the best mayonnaise.....husband loves it.....on just about everything....!!!....is also good to apply on fish; poultry...pork chops....keeps them moist; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kobra OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth Scan Tool Adapter, Car Code Reader for Android & Windows; Brand: KOBRA Products; Review: bad, worst and unusable, it doesn't work, don't go on at all not blinking lights, nor response what so ever....I tried to contact the seller but with no response either like the product...unfortunately i can't give less then 1 star that why its getting 1 star in my opinion is should get -5 stars as the seller should to...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Vgate WiFi iCar2 OBDII Elm327 Code Reader for iOS iPhone iPad Android PC,Auto Sleep; Brand: Vgate; Review: good gadgets, not the best but good...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milton S-448 Tire Tread Depth Gauge; Brand: Milton; Review: works great, the numbers are readable nicely, it solid so it stays in position where it should....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IPA 7865L Circuit Tester; Brand: IPA Tools; Review: solid, sturdy, and nicely visible when lit,,,,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lang Tools 4651 Automatic Slack Adjuster Release Tool and Wrench; Brand: Lang Tools; Review: works great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UltraGard 4-465CB Charcoal/Black Trike Cover; Brand: Ultragard; Review: fits great looks great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lisle 97102 Black Plastic Creeper; Brand: Lisle; Review: works great, like any other overpriced brand (matco,snap-on etc..); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UltraGard 4-491BC Black/Charcoal Trailer Cover; Brand: Ultragard; Review: fits like a glove, and looks great....; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kastar AC Adapter with Power Cord for Toshiba PA3468U-1ACA PA3432U PA3432E PA3380U PA-1750-01 A100 A105 M60 M65 1100 1900 Satellite; Brand: Kastar; Review: Didn't work, had to return it; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cisco Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N WiFi Range Extender (Certified Refurbished); Brand: Cisco; Review: Worked perfectly. Now I can use the internet in every room...not just the limited range I had before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDHC Memory Card With Adapter - SDSDQUAN-032G-G4A; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Works fine, no issues; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Egoway Laptop Battery for Macbook Pro 15 inch A1175 A1150 A1211 A1226 A1260-12 Months Warranty [Li-Polymer 10.8V 60Wh/5600mAh]; Brand: E EGOWAY; Review: Works perfectly, fits perfectly, holds charge well. Very happy to have no issues to report. yay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jabra EarWave Corded Headset - Compatible with 3.5mm and 2.5mm Phones; Brand: Jabra; Review: Headset is fine, adapter (from smaller to larger, I think it's 2.5mm and my phone takes 3.5mm) is NOT good....takes 4 tries to get a good enough connection for it to work then if you bump it at all (since generally using hands free so that I can move around) you loose the connection. Pretty frustrating quality.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Genres: Adventure, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clear and Present Danger (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin (1992); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stargate (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: Generations (1994); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cliffhanger (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fugitive, The (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Net, The (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994); Genres: Drama, Horror; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lion King, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Firm, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Threesome (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Highlander III: The Sorcerer (a.k.a. Highlander: The Final Dimension) (1994); Genres: Action, Fantasy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Congo (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Free Willy (1993); Genres: Adventure, Children, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Made in America (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crow, The (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Prophecy, The (1995); Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ref, The (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast (1991); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical, Romance, IMAX; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Last Action Hero (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Three Musketeers, The (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miracle on 34th Street (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Junior (1994); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Santa Clause, The (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop III (1994); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jumanji (1995); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Little Women (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flintstones, The (1994); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993); Genres: Action, Comedy, War; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995); Genres: Adventure, Children, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Richie Rich (1994); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hillbillies, The (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shadow, The (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cutthroat Island (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Romance; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Black Beauty (1994); Genres: Adventure, Children, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: NeverEnding Story III, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rent-a-Kid (1995); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995); Genres: Adventure, Children; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Genres: Action, Drama, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Black Cross; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg Iles Page; Review: You have trouble putting the book down. Very interesting. You don't know what is coming next. I have my husband reading it now and he is engrosed with it. My daughter had recommened this to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Gillian Flynn Page; Review: Janet Robinson This book had a lot of twists and turns. Kept you wanting to read to find out the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tell My Sons: A Father's Last Letters; Author: Visit Amazon's Lt. Col. Mark Weber Page; Review: This is something his sons will have for the rest of their lives to remember him by. He has alot of tributes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mistress; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: I didn't care for the reference he had to all the actors, movies, pres. Wasnt necessary. I usually like James Patterson, but this one was just so so.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stalemate (Eve Duncan); Author: Visit Amazon's Iris Johansen Page; Review: I like IrisJohansen novels. I somehow missed this one before and was glad to fill in some blanks for me on Eve Duncan books; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ivy Tree - An Avalon Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Brown Page; Review: No cussing or sex but held your interest. I enjoy books written by Carolyn Brown can't wait for next book; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Fallon Mates: Zeraac's Miracle; Author: Visit Amazon's Jory Strong Page; Review: I think this is a simple story, nothing complicated. Pretty easy reading but nothing that really grabs the audience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Supernatural Bonds: Sophie's Dragon; Author: Visit Amazon's Jory Strong Page; Review: this one had some promise, but it felt like it ended too quickly. Love the mythology introduced in this entire series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Supernatural Bonds: Storm's Faeries; Author: Visit Amazon's Jory Strong Page; Review: I actually like this series. Interesting story line and the whole series are interconnected. Kind of glossed over background of char's. Some grammar and inaccuracies.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wild Card (Elite Ops, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lora Leigh Page; Review: First of all, I love this series normally. Very intense and gripping stories, and lots of highly interesting characters I just love reading about each of their stories and see where they go. Author is very good at weaving both old and new characters together, while still giving amazing closure for each unique person. This series just draws you in! Lots of intense romance/erotica WOW! With this in mind, i was really looking forward to this new installment so it really sucked when it fell flat. Mica and Navarro just had poor character development and you really don't know much about them other than they are finally getting together after some reason and they are resisting each other for some other reason. I don't really know what the heck I read?? I really wanted to learn more about their back story but the story is really very sparse in that area. On top of it all, there were some confusing jumps all over chronologically, flashbacks, then all of a sudden action parts that come out of nowhere for no reason? One of the highly sinister villains in this series is suddenly and confusingly killed off, with no logic or closure. Just something along the lines of.. he dies and thus they now have access to some important research data...? wow, that's like saying Kadafi was a bad guy and so now he's got rebel problems...tons of details and information missing in between. Also, major bummer that there seems to be a whole chunk of the story missing. Main characters are having an argument in the basement, then all of a sudden they have just finished off an intense erotic scene in her room. In addition, the author seems to be running out of names for the characters she introduces in this series. This is the first time she writes a couple chapters about a Lion breed enforcer that escorts the heroine to the lab, has a conversation with heroine, and leaves.. all the while she is only referred to as "the feline"?? wow, MAJOR let down and total deviation from her previous style. I think there must have been some serious deadline issues and major computer meltdown..disappointing!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marked; Author: Visit Amazon's Aline Hunter Page; Review: Okay, I know that there's a lot of positive reviews and normally I'm a real fan of Aline Hunter, but I'm really starting to lose interest, esp with this latest book. First off, this book like all her other books had a pretty strong start, the author does a really good job of gripping the reader and drawing them in. Very good descriptives and details. Sex scenes were on par with her other works. I have almost all of her other stories, esp the earlier books. But this book, along with her last couple of books seemed very lacking in length, plot and the prices have jacked up all of a sudden. For an over $6 book, I expect a lot more story. It seemed really short for the cost. Also, the plot starts out really strong, then kind of peters out towards the end..it's very anti-climatic and a really flat ending. I ended up deleting this book, unsatisfied. Its a shame since I know Aline Hunter has some really awesome stories out there but her latest works just seem really lacking. I don't know if its writer's block but if you're going to charge the higher prices...geesh some of her ebooks are going for $10... you have got to deliver the good stuff! PLOT needs to develop and not just fizzle out. LENGTH is not justified by the cost, it cannot be a short "novella".; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wild Wastes: Eastern Expansion; Author: Visit Amazon's Randi Darren Page; Review: Rather fun read. Some unbelievable stamina but not boring thats for sure. Cant wait to see where the kingdom moves to; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Saratoga Arms; City: Saratoga Springs New York; Review: Excellent location, externally, the integrity of the old building has been respected. Internally its a bit of a disapointment. Our room was clean and comfortable, but overal the experience is neither her nor there. A rabbit den, it lacks the decoration and charm expected in an old building and it does not have the efficient functionality of a new building. The staff is pleasant but rigid (no late checkout!...in spite of the place being half empty). The absence of a coffee/tea making facilities in the bedrooms is a nuisance and there is no room service. There is no wow factor! Too big for a B&B, not anywhere close to be a Boutique hotel. It is just a small hotel with a lovely facade and an excellent location; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Gdansk Stare Miasto; City: Gdansk Pomerania Province Northern Poland; Review: An older large modern hotel, with a quite dated lobby/reception. The bedrooms also needed refreshing, soon! and to cap it off the breakfast room layout/decoration was an abomination! The lifts with its bedroom card system used to regurgitate hordes of baffled and bemused elderly groups who could not fathom how to operate them, bless them I hope they all got to their floor before their check out time! And yet the Mercure had two saving grace: 1) the staff who all appeared to enjoy their job were sensationally pleasant, smily and helpful and 2) probably having been spruced up recently the lobby bar and cafe with an ongoing wine promotion with lots of wine cases stacked everywhere was lively and animated, to top it of the food was imaginatively presented, delicious and quite moorish. The Mercure would be not my first choice, and whilst my four day stay was not memorable, it was enjoyable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vineyard Harbor Motel; City: Vineyard Haven Martha s Vineyard Massachusetts; Review: Nice big rooms, very clean. The motel has its feet in the water and has its own private beach. The view of Vineyard Haven harbour is spectacular, and the animated sea view with all the classic yacht and old schooners and the ferries is delightful. Our first floor room with kitchenette and overlooking the harbour, was worth it....but was on the expensive side but so conveniently located!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cedar Crest Inn; City: Camden Maine; Review: Easy to find and to get to, although not that close to the town centre. It's clean, the garden and hanging basket are well tendered and taken care of, lovely breakfast. The management is discreet but always present when needed and just a phone call away. Cannot fault it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Inn at Saratoga; City: Saratoga Springs New York; Review: The Inn might be one of the oldest hotel in Saratoga but is also needs some TLC and a general upgrade. The red brick building, not the most attractive from the outside due to its warehouse appearance is surrounded by a car park! So not the quaintest of surroundings, but is reasonably centrally located for the track. Overall in the common parts, the carpets looked passed their prime, lots of nicks and damage on the walls and around corners. Everywhere, dining area, the lift, corridors were dark and gloomy. The same applies to our two bedrooms: without a doubt very clean but dark walls, dark curtains, dark furniture and very little light to jazz it up. The beds, very comfortable! Appeared over sized for the room and the foot board was so high that you could not have a conversation with the person in the armchair opposite. Bathroom also was sadly outdated. The window AC unit was the noisiest ever. The breakfast buffet was limited but adequate. Overall somewhat overpriced for a Victorian place which felt as if it had its last upgrade in the 50's. The staff was very very pleasant. We were due to come back to Saratoga for three more days the following week, we cancelled our reservation and booked somewhere else. If you want old charm it is go to Europe!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Newport Marriott; City: Newport Rhode Island; Review: Enormously spacious, the cruise ship theme works quite well. The location is very central. The service was excellent so was the food and the standard double rooms clean and bright as one would expect. The only niggle was the inability to get an expresso coffee: the first day we were told the machine was not working, the second day the M club was closed (where the machine is located) and the third day we just went to Costa.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bella Venezia Hotel; City: Corfu Town Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: I expected a very upmarket boutique hotel. It was just a small hotel, in an OK location. The staff was pleasant, the offering at the traditional Greek/continental/American breakfast choice was vast but not all on offer was of acceptable quality (some of the bakery product were simply not good), so sometime less is more. The service on the terrace tried to be good, but there are times when you have to wait just a bit too long for someone to ask you if you want some coffee. The terrace itself was a most pleasant oasis, but in the end the rooms are tiny, stuffy, with heavy curtains and dark, (I could not open the shutters!). My bed was not the most comfortable and to sit on the toilet I literally had to stand in the shower. One night was enough.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PetSafe Cat Flap; Brand: PetSafe; Review: dog and cat use; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Solvit PetSafe Tagalong Pet Booster Seat, Standard, Dog Booster Seat for Cars, Trucks and SUVs; Brand: Pet Booster Seat; Review: Yorkie loves going in the car; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C & S Products Peanut Nuggets, Pack of 6; Brand: C&S Products Company; Review: Birds love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AKC Training Pads; Brand: American Kennel Club; Review: My puppy loves them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Store Pet Bicycle Basket; Brand: Pet Store; Review: a little flimsy; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dancing with Mortality; Author: Mr Mark McKay; Review: This book was slow to start and a bit confusing at first. However, it did hold my attention after delving in. The main characters are Harry and Michael. They are on opposing sides of the conflict in Ireland in the 80's. Harry is a translator, brought into the fray by British intelligence. Michael is a freedom fighter, trying to battle the oppressive invasion of the British. Halfway through it skips ahead 20 years, which was a bit of a jolt. I felt the angst of both Harry and Michael, throughout the story. There were only whispers of suspense. Even when the characters were in dire circumstances I didn't feel that, "Wow. What are they going to do?" sensation that I would have liked. There were no 'nail biting' moments for me. The author has a good voice and the story has a very good plot. I received a copy of this book for an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birthing Ella Bandita; Author: Visit Amazon's Montgomery Mahaffey Page; Review: Birthing Ella Bandita. The title struck me as odd. However, it does fit with the fantasy theme of the book. The plot was well thought out and the author's style is fluid. She does well with the descriptions and relationships of her characters and setting. There were some puzzling scenarios and questions left unanswered. How does one physically give their heart to someone and still live? I know, magic. It's just not believable. What happened to her mother? Did Ella kill her? I get that the patron, her father, must hold her responsible for her mother's death. This must be why she's ostracized. But, it's not explained. Also, what happened to the trainer? The author does create another world with almost lyrical prose. I found myself trying to become immersed in their world, but it just didn't happen. I liked it, though. I would be interested in reading the next part in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Long Pig; Author: Visit Amazon's Gloria Piper Page; Review: I enjoyed this novella. The main characters are Connie and Angelina. Connie was brought to the commune in which Angelina is a member. The author does a wonderful job weaving in details of the every day life of the cult members and the subtle evil that permeates. Once Angelina is all alone the story morphs into a gruesome tale of what truly lies beneath the surface of this seemingly peaceful commune. The friendship of the main characters is heartwarming and cannot be broken by the haunting visions that plague Angelina. Job well done to Ms. Piper. I would enjoy seeing what else she has in store for us. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Discovery: Hybrid #1 - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Emma Jaye Page; Review: I really liked this book. It was fun, well written and had a great plot. The characters have depth and their experiences and interactions are woven together quite well. Bonus, I love Chesara's filthy mouthed hobby. The characters have such chemistry. I cannot wait to get my hands on Hybrid #2 to see what happens next!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I'm Not Crazy... I'm Allergic; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherilyn Powers Page; Review: This is a well written, well researched book. There are many helpful hints for anyone suffering from depression. If you've suffered from depression and have tried everything that the mainstream healthcare system has to offer, perhaps you should give this book a read. Ms. Powers chronicles the path that she and her friend made to discovering their allergies and how those allergies affected their bodies. Her point of view is that allergies not only have physical symptoms, but can change ones mood and mental status as well. I received a free copy of this book for an honest, non-reciprocal review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sebastian: The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Johnson Page; Review: Elizabeth Johnson weaves an exciting tale of vampires, wolves and other worldly beings. The characters have depth and very detailed backstory. I felt for the characters as they played their story across the pages. There were some instances where I was pulled out of the story by the dialogue that was used. For instance a 200 year old vampire from the 1830's probably wouldn't say "We hung out in England." or refer to acquaintances as "you guys". That in and of itself was not enough to lower the value of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Experiment: Hybrid #2 - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Emma Jaye Page; Review: Aliens, threesomes, and danger. Oh, my! I was looking forward to reading the second installment in this series, having enjoyed the first one. I was not disappointed. Hybrid #2, Experiment is a fast paced adventure with plenty of steamy scenes. We get satisfaction from the demise of some baddies. Chesara has some difficulties that make my heart ache for her. This book is full of three dimensional characters. I think I'm in love with Dagus at this point. I hope we get to see him again. All in all a great read! I look forward to reading the next book in the series sometime soon. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Once a Month; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelvin L. Reed Page; Review: Once a Month was a good read. Rose comes up with a scheme for her husband to sleep with her friend, who is lonely after a failed marriage. They'll spend one night a month together for 12 months. Did anyone in this situation really expect that nothing would come of that? I didn't like that a woman would rent out her husband, but that's the premise, right? The writing is excellent. I felt a connection with almost all of the characters. Everyone except Rose, that is. Is it wrong that I despised her after the first few chapters? The more money she got the more she wanted. Her greed fueled everything she did. I found myself wishing that Tony and Cam would fall in love and become a couple in the real world. Did I get my wish? You'll have to read it to find out. It's well worth it. I received a free copy of this book for an honest, non-reciprocal review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Woman, suspect dead at 'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely's California residence; Abstract: Ron Ely, who portrayed Tarzan in the TV series in the 60s, was not harmed and is alive and well, a sheriff's office spokesman said.; Category: tv
Title: Outer Banks storms unearth old shipwreck from 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'; Abstract: A recent storm on the Outer Banks unearthed an old shipwreck buried on the beach in Hatteras Island. A local bar shared photos of the old wooden ship in its final resting place in the area known as "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." "A Wreck across the street from The Wreck! A lot of sand has washed out with this Nor'Easter & look what's been exposed!" The Wreck Tiki Bar in Hatteras, North ...; Category: news
Title: Minnesota boy, 6, found safe in dark cornfield after search; Abstract: A 6-year-old boy missing in Minnesota was found safe early Wednesday after a search by hundreds of volunteers and the use of a drone with a thermal camera that helped locate the child in a dark cornfield.; Category: news
Title: 8 Financial Mistakes in Your 20s that Can Haunt You Later; Abstract: Financial missteps in your 20s can make going bald or wearing mom jeans the least of your worries later.; Category: finance
Title: 19 Mysterious Old Home Features That Aren't Useful Anymore; Abstract: Many old homes have perplexing features that baffle their modern-day owners. Here we've solved 19 of those mysteries!!; Category: lifestyle
Title: Missing Minnesota boy, 6, and his dog, found in cornfield by drone with thermal camera; Abstract: A missing 6-year-old boy from Minnesota and his dog were found Wednesday after hundreds of volunteers including one who used his own drone with a thermal camera searched for him for hours.; Category: news
Title: New Jersey Couple Sues Taco Bell Over Chalupa Prices; Abstract: When is a $5 deal not a $5 deal?; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Bed, Bath and Beyond Pulls 'Blackface Pumpkins From the Shelves; Abstract: The pumpkins were removed from stores after an upstate New York community filed complaints.; Category: lifestyle
Title: This Foster Kitten Smiling for a Photo Will Make Your Friday; Abstract: Blossom the cat clearly loves her new foster family. Photos of the kitten smiling for the camera have gone viral and melted hearts everywhere.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: Here's what you need to know; Abstract: Responding to a paparazzi photo that captured her walking with her cane, Lena Dunham explained she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome -- a group of disorders affecting the joints and skin.; Category: health
Title: Fisherman faces prison, fine for cruel act on rare fish; Abstract: A fisherman faces serious consequences for using a power saw to cut off the nose of a rare smalltooth sawfish off the Florida coast.; Category: sports
Title: Woman Finds A Giant Wild Snake Just Chilling In Her Bed; Abstract: A 7-foot-long carpet python was slithering over her bed.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Chrissy Teigen Apologizes for Her 'Tone Deaf' Joke About Her Mom; Abstract: "I'm sorry and I will do better to not be such an a------."; Category: tv
Title: 77 Fabulous Christmas Presents That Are Less Than $50; Abstract: Make your list, check it twice but don't break the bank.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Homecoming Masquerade: Girls Wearing Black, Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Spencer Baum Page; Review: I liked the ideas and details of it but it was dry and rather bland. Spencer Baum is great author but this isn't his best book; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarra Cannon Page; Review: Amazing. Every word had me aching for more. When I wasn't reading I was thinking of reading more. Best book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inner Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarra Cannon Page; Review: Inner demons is the perfect book to complement beautiful demons. I loved every sentence! If you liked beautiful demons then you will love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bitter Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarra Cannon Page; Review: This book is by far the best of the series. Drama and more evil witches and new powers that will blow your mind !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rival Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarra Cannon Page; Review: This book really was full of excitement and wonder. If you were to read any book of the series thus far, this book is perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Demons Forever (The Shadow Demons Saga) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarra Cannon Page; Review: The best book I could ask for. Every word had me wanting more. I hope to see a novella on the future and how Lea turns out and the end of the high priestess.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Just a Little Series (Part One); Author: Visit Amazon's Tracie Puckett Page; Review: The best teen books you could ever read! I recommend this book to any teen who loves a little mix of love, action, and drama!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stalk me. (Keatyn Chronicles) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jillian Dodd Page; Review: I am in love with this book! It is romantic dangerous and heated with what we teens love: sex, drugs, and drama.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kiss Me: The Keatyn Chronicles: Book two; Author: Visit Amazon's Jillian Dodd Page; Review: Loved it great new story. Just the right amount of love and war. Can't say I had anything complain about.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: E.B. White on Dogs; Author: Martha White; Review: Wonderful collection. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended and also makes a great gift. Some particularly funny parts still cycle back through my mind when I am not thinking of anything in particular and make me laugh all over again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Buchanan Page; Review: Hard to put this book down. Thankful for everyone's safe release. More thought and better policy decisions need to be put into place regarding putting our aid workers in harm's way in the first place. I appreciated having a much deeper uinderstanding of what happens to kidnap victims I read about in the news. Continue to be very impressed with our military and proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel: Questions, Answers, and Reflections; Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Smith Page; Review: Lots of interesting information. Liked the question and answer format. Learned a lot and made me feel more confident about flying commercially. He writes like he is having a conversation with you - nice sense of humor!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Madeline Book and Toy Box; Author: Visit Amazon's Ludwig Bemelmans Page; Review: This is my favorite Madeline book. I grew up with it, have memorized it from hearing it so often and now have the pleasure of reading it to my granddaughter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Struwwelpeter in English Translation (Dover Children's Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Heinrich Hoffmann Page; Review: This book was in my German grandparents' library when I was a little girl. My brother and I came across it as little kids and were spellbound and horrified. It made an indelible impression - we still talk about it decades later. I recently ordered a copy for a friend who had never heard of it and didn't believe what I told her about it. It is an interesting glimpse into the German idea of child rearing back in the day. Recommended for adults only!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosina Harrison Page; Review: Very interesting glimpse into the life of Rosina Harrison - very professional in her recounting of relationships, adventures, and careers. Very good read for anyone interested in that period of history and the aristocracy of England between the Wars and as WWII begins. She hints at political tensions and describes in great detail in an understated way what it is like to have your house bombed in a German air raid and deal with war at your doorstep in a culture that thrived on predictability and status quo and tea served at teatime no matter what. Not dishy and sensational but dignified -appreciated that in her writing about the Astor family. Good read for serious Downton Abbey fans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2017; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Janssen Page; Review: Bought this as a gift for a Jeopardy fan friend who loves it. Full of fantastic information. Fun to read if you just want to keep learning all kinds of stuff in no particular order!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Rivendell Guest House; City: Windhoek Khomas Region; Review: Different kinds of rooms, some with bath, others without. Very good breakfasts with a huge number of marmelades. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff very helpful indeed. Go there if you like real guesthouses where travellers can meet around the kitchen table. If you're looking for a traditional hotel, this isn't the place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: De Waterkant Cottages; City: Cape Town Central Western Cape; Review: We stayed at the cottage located 38 Loader street. This is a dream house, very well equiped with all facilities. The view on the harbour is fantastic. The reception staff is very professionnal. Yusuf is a very good driving guide who will show you the wonderful region around Cape Town with his car.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden Cottage B B; City: Los Angeles California; Review: We spent a few days in the "garden suite" in August 2011. Everything was perfect. Thank you so much to Bob and Ahuda.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maximilian Hotel; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: Very comfortable (large renewed rooms: we had a Superior Deluxe Double) Quite Clean Helpful staff Well located (close to everything) Great breakfast (Becem, the waiter, remembers the kind of coffee you like: great) Go there, you won't be disappointed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shepley Hotel; City: Miami Beach Florida; Review: Great place, close to everything in Miami Beach. We enjoyed this boutique hotel on Collins avenue. Clean, nice clean rooms, breakfast on the terrace, ... They even give you seats and umbrella to use on the beach. Very friendly staff! Note that the rooms are a little small (we were 4!) Otherwise, I do highly recommend this hotel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel El Ducado; City: Lima Lima Region; Review: Mid-range hotel. Rooms (I had a single) a little basic but clean. Staff very frienly. Buffet breakfast OK Good atmosphere Would recommand for its situation in Miraflores, its cleanliness and its global value; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Annie on My Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Garden Page; Review: This book was well written and I believe that it is a must read for anyone that is a lesbian and unsure of what life will bring. After coming out at a young age in some cases.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Friends; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosa Guy Page; Review: That first day of school can make you or break you. Unfortunately, for Phyllisia is made her day. She had a brawl in front of school the same week. Adults looking out of their windows...just looking not helping. The young girls gets teased and into a fight in the first week. Wow! Then, she has to the audacity to judge the one person that attempts to be her friend, Edith - the ragamuffin that has holes in her stockings. Judgement was her downfall; but she learned to work with Edith. They became best friends. The lesson is don't judge people you don't know. As she learns about Edith, she learns about herself. A book that I believe every girl should read before they finish Junior High. I read it a little late - age 15.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubyfruit Jungle; Author: Visit Amazon's Rita Mae Brown Page; Review: I would of gave it a 5 but I didn't like the ending. This was comedy at it's best. The main character's life - [...] out of carolina - gets worst every chapter. Not much goes in her direction but she tries hard to succeed. She is looking for her true self and where she belongs. Everytime she finds someplace, something happens. She realizes that, that isn't her. Oddly enough she leaves her mark on so many people along the way. Read it, it is "required lesbian reading".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name - A Biomythography (Crossing Press Feminist Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Audre Lorde Page; Review: I had been putting off this book for about 4 years and I finally read it. I was putting it off because I read the first chapter and it was dry. I have to tell you that it gets better down the road. Audre is not just talking about lesbianism, she is talking about being a woman and general. You can get good relationship advice by NOT following what she did in her relationships. I was exposed to lesbianism of 20-30 years ago in this book. It's so different now and for women (of all sexualities and colors) this book is for you. The only problem is that the beginning drags but once you are pass...let's say page 40 or the younger years you will be fine. Concerned, scared, hopeful...these are the things I felt for Audre. If you can't deal with the beginning put it down. However, I want you to know...one day I am sure you will pick it up again; or you should.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: UnderCover; Author: Visit Amazon's Laurinda D. Brown Page; Review: Talk about 6 degrees of separation. This is a love story. Love for your friends, family, children, baby daddy and the girl you met online. This is the followup to "Firm & Brimstone". Laurinda Brown just may become E. Lynn Harris for women's literature. It was very interesting, easy to read and follow. There was drama every chapter or so. Brown, sure knows how to keep a person interested. I really got that "Six Degrees of Separation" vibe. Among other things it was tasteful. I believe a straight woman could read this book in relate to the chapters. Brown, says that here novels are not about gay and lesbians persons but about their relationships with others and GOD!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Babyji; Author: Visit Amazon's Abha Dawesar Page; Review: Anamika is the biggest nerd that I have ever met...and many of my friends would say the same about me. She was a smooth operator. From reading the description you might be a little turned off but don't be. A 17 year old girl who loves quantum physics sounds crazy but think about that girl in your class that loves math or loves British Literature. That girl could be Anamika - official Smooth operator. These girls/women have lives too as well as feels. Anamika relates many of the occurences in her life to quantum physics. Sounds boring but it isn't. Also, she is Indian. You learn alot about Indian culture in this piece also. She is respectful to her servant and her elders; she is mature enough to go to them and ask them about life. She has learned that quantum physics can guide you but it makes her life "chaotic"; she likes that in the beginning. This is a must read. I have suggested this book to all of my friends - gay and straight. In fact, I learned about it from the clerk at Oscar Wilde bookstore - a women who reads profusely and knows her customers. If you live in New York City, go there and she will find a book for you. I suggest this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fire & Brimstone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Laurinda D. Brown Page; Review: Don't forget to read "Undercover" the follow up to this book. Chris, the main character constantly urked my nerves. She is conniving, advantageous, sexy and smart. God knows she was annoying but you learn to love her and her character. You learn that she has been through alot and her past is what has made her unbaring. Her girlfriend, on the other hand is weak. Even though, she is weak you learn to love her too. I really wish they would turn this into a movie - not hollywood but an independent film; I don't want the book to lose it's edge or direction. Great book! I was suprised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Necessary Hunger: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Nina Revoyr Page; Review: It was a well written piece. The only problem is you get frustrated. However, you get frustrated because you want the main character to get the girl - her step sister. You get into the book and that is what makes it wonderful. You might not even notice how into it you are until the end. The frustration comes from all the feelings that go through Nancy's head when she sees her. I feel the same way when I like a girl...lmao! To Nancy's suprise, her father marries the girls mother. It got worst for her but one learns not to hold back. If you like someone say something. Otherwise, you will be just like Nancy with all the "what if's" and "I don't knows" and "Maybe this" or "Maybe that".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual African American Fiction; Author: Don Weise; Review: Anthropologies are a great way to review various books - fiction and non-fiction - in a specific category. "Black Like Us" opened my mind to new authors (such as Richard Bruce Nugent) that I would have never inquired about. I suggest this anthropology to anyone who is wants to know more about LGBT African-American novelist. The best thing is that the book is divided into chronological parts. The introduction to each part - Harlem Renaissance, Contemporary Writers, etc - is a must read. You get a history lesson, excerpts and brief bios of each author and time period. A MUST READ.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Interdesign Chrome Kitchen Refridgerator Magnet Hook, Set of 2 Magentic Hooks; Brand: InterDesign; Review: These little hooks are very sturdy and heavy duty. I have no idea they'd work so well. I was going to use them to hang some small, wire Halloween wreaths, but they could stand more weight. I was impressed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honeywell HFD-010 QuietClean Compact Tower Air Purifier; Brand: Honeywell; Review: On the highest setting this thing is as quiet as central air. Compact, easily moved. Really helped my dog with all his allergies (he's allergic to almost everything).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elite Home Tuscan Paisley Collection 300-Thread-Count Cotton Twin Duvet Set, Blue; Brand: Elite Home; Review: The material is softer and more durable than I expected for the cost. Got the blue, and perfectly happy with the color. It was just as pictured. I don't like bright patterns, we're in a muted look. Great purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 10-Hole Scarf Hanger - Walnut; Brand: Richards Homewares; Review: You can only fit the thinnest of knit scarves on this thing. Some fit, but would be damaged being slid in and out of it. None of my wool scarves fit through the holes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Honeywell HUT-102M Quietcare Ultrasonic Mini Tower Humidifier; Brand: Honeywell; Review: I've had this for 2 winters and I can't stand it anymore. There are parts that you can't get to in order to clean them. I'm afraid we'll start getting sick if I ever use it again. Ever since I got it I find myself cleaning it constantly. I use purified water and yet it collects pink mold. I agree with the other reviewers filling it and put the unit back on the base it a total pain. It drips everywhere. Most of the time you just don't refill it and go without. I had no problem with dust and as far as I can tell it's still working fine---it's just a health hazard.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eco Living Friendly Evolon Allergy Pillow Protector | King Zippered Encasement | Dust Mite, Bed; Brand: Eco Living Friendly; Review: I couldn't keep these on. They sleep hot and just make too much noise. Made my down pillows less comfortable. Can't say anything about their ability to keep out dust mites or bedbugs.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MALOUF SLEEP TITE ENCASE HD Lab Certified Bed Bug Proof Mattress ENCASE HDment Protector - Hypoallergenic - 100% Waterproof; Brand: MALOUF; Review: We burned up with this on our bed. Maybe in the winter it will bring some welcome heat, but spring/summer/fall this just won't do.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Proctor Silex 22608Y Cool-Wall Toaster; Brand: Proctor Silex; Review: It was so hard to decide on a toaster because all the Amazon reviews for all of them (except maybe an $100) were so mixed. This is a great toaster. I make bagels almost every day. It really stays cool on the sides, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Cameo Bath, Tumbler Cup for Bathroom Vanity Countertops - Stainless Steel; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I actually don't use this as a tumbler; I use it to hold my make-up brushes. It's small, lightweight, goes with all the other stainless steel in our bathroom. Good price, great value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thirstystone 'Mosaic' Sandstone Drink Coaster Set; Brand: Thirstystone; Review: Colors are more vibrant (orange and red) than pictured. The mosaic is a print on top of the stone - just like the usual designs on Thirstystone coasters. It was better than expected. I was afraid this was going to be a bumpy surface.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ArtToFrames 11x17 inch Espresso Walnut Picture Frame, WOMFRBW74061-11x17; Brand: ArtToFrames; Review: Beautiful sturdy frame. Arrived in perfect condition. I used it to frame something my grandmother drew in the 1960s. A friend, not knowing it was drawn by a relative, said "It's amazing how a beautiful frame can make a picture look so much better. Is that why you bought it?" Of course, he shoved his foot in his mouth, but he's right. The frame really made the picture come together.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IKEA MYSKGRÄS Duvet Insert, Full/Queen, White; Brand: IKEA; Review: I can't believe Ikea sells this for $99. Be forewarned, this thing must have a duvet cover. It's like a comforter filler - not something you can just throw on the bed. I already expected this and intended to use a duvet I had. So no problem. We sleep hot, my boyfriend and I. Fleece is not a good choice for us and it was time to find something that worked in the summer better than those big hospital-like blanket that are woven and get hung up on every little thing. This does the trick. It's polyester, so it's not super-breathable, but you won't get cold in the night either.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Towels Cotton Washcloths, 24 - Pack, White; Brand: Utopia Towels; Review: I was surprised at the quality of these washcloths considering the low price. They're soft and sturdy, they don't feel like they'll fall apart after a few washes. We use these for cleaning house and we need something that will stand up to punishment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Malden International Designs Linear Rustic Wood Picture Frame, 5x7, Rough Gray; Brand: Malden International Designs; Review: I guess you do get what you pay for. This frame had so many uneven lines along the edge of the frame that I couldn't give it as a gift. I bought another frame.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Linon Home Decor Keira Pad Back Folding Counter Stool, 24-Inch; Brand: Linon Home Dcor; Review: After less than a year, the back bracket has come apart on this stool. It makes no sense because it's lightly used, rarely sat on, but we moved it out while vacuuming and discovered the spoke had slipped right out of the leg. Junk. Besides that, the seat isn't soft enough, makes your bum hurt after a few minutes.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ritz Royale Collection 100% Cotton Terry Cloth Pot Holder Set, Kitchen Hot Pad, 2-Pack, Mocha Brown; Brand: Ritz; Review: My last oven mitts lasted for years, but these fell apart after a couple months. It's incredible. They just melt and crack.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: RITZ Royale Cotton Puppet Oven Mitt with Neoprene Non-Slip Grip, 500° Heat Threshold, 13", Graphite Grey; Brand: Ritz; Review: My last oven mitts lasted for years, but these fell apart after a couple months. It's incredible. They just melt and crack.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Winsome Wood Hamilton 2-Piece Ladder Back Chair; Brand: Winsome Wood; Review: These chairs are beautiful and solid. Arrived with no scratches. Putting it together was a pain - you need something soft to set it upside down on otherwise you'll scratch them while putting together. One gripe: One of the chairs doesn't sit flush with the floor. The legs aren't the same length. So it wiggles back and forth. The other one is fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 1-1/2-Quart Round Baker, Cranberry Red; Brand: Rachael Ray; Review: Don't call it a round baking dish. Call it a pie pan. It's a 9 inch pie pan and that's about all it's good for. I'm sure I'll find a use for it, but I didn't need a pie pan, I wanted a baking dish.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scented Candles - Fresh & Clean - Set of 3: Lemongrass, Olive Blossom, and Fresh Linen; Brand: Old Factory; Review: I got the Holiday set and the candy cane candle doesn't smell like anything at all. It's really disappointing for $30. I like the other two, but the peppermint one might as well go in the trash.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kurt Adler 9' Plastic White Flocked Candy Garland; Brand: Kurt Adler; Review: Plastic, unrealistic garbage. These are "flocked" with white fuzz that's mostly fallen off by the time you take it out of the bag and it gets all over your clothes and carpet. They don't look half as realistic as the photo. If you touch them, fuzz comes off in your hand.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: BELLA 13869 Dots Collection 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Black; Brand: BELLA; Review: I bought this in September and it stopped working by March. One morning I pushed the start button and it just never started. Very disappointing. I bought this after the carafe on my last BELLA broke and the manufacturer wanted me to pay $35 plus shipping from Canada in order to replace it. It was cheaper to just buy a new coffee maker. I'm off BELLA's for good now. It's junk.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier, 1200 Cubic Feet (150 sq ft), Compact and Portable for Damp Air,; Brand: Pro Breeze; Review: So far so good. Works just like my old Eva-Dry and it costs almost half as much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Hobbit; Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Reread again this week. Still charming and happy-making.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Your Scandalous Ways; Author: Loretta Chase; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Funny and sexy, with great period details and truly likable main characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maybe This Time; Author: Jennifer Crusie; Genres: thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Charming, though not as funny as my favorites by this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angelology (Angelology, #1); Author: Danielle Trussoni; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: GOrgeously written, though the ending felt rushed. (Don't they all, lately?) I'm hooked on the world created in the story, particularly all of the history. It's a very rich universe.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridge of Birds (The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, #1); Author: Barry Hughart; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Fascinating worldbuilding. Beautifully written.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Leaves; Author: Mark Z. Danielewski; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This will break you. It's not like any other novel out there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient; Author: Michael Ondaatje; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is a beautifully written novel that I've read multiple times, but I still have a hard time saying what it's about. It's about memory and loss and war and love, and the desert and spies and art and racism, and a girl named Hana and a boy called Kip, and a woman named Katherine and a man who loved her. It makes me despair a bit, to be honest, that I will never write this beautifully, this lushly; and if I did, would it be my own voice or would it be someone else's? The pull of a powerful voice is a dangerous, seductive thing. When the film came out--before the film came out--I remember reading how most thought the book was unfimable, and then the film proved to be a lovely, gorgeous thing. I think there are few better media for a story about memory than film. They both lend themselves to fluidity. You slip from one story to another, one time to another, with a mere blip--hardly noticeable now that we're all so used to living in a visual age. We know what a change of scene looks like. I don't know what to say about this novel, really, except that it is beautiful and melancholy and tragic, and it reminds me how beautiful English can be when handled with such precision and care.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Road; Author: Jack Kerouac; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Amazing. Ecstatic. I had to stop reading sometimes just to catch my breath.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tungsten Metal 4MM Plain Dome Wedding Band Ring Ring Size 4-12; Brand: MFC; Review: I've had the ring for a couple of weeks and it hasn't scratched at all. It looks nice. Tungsten Carbide is a darker than silver and white gold but I still like it. The comfort fit is great and the ring is very rounded overall. I think I should have ordered it a 1/2 size smaller because of that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iBungee Stretch Laces; Brand: SpeedLaces; Review: Good for kids that have trouble tying their shoes or if you want to be able to get shoes on quickly. Work great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Boys' 5-Pack Comfort Flex Ringer Boxer Brief; Brand: ; Review: Soft cotton, tagless. Leg bands help to keep underwear in place. My son likes this underwear. Would recommend for anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prime Pristine 2MM Titanium Womens Rings High Polished Classy Domed Comfort Fit Wedding Bands; Brand: Prime Pristine; Review: Nice ring. Extremely comfortable - I forget that I'm wearing it! Resists scratches and looks great. I bought it because I'm a nurse and it will be more sanitary while I'm working. No scratches or crevices for nasty germs to linger. I love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dearfoams Women's Longsleeve Scoop Neck Sleepshirt; Brand: ; Review: Just as expected. Keeps me warm, fabric is soft.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LOCOMO Women Girl Fashion Design Drape Layers Beanie Rib Hat Brim Visor Cap FFH010BLK Black; Brand: LOCOMO Hats; Review: Cute but it won't even go on my head.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CYZ Men's Cotton Pajama Pants Woven Plaid Sleep Lounge Pants; Brand: CYZ Collection; Review: Nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kyle Thomas Men's 1/4" Pleat Wing Collar Tuxedo Shirt; Brand: Kyle Thomas; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TUDIA TD-KPGRN-2P Klip Snap On Charging Cable Saver Protector for Apple Lightning and Charging Cables for iPod / iPhone; Brand: TUDIA; Review: These work great on the original Apple charger cable. They really seem to add an extra measure of protection on the weakest point of the cable. It was found that they may not be fully compatible with third party cables as the thickness of the cables vary between manufacturers. Amazon brand cables are thicker and do not fit well in the groove. So for anyone looking to protect their apple cables, I highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 2.0-Amp Micro-USB 3.0 Charger for Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 3 - White (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Samsung; Review: I ordered this because most of the reviews were quite positive. I have found that while the charger itself works, the cable is faulty. If I use the new charger with a different cable it works. If I use the cable that came in the package (even with a different adapter), it drains the battery rather than charge it. So only half my purchase functioned as it should. Supposedly authentic Samsung products, but I doubt it. I would not recommend to anyone else.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ArmorSuit Samsung Gear S2 Classic 40mm Screen Protector (2; Brand: ArmorSuit; Review: Works great! Covers the entire glass surface and has protected my watch many times already!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TUSITA Charger for Garmin Vivoactive HR - USB Charging Cable Clip Cradle 100cm - GPS Smart Watch Accessories; Brand: TUSITA; Review: works as advertised. Fits well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IPOW Truck Phone Holder,Long Arm Universal Car Magnetic Windshield Mount with Flexible Base Compatible with iPhone X XR XS Max; Brand: IPOW; Review: I use this all the time in the car. It's great to just slap my phone up there and take off. My only complaint is that due to the length of the "arm" the phone can vibrate quite a bit on rougher roads, which when using GPS can become a little bit of a headache. Otherwise it woks great. The magnet is strong and I have not yet had my phone fall off.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: UAG Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge [5.5-inch screen] Feather-Light Composite [ICE] Military Drop Tested Phone Case; Brand: URBAN ARMOR GEAR; Review: Great case, looks good and really protects the phone well. I highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BeneStellar for Samsung Gear S2 Charger,Charging Dock for Samsung Gear S2 and Motorola Mobility Moto360 2nd Gen Smartwatch (Black); Brand: Getwow; Review: Great for the price. It works as advertised and charges my Samsung Gear S2 perfectly. My only complaint is that the LED indicator light it quite a bit brighter than the Samsung version, so sometimes when traveling I cover the light in the hotel room at night. Otherwise no complaints!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OMOTON Samsung Galaxy S5 Glass Screen Protector [2 Pack] - [2.5D Round Edge] [9H Hardness] [High Definition] [Bubble; Brand: OMOTON; Review: These went on really well and stayed put. I had one on all the way until I turned in my phone for a new one. It always kept the screen scratch free and well protected!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gear S2 Classic Watch Band (SM-R732),Silicone Replacement for Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 Classic (Only for Classic Version) (Silicone band-05); Brand: Lwsengme; Review: Love this one. Easy to install (no special tools required) and comfortable to wear. I've been wearing it for about a few months now and it still looks great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIMILAR Screen Protector Compatible Garmin vivoactive HR Tempered Glass Screen; Brand: KIMILAR; Review: Nice and easy to install. They don't last forever before they start to come off, but a pack of 5 will last a very long time. Well worth it to protect your screen!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Quality Inn; City: Southfield Michigan; Review: quality inn southfield had a great desk clerk and even switched our room away from the ice machine and was very courteous the rooms were clean the breakfast was goo it was all i expected and more i will stay here again when in the area; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Staybridge Suites Canton; City: Canton Ohio; Review: the hotel was nice looking the rooms were very clean and breakfast was good and it was kept well stocked as well the pool was ok except the hot tub stopped working .it was very close to lots of places to eat; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge; City: Perrysburg Ohio; Review: This room wasabsolutly filthy and had roaches missing tiles in the shower some type of build up on the tub overflow and drain with a split and dirty tub liner the light was falling down food on the floor behind the nightstand stained chairs an my son got a rash from sleeping there; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Landmark Resort; City: Myrtle Beach South Carolina; Review: The landmark was a good hotel the staff was very nice and kept up our room everyday and was very helpful with all of our needs .the bar food was good and our bartender Dustin was very helpful .plenty of pools for the kids in for and out as we'll as miniature golf included; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Cleveland Airport West; City: North Olmsted Ohio; Review: Hotel looks decent and had a few repairs going on as most hotels do.but I asked prior the my visit about the pool.the hot tub didn't work and the pool was too cold and over run with unsupervised children you would think the hotel would see it being the cameras in the pool area.the room was nice but had lots of cracks in the tub surround.breakfast was good on Sunday. Monday was horrible; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites South Obetz; City: Columbus Ohio; Review: This is a nice decent hotel the staff was nice and friendly and breakfast was good check in and out was quick and easy its close the the freeway. The big butt television was weird but the room was clean; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn East; City: Oregon Ohio; Review: The hotel was clean and the person who checked is in was very nice. It has a heated pool which I liked a lot. The room was clean and it was quiet .nice breakfast in the a.m. it looked good but I had a race At 7am so I went with oatmeal; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ATD Tools (80351) 15W LED Underhood Light with 25' Cord; Brand: ATD Tools; Review: Can't do without this. Puts up with punishment too. Note: Even fits a classic Cadillac hood easily (very wide)!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snap-On 871048 Folding Knife with Glass Break; Brand: Snap-on Official Licensed Product; Review: Who knows who really makes it, but decent quality all around. Had to sharpen right out of the box - but that's good because great blades need sharpening often.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PORTER-CABLE PC1500HG 1500-Watt Heat Gun; Brand: PORTER-CABLE; Review: Good heat gun. Survived salt water immersion, then kitchen sink immersion. Still going strong!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GearWrench 9412 12 Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set; Brand: Apex Tool Group; Review: Nothings broken, but I still find myself reaching for the Snap-On or Craftsman. Usually because the ratcheting head is still too thick.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SK Hand Tools 7602 Standard Hose Pinch-Off Pliers 1-1/4-Inch Capacity; Brand: SK Hand Tool; Review: Same as Snap-On, JHW, Craftsman. Very good tool.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ancor Marine Grade Primary Wire and Battery Cable; Brand: Ancor; Review: Exactly what you get at the marine store (i.e. West Marine). Much better price. Quality wire.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ullman Devices CHP8-L Individual Hook and Pick Set, 9-3/4", 8-Piece; Brand: Ullman Devices; Review: These were in my "top picks". I laughed so I bought them. They're actually really good picks. I use them all the time for removing o-rings and seals and the like.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forney 57637 Lug Crimping Tool; Brand: Forney; Review: Been whacking this thing with a 3 pound sledge all summer. Crimps well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee Electric Tool 2462-22 M12 Impact Driver Kit; Brand: Milwaukee Electric Tool; Review: More ergonomic than its predecessor. The quick disconnect that you don't have to hold to insert or remove a bit is excellent. Purchased for my dad after he fell in love with my old one, which I still use every day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Capri Tools 30032 Master Hex Bit Socket Set, Metric & SAE, 32-Piece; Brand: Capri Tools; Review: Very good set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Capri Tools CP30031 Master Torx Star Socket Set, 60-Piece; Brand: Capri Tools; Review: Great set. Top notch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eagle 1660 Drum Funnel, 18" Diameter x 7" Height; Brand: Eagle; Review: This is a good thing. Not metal. Some sort of foamy poly material. Works well. Sits on top - does not thread into drum so it's easily moved from one drum to another, steel or plastic or whatever. Fits my 16gal and 55gal plastic and metal drums in the auto shop.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lang Tools 950 Gasket Hole Punch Set (11 Piece); Brand: Lang Tools; Review: Good small set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PORTER-CABLE PC1014 Forstner Bit Set, 14-Piece; Brand: PORTER-CABLE; Review: Beautiful set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delta Power Tools 23-196 6-Inch Variable Speed Bench Grinder; Brand: Delta; Review: Good machine. Nice and stable. However, marked two stars down for bad rheostat - variable speed control does not work. I am not going to bother w returns since it seems to be stuck on max speed, which is all I will ever use.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OEMTOOLS 27129 Rear Axle Bearing Remover Set; Brand: OEMTOOLS; Review: Good pullers. No complaints, well, I wish they tasted like coffee beans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SUNNYSIDE CORPORATION Available Sunnyside 873G1 1-Gallon Raw Linseed Oil; Brand: SUNNYSIDE CORPORATION; Review: MMmm.. pure raw linseed oil shipped fast to my door. Delicious! Good for old wooden spokes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnetic Wristband with Strong Magnets for Holding Screws, Nails, Drill Bits - Best Unique Christmas Gift for Men, DIY; Brand: Snap-on Official Licensed Product; Review: This thing is good. Much better quality than anything else here. Super stiff divider inserts. It's very small at 21 inches so it'll fit in your fiat and hold all your miniature tools. It's smart too. There are grip strips on the bottom that'll hold fast to trunk carpet. If there's a larger one I'll get that and use both. Thanks for a great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 100pcs Multifunctional Wool Felt Mandrel Mounted Grinding Polishing Accessories Attachment Set - Fit Dremel-1/8 Inch Shank; Brand: Carving Expert; Review: My little fuzzy friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Williams S-52EHLA Long Enclosed Head; Brand: Williams; Review: Professional mechanic for ten years - tinkerer for 20! This is my favorite ratchet to date. Extremely high quality; perfect handle; adjustable fastener means it's possible to control flex tension. I will buy a whole set soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Presa 409-50 Heavy Duty Metal Peg Board Shelving Hooks, 8-Inch, 50-Pack; Brand: Presa; Review: 1/4" peg board holes; 1" pattern. Very robust. Exactly what I was looking for. Ball at the end is large - had to grind it down a couple times but it's nice for everything else and I have no complaints. These are strong hooks. They fit perfectly. Plan to buy more Capri stuff. I have a set Capri sockets and they are great too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amana Tool A.G.E. Series MD10-806 Heavy Duty Miter/Double Miter 10-Inch x 80 Tooth 4 ATB+R 5/8 Bore Saw Blade; Brand: A.G.E. Series by Amana Tool; Review: I bought this as a gift for a professional woodworker/shipwright. He loves it on his JET table saw (don't know which model). Fast ship too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Newborn 375-XSP Super Smooth Rod Revolving Frame Caulking Gun, 1/10 Gallon Cartridge, 26:1 Thrust Ratio; Brand: Newborn; Review: I bought this because I was tired of the cheap ones breaking constantly. I don't have to heat up 3M 5200 with this one. It is super tough and just what I needed. Good product. Worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LE LED Closet Light, Motion Sensing Under Cabinet Lighting,10-led Wireless Stick-on Anywhere Stair Lights, LED Light Bar with Magnetic; Brand: Lighting EVER; Review: They don't work in low light conditions, only pitch black.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Williams MWS-12RCF 12-Piece Metric Reversible Flex Head Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set; Brand: Williams; Review: Excellent tools.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surebonder Pneumatic 22G Narrow Crown Upholstery Staple Gun with Blow Molded Carrying Case (Air Compressor Needed - Not Included); Brand: Surebonder; Review: This is such a good stapler. Powerful and I can operate it with my little finger while holding the tool in any position. If I had a complaint, i guess it would be that the staple loading release lever gets in the way slightly. It really didn't cause any problems. It's such a good tool that I enjoy using it with or without a purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TEKTON 14416 3/4-Inch Drive by 1-7/8-Inch Shallow Socket, 6-Point; Brand: TEKTON; Review: Adequate. Three whole stars because it was cheap and it got the job done.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eastwood 49074 Brake Line Forming Tool; Brand: Eastwood; Review: Really like this tool. Makes bending hydraulic lines much quicker. Tough, well-built tool. Heavy weight. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pirate Skeleton W/Treasure Table Lamp W/Shade 21 inches tall; Brand: Zeckos; Review: We bought this lamp for our son's pirate themed room and it fit perfectly. For the price, it is much more detailed than I thought it would be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dual Option Wall Switch Guards (3 Pack) Clear Toggle Style; Brand: Switch Shield ON; Review: We put these on the switches for our gas fireplace to keep little hands off. Works as described! Tiny fingers haven't figured out how to beat them yet!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Culligan HSH-C135 Hand Held Showerheads, Single Unit; Brand: Culligan; Review: We were hesitant to purchase based on the mixed reviews, but we're glad we went ahead and purchased it! I have only used it twice and I can tell a difference in my skin already! I have awful eczema and it actually helped clear most of it up! I can't believe it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kid's LED Globe Night Light Ambient Color Changing Glass Mood Lamp 5.9 inch by Enhance - Wireless Remote; Brand: ENHANCE; Review: While I love this light, it was a bit weird to discover that it reacts to TV remotes too. We noticed that the volume up and down turns it on and off. Great if you lose the remote, bad if you're just trying to watch TV. Haha!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avalon A1WATERCOOLER A1 Top Loading Cooler Dispenser, Hot & Cold Water, Child Safety Lock, Innovative Slim; Brand: Avalon; Review: Gets noisy after a bit (the quiet high-pitch kind that hurts your ears). We unplug and plug back in right away to fix it, but it seems like a flaw.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Fron; City: Reykjavik Capital Region; Review: Had a great time in Reykjavik. The hotel was clean and central. The staff were very helpful and spoke excellent English. The breakfast was continental and plentiful. We went mid week and had a room at the back of the hotel so experienced no real noise. I booked via a Groupon voucher so the whole trip was really reasonable. The shower does initially smell a little of sulphur (but so does anywhere in Iceland!) but that fades. I would defiantly stay here again.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fort Holiday Park; City: Sandown Isle of Wight England; Review: Just got back from our second visit with family to Fort Holiday Park, although I myself have been a regular visitor over the past 9/10 years. As ever we had a great time, the site being peaceful and well maintained; the location being ideal for the beach and Sandown generally and the owners Jane, Dave and the boys being friendly and helpful. Successive years here have managed to almost obliterate the horrible memories of caravanning in Rhyl in the 70's/80's!! The vans are great value, clean and considering how 'nesh' I am very warm in the evening. The kids enjoyed the play park and the adults loved BBQing under the stars. We do holiday abroad each year but this is the only place we have ever returned to in the UK. It's like visiting family (that you like!). I'm being nagged by the kids to book for next year xx; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Court Colman Manor; City: Bridgend Bridgend County South Wales Wales; Review: This is a lovely place set in a lovely area. We used a Groupon voucher midweek and stayed two nights whilst our son was on an outward bound holiday with school. We got upgraded to a themed room which had a lovely view and was very pleasant. The staff were lovely and very helpful, with a great breakfast. We also ate twice at the hotel restaurant, which is award winning, the food was excellent. We would defiantly come again, it would be ideal for a wedding also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fort Holiday Park; City: Sandown Isle of Wight England; Review: Just got back from another lovely holiday at Fort Holiday Park. As ever Jane and Dave were really accommodating, the vans were clean and comfortable and the park was quiet and welcoming. We have spent the last 3/4 Easters here and always have a lovely time. The weather is lovely and the park is really close to the beach. Sandown itself needs a bit of a makeover but it has everything we need, with pretty villages 10 min drives away. Brought some friends as we did last year and they are keen to go next year. See you all soon x; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge London Greenwich High Road; City: London England; Review: Paid for WiFi extra -only available for two phones (family room). Window lock broken, therefore s draft and had to be wedged shut, bathroom door broken. Main door wouldn’t lock. No TV cable or remote (rectified) Children’s beds set up across a floor length mirror and over a plug socket. Other one next to edge of desk with a metal bottle opener stuck on desk behind pillow. Nephew cracked his head on it. No mushrooms at breakfast - ran out of bread on one day; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Luxe Bidet Neo 110 - Fresh Water Non-Electric Mechanical Bidet Toilet Seat Attachment (blue and white); Brand: LUXE Bidet; Review: I have bought three different models over the years. Of those three, this is the best. And like many others who have posted here regarding Bidet's -- once you try them, you have to have them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Danze D455158SS Parma Single Handle Pre-Rinse Faucet, Stainless Steel; Brand: Danze; Review: I love it. Looks great. Only down side is that the on/off lever is such that when you use it, it collect every little drop of water from your hands, relays these drops by gravity to the counter-top, creating a permanent wet spot. I place a napkin-like cloth underneath it, to collect the water - but this looks ugly. Would love to hear suggestions re a better solution to this constant drip.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Danco, Inc. 10062 Universal Design Toilet Seat Bumpers, 1 Pack; Brand: Danco; Review: The glue which is supposed to make it stay in place doesn't work. So the end result is that this is a useless product -- unless you buy your own superglue to stick it -- else tell the seller to stick it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Luxe Metal T-adapter with Shut-off Valve, 3-way Tee Connector, Chrome Finish, for Luxe Neo Bidets; Brand: LUXE Bidet; Review: Totally useless. It also makes the water flow - in normal open mode - more noisy. I am not recommending it. I wish I could return it, but I waited too long.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: GE WB44X200 Bake Element for GE, Hotpoint, and RCA Wall Ovens; Brand: GE; Review: Good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Genie Screw Drive Lube – Reduce Garage Door Opener Noise with Only Recommended Lubricant for Genie Garage Door; Brand: Genie; Review: Does a great job with the garage door smooth operation; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Shepherd Hardware 9222 2-3/4-Inch Reusable, Round, Slide Glide Furniture Cups, 4-Pack; Brand: Shepherd Hardware; Review: They didn't work for casters, as the casters roll right out. I have used them on non caster furniture and they work fine for that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: RoomMates RMK1043SCS Dinosaurs Peel & Stick Wall Decals, 16 Count; Brand: RoomMates; Review: These are great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SuperSliders 4712995NB X-Large Variety Pack, Reusable Furniture Moving Kit for Carpet with 4 Felt; Brand: Super Sliders; Review: This is a nice set. We have liked all of the Waxman slides in previous purchases. Actually, We are using these under the furniture permanently. The large ones work great for big book cases. We can now easily clean behind the large furniture pieces that we couldn't move before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Self-Stick 1/2" Noise-Dampening Bumpers (12 pieces) - Clear, Round; Brand: Soft Touch; Review: Works perfect for under our cutting boards.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Self-Stick, Round Furniture Sliders for Carpeted Surfaces (4 piece) - 1-1/8" Round SuperSliders; Brand: Super Sliders; Review: These are great! wish they would come in set of 12.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mayfair Solid Plastic Toilet Seat featuring Easy-Clean & Change Hinges and STA-TITE Seat Fastening System, Elongated, White, 180EC 000; Brand: Mayfair; Review: Very easy to install, looks nice, and easy to clean. Can't believe I'm rating a toilet seat!! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unknown 16 Piece Furniture Sliders, black; Brand: Unknown; Review: These are great for moving furniture alone. Also the fact that they are so large, it helps you get furniture from hard surface up to carpeted areas by lifting the slider over the carpet before pulling furniture up and over. I use these when ever rearranging pieces. Recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Let's Explore the Construction Site; Author: Visit Amazon's Baby Professor Page; Review: Was expecting more from the book. Hoping for more information about the job. Hits the basic parts and has nice pictures recieved this product free to review; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Love to Keep My Room Clean (Bedtime stories children's book collection) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Shelley Admont Page; Review: I have been looking for a book to motivate my daughter to clean her room and this book is exactly what I was looking for! It teaches kids about independence and helping out after making a mess. Disclaimer recieved this book free to write an honest review; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian (Fifty Shades of Grey Series); Author: Visit Amazon's E L James Page; Review: Loved this book it helped explain what he was thinking throughout the strory was nice to read his perspective helped tie everything together!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moo Moo the Happy Cow: Stories, Jokes, Games, and More! (Fun Time Series for Beginning Readers); Author: Visit Amazon's Uncle Amon Page; Review: This book was a cute read had some funny jokes in it! Wish there was more pictures to look at for my daughter but it worked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Choo Choo! Pictures Trains Book for Kids (Trains for Kids); Author: Visit Amazon's Baby Professor Page; Review: This was a cute book! My daughter loves trains and loved looking at the pictures as I read this book to her! It had a good amount of information about train. The length was an appropriate length to keep my 3 year old attention! I would recommend this book to other people to read. I received this book for free in exchange for writing an unbiased honest recieved of the product; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Fosshotel Raudara; City: Reykjavik Capital Region; Review: Cleanliness- hotel & rooms very clean and well serviced 4/5 Food - breakfast continental style reasonable choice 3/5 Comfort - comfortable rooms and beds 4/5 Convenience- easy walk into the centre 4/5 Service- excellent service and attentive staff nothing to much trouble 5/5 Value - can't remember how much but would think it would be good 5/5 Overall - good place to stay simple and basic a great base; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunnyside Croft Touring and Camping Site; City: Arisaig Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: Context: husband & wife travelling west coast of Scotland in a motor home for the first time. Position: wonderful site situated on the shore of the inner sound overlooking the Isles of Eig, Rum and Skye awesome sunsets great beach (would be great for children) Facilities: very high standard, clean and well maintained. Pitches are hard standing and are large allowing you plenty of space all have electric which is on a card system Value: a really good site really enjoyed our stay the fantastic weather and beautiful sunset definitely helped. Possibly not the best site for walking although we possibly did not look hard enough 👍🏼; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broomfield Holiday Park; City: Ullapool Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: Read other reviews in conjunction with this. The site has wonderful views and is well situated at the far wnd of the Town. The facilities are adequate but could be much better with a little more input. The price is quite high for what you get but is in line with other sites and you do pay for the view.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oasis Hotel; City: Plakias Rethymnon Prefecture Crete; Review: A great apparent with a 1.3 km walk into Plakias. So nicely out of the town comfortable clean rooms and a good menu. Nice pool to swim in (quite small) but ideal for an afternoon dip well sitilutEd and great owners and staff all very helpful A great place to stay; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Newport Telford Hotel; City: Newport Shropshire England; Review: When you go to a Premier Inn what do you expect? We had Helpful staff Clean rooms Very comfortable beds Excellent value Simple but very good definitely stay there again and they are excellent at what they do If you want a good nights sleep a good meal next door then call here; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Staines; City: Staines Surrey England; Review: The Staines Travelodge is simple and convenient if going to watch Rugby at Twickenham - overnight parking £12 and return train fare £5-6.00 makes it an affordable and simple stop. F & B's next door is an great food stop also great value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scafell Hotel; City: Rosthwaite Borrowdale Keswick Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We booked in and it was raining, we got up and it was raining.... and it rained and it rained However......... the fire was lit the chef beat the floods the room was great the bed was comfy, the staff were great and the food was fantastic so what is a little bit of rain? A really great place to stay for walking or relaxing lots of great walks (even in the rain) and plenty of places to visit. Put it on the holiday list.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Coquetvale Hotel; City: Rothbury Northumberland National Park Northumberland England; Review: We stayed between Christmas and New Year in 2015, we had booked into a superior room but on arrival found it cold and the radiator needed bleeding but could not find the radiator key, we were moved in to the Alnwick room which was excellent for us. The staff were young and helpful and very obliging, the food was some of the best we have had on a hotel break choosing to eat in both nights despite a limited menu, we were never disappointed. The hotel is definately individual and there are many areas that could be improved but the food and the helpfulness of the staff will be hard to beat. The rooms are clean tidy and comfortable and it is definitely worth a visit; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pebble House Guesthouse; City: Mevagissey Cornwall England; Review: We came to Cornwall to welcome the dawn of another year (often called a birthday) we wanted a WOW experience along with the usual comfortable room good views etc. Pebble House exceeded all expectations from the top room overlooking the sea we had fantastic views, the room was well designed and really comfortable with all the subtle touches that made it such a great experience. Our hosts Simon & Andrea made us very welcome with a birthday banner on the bed fizz on our arrival as well as a box of chocolates😀 If you want more than just B & B then put Pebble House on your list!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braidhaugh Holiday Park; City: Crieff Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: We stayed here on the last night of our Scottish tour - lovely clean site very helpful wardens and close to the Town. Good facilities and a great location. There is a lot to do around the town and it is a great base. Pricing is at the top end of what I would expect to pay; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crieff Hydro Hotel and Resort; City: Crieff Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: The weather forecast predicted rain - how could I surprise my wife after 9 nights touring Scotland in a motorhome? A spa package at Crieff Hydro was the answer. A great body massage followed by 2 hours in the Victorian Spa and then Lunch in the Brassiere- glad to say she appeared to have enjoyed it - I did!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lundy House Hotel; City: Woolacombe Devon England; Review: The Lundy House has great views over looking the sea and right on the Coastal Path so fantastic for walking. Situated midway between Morthoe (uphill) and Woolacombe (Downhill) it is in great location. Our room Pondsbury over looked the sea and was large but could have done with a table for writing & computer work. The Breakfast was very good with a wide choice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ramada Encore Newcastle Gateshead; City: Gateshead Tyne and Wear England; Review: Well situated next to the Sage, good parking and 15 -20 minute walk into the centre & 25 mins to the Arena so a great location, comfy room and adequate facilities. Does food & breakfast. ideal for a city stopover.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Forest Vale Hotel; City: Pickering North Yorkshire England; Review: Pickering is a lovely Town offering a wonderful church, a superb outdoor walking shop - probably on of the best in the area and with it's own you Tube channel. There are a lot of tea shops, and charity shops which is a shame as the Town has wonderful character. The hotel was clean, the staff were attentive and we stayed in S1 which was a large room with nice bathroom (shame the shower was not a bit more powerful), the bed was large and comfy and we had a great nights sleep. The evening meal was OK but more of a pit stop than a dining experience - that said the meal was very tasty (Steak) and the service was good - we did have to return the veg as it was luke warm and this was well handled.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Worsley Arms Hotel; City: Hovingham North Yorkshire England; Review: having driven past this Hotel 100's of times i would never have thought to stay however when my Wife booked a night as it is a lovely village I was wonderfully surprised, from Peter the manager with his charming helper to Andrew Jones's culinary masterpieces in the kitchen - it was all a delight. From when we walked in to the hotel to be greeted by Peter, the roaring fires gave the hotel a charming feel, our room (no 6) was reasonably spacious and had a lovely bathroom, the sitting rooms downstairs were light & airy and had great character with the lively open fires (or was it the lovely Merlot Peter was plying me with). Our evening meal was served in the atmospheric cricketers bar with Andrew's Venison absolutely outstanding, this was followed by a trio of artisan cheeses which were outstanding. Following a great nights sleep we had a lovely breakfast - the service, food and quality of the Worsley should make it on to your To Stay AT list; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Tetra Serviced Apartments; City: Auckland Central North Island; Review: As part of the travelling support for the B & I Lions tour of NZ we stayed in Auckland and St the Waldorf. The room was adequate and reasonably clean. The bed was comfortable and the facilities ok. It is situated within walking distance of the main centre and easily accessible.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Coniston Hotel Country Estate Spa; City: Coniston Cold North Yorkshire England; Review: We booked in for one night for my wife's birthday (not say how many years she is) we had an enjoyable spa experience in lovely surroundings - use the outside pool it is a must. Our evening meal was well presented and tasted beautiful, all the staff were very attentive. Breakfast was just as good as you would expect. There are lovely walks a beautiful lake and a very relaxing beautiful setting. If you go you will not be disapointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingston Theatre Hotel; City: Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire England; Review: The Hotel was OK, did not really have a WOW factor at all. The staff were good and helpful, the breakfast was acceptable and the room was quite spacious but as it was a superior room it had nothing extra. The bed was comfortable and the water was hot. It did what we wanted and nothingh else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sandsend Cottages; City: Sandsend Whitby Scarborough District North Yorkshire England; Review: Very rarely do you come across your dream location but this is very close. Despite heavy snow and the Beast from the East giving -10 temperature we were toasty snug in the Porthole. A comfy bedroom and great lounge area overlooking the sea at Sandsend make this an awesome place to stay and does provide a remarkable experience. Well worth the visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence A Merula; City: Calvi Haute Corse Corsica; Review: As you walk up the highstreet and turn into A Merula you are hit with an expolsion of colour beautful floral scents and a wondeful tranquil residence. Being only 10 minutes from the beach, 15 minutes from town (Calvi) it is a perfect location. There is plenty to do in Calvi from walking, shopping, eating, excursions, swimming etc. Then come back to A Merula and relax by the pool and just enjoy the beautiful garden. The apartmrnts all vary but are very functional and comfortable all have WiFi so you can book your excursions and hut out the best places to eat on TA.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Nice Centre Grimaldi; City: Nice French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Location 5 from 5 Service 5 from 5 Comfort 5 from 5 Staying in Nice this ticks all the boxes from a wonderful location, comfortable rooms, lovely breakfast and very helpful staff. I would definately use it again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tottergill Farm Holiday Cottages; City: Castle Carrock Brampton Cumbria England; Review: We have just returned from a lovely relaxing weekend away, staying in Oak cottage at Tottergill. We have had some lovely walks in the lakes and a around the local area and then a relaxing evening in the cottage. We did not use the Hot Tub which was a disappointment (too much to fit in). The cottage is well resourced and very comfortable and extremely cosy. Tottergill is set in a beautiful area well off the beaten track so is very quiet and ideal to recharge the batteries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for Samsung Galaxy S4 - Carrier Packaging - Gunmetal/Navy (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: OtterBox; Review: Color is not very good once you see it for real.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: URBAN ARMOR GEAR Case for Samsung Galaxy S4, Black; Brand: URBAN ARMOR GEAR; Review: Best Case I believe for the Galaxys. I had the same type on my s3. I use this one all the time on my s4. Thinner than the otterbox commuter but as tough. Corners are well protected in case of a drop. The lip above the screen is rigid. You could slide it across a table without worrying about scratching the face. Holes are all cut out perfect. A good case!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Echo Dot Battery Charger, ZeroLemon 10000mAh Battery Charging Base Rechargeable Battery Case for “2nd Generation Echo Dot” – White; Brand: ZEROLEMON; Review: after a few months, one battery will not charge anymore. It throws a error message up on screen. On the second one now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Laza Samsung Galaxy S4 RuggedFusion Protective Case for Extended Battery (BATTERY + BACK COVER NOT; Brand: Laza; Review: I don't like the fit or feel of this case. I don't use it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cable and Case Slim Rugged Shock Absorbent Soft Jelly Shell Case for Samsung Galaxy S4 - Red; Brand: Cable And Case; Review: Its doesn't fit tight and it doesn't seem like it would protect my phone very much. I don't use it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: bluetooth speaker; Brand: instecho; Review: nice power bank with a built in light.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omi Labs Miniboost 3000mAh Ultra-Compact Portable Charger Lipstick Size External Battery Power Bank Pack for most Smartphones and other USB; Brand: Omi Labs; Review: The best power bank I own. Does not discharge when in standby in a few days like many others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyperion Samsung Galaxy S4 Extended Battery HoneyComb Matte TPU Case / CoverHyperion Retail Packaging (White); Brand: Hyperion EA; Review: Nice extended battery case.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VicTsing Car Mount,Universal Windshield Dashboard Cell Phone Holder for iPhone 6 Plus 6S 5S SE 5C 5 4S Nexus HTC; Brand: VicTsing; Review: the suction is really strong. It doesn't have to be stuck on a windshield as it will stick to a flat pc of the enterior of your vehicle. You can mount it somewhere then bend it. It doesn't fall off and then you find laying on your seat or floor the next day when you get in your car. I took 2 stars off because if you don't remember to put your phone in this holder before you get moving its virtually impossible to get it clipped in with one hand as it doesn't just snap in. You have to spread the bars apart, then let it clamp the phone.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Droid Maxx 2 Case, Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case for the Motorola Droid Maxx 2 - Green; Brand: CruzerLite; Review: Provides a good grip but is a tad loose around the buttons. Not a deal breaker though. I would recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DROID MAXX 2 Case, Cimo [X] Premium Slim TPU Flexible Soft Case for Motorola Verizon DROID MAXX 2; Brand: Cimo; Review: The only reason I only gave it three stars is because the buttons should be cut out for a droid maxx 2. Having extended buttons makes the phone easy to restart in your pocket. it also allows for the turning of the volume up and down. I know that is Motorola's fault for having a phone built that doesn't need unlocked to adjust the volume., but given that, companies should be aware of this problem and cutout the buttons so they're recessed some.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Motorola Droid MAXX 2 Combo Case + Belt Clip Holster for Verizon XT1565 (by Encased); Brand: Encased; Review: Holster works well and when the phone is out of the holster it's still protected by the snap on part of this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ProLabs Ear Mite Killer Lotion (6 oz); Brand: Pro Labs Ltd.; Review: I have used this product for a long time, it works but kind of messy and time consuming if you have a lot of cats. It is easier if you put the gel on a cotton swab and then put it in their ears. That eliminates the squirting sound. Good value for the money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resco Nail Clipper Blade Replacement Kit, Fits All Guillotine-Style Trimmers; Brand: Resco; Review: Good quality but didn't fit my clippers. Another product that is not universal just like plastic bins, containers and lids.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 4 Wheels Pet Dog Cat Stroller w/RainCover; Brand: BestPet; Review: A little cheaply made but I did not want to spend a lot on a stroller for the dogs. Cup holder comes off sometimes but I just snap it back on otherwise working well and I really like leopard print, that's why I got it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paw Print Pet Memorial Stone - Features a Photo Frame and Sympathy Poem; Brand: Pawprints Remembered; Review: Is not a stone, is plastic. Small piece of plastic in photo square is not secure and moves around and does not keep picture dry. You have to laminate picture to make it last.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Prevue Pet Products Premium/Deluxe Cat Home, Black; Brand: Prevue Pet Products; Review: One piece was broken when this arrived, had to put it together anyway because I was going out of town. Still waiting to hear from manufacturer. Cats seem to like it. Had a Midwest in the past that I left on the porch and it rusted out. I thought I would try this one because it got better reviews than Midwest. The cats seem to like it. I rescue and foster cats and have to keep some separate. Update-Oct. 30, 2016. o answer from manufacturer regarding broken piece. Update-6 months later-never heard from manufacturer, product still broken.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Flirt (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: This book literally made me physically sick. This is not Anita. This is a monster without a concience (sp). I am glad I did not purchase this tiny "book" and the library appreciates me not damaging it after reading. Anita seems to realize she is a monster and yet does nothing to control it and even makes it worse. A Rex lion on his knees crawling; she coldly kills another as a zombie sacrifice; she orders zombies to mercilessly kill a human. The kicker: her "sweeties" had it under control.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Smith Page; Review: Rick and Bruce decide to experiment on themselves to see if everyday items containing "toxic" chemicals increased chemicals these chemicals in their blood and urine samples. Some examples: mercury, BPA, phthalates, triclosan' One ate tuna for I believe 2 days straight, at least 2 meals a day. They put scotchguard on the carpet and breathed in the fumes. One ate foods from BPA laden cans and microwaved the food in plastic containers. He even drank from a baby bottle. They did some traveling to areas that have had outbreaks of chemicals in the water, they went to some political rallies along with mom and babies in strollers, they took meetings with gov't officials. Oh, and they (or at least one of them) used everyday products such as Gillete shave cream, Pantene shampoo in their experiments. They found out that yes, the chemicals that were in question did increase in their samples and that moms and cute babies in strollers can have an effect on politicians. It's a good read if you're interested. For me, it's a bit too political...sort of like "look! we can force our will on the government!". The experiments proved nothing...except that yes, you are increasing the level of these chemicals. That's it. There's no information on what it does to the body. Supposedly BPA is a hormone disrupter or something. Sooo, is your sperm damaged? Did you check that? What about your cholesterol or your blood pressure? Brain function? Also, what else is in your blood? More testing is needed on these "toxic" chemicals and proof shown that they are causing damage to humans, not rats..not mice..not monkeys. Humans. That is all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hit List (Anita Blake-Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Shamelessly admitting I'm only on page, what 49? 50 maybe? The word "awful" doesn't even describe how bad this is. If there were a zero or a rate into the negatives then I'd be using it. First chapter: what should I do Edward, this from Anita....excuse me? Edward also has to tell her to look at the body parts better. What? Oh, and she's tired and just wants to be home with her sweeties. Second chapter: oh, goody, a cop with an attitude....Anita gets cute, cop says don't, she flirts, cop says don't, she denies it, then she gets paranoid, then we get into her private life. For once can't she just say "my private life is not your concern and has no effect on my ability to do my job." Of course whoever is talking about her is jealous. The sex, you know. Then she gets to cry because she's called a monster. How long has she been like this? Honey, if you haven't come to terms yet with the fact that you are now the monster....ugh. The Executioner? Not any more, no point in even bringing that up. Chapter whatever: she bunks with a newbie, of course newbie is jealous and bitchy but after some (ugh)girlie talk they're buddies. Whatever, Anita is responsible for this newbie getting hurt because Anita darling knew the H bomb is responsible for the killings but, gee, didn't inform roomie of this, warn her to sleep with a gun or maybe, gee, Anita should have just bunked with Ted. Anita got the woman hurt, period, because of her own stupidity and doesn't feel a darn bit bad about it. First thing was, can we get her warrant? Geez. Enough with the hair, the height, the eye color, who's curvier, why he is more tanned, who's bulkier, who's muscular....who cares?! Such a pretty, dainty thing is Anita, why she's built just as tiny as Raborn's daughter. Why the newbie female could wrap her hands around Anita's teensy weensy itsy bitsy waist....and there'd be nuthin but breasts left...geeeeeee. Let's see, what else. For a second time she asks Edward/Ted/the changeling who now inhabits Ted's body because he doesn't even resemble who he once was (don't forget, too, that Ted's fiancee is JEALOUS of Anita) what she should do, for what it doesn't even matter. And the Edward changeling and Anita flirting sexually with each other? One needs to shoot the other. I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that this book truly is for me the final nail in the coffin of this series that I loved, enjoyed, read and reread, cried, laughed...you get the point. I loved this series, couldn't wait for the next book, silently cursed LKH for taking so long to write the next one because I couldn't wait! Now, sigh....such a letdown. Who are these characters? If Anita is Laurell's avatar then Laurell is done writing the series, too. All Anita wants to do is go home to her sweeties. Then please do so: go home and live our your unnatural life in peace. Lay; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Marie Antoinette: The Journey; Author: Visit Amazon's Antonia Fraser Page; Review: Well written must read for history lovers. She is one of my favorite historical figures. This book provided more information than I had found before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby (Collins Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's F. Scott Fitzgerald Page; Review: Excellent read, now that I'm 46 and not forced by school to read it, and historically important. A slice of time that we will not experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Unquiet Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Kay Redfield Jamison Page; Review: I was with the author through every up and down she experienced. An excellent writer, she brings us into her world withou a bit of self-pity. She does this to help those of us struggling with bi-polar disorder.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Original Looks Silicone Bra Inserts and Enhancers, One Size Fits All; Brand: Original Looks; Review: I am HUGELY disappointed. These are not bra inserts but rather push-up pads with some sloppily put on plastic on the back that if removed will leave the silicone gummy and exposed. Not worth the money and very deceptive. I am returning.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Everest Large Size Waist Pack; Brand: everest; Review: Wow-- bigger than I expected. Had I know it would be this big I might have ordered a smaller size. It is huge! I can carry a couple of thin guidebooks along with my wallet, camera, phone and keys. It covers the entire front of my body, from one hip to the other. I am not tiny by any stretch of the imagination, but I have this on the tightest setting without cutting off any of the waistband. Looks to be of good construction. I ordered what appeared to be red and it is a true lipstick red. There is a small front pocket, a large middle area which contains a mesh pocket and hook for keys, and a smaller pocket near the body.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Mates Womens - Compression Trouser Butterfly; Brand: Nurse Mates; Review: As described. The length is to the top of my calf. Really cute. I may order another.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Easy Spirit Women's Laralee Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Great shoes! They're cute, fit as expected--not too tight or too loose, and are actually comfortable for the height (higher than I usually wear).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Easy Spirit Women's Laralee Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Great shoes! They're cute, fit as expected--not too tight or too loose, and are actually comfortable for the height (higher than I usually wear).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JSport by Jambu Women's Avalon Flat; Brand: ; Review: Very comfy shoes. I wish the strap were just a tad longer as I have very high arches, but these are comfortable right out of the box and I think are going to serve me well. They have nice cushy insoles which my feet just love.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Mates Pink Ribbon Compression Trouser Socks - Great for Nurses; Brand: Nurse Mates; Review: I love these. Moderate compression with lots of room in the toe box. Very cute. This is my second pair.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Mates Women's 12-14 Mmhg Compression Trouser Sock Black Stripe, One Size; Brand: Nurse Mates; Review: I love these. Moderate compression with lots of room in the toe box. Very cute. This is my second pair.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FlyQ Vest; Brand: ExOfficio; Review: Well it doesn't quite look like the picture on me--it is quite long, so the model must be quite tall as I am 5'6" and it falls below the hips. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just a surprise. It is rather A-shaped, and from the side view, not that flattering. The fit is as expected--I wear a size 8 and the medium is fine and would allow me to reasonably fill the pickets. The number of pockets is great--about the right number and generous enough. It is much heavier than I expected, though--probably good for spring or fall, but definitely not for summer. The quality is good so I plan to keep it, but I won't take it with me hiking in the summer as intended, that's for sure. I think for the money it's a great buy, but not exactly what I had hoped for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ardno House; City: Ballachulish Glencoe Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: My husband and I stayed at Ardno House earlier in the year and found our room to be spacious, clean and well-equipped. Breakfast was fab (and plentiful) and Alan and Pat were really helpful and knowledgeable about the local area. The location is great and the views were lovely (even when it rained!). We'll definitely stay there again and would recommend to anyone looking for a base around Glencoe / Fort William etc.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Macdonald Marine Hotel Spa; City: North Berwick East Lothian Scotland; Review: We didn't stay overnight, but I took my mum for a spa day at the Marine as it's handy for Edinburgh (and had bought an online deal). Thermal facilities are good enough - a selection of rooms of different temperatures/steaminess etc, and a nice inside/outside jacuzzi. Aromatherapy steam room smelled damp rather than aromatic in a good way though, so they could do with sorting that out. Spa Lounge and Relaxation Room are a nice idea but were very cold - not so relaxing (even with duvets provided)! Treatments were good though - I had an Elemis facial which was lovely, and my mum enjoyed her massage and mini-facial. Beauticians were friendly and thorough. I realise it was Jan, but the chilliness would make me think twice about going back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beaufort Hotel; City: Inverness Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: The general manager had a very poor attitude. Some confusion on his part meant he phoned us during dinner to ask when we'd be checking in, despite the fact that we had checked in mid-afternoon. The general manager made no apology for the interruption and was rude and unprofessional on the phone to both myself and our friends from overseas with whom we were travelling. We would suggest that administrative errors should be sorted out amongst staff, and not brought to guests attention. The rest of the staff were fine and the hotel itself is ok (although small and dark) we would not stay here again or recommend the hotel due to the attitude of the management.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Comrie Croft Eco Hostel Camping; City: Crieff Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: Fab place for a wedding or big get together. Bunk rooms are decent and plenty of communal spaces + well-kitted out kitchen. Showers that oscillated between freezing and burning, and wifi most of us couldn't connect to were the only negatives. Want to come back to try a kata :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cottage Stein; City: Stein Isle of Skye The Hebrides Scotland; Review: Absolutely gorgeous B&B for a relaxing break. We had a great time chilling out on the terrace in the (apparently rare) Skye sunshine, spotting some local wildlife. The room itself (downstairs) was really lovely and very well kitted out. The owners were super-helpful, friendly and provided a fab breakfast. Also walking distance from a really good seafood restaurant. Would stay there again in a heartbeat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: WALIKI TOYS Hopper Ball For Kids Ages 7-9 (Hippity Hop Ball, Hopping Ball, Bouncy Ball With Handles, Sit &; Brand: WALIKI; Review: The grandkids love hopping around the house; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playskool 9 x 12-Inch Draw and Story Pad; Brand: Playskool; Review: Worked perfectly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Long Elsa Costume Gloves; Brand: Disney; Review: She adores her Elsa gloves!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Shimmy Snake Magnifying Glass With Shatterproof Lens; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: perfect for a little one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play-Doh Disguise Lab Featuring Despicable Me Minions; Brand: Play-Doh; Review: great gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play-Doh Basic Fun Factory Shape Making Machine with 2 Non-Toxic Play-Doh Colors; Brand: Play-Doh; Review: great gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Make it Up, Glamour Girl Pretend Play Makeup Set For Children - Great For Little Girls & Kids; Brand: Make it Up; Review: perfect for her; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liberty Imports 16" Realistic Remote Control RC Snake Toy (Assorted Colors); Brand: Liberty Imports; Review: he loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paw Patrol - Rocky’s Barn Rescue Track Set; Brand: Paw Patrol; Review: he loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnets and more 24 piece set by toysmith; Brand: Toysmith; Review: He loves his magnets.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Glitter Glider Anna, Elsa and Olaf Doll Set; Brand: Mattel; Review: Anything "Frozen" is always a hit in my house.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shopkins Pop 'N' Race Game -- Classic Game with Shopkins Theme; Brand: Shopkins; Review: It was great for them to play together.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play-Doh B1856 Kitchen Creations Pizza Party, Multicolor; Brand: Play-Doh; Review: They love their Play Doh set; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Tikes Tumble Train, Standard Packaging; Brand: Little Tikes; Review: He loves it but the instructions are not very clear on how to put the track together.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Acces; City: Ostend West Flanders Province; Review: Booked a two night half board deal for 3rd & 4th of December, great service at check in and restaurant, car parking around 5 minutes walk from the hotel (but covered & secure) 12 Euros per 24hrs plus 25 Euro deposit for the entry card. Room was of a good standard & clean but could do with Tea / Coffee making facilities as you would expect for a four star rating! The bathroom was reasonable but clean and some of the marble type tiles in the bath / shower area had staining. The only real problem was that the evening meal menu was set & you didn't seem to have a choice if you didn't like the food! bottled water was very expensive too. Service was very good so to sum it up I'd say it was more of a three star hotel but I would certainly visit again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: North Ocean Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: After reading the many great reviews on Tripadvisor we thought that the North Ocean Hotel sounded too good to be true! Believe us when we say that it’s not too good to be true we think it’s even better than the reviews! Having just returned from a wonderful two night break we cannot praise the work that Wayne, Chris and the Team at the Hotel do, nothing is too much trouble for them. When we arrived to a warm welcome Wayne insisted on having our bags carried to our room on the third floor, the room itself had been recently refurbished and although small which was expected (we had booked a small double en-suite on-line) it was spotlessly clean and very well appointed with the unexpected bonus of a sea view. The Hotel has a good bar and the prices are very reasonable £2.70 for a pint of cider and wine starting at less than £10 a bottle, you also have use of the balcony on the first floor accessed through the games room / lounge area which is a fantastic place to just relax and watch the world pass by, from here you can see the illuminated trams and the illuminations themselves during the season. We ate in the restaurant which doubles as the breakfast room on the second night, we chose the combo starter, my partner had chicken curry and I had a steak which was served on a “hot stone” so that you can cook it to your liking. The standard of the food was first class that also applies to the breakfast, my partner loved the mandarin/grapefruit cocktail and even had the cheek to ask Wayne where he bought it so we could get our own which he told us without hesitation. Parking is probably the only issue which is no fault of the Hotel, the Hotel itself has very limited parking but there is parking in the surrounding side streets, as we stayed at one of the busiest weekends of the year (World Fireworks Championship) we chose to leave the car in a pay and display car park a couple of hundred yards further north and it only cost £12 for 48 hours so it wasn’t a problem at all. Summing it up this is a First Class Hotel with First Class staff and without a doubt we will be returning! Book early as this place is nearly always full and we can see why!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wood Farm Caravan Camping Park; City: Charmouth Bridport Dorset England; Review: We've recently spent six nights at Wood Farm and really enjoyed this site, The staff are great and on arrival we were shown to our pitch which was very helpful. The pitches (ours was a fully serviced pitch) are quite small but perfectly acceptable and some due to the hilly nature of the site look very difficult to get in to. The facilities on site are very good especially the cafe & pool area everything is always immaculate, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied and there are great walks on site as well as from the site. The only real issue we had was the road noise, we were pitched at the top of the site directly under the road and on Sunday the noise from speeding motorcycles was very loud. The site is perfectly positioned to explore the fantastic counties of Dorset & Devon, Charmouth is only a short but very hilly walk from the site. If you need provisions the small site shop is very good but we would advise a short drive into Axminster as the local shops (advertised in the site brochure) are very expensive and seem to take advantage of the tourists (especially the Butcher in Charmouth nearly £10 for 4 sausages, 2 burgers and 2 kebabs which although advertised as home made were really poor wholesale quality) Great site, great location, great staff well worth a visit!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wooda Farm Holiday Park; City: Poughill Bude Bude Stratton Cornwall England; Review: Just returned from spending a week at this excellent site, this is a very well laid out and exceptionally well tended campsite with lots of activities for all the family. We can highly recommend the food in the Courtyard Bar, reasonably priced fantastic quality and fast service! We also had a go at the Clay Pigeon shooting on a Wednesday evening which was well run and very enjoyable, don't forget the Archery and other activities. We booked a fully serviced pitch which was large with plenty of room for the Van, Trailer and a Smart Car. The toilet facilities are plentiful and always clean, as was the rest of the site. Summing up it's a great site with plenty to keep you occupied, a tad on the expensive side but for what you get it's well worth it! there are a couple of minor criticisms which need to be addressed firstly the roads on the site are very narrow and tents tend to occupy space right up to the roads with wind breakers etc which make negotiating the corners very difficult with long vehicles and the biggest problem we encountered which was quite serious for us was the parking arrangements at checking in time - the road signs direct you into a car park which is nigh on impossible to turn a vehicle towing a trailer or caravan due to the parked cars! We damaged our van trying to turn, the car park needs to be laid out so that cars can park in the centre and waiting cars and caravans can use the outside of the car park as a large turning circle / roundabout with a one way in operation this would solve the nightmare we encountered. These issues would certainly not stop us using the site again, in fact we are looking forward to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: North Ocean Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: Stayed at the North Ocean Hotel for a second time after luckily stumbling across it last year, last time we stayed was great but this time it was better! We had booked room 10 which is a recent addition to the hotel with access directly from the room to the balcony, the room itself is large and well appointed with a sofa and massive flat screen TV on the wall. The bathroom is a good size with a great double size shower, this is a perfect room for watching the world go by as it overlooks the prom and illuminations. Breakfast at the North Ocean is very good with an extensive choice well cooked, The full English is great but we tried the Eggs Benedict on the second morning and it was delicious. The bar prices are very reasonable so it's well worth having a few drinks in the hotel but the only drawback is that there is very little seating area apart from the restaurant (Wayne assured me that this is being addressed very shortly when the restaurant is re-modeled) I will review the Stone Grill Restaurant separately. Wayne is a brilliant host and his staff are an absolute credit to him and the Hotel with nothing being too much trouble! Looking forward to staying again - first class; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suite Hotel Atlantis Fuerteventura Resort; City: Corralejo La Oliva Fuerteventura Canary Islan; Review: Recently spent a week at this lovely hotel, this is the second time we've stayed but I didn't review it last time. This is a very good hotel and probably have the best most helpful staff of any foreign hotel that we've stayed in! From reception, waiting bar-tending and cleaning everyone was really pleasant and helpful. We stayed for seven nights all inclusive and booked into the adult section of the hotel as we have previously, I think this is worth the extra but book it through the hotel directly don't get ripped off by the tour operators! Food - the food was always fresh and had a very wide selection to suit all tastes, perhaps sometimes dishes could have been hotter as previously mentioned but as we tend to be early birds we didn't really have any issues. We booked the Spanish restaurant El Molino for one night and had the Barbecue which was good, and we booked the Asian Rambuttan for two nights which was reasonable but didn't reall have a great choice in both the staff were great Rooms - a little dated and tired but spotlessly clean, they could do with updating and the beds are rock hard but perfectly acceptable. It is a nice touch to get some drinks in the fridge, bath robes, slippers and pool towels (which you can change once a week free of charge). The air conditioning is a bit feeble so I wouldn't like to be there in he height of summer. Adult only - two pools one small & one large, a daytime bar with snacks and a lounge with tea, coffee etc. which nobody seemed to use and plenty of sunbeds very quiet so worth the premium Bars & Drinks - adult only bar upstairs was great plenty of cocktails on offer give the barman a couple of euros tip and the drinks won't stop flowing. The main bar was busy, same applies as above but there was no real queuing. Entertainment - this to us was the only thing that lets this hotel down! the theatre is very poorly furnished with plastic "canteen" style seating and is not a comfortable place to sit but to be honest the shows really weren't worth watching anyway! as for the plaza where most people tend to gather - no atmosphere, except for two nights when there was live music then it was great! note to management put a live group or duo on in the plaza a lot more often and this will really liven the hotel up! Overall a great hotel which could be made so much better for so little cost.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Southbank Hotel; City: Torquay English Riviera Devon England; Review: We found the Southbank Hotel after searching Tripadvisor for a good hotel in Torquay for a quiet weekend break and we were certainly not disappointed! We were greeted by Ian on our arrival and shown to our room, we had booked a superior double so we were given room 9 which was perfectly acceptable, up two flights of stairs at the rear of the hotel. The room was very large and quiet, everything was spotless with plenty of tea, coffee and bottled water. The bathroom although small (the wash hand basin is actually outside the door) with its shower is more than adequate, with a couple of bath robe and some complimentary toiletries too. As for the breakfast, excellent! fresh fruit salad, range of cereals, yogurt and juices. I had a full breakfast on the first morning and certainly couldn't find fault and the same applies to the continental breakfast I had on the second morning. It seems as if nothing is too much trouble for Ian and we are really looking forward to a return visit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hele Valley Holiday Park; City: Ilfracombe Devon England; Review: Stayed here for one week with our Motor home towing a Smart Car on a trailer, booked a large fully serviced all weather pitch. The site in itself is lovely, immaculately clean and well kept with good facilities but this site does seem to be geared more to the Static Caravan side of things as opposed to the camping & touring. This is not an easy site to get into as it is set back from the main road up a narrow street with a couple of nasty corners (approach the site from the Coombe Martin direction otherwise you;ll have to turn around to enter the approach road) this wasn't helped by scaffolding erected on a house on the corner, only just made the bend with our outfit which is about 36' in total. The campsite is at the rear of the park (be careful as there are no pavements on the main road thro' the park and children seem to spend more time on the road with scooters & bikes than they do in the great play area) The pitches are neat and well kept the only slight issue was our pitch sloped slightly side to side and the gravel was so deep that our leveling ramps sunk so were of no use. The toilet block and facilities are spotlessly clean and well maintained. Summing up this a a great Park in a brilliant location don't believe the 10 minute walk to Ilfracombe it's 20-25 minutes at a fair pace to get to the harbour and longer on the cliff path. Hele itself is lovely with a good selection of places to eat and drink too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wooda Farm Holiday Park; City: Poughill Bude Bude Stratton Cornwall England; Review: After staying last year we enjoyed our stay so much we returned this year, the site is probably better than last time as there are some new attractions such as a cocktail bar. The site is immaculate and the facilities are very clean and well kept with the staff being friendly and helpful. The only slight issue we had was that we were pitched directly behind the play area (a pitch of our choosing like last year) and unlike last year we did have some footballs sail over the trees and into our pitch. Sadly they have discontinued the Clay Pigeon shooting which we enjoyed last year. A brilliant site we will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlantic Hotel; City: Tenby Pembrokeshire Wales; Review: Recently returned from a very enjoyable stay in The Atlantic, couldn't really wish for a nicer hotel with excellent staff and customer service, it's not often you get old school values in hotels these days! The breakfast was very good and cooked to order on our first morning as the hotel was quite quiet, on the second morning the hot buffet was being used but this didn't detract from the quality of the breakfast, you also have the choice of cereal, fruit salad (which was great) and the usual continental breakfast too. We made full use of the Spa facilities including the pool, Jacuzzi and steam room. The room itself (a small double with sea view No.17) was perfectly adequate and spotlessly clean there are a few minor maintenance issues that need to be addressed but they did not affect the quality of our stay. Summing up, a great hotel in a fantastic place and we'll certainly return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ancient Briton; City: Penycae Brecon Beacons National Park Wales; Review: I emailed the Ancient Briton on the off-chance to see if there was availability in their campsite at short notice, I received a very quick reply from Janine and by return email I booked a pitch with electric hook up for our motor-home at £19 I also booked a table in the restaurant too. On arrival I went into the pub to pay and was told to set up and pay when you're ready which was great. After setting up the van we went to the pub and checked in with the really helpful lad behind the bar where we got our key-cards to the excellent shower/toilet block. We did have a slight hiccup though, when we went to have food in the restaurant we found that our table hadn't been booked! and the restaurant was fully booked the waitress was very apologetic and did her best to fit us in but we opted to eat in the bar which was great as we could take our time with food and have a few drinks too. The food really was first class and three courses came to a very reasonable £40, there is a massive selection of drinks again at very good prices. This is a busy pub for good reason so I think booking is a must - we really can't wait to go back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Imperial Hotel; City: Llandudno Conwy County North Wales Wales; Review: Stayed in The Imperial Hotel for one night (Sadly it wasn't for more, it will be next time) The service was superb, the rooms although this is a Victorian hotel are immaculate and really well appointed, we had a sea view room on the third floor and the view was well worth paying the extra for! We did use the spa, bathrobes and slippers are very thoughtfully provided in the rooms, the swimming pool is plenty large enough and was very quiet when we were there, the Jacuzzi although dated was pretty good too! We were lucky to find a space in the car park which I expect gets very busy when the hotel is full. Breakfast was second to none, all local produce cooked to perfection and served by very pleasant staff. Superb old school hotel, really can't wait to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: North Ocean Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: This was our third stay at The North Ocean and although there are new owners this is still a great place to stay. We had a really great welcome on arrival and the room although not the room we expected (my mistake) was a really good room overlooking the promenade (constructive criticism, although we had a suite we had nothing to put our bags on, the folding type suitcase stands would be a great touch) We ate twice in the now called Bradley's Bistro and to be honest the food and service on both nights was excellent! well done to all concerned. The breakfast again was very good with a wide choice of fruit an cereals etc. (better than our previous stays) only slight observation was one button mushroom with the breakfasts, was it worth putting on the plate? apart from that very good. It also seems that the policy on children has changed as there were several staying over the weekend which is not a bad thing! Overall a great stay which we highly recommend, keep up the good work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Ball Inn; City: Ironbridge Ironbridge Gorge Telford Shropshire England; Review: Stayed her with a group of friends whilst on an event near Ironbridge, it's a lovely pub and restaurant with rooms, as its a very old historical building the stairs accessing the rooms are a bit awkward to negotiate and have low ceilings which are very east to knock your head on! The rooms are clean & acceptable but really could do with a bit of an update but for the price you can't go wrong. As for the breakfast well that was excellent! tasty with really good ingredients and plenty of it serve by a very friendly lady. Perhaps for our party the only downside was the bar, although well stocked and reasonably priced it did close early (it was a Sunday) we missed food in the Golden Ball due to a late arrival so ventured into Ironbridge, on return to the pub at 2130 we were abruptly told "last orders 2200 i'm locking the doors at 2230!) so at 2225 we all had to retire, that's life All that being said it's a good bed & breakfast; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Widdicombe Farm Caravan Park; City: Compton Paignton English Riviera Devon England; Review: Stayed for six nights late July when the site was very busy, had a premium pitch which although a little on the small side was perfectly acceptable. The site itself is very well kept and the facilities always spotless, it seems the road noise is an issue for some and yes you can hear the road but you get used to it and it does quieten down in the evening. The little cafe is great and the food excellent. Overall a lovely site, wouldn't hesitate to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Oaks Touring Park and Glamping; City: Glastonbury Somerset England; Review: All I can do really is reiterate the vast majority of reviews, excellent immaculate site, peaceful and well appointed. Stayed here in August and wouldn't hesitate to return. Shower blocks were lovely and kept clean every time we used them, great little shop not too expensive and lovely staff - what more could you want, first class.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swan House; City: Northallerton North Yorkshire England; Review: Stayed at Swan House for one night whilst visiting relatives living nearby, we booked a double room and we were allocated one of the annex rooms attached to the main house. The room was absolutely lovely, nicely decorated with great little extra touches, spotlessly clean and perfect for our needs. Breakfast, we were the only couple for breakfast at nine o'clock but there must have been enough to feed the site, fruit salad, fresh melon, cereals, yogurt, croissants, toast & a full English - superb. There is also a small bar / function room which sadly we didn't get a chance to use on this visit, hopefully we'll make better use of the campsite with our motor-home one day too. It seemed that nothing was too much trouble, can't wait to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Barcelona Condor; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: Stayed for three nights in a superior room with a balcony (which would be fantastic in the Summer) the room itself was quite adequate although not large served it's purpose well. Throughout our stay the room was serviced to a really high standard always fresh towels etc. The nespresso machine was a nice touch too. As in previous reviews it has been mentioned that there in no wardrobe and very little storage, we basically lived out of our cases. Breakfast was okay normal Continental and it did the job. Reception staff were absolutely brilliant and really couldn't do enough to help. In my opinion there are a few changes that should be made then the Hotel would be excellent, out of all the TV channels there were only two in English, both news. There isn't enough explanation in the room on how the mini bar operates, website says free soft drinks room price list says not? This Hotel really lacks a bar! although the free coffee and sweets in reception are great all that seems to be on sale is bottles of wine and mineral water with no explanation how it all works? I would certainly stay again but because of its location a bar is needed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swan House; City: Northallerton North Yorkshire England; Review: This is the second time we stayed at Swan House whilst visiting family locally. As on the previous visit (we had the same room) the room was very clean and suited our needs perfectly. The breakfast was second to none, enough to feed a small army! Christine couldn't do enough to help and really has to be commended on her service. We really love this place and look forward to returning, perhaps we'll bring our motor-home and try the campsite facilities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hooked on Classics; Brand: Hooked on Classics; Review: Myself and my friend both heartily enjoy the 'Hooked on Classics' series when we're drinking and would recommend it for all classical boozers. It's also superb driving music (although it's awful drinking AND driving music). Buy it NOW!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hooked on Classics; Brand: Louis Clark; Review: Myself and my friend both heartily enjoy the 'Hooked on Classics' series when we're drinking and would recommend it for all classical boozers. It's also superb driving music (although it's awful drinking AND driving music). Buy it NOW!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keep It Unreal; Brand: Mr. Scruff; Review: I first heard of Scruff on MTV with his jazz-sampling 'Get A Move On' and tracked him down immediatly. From the very Massive Attackesque instrumental numbers to the truly bizarre nautical 'Fish' & 'Shanty Town', there are no fillers on the album. He is undeservedly very obscure, so I doubt he'll ever amount to much. However he knocks Massive Attack's, Groove Armada'a, Air's, Orbital's and Underworld's new albums into a cocked hat. Possibly simultaneously.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hour of Bewilderbeast; Brand: Badly Drawn Boy; Review: I'm sure the fact that he's signed to The Prodigy's ultra cred XL Recrdings label will put him in the same folk-music-that's-Ok-for-clubbers catagory as Beth Orten, and that's really no bad thing, but don't expect to find any loud breakbeats or 'Smack my Beast Up' samples. I've tried explaing what his style is comparable to to friends, and the best I've got yet is an amalgamation of the Beatles' White Album, Nick Drake's pastoral acoustics, a touch of Primal Scream (Fall into a River), a healthy dollop of Money Mark-esque eccentricity sprinkled generously with flakes of Travis. I heard his 'Once Around the Block' single ages ago, and I was glad he chose to include it here as it's one of the best tunes on the album. Definately worth a listen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Valentine; Brand: Tom Waits; Review: I've only started listening to Tom recently and I bought 'Mule Variations', 'Franks Wild Years', 'Small Change' and 'Blue Valentine' on the weekend (they're only $10 each - God bless Australia!) 'Mule Variations' I brought straight back, I'm not to fond of his croaky-voodoo-shaman persona, although I like 'Franks...' for the track 'Temptation'. Anyway I'm detracting from the point. Of them all, 'Blue Valentine' is my favourite. The cover is extremely cheesy, but the tracks are first class. 'Red Shoes..' has very eerie lyrics whispered over a hypnotioc tribal beat, and 'Pretty Little Bullet..' (my personal fave) and 'Romeo Is Bleeding' are both upbeat jazz tunes with hummable basslines that are more fleshed out than the sparse piano arrangements on 'Small Change'. I hope this review proves helpful to someone, as I know how tricky it is to try and buy a quality album from an artist like Tom, who has so many, and so varied, albums.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soundphiles; Brand: Kinobe; Review: This album is very similar to Groove Armada's 'Vertigo' - which is no bad thing really, but nothing here really jumps up and grabbed me by the baubles. 'Slip into something...' is Kinobe's equivalent of 'At the River' with a very similar feel to The All Seeing I's 'Walk Like a Panther' - all cheesy lounge music cliches and a guy crooning over the top about the sea and the sand. 'Skyscraper' is nice, sort of like every other funky down-tempo track that precedes it (think Fila Brazilia, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Groove Armada, Nightmares on Wax et al). The rest of the album contains the obligatory rap track 'Theatricks' (track number two just like on Groove Armada's album), jokey breakbeat assault (the Biological Break), Mexican themed breakbeats (Hombre) and mellow guitar tracks fill in the gaps. It is a good all round album but I really don't think that these types of albums are anything new any more. Put it this way - How often do you return to your Groove Armada album? For variations on this genre get Mr. Scruff's 'Keep it Unreal' or Kruder & Dorfmeister's 'K&D Sessions' for a bit of longitivity and a healthy dose of origionality. Hope this helps. [sean]; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deltron 3030; Brand: Kid Koala; Review: I class Del Tha Funkee Homosapien in the same class as Jay-Z, Puff Daddy and all those other idiots insofar as that his voice and delivery just sound like he's talking and don't sound that different to every other Tom, Dick and Harry in this game. I'd consider Kool Keith, Roots Manuva and even Busta Rhymes as interesting as they at least have a different slant in their rapping style. Hence, this is a good album but could have benefitted from Dr. Octagon or somebody a bit more lyrically diverse to compliment the wonderful beats. I think Del sounds a bit too mainstream and boring for this album to be honest. A good buy, but check out Dr. Octagon's album for a similar sound (Automater creates the beats for both albums) with freakier and more stimulating rapping.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Programmed to Love; Brand: Bent; Review: The cream of the recent 'chill-out' tidal wave. On a par with Air's 'Moon Safari' and towering above Groove Armada and Kinobe. Read my track-by-track synopsis below to prove it's diversity in styles. 1. Exercise 1 Quirkily amusing Aphex Twin style outing that shares a similar tune to The Orb's 'Oxbow Lakes'. The intro is funny too. 2. Private Road Emotional synth sweeps over an Irish Beth Orton soundalike. *Very good*. Like much of the album, it has melodies that stick in your head and leave you humming them all week. 3. Cylons Of Love Very Air. Laid back track with Vocodered vocals and lush piano. 4. Chocloate Wings The album's low point. It just doesn't fit in that well with the other songs. Upbeat dance track with cheesy lyrics about wanting to look at some girls chocolate star (ooo-er). 5. Invisible Pedestrian More like it. Moody bassline with thumping drums over the top. 6. I Remember Johnny Tinkling pianos, breakbeats and a really, really smooth bassline. 7. Swollen The album's high point. Sorta like Air, it fits sultry, breathy lyrics over a hypnotic 'Bladerunner' type tune. I think this is being released as their next single. 8. Welly Top Mary Breezy Summer evenings wasted away drinking, smoking and making love to Welly Top Mary. Nice. 9. Irritating Noises I'm not so sure about the male vocal but it plods along nicely enough. What is he crooning about anyway? 10. Always (three parts) a)Always in my heart: Club-style dance track with all the cliches: Operatic diva chanting over the top with a Euro type bassline. Saved by a truly mind-altering piano loop. b)Toothless gibbon: Frenzied techno with a monkey screeching in the backround. Sorta amusing, but ultimately irritating. c)To the bridge: Mellow hip-hop beats with children singing 'London Bridge is Falling Down' over the top. Nice album closer. ;); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Programmed to Love; Brand: Bent; Review: The cream of the recent 'chill-out' tidal wave. On a par with Air's 'Moon Safari' and towering above Groove Armada and Kinobe. Read my track-by-track synopsis below to prove it's diversity in styles. 1. Exercise 1 Quirkily amusing Aphex Twin style outing that shares a similar tune to The Orb's 'Oxbow Lakes'. The intro is funny too. 2. Private Road Emotional synth sweeps over an Irish Beth Orton soundalike. *Very good*. Like much of the album, it has melodies that stick in your head and leave you humming them all week. 3. Cylons Of Love Very Air. Laid back track with Vocodered vocals and lush piano. 4. Chocloate Wings The album's low point. It just doesn't fit in that well with the other songs. Upbeat dance track with cheesy lyrics about wanting to look at some girls chocolate star (ooo-er). 5. Invisible Pedestrian More like it. Moody bassline with thumping drums over the top. 6. I Remember Johnny Tinkling pianos, breakbeats and a really, really smooth bassline. 7. Swollen The album's high point. Sorta like Air, it fits sultry, breathy lyrics over a hypnotic 'Bladerunner' type tune. I think this is being released as their next single. 8. Welly Top Mary Breezy Summer evenings wasted away drinking, smoking and making love to Welly Top Mary. Nice. 9. Irritating Noises I'm not so sure about the male vocal but it plods along nicely enough. What is he crooning about anyway? 10. Always (three parts) a)Always in my heart: Club-style dance track with all the cliches: Operatic diva chanting over the top with a Euro type bassline. Saved by a truly mind-altering piano loop. b)Toothless gibbon: Frenzied techno with a monkey screeching in the backround. Sorta amusing, but ultimately irritating. c)To the bridge: Mellow hip-hop beats with children singing 'London Bridge is Falling Down' over the top. Nice album closer. ;); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Ep's; Brand: The Beta Band; Review: This album is good in parts, but frequently patchy. The lead singer has a delivery like Ringo Starr on valium - which adds to the hypnotic effect of the songs. Actually, his style is extremely similar to Karl Hyde from Underworld. The words are generally spoken rather than sung, but the frequencies and modulations follow the instrumentation and are often repeated over and over again (think 'Juanita' by Underworld). 'Dry the Rain' is a Beck-style knees up, all acoustic/slide guitars over a lightweight looped beat. My favourite track is 'Dr. Baker' (it was used as incidental music on the UK comedy show 'Trigger Happy TV'). It's quite haunting and trippy sounding, but I hate the fact that they found it neccessary to segue the two main harmonies with a 'Day In The Life Of' style cacophony of random noises. It just seems a bit lazy. The song 'Monolith' is pointless too, 18 or so minutes of drifting random noise which I skip every single time I put on the album. Which pretty much sums up the Beta Band to me. They offer great moments on this album, but ruin it somewhat by lazy production techniques (ie. 'how can we fill up a few minutes in this song? I dunno, just add white noise. Umm, maybe stick a trumpet in there as well).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Dan The Automator; Review: The version of the album that I bought is the old Bulk Recordings version - it has a severed hand on the cover - so I think I lost some of the tracks mentioned here and gained a few different ones. When listening to some of the dirtier songs, all rectums, juicy brown booties and cirumcision talk, you get the impression that the album's a one trick pony. Then listen to 'Biology 101' and he sounds like he's studied quantum mechanics for the last ten years! If this version omits Biology 101, you're really missing something. It's all good - the choruses admittedly get repetitive (especially Earth People), and the porno skits are best skipped, but it's worth the price alone for the truly demented lyrics about horses loose in hospitals, rectal rebuilding and Keith demanding us to touch his delicate instrument. Insane.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Discovery; Brand: Daft Punk; Review: I wasn't too great a fan of Homework - I loved the thumping tracks like Revolution 909 and Alive, but I thought that too much of it was just unlistenable grating noises that seemed to follow the simple routine of just getting louder and louder. This is a whole different ballgame, with only Short Circuit sounding remotely like a refugee from their debut. It's more like an up-tempo Air style sound, best showcased on tracks like Digital Love and Veritas Quo. My only criteria is that the last two tracks are a little pedestrian, very average run-of-the-mill house music.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Discovery; Brand: Daft Punk; Review: I wasn't too great a fan of Homework - I loved the thumping tracks like Revolution 909 and Alive, but I thought that too much of it was just unlistenable grating noises that seemed to follow the simple routine of just getting louder and louder. This is a whole different ballgame, with only Short Circuit sounding remotely like a refugee from their debut. It's more like an up-tempo Air style sound, best showcased on tracks like Digital Love and Veritas Quo. My only criteria is that the last two tracks are a little pedestrian, very average run-of-the-mill house music.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bodily Functions; Brand: Herbert; Review: As DJ Rez mentioned in his review, Herbert's pregnant missus contributed all the squelchy sampled noises that the some of the tracks use, and his baby makes a few guest gurgles. With that in mind, you'd imagine that this is a fairly tuneless album, but you'd be so wrong. Apart from the few jazz interludes, the more dance-orientated tracks are some of the most hummable, funkiest and memorable tunes I've heard all year. It reminds me a little of 'Dubnobass..' by Underworld with it's lo-fi approach and sound effects, but the inclusion of a Suzanne Vega-esque singer (Herbert's missus?) elevates some of the songs into sublime epics. Check out the eerie Twin Peaks sounding 'It's Only' with it's emotional synth washes, the bouncy 'The Audience' with it's jazzy Saint Germain like outro and the tune that's been stuck in my head for the past bloody month, 'You Saw It All' (that bass line at the chorus is hypnotic I tells ya.) His other album 'About the House' is supposed to be better still, but I've yet to locate it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surfer Rosa; Brand: Pixies; Review: Everything these guys released is an essential buy in my opinion. This, their debut (be sure to buy the Pilgrim/Surfer Rosa compilation) is their most jagged, abrasive and most deranged sounding recording, dealing with mainly incest tales, broken faces and bodies and a handful of manic Spanish assaults. Their next one up, Doolittle was more of the same, Bossanova explored spacey alien obsessions mixed with surf music and Trompe le Monde was business as usual with a more polished sound. All essential, but back to Surfer Rosa. The thing that has always struck me about the Pixies - along with Frank's demonic shriek - is Joey Santiago's guitar playing. Nobody has ever came near his style. When not routinely strumming alongside Frank, his solos follow no simialarities to the rhythm section but glide and warp around it, giving them this really unique kooky sound. River Euphrates on Surfer is a good example of his guitar work. Also, I've always believed that their artwork (by Vaughan Oliver) added an certain something to their odd style in general. If you like this, their other three studio albums continue the standard of quality and their B-Sides collection is probably worth picking up too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Los Angeles; Brand: John Digweed; Review: I'm not really a buyer of big name DJ mixes, but I saw this and remembered his old CDs with Sasha that showcased trippy gliding non-commercial trance tracks. Because everybody and his dog has been flogging trance to death over the past few years, Digweed wisely chose to spin the deeper, darker trance variant featured here. My concern is that the tracks don't actually do anything or go anywhere in particular, they just pound on until it's time to seamlessly (by a computer program) weave it into the next. His old CDs in my eyes maintained a level of cool non-commercialism alongside actual hummable tunes and basslines. The mix here verge dangerously close to Billy Nasty/Dave Clarke style tuneless techno. Y'know, sounds Ok in a nightclub but when in reality it's no less than a pounding beat over, for all intents and purposes, the throb of a washing machine. The mix of 'Mine to Give' and 'Groove is in the Air' harks back to his old tunes with that creepy groaning noise fading between the two tracks (remember Trancelots 'The Gloom'?) but as a whole, a Northern Exposure or Communicate CD would be a wiser choice. The tracks on his older CDs sound far fresher than this selection anyway.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Satta; Brand: Boozoo Bajou; Review: This is heavy dubby music, quite similar to cleaner sounding Lee "Scratch" Perry instrumental reggae numbers. The drumming is tribal and hypnotic and the tracks are threaded with soulful blues groaning, atmospheric jungle sound effects and the occasional trumpet. Low key, but a new benchmark in it's field.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Selected Ambient Works Volume 2; Brand: Aphex Twin; Review: I'll try to be the voice of reason regarding this album. By today's standards (2001) SAW2 maybe a little too minimalistic and repetitive for most buyer's ears who have become used to the idea that 'ambient' music encompasses the likes of Air and Groove Armada. Try to think of this collection as pure atmosphere burnt onto two CDs, some pleasant and some eerie and gently disturbing. Read the two wildly varying review excerpts below and decide whether a two disk album that can conjure such mixed emotions is worth your hard earned cash. From the 'Love It' stable: "...Described as unearthly, this is music on a cosmological order, linking us to the unending boundaries of space and time, to the power of our dreams, the inherent conflict of existence, and our struggles with isolation and absurdity. It also embraces the value of the moment, glints of sunlight, the sublime and redemptive qualities of love..." From the 'Hate It' stable: "...For those expecting this CD to contain beautiful, harmonious music - you will be sadly disappointed. The best I can say is that it's like a movie soundtrack to a bizarre horror movie..." So there you have it. The love theme from a David Lynch movie.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Pepper; Brand: Ween; Review: I'll admit that I'd never heard these guys and expected them to be similar to Weezer or The Presidents of the United States (or whatever they're called), y'know , "quirky" American college music. But instead of lo-fi Sebadoh shennanigans, I was pleasantly surprized to find Pixies/Frank Black style rock with a nice production sheen. Sometimes over produced, but in a purposeful '80s tribute kind of a way. The only reason why I picked this album up was because I'd read an interview with eccentric UK electronica deviant Aphex Twin citing Ween as an influence. For those of you who've never heard of Aphex Twin, he's been hailed as a modern day Mozart, drives a tank and lives in a bank vault. His albums are consistantly perversely weird (check 'Milkman' on his Richard D. James album), but are generally ahead of their time style-wise. Any Yank alt-rockers who could fuel this guys imagination need to be tracked down, I thought. Standard rock abounds on White Pepper, but it's all nice and tuneful. Tracks like 'Flutes of the Chi' , 'Even if You Don't' and the spacey Beatles organned, Led Zep riffing, Pink Floyd echoing 'Back to Bason' are all tip-top rock songs. Humour is provided by 'Bananas & Blow' and the nod to Steely Dan, 'Pandy Fackler'. Because of this album, I might dip into their back catalogue to see if this standard of quality was constant. Oh, and for Ween-heads reading this, risk a few dollars on an Aphex Twin album (read the reviews on Amazon first) for a alternate reality of Ween's oddness. The 'Richard D. James' album might be a good place to sample first.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Music Has the Right to Children; Brand: Boards Of Canada; Review: It's strange that quite a few reviewers have mentioned this album's 'remniscent quality', because when I stuck it on first I was reading a book and a soon found my concentration fading and memories of watching old microbe videos in biology class, meditating on childhood games and occasionally getting hypnotised by the ever-evolving lockdown grooves showcased by tracks like 'Telephasic Workshop'. This album has a far more human touch than many of it's shelf buddies, and to me highlights the album that Aphex Twin could have made were he, err..., better. I compare the BoC with Aphex because of their use of soft synth washes to give a feeling of slight unease, fortunately the Boards have given Aphex's drill 'n bass nastiness the wide berth it deserves. To me, MHTRTHC sounds like My Bloody Valentine fed through synths and a sequencer. Like MBV's 'Loveless', the swirling backwards playing synths and effects evoke such strong emotions, but it's nigh on impossible to put a finger on why. The album cover suits the music too, hazy, nostalgic and familiar. Finally, I'd disagree with other reviewers commenting on how the album sounds 'lo-fi' and as though it's playing from an old cassette. Everything sounds precise and crisp to my ears. ORANGE!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Is; Brand: Princess Superstar; Review: Because this was included in the 'recommended listening' shelf at my local music shop, and because it features appearances from Kool Keith, Bahamadia and Beth Orten with beats provided by the Herbalizer, I presumed that it was something similar to the 'Handsome Boy Modelling School' project. Y'know, a top producer providing the beats and various talents rapping over the top kind of a thing. How I was wrong. Track one: Kool Keith game show skit. Usual fare. Track two: Nice enough beats, but irritating female rapper. Who is she anyway? No name is listed under the song credits... Track three: Suddenly dawns on me that 'Princess Superstar' isn't an album concept but a crappy Lil' Kim style rappess. Her raps blabber on about her being the female Eminem (who's style she certainly emulates, complete with childish backing samples: think 'My Name Is' by Em.) Typical lyrics are about [sex] and smoking Sens, and how she is wrongly portrayed by the media (I've never heard of her) as a white trash rapper in a black girl's game. She just comes off as a sweary blondie from No Doubt. Absolute tripe. Two stars for the beats.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Is This It; Brand: The Strokes; Review: I don't care if these guys are public school-educated, are dating Amanda de Cadenet, have frizzy 'retro' afros, have rich fathers, live in New York or are the rock and roll saviours of 2002. I bought this album after listening to 'Soma' and 'Trying Your Luck' in a workmate's MP3 collection. I liked them, listened to them again, then bought the album. Apart from the aforementioned two tracks, only 'Last Nite' and 'Someday' stand out. And when only four songs stand out in a collection of a mere 40 minute's worth of music, terms like 'rock and roll saviours' only reflect the stagnant state of contemporary music. But don't get me wrong, the Strokes do what they do in a workmanlike fashion, drums Lust for Lifing, guitars squealing and Casablancas shouting himself hoarse. -=sean=-; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Platform / Annihilation; Brand: Dilated Peoples; Review: Pretty average stuff. Unimaginative beats, too many shout outs to themselves and below par rhymes. Spend your cash on Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious or Jurassic 5's Quality Control.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Original Pirate Material; Brand: The Streets; Review: Musical innovation? Some monotonous dullard talking about such interesting topics as being on Ecstacy, kebab shops and drinking lager over the usual looped beats and obligatory "feelin' so high" female samples. "But, yeah man, he's talking 'bout the streets, ya know, the real world." Do yourself a favour and trade it in for a Doner and a can of Fanta. Hideous.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Evil Heat; Brand: Primal Scream; Review: The Chemical Brothers, Death in Vegas, David Holmes. All had albums featuring Bobby G on guest vocals. All those cameos sound like Evil Heat. Electro music as a genre has roughly 10 'noises'. You know, football clacker clicking noises, tinny metronomic percussion, hissy highhats. All have been embraced by the 'Scream, and boy do they sound dull. Weatherall may well have been a super producer, but listen to his '9 o'clock drop' compilation to see where Evil Heat's sound originates from. Or indeed, the Sabres remix of 'Stuka'. Buy if you liked 'Bow Down to the Exit Sign' by Holmes.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Evil Heat; Brand: Primal Scream; Review: The Chemical Brothers, Death in Vegas, David Holmes. All had albums featuring Bobby G on guest vocals. All those cameos sound like Evil Heat. Electro music as a genre has roughly 10 'noises'. You know, football clacker clicking noises, tinny metronomic percussion, hissy highhats. All have been embraced by the 'Scream, and boy do they sound dull. Weatherall may well have been a super producer, but listen to his '9 o'clock drop' compilation to see where Evil Heat's sound originates from. Or indeed, the Sabres remix of 'Stuka'. Buy if you liked 'Bow Down to the Exit Sign' by Holmes.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Journeys By DJ: Special Release; Brand: Coldcut; Review: To avoid the disappointment felt by Mr. One-Star below, realise that this CD is a far cry from 'Havin it Large in Ibiza Vol. 9'. '70 Minutes of Madness' is often quoted by the dance music press as being one of the most influential mix CDs, which it indeed is, but falls more on the side of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's Product Placement mix, only more eclectic. The blending of styles rather than the individual tracks are what have made this mix stay fresh since it's release, with 'side 2's' Luke Slater/Joanna Law/Photek/Boogie Down Productions splice forming what should be released as a song in it's own right. Throw into this melting pot a hundred and one different sound snippets and samples, like the Dr. Who theme, old (hilarious) karate movie dialogue and B-movie introductions and the thing comes alive. If you're interested but unsure of the content, check the artists. Red Snapper, Tim 'Love' Lee, Dead Kennedy's Jello Biafra and Photek in a couple of guises.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Ringer; Brand: RJD2; Review: I only picked up this album because I love the track 'Here's Whats Left', and I was told that it was a hidden track at the end of the last song on this album. Well guess what? Obviously not on all copies! Like the reviewer below, my copy ends straight after 'Work' comes to an end. Sadly, none of the remaining tracks come close to 'Here's Whats Left', although 'Silver Fox', 'Ghostwriter', 'Chickenbone Circuit' and 'June' are high quality stuff. Some of the tracks border dangerously on Moby territory too, 'Good Times Pt. 2' sounds like any of the 'big-beat' dross Moby has committed to a car ad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 26 Mixes for Cash; Brand: Aphex Twin; Review: Worth the price of entry alone for his 'Big Drum' mix of Gavin Bryars' 'Raising the Titanic'. Absolutely beautiful, perhaps the best thing he's ever done in my opinion. The Heroes mix is especially good too. Doesn't sound remotely like Drukqs, so don't be put off if you weren't a fan. Well lush.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX4 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400; Brand: Linksys; Review: This with the srx400 wifi adapter and yoru set. My cable line is a 6 mb line. On the older toshiba we have that uses the SRX400 card in it to connect wirelessly, it can download as fast as the desktops that are connected by cable to the router, 6mb!!!!! I just wished they had an Expresscard version so that I could get one for my new Dell Laptop! Or even a USB version would be great as well. But you cant go wrong with this router. Its easy to set up and sends out a very strong yet friendly signal (we have 2 different routers in the office, a 54gs and this one on 2 different channels and its great, the srx is a friendly router!!) I give it 2 thumbs up and it will save you a lot of time. How much is your time worth to you????; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cisco-Linksys WPC54GX4 Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SRX 400; Brand: Linksys; Review: This is card is awesome! Thanks. I got it up and going and am using wpa. I put the SRX400 card in my dads older toshiba laptop and it is amazing. I went to the speakeasy website with the speedtest and it was amazing. With the srx 400 card in the laptop it was downloading at almost 6mp, which is how fast the cable modem we have is. The same speed my desktop DL from it that is wired to to the router... My Dell laptop (with expres card slot (so I cant use this card and that was the computer I wanted to put it in so bad!!!) and Dell 1390 wifi internal card) best result was 800kb, average was closer to 450-500kb. I never expected that much of an improvement! To bad they don't have a srx400 USB wlan adapter.... or one for ExpressCard slot yet. SO if you have a very new and or advanced colaptop, like the dell E705 or some of the Alienware as well as HP and others, make sure you have the needed PCMIA card slot. If you do you will love this card. It found 4 other networks my dell could not see! talk about a stong card!!!! Thanks for the help!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras; Brand: Canon; Review: I upgraded from my Tamron 180mm to the Canon. The Tamron is a good lens and a great value, but there is no comparison to the Canon L glass! I love the lens and the range it gives me to use it. Only complaint is its hard to find the adjustment bracket thing for the Macro Lights for the 180mm 72mm thread filter size. Wish Canon would step up more there!!! Make sure you put a good UV filter on this baby, heliopan or B+W as they are ground glass and much better optically than the other filters! The Canon L series glass is pristine and holds its value very well also. My bag is all L glass, except for 1 lens. The Tamron 14mm SP 2.8, otherwise my 70-200 2.8 IS, 70-200 F4 IS, 17-40 F4, 300 F4 IS, 500 F4.5, 100-400mm, 24-105 IS, 35 F1.4, and now the 180MM Macro. Canon has some of the Finest glass out there and match that to solid camera, like the EOS 1N and EOS 3 for Film or the 30D, 5D and Mark III for digital, you are in for some wonderful shots and a lot of enjoyment! I make my living doing Photography, now in Alaska doing photo tours for/with Kenai River Hideaway B&B, as well as selling prints and private shoots, and I won't put any other 35mm Platform in my bag! You get what you pay for, and the L series delivers and holds its value should you wish to change and upgrade later! You cant go Wrong with Canon L Glass. Thanks Alaska Photo Tours; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tamron AF 180mm f/3.5 Di SP A/M FEC LD (IF) 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Model; Brand: Tamron; Review: I bought this lens Last year on the Tamron Student program. Its a nice lens. My first one had a problem that showed up in the first 3 days, it would not go from manual to auto focus. So I had to replace it. A hassle but still worth it. I liked the lens a lot and only sold it off to move up to the much sharper Canon 180mm L 3.5. If you are looking at a 90/100mm Macro or the 180, get the 180, its so much nicer. If you cant afford the Canon L series, get the Tamron! Its tons better than the sigma junk! And the 180 gives you some distance between you and the object, very nice esp if you are shoot an insect!!!! I have some images up at Tamron.com and if you have a tamron lens you can post images there too!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Canon EOS 1D Mark III 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Canon; Review: This Camera is brand new, and like most new electronics will have a few bugs, and I figure most can be fixed by firmware updates or Canon, will do any minor adjustments needed when its sent in for Service. I sold off my 5D to step up to this one. For shooting in non perfect weather, like my Alaskan winters, or even some summer days, this camera does perform great. The Battery life is great. I am use to long life, as all my cameras have the battery grips on them, but I was shocked by how long the battery lasted with the new Mark, and even better it telling you when to recondition it! WOW!! The NOISE on the Mark 3 is FANTASTIC!! Compared to the 5d, its almost 2 stops better, and thats with the cameras noise reduction mode turned off. The noise/grain at 3200 is very useable, and even 6400 is not too bad, granted I would not print a 20x30 but at iso 1600 I can. The Highlight preservation feature is great, esp for wedding photographers. You can now shoot the wedding dress in sunlight and have the detail! I know several pros that are moving from their nikon d2x to the Mark 3 because of that and the very low noise!!! I shoot Automotive (hot rods and high end sports cars, and make custom photographic art for the owner), as well as the wonderous Alaskan wilderness, landscapes and wildlife. This Camera is a dream to use. It is not as heavy as the older Marks, and personally I think it is about the same weight as the 5D was with the battery grip, but has a better fell in my hand. The 10MP is fine and I can still take images to 20x30 and larger with no problems! The 1.3 crop factor still gives me the prospective I like on my extreme wide angle lenses, like my 14mm or the fisheye. If you are one of the lucky ones to get one of these wonderful cameras, you are lucky, if you want one, get on a list fast. Mine is even used a lot around and for photos of the guests at my folks B&B in Soldtona Alaska, the Kenai River Hideaway, and even the guests love to see it, and are impressed by the quality images even at low light! I have some images on my website, as well as the B&B site if you want to check them out. Enjoy! Its a great CAMERA!!!! Kevin; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon Macrolite Adapter 72C; Brand: Canon; Review: If you use a 180mm macro lens like the nice Tamron or the Wonderful Canon 180mm L series Macro. The adapter is a hard thing to find, and is needed to mount your Macro Twin Lite or ringlite to the flash so you get the proper exposure and depth of field. It's not cheap, but then again most camera accessories are pricey. A good ground glass filter will run you a pretty penny but needed if you want to keep you optic quality from you high end lenses. its a must have, just make sure not to loose it.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B+W 72mm Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Coating; Brand: Schneider Optics; Review: If you have quality glass, like the Canon L series, then you need quality filters. the B+W are made from ground optical glass, not a piece of plain glass like as you see in the tiffen and hoyas filters (even the expensive ones are still cheap grade glass). Only B+W and Heliopan put the time and $$ into making filters that are designed to be used with your quality lenses and not distort and reduce the optical quality of them. I have 2 MRC, 1 Kaesemann, and 1 slim one, and I love them. I have a Heliopan as well, and I prefer the B+W a little bit more as its a brass ring and not aluminum and thus does not bind up as easy, and thats important when you want to change filters quickly! I like the MRC the best of them all, the slim one is a pain since you cant put a normal canon lens cap on it, but the Heliopan slim one you can... If you use a cheap filter on a pro grade lens, you are wasting your money, on the lens and the filter as the filter just hurt your image quality, and thus you lowered the quality of your lens! In filters, like lenses, you get what you pay for!!! I shoot in all kinda of weather conditions, from sunny and warm, to windy and cold or snowy, and I have never had any major issues with any of my B+W filters acting up! I prefer the MRC or even the Kaesemann over the entry level one, but even their entry level one is ground glass, so you still get a great quality filter at that price point.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B+W 82mm Slim-Line Circular Polarizer; Brand: B + W; Review: If you have quality glass, like the Canon L series, then you need quality filters. the B+W are made from ground optical glass, not a piece of plain glass like as you see in the tiffen and hoyas filters (even the expensive ones are still cheap grade glass). Only B+W and Heliopan put the time and $$ into making filters that are designed to be used with your quality lenses and not distort and reduce the optical quality of them. I have 2 MRC, 1 Kaesemann, and 1 slim one, and I love them, HOWEVER the slim one you cant put a normal lens cap on it, and that is a major pain!! I have a Heliopan as well, and I prefer the B+W a little bit more as its a brass ring and not aluminum and thus does not bind up as easy, and thats important when you want to change filters quickly! But the Heliopan slim model you can still put a normal Canon lens cap on it, as I have done it many times on my 17-40mm F4 L series lens before I got the B+W. If you use a cheap filter on a pro grade lens, you are wasting your money, on the lens and the filter as the filter just hurt your image quality, and thus you lowered the quality of your lens! In filters, like lenses, you get what you pay for!!! I shoot in all kinda of weather conditions, from sunny and warm, to windy and cold or snowy, and I have never had any major issues with any of my B+W filters acting up! I prefer the MRC or even the Kaesemann over the entry level one, but even their entry level one is ground glass, so you still get a great quality filter at that price point.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B+W 52mm Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Coating; Brand: B + W; Review: If you have quality glass, like the Canon L series, then you need quality filters. the B+W are made from ground optical glass, not a piece of plain glass like as you see in the tiffen and hoyas filters (even the expensive ones are still cheap grade glass). Only B+W and Heliopan put the time and $$ into making filters that are designed to be used with your quality lenses and not distort and reduce the optical quality of them. I have 2 of these, and I love them. I have a Heliopan as well, and I prefer the B+W a little bit more as its a brass ring and not aluminum and thus does not bind up as easy, and thats important when you want to change filters quickly! If you use a cheap filter on a pro grade lens, you are wasting your money, on the lens and the filter as the filter just hurt your image quality, and thus you lowered the quality of your lens! In filters, like lenses, you get what you pay for!!! I shoot in all kinda of weather conditions, from sunny and warm, to windy and cold or snowy, and I have never had any major issues with any of my B+W filters acting up!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B+W 39mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Multi Coated Glass Filter (66045606); Brand: B+W; Review: If you have quality glass, like the Canon L series, then you need quality filters. the B+W are made from ground optical glass, not a piece of plain glass like as you see in the tiffen and hoyas filters (even the expensive ones are still cheap grade glass). Only B+W and Heliopan put the time and $$ into making filters that are designed to be used with your quality lenses and not distort and reduce the optical quality of them. I have 2 MRC, 1 Kaesemann, and 1 "plain" or Normal one, and I love them. I have a Heliopan as well, and I prefer the B+W a little bit more as its a brass ring and not aluminum and thus does not bind up as easy, and thats important when you want to change filters quickly! If you use a cheap filter on a pro grade lens, you are wasting your money, on the lens and the filter as the filter just hurt your image quality, and thus you lowered the quality of your lens! In filters, like lenses, you get what you pay for!!! I shoot in all kinda of weather conditions, from sunny and warm, to windy and cold or snowy, and I have never had any major issues with any of my B+W filters acting up! I prefer the MRC or even the Kaesemann over the entry level one, but even their entry level one is ground glass, so you still get a great quality filter at that price point.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B+W 39mm Clear UV Haze with Multi-Resistant Coating (010M); Brand: B + W; Review: If you have quality glass, like the Canon L series, then you need quality filters. the B+W are made from ground optical glass, not a piece of plain glass like as you see in the tiffen and hoyas filters (even the expensive ones are still cheap grade glass). Only B+W and Heliopan put the time and $$ into making filters that are designed to be used with your quality lenses and not distort and reduce the optical quality of them. I have a Heliopan as well, and I prefer the B+W a little bit more as its a brass ring and not aluminum and thus does not bind up as easy, and thats important when you want to change filters quickly! If you use a cheap filter on a pro grade lens, you are wasting your money, on the lens and the filter as the filter just hurt your image quality, and thus you lowered the quality of your lens! In filters, like lenses, you get what you pay for!!! I shoot in all kinda of weather conditions, from sunny and warm, to windy and cold or snowy, and I have never had any major issues with any of my B+W filters acting up! I prefer the MRC, but even their entry level one is ground glass, so you still get a great quality filter at that price point. You need a UV filter on all your lenses, as it helps to protect your front element, as I have seen many lenses saved when bumped or dropped by the UV filter. If you are outdoors shooting or around kids or food at all, you have to have a UV filter no matter what! The B+W does not degrade your optical quality from a quality pro-series lens, like a Canon L Series, where a lower grade window glass filter would, like all the Tiffen, Hoys, etc. Even the Canon filters are not ground glass, and thus why I don't use them! Just be aware if you are using good filters, you can't blame a bad image or blurry shot on the glass or filter then, you will have to own up to actually taking a bad picture every once and a while... :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras; Brand: Canon; Review: This is a good lens. But the EF-S series only work on the 1.6x crop cameras, like the 20D, Rebel XTI, XT, 30D, 40D, etc.. Not on the 5D, the film bodies like the eos 3 and eos 1, nor on the Mark bodies. Thus I won't buy one as I still shoot film, and I also have a 1D Mark 3 I shoot with all the time and my 40D is my backup, and my 10D is converted for only IR usage, and its awesome. If you look at the optics, this lens is pretty good, but the 17-40 is great and it blows the image quality away. Granted the 17-40 is F4, not 2.8, but most people don't need 2.8 unless you are doing a lot of low light indoor shooting or a wedding, and if you are doing a wedding, you should get L glass for the better quality anyways! I can shoot my 17-40 on my 40D or Mark 3 at 1600 ISO with out any issues and still blow them up, a lot better than my buddies Nikon D80 or D200 at even 800 ISO!!! He needs to be at about 400 to try to compete with the noise/pixelation of the 40D @ 1600 ISO!!! If you never plan to get a better camera than the 40D series, and granted those are very good cameras, but if you want to go to pro grade or semi pro grade, like the 5D this lens will not work for you. Also you don't really need IS on a wide angle lens! Just look at the New pro model, the 16-35II and it don't got IS on it... I figure if your not over 70-100mm you don't really need IS. Shoot I have a 500MM F4.5 model w/o IS and its awesome, even handheld. BUT IS does not help you if you are on a tripod, always remember that! Hope this helps!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitachi Ultravision 42HDS69 42-Inch Plasma HDTV; Brand: Hitachi; Review: I bought this early this summer when I wanted to upgrade. Having had a Pioneer Elite 60 inch big screen tv for 6+ years, it was hard to give it to a friend when I moved. I went looking to get a good value for a good tv. My 27inch Proscan from about 1992 was still working well, but I wanted a bigger picture. I shopped around and this was the tv I bought. For the money you can't beat it. I got it on a blow out sale, as I had planned to go LCD as I could not afford 1500-2K for a tv at this time. I am glad I found this bargin! Yah its not 1080P, but thats ok. My ps3 and Harman Kardon DVD Player and AVR Receiver love it. The movies look great, even the older dvds or the ones that my cousins/nephews play over and over, like the Harry Potter ones, that I bet have been played atleast 500 times each, if not closer to 1000 times! This is the best bang for your buck! You get the the better color and much truer blacks than on a LCD, at about the same price!!! You cant go wrong!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender for EOS Cameras; Brand: Canon; Review: This does help. Esp those of us with glasses and a large face. However it does NOT fit all EOS bodies. It does not work on the 1D and 1Ds Series. I found this out the hard way when I took the one form my 5D I had sold and tried to put it on my Mark 3. No luck! Luckily with live view, its not too big of an issue now. I have one on my back up body, the 40D and also on my IR converted camera.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tiffen 52mm Haze-1 Filter; Brand: Tiffen; Review: The most important part of a camera is the lens. And in the lens is glass, and the optics of that glass will in many way set the price and the quality of the lens. That is why proline models, like the Canon L series costs more than the standard models and if you compare them you will see a difference. One thing to keep in mind, is that if you damage the image coming in to the lens, the lens and camera can't repair it. The quality of the filter you put in front of your lens will affect the quality of the image you get. Most filters, even some of the top Hoya are just plain window glass, granted some are coated but the optics of the glass are still low quality! This will affect your image. If you are using a simple basic lens like a Sigma or Tokina then a lower optics quality filter like this won't make much of a difference. However, if you are using a higher grade lens, you need a higher grade filter. The only 2 ground glass filters that I have found are the B+W and Heliopan. They are more expensive, but well worth it! You get what you pay for! A UV filter serves a 2 fold purpose. 1st it helps to protect your lens and keep it from getting scratches or damaged! I have seen a camera dropped and the uv filter shattered but the lens was still working and so was the camera. What would have happened w/o the filter, I don't know, but I would guess it would not have turned out so good. I am often out in the outdoors, and the UV filters I use, B+W mostly, have protected my lenses from several scraps and scratches that could have cost thousands to repair or replace! 2nd the UV filter does filter out some UV light, and thus you will see less haze in some of your shots. Not a Good Circ. Polarizer can also help in this matter as well! Note if you have a very wide angle lens, like a 10-18MM you should get a slim model UV filter or else you can see black corners in your picts when you are at max wide angle. Hope this helps.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack; Brand: Canon; Review: This is great. the old CP-E3 was a great unit, but the new and sealed CP-E4 is even better. If you shoot weddings or any type of event, this is a must have! And now that its sealed also, that means you can shoot in mist and drizzle and not have to worry about it. Its a perfect add on to the sealed 580 EX II and the 1D Mark 3. I also use mine with my twin tube Macro lite, the MT-24Ex. If you use a newer flash, and for the faster recycle and longer battery lifer you should be, then you need this Battery Pack! If you ever shoot in cold weather, this is even more of a must have!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon WFT-E2A Wireless File Transmitter; Brand: Canon; Review: This is a great add-on to any Mark 3. I have a 1d M3 and jut got my 1Ds M3 yesterday. I have had my WFT-E2a for a few months and its great. Wonderful if you do a lot of shooting or might need to put a camera in a place where you cant stand behind it to take the photos. You can remotely control your camera to take shots, ie Live View on major Steriods. Also allows the use of external usb devices, like nice large hard drives that can be hooked to the camera for direct download of the image. You can also have the camera send the image wirelessly to a computer or laptop, so if you are doing a lot of shooting, like at a sporting event, its a great way to send your files so they can be sorted and reviewed by an assistant and uploaded or stored or ..??? Sometimes here in Alaska, in the winter you will be shooting at -50 degrees, and after standing in it for a while you go numb. with this transmitter you can be in a warmer room and control the camera remotely!!! No more frost bite or being bait for predators... :) Great for remote Macro or other wildlife shooting also!!! Or if you need to mount your camera to a tree for a shot or on a rock cliff or such, now you can still safely control it! The price was at $1,000 originally, and now for under $800 its a deal! If you you have a valid reason to be shooting with a Mark 3 body, then you should have this in your bag. Nikon owners are all drooling over this unit because Canon is a huge step head for there pro grade shooters. I will warn you the set up can be a pain at first. There is some very helpful info online to make it easier, like at the pixel-shooter website. I bet you will see a ton of these over the next few months at all major sporting events!!!!! I have used mine to capture some of the images on my website and in my photo gallery online.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Opteka .35x HD2 Super Wide Angle Panoramic Macro Fisheye Lens for Canon EOS 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D; Brand: Opteka; Review: Don't waste your money. All this does is distort your image and keep it out of focus. If thats is the look you are going for, then great, but if you want a sharp image, don't bother with this junk! Its not a fish eye. A true fish eye gives around 150-180 degree of visability and like all good very wide angle lenses give an optical skewing of the image, but it is still sharp and in focus if taken correctly. Basic rule of thumb, when it comes to optics/glass, you get what you pay for to a degree. Its the price is cheap, the lens or filter will be cheap as well, and so will the results you get when using it. If you want a very good wide angle Lens, I would say the best bang for your buck is the Canon 17-40mm F4 L series. (and don't spend extra $$ on IS for your range under 50mm, its not needed unless you have a bad shake when holding the camera, and still it won't cure it.); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III DSLR Camera (Body Only) (OLD MODEL); Brand: Canon; Review: Well if you are looking at this fine piece of Photographic equipment odds are you have been to the Canon website and read the specs. I will touch on a few of the items I have noticed since I purchased mine and have been using it. 1st. The feel, just like the 1D M3, this beast is solid. Not too heavy, but solid in the hand. And here in Alaska, I do put the weather sealing to a test, and just like my trusty 1D M3, the 1Ds passes with flying colors. 2nd. Yes its 21.1 MP, but that should not be your main consideration to buy it. Yah 18x12 @ 300Dpi out of the Camera is nice, but nost people don't print over 16x20, and I have sold a lot of prints from my old 20D at that size or even upto 20x30, as long as you shoot it right in the first place. But this is also a drawback as well. Because of the large file size, esp in Raw, and most, if not all, buyers of this body will/should be shooting in raw, be aware that you will need larger CF cards for it. At least 8gig, I use 12Gig for mine, extreme 3's and they work great! Also be aware if you use the internal high iso noise processing, it slows down the buffering a lot!!! 3rd. Full Frame, just like the earlier 1Ds models its a ful frame sensor. That means 2 things, not only does a 17mm or 14mm lens again be a true wide angle lens, but also with the larger sensor the pixels are more refined and this gives better color and less grain. 4th. The colors of the images in the files. WOW Again the 14bit processors are great!!! Esp for raw, where you can import it in as 16bit for the finer details. One draw back is if you use Photoshop, you will need CS3 to do the raw Conversions, unless you use the Canon program. 5th. You are approaching the image quality of a Dig MF camera, with the portability of a Dslr! Not to mention you can use all the Canon EF lenses, and this camera really should only be used with L series lenses when possible, except for the fisheye as its not made in an L series but the quality is very good anyways. As the Quality of the optics is what affects the quality of the image the most, other than settings in the camera, ie shutterspeed and AV, ISO, etc... 6th. Wonderful Accesories for the camera. I love my wft-e2a. I use it on my 1D M3 a lot and it works great on the 1ds as well. Its a great way to control your camera remotely or to send your files to a remote computer for processing and such while you are still shooting. This Camera is great. I have used the new nikon d3, and its a much improved camera over the past models, but it does not compare to the top of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: .. 0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL; Brand: Fisheye; Review: BEWARE! This like so many other so called "lenses" are not that. they are a filter and made to fit on top of a lens. And thus they are made to fit a certain size lens and if you don't have the right lenses, it will not work. The quality of this is soso at best, but that is normal for opteka. When it comes to camera gear and Lens for sure, you get what you pay for!!! If you just want to do a cheap affect, this is a fun TOY, but not if you want a quality shot. Otherwise just take the shot with a good lens, and apply a filter and work it over in Photoshop and you will have a better quality result.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Master Lock 2866DAT Fits 1/2 in. and 5/8 in. Receivers Trailer Hitch Lock; Brand: Master Lock; Review: This is a very good pin with a lock and the offset key access is convenient for some hitch pin access situations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trimax T-3BLACK Premium 5/8" Key Receiver Lock Rugged BLACK epoxy powder coat; Brand: Trimax; Review: I have a chrome version of this black one, this one is exactly the same, it's a good product. This black one is nondescript and matches the color of the hitch and my jeep.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rage Powersports DRH-3 Towing Hitch Rise or Drop Adapter Extension (2'),1 Pack; Brand: Apex; Review: This is a good extension for a jeep or 4x4 that carries a spare on the back of the vehicle. This extension will help raise the cargo carrier or bike carrier, ( a little) so the jeep can make a climb without dragging the objects on it's back end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Auto Ventshade 25631 Bugflector II Dark Smoke Hood Shield for 1988-1999 Chevrolet & GMC C/K1500, 1988-2000 C/K2500-C/K3500, 1992-1999 Yukon; Brand: Auto Ventshade; Review: Length was perfect, sat out a bit further than expected, uses both tape and 4 screws but seems to be holding it's position fine so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GOOACC 25PCS GM Door Panel Clips; Brand: GOOACC; Review: They work, same as stock ones.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 75450 Door Lock Rod Clips, 6 Piece; Brand: Dorman; Review: All assorted, if you need two of the supplied clips you may have to buy two packages.depending on the clips you need; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fits 88 - 99 Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra Tailgate Handle; Brand: JRB; Review: It fit as it should, the plastic guides were put on backwards but I just took them off and put them on their proper sides. This was noted "Made in China". I have a 1995 Chevy K2500 Silverado; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 38529 Tailgate Cable; Brand: Dorman; Review: These work great, fit good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 924-301 Tailgate Release Latch Linkage Rod, Pack of 2; Brand: Dorman; Review: Works well, plastic pieces were on backwards; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Curt Manufacturing 18152 Towing Wiring; Brand: Curt Manufacturing; Review: This carrier is well made. It is sturdy, it has not worked loose so far and I have made use of it one time. I hope it holds up well after continued use while 4wheeling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Bag of Bones; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I'm 13 years old and I don't really agree with that guy that said that this bood is for adults 18+. It matters whether your mature enough to read it. Well, anyways I loved Bag of Bones! It made me want to cry and horrified me at the same time! The characters are interesting and very well fleshed out. Many people say that the beginning is very boring but I completely disagree. I loved the beginning. The middle was good and the ending very good. I read the book in 5 days (hey, I'm not fast at reading!) I love the new King and the old King, but Bag of Bones tops all of his works! A must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rainbow Six (Tom Clancy); Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Clancy Page; Review: This book was extremely disappointing. I stopped at the 100th page, hoping for it to get better at page 50 but it didn't. I only gave this book 2 stars because the beginning was suspencful and entertaining. During the first 10 pages I was so pleased and I thought I was into a real adventure, but then it got a little too complex and the action was just plain boring. After reading Tom Clancy's Net Force, Debt of Honor, and Executive Orders, Rainbow Six was just plain. . . BORING! I'm looking forward to reading Patriot Games soon, but after reading Rainbow Six I'm not so sure about Tom Clancy's books, although that'll change soon after reading Patriot Games.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile: Coffey's Hands; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I really enjoyed the Green Mile by a great author Stephen King. It had my emotions from the first story "The Two Dead Girls" and King took em' though a great adventure. I thought it was sad when they had to execute Delacroix,leaving the mouse Mr. Jingles all alone. Also, John Coffey was a very likable character (I think that likable characters is a neccesity in books). And then King introduced Wild Bill Worton who was very entertaining to read about! If you want a book that is exiting and with many great characters (plus a chill or two) then The Green Mile is for you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: I am a huge fan of Michael Crichton and this is probably his worst book- but it was still good. I was hooked during the beginning, the science and the mystery of Harry Benson intrigued me. I was absorbed in the plot and I really started to feel the characters and I kept on turning the pages and turning the pages. But then somewhere during the ending all the science was dropped for chase scenes, although many scenes during the end was good it just didn't get the interest that was sparked in me at the beginning. This book is definitely worth reading but just beware that it might be disappointing to you.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Great Train Robbery; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: This is another great book by Michael Crichton. He describes the setting and characters thoroughly and it was very interesting to read, I couldn't put it down! I could see everything in the book unfold right before my eyes. I loved the characters (even the bad ones) and I loved the action, the setting and just everything is this book! This is a definite read for anyone who wants a book that will take you away to another world and make you read the whole book in a couple settings! Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Congo; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: I enjoyed this book a lot for the most part, although there were a couple parts in the book when I lost interest but of course it gets better and I was hooked again! I thought that Amy, the gorilla was great, and that although the characters weren't that greatly developed I thought that the action really recovered for it. Although I found that Monroe was very delightful to read about! Over-all this book is very good, it deserves four stars- definitely a must-read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eaters of the Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: Eaters of the Dead, as I've said, is my second favorite book ever! I first saw this book when it had a skull and a viking helmet on the cover and I thought it looked awesome, I had read a couple of Crichton books before at that time and liked them and so I bought the book. I sat down and started reading and I was entranced at the detail and writing style of this book. At first I thought it was real because it read like a real Manuscript written in A.D. 922! But then I realized that Crichton did that on purpose so it would scare you and keep you hooked. I've read this book three times now and it never loses its magic, and the movie was good too (although it should have been longer.) This is a must-read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sphere; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: I'd like to say bravo to Michael Crichton for writing this unforgetable and gripping novel. This was the third book that I've read by Michael Crichton and I had enjoyed all of the novels I've read by him before that so I picked this book up at the store. I was hooked from the first page, like many other Crichton books! This book was very interesting and it messes with your head a bunch of times through-out. The science was unbelievably researched and the characters were wonderfully developed and They seemed like real people when i was finished reading. This is a a must-read for anyone that likes good reading! The movie was kinda good but it didn't capture the magic of the novel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: I saw the movie first and I loved it and then I saw the novel and so I bought it and I wasn't the least bit disapointed. The book hooked me and took me on a wild ride! I thought that it was way better than the movie because I got a lot more out of the book, the book is educational and exciting at the same time. Yes, the characters aren't very developed but they're developed enough for me! Some of the characters are a little bland, i.e Arnold, but some of the characters are great, i.e Malcolm and Muldoon. The writing style really good and Crichton surely did a lot of research for this book! This is a must-read for everyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disclosure; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: When I first starting readin this book I was sceptical because it wasn't science fiction like most of Crichton's other books. But, reluctantly, I sat down and started reading, the first ten pages were pretty boring then it got up pace and I started to really enjoy this book, I was hooked around page 25 and couldn't stop reading, and at page 100 I was deeply lost in this wonderful novel. I read the next 400 pages quickly and loved every single minute of it. The characters were interesting and enjoyable to read about. And after I was done I noticed that no one else really wrote about sexual harassment and the man be the victim and I then saw how Crichton told the truth about sexual harassment, that the man is always blamed no matter what. I advise everybody to go out to your local book store and pick this book up, I promise you'll love it like I did!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost World: Being an Account of the Recent Amazing Adventures of Professor E. Challenger... (Puffin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur Conan Doyle Page; Review: I loved Jurassic Park and when I saw that this novel was the sequel, I quickly bought it. I started reading it and at first I was disapointed that Grant and Ellie hadn't returned in this book but then I started to really get into this book and after a while I didn't even care! The new characters are great and Malcolm is even better than ever! When I was done with this book, I thought that it was even better than Jurassic Park. Although there's less science in The Lost World than Jurassic Park, The Lost World's action was way better and I thought that the kids in this novel weren't annoying like the one's in Jurassic Park. A must-read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost World; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: I loved Jurassic Park and when I saw that this novel was the sequel, I quickly bought it. I started reading it and at first I was disapointed that Grant and Ellie hadn't returned in this book but then I started to really get into this book and after a while I didn't even care! The new characters are great and Malcolm is even better than ever! When I was done with this book, I thought that it was even better than Jurassic Park. Although there's less science in The Lost World than Jurassic Park, The Lost World's action was way better and I thought that the kids in this novel weren't annoying like the one's in Jurassic Park. A must-read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: BLACK+DECKER Spacemaker Under-Counter Toaster Oven, Black/Stainless Steel, TROS1000D; Brand: Black & Decker; Review: I got this unit as a Christmas present. I have a pretty small kitchen. Thought this toaster oven would be perfect. I remember having a black and decker under counter toaster when I was younger. We used it almost daily. I can tell you I am very unhappy with the performance of this product. I thought I would give it time. I would get used to it. The only thing I like about this toaster is the look. When you put toast in it it either burns it or under toasts. I put a sub in it the other day to heat it up. I put it on 350, didn't even have it in there for 5 min and the top bun was burnt to a crisp. I would not recommend this product to anyone. Pros: Look Cons: Uneven Cooking Burns toast at low settings Instructions for hanging was not the easiest to follow.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cuisinart Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor Silver; Brand: Cuisinart; Review: One of those small appliances that you don't use very often but when you need a food processor it's good to have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clara Clark 1800 Collection Embossed Checkerboard Design 4-Piece Bed Sheet Set, Full, Light Blue; Brand: Clara Clark; Review: If I could give minus score I would. I washed these one time and those pills that show up on cheap cheap sheets after awhile was on these sheets before even the first time of use. Pick a different less expensive sheet.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: bobuCuisine’s Spectacular Glass Globe Salt and Pepper Grinder Set - Easily Adjustable Grinder to Control Coarseness; Brand: bobucuisine; Review: If you are older and have a little problem with grip do not buy these they are hard to turn. Made very nice; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 3 Piece Plastic Cutting Board Set - Small Medium and Large - Acrylic Polypropylene - Dishwasher Safe; Brand: Bellissima Kitchen; Review: They seem to be ok but small . I guess I should read reviews; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Old Factory Scented Candles - 50 Shades - Set of 3: Leather, Jasmine Bubbles, Vanilla Sex; Brand: Old Factory; Review: I only burn soy candles because of being a cleaner burn and I love the scents that make the house smell. The scent of these candles is not very strong. There is very little scent that comes off the candles when burning.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Matafonua Lodge; City: Foa Island Ha apai Islands; Review: Nina and Darren are wonderful hosts, the location is awesome with great snorkelling, the fales are very pleasant and food is superb (thanks to Nina for the delicious cakes!), staff is very nice. I had a great time and I will definitely go back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walindi Plantation Resort; City: Kimbe West New Britain Islands Region; Review: Kimbe bay in New Britain is a very beautiful part of PNG with fabulous snorkelling opportunities. Walindi resort is very well run : the rooms in the plantation house are very pleasant staff is friendly and the location is stunning in a very nice garden surrounded by the volcano landscapes of the bay. Even if you are not a diver you can go snorkelling on day tour boats with the divers and enjoy the extraordinary and various dive spots in the bay : the water is so perfectly clear, corals are fantastic and the sealife abundant with plenty of big fishes (barracudas, sharks, turtles ..). Will come back again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tawali Resort; City: Alotau Papua Region; Review: Tawali resort is in a very beautiful location. The local staff is very nice and helpful. The rooms could be more beautifully decorated even in a simple manner (even if you re not coming to PNG for fancy places). Snorkelling is very nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby; City: Port Moresby Papua Region; Review: comfortable hotel - nice staff - nice rooms - very well organised shuttle from and to jackson's airport - you can use the restaurant of the Hoiday inn hotel which is in the same compound and which is nicer than the basic Holiday inn express restaurant - nice complimentary breakfast - excellent wifi (not so often in PNG !); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Wewak Boutique hotel; City: Wewak Momase Region; Review: very nice and helpful staff, very good food, nice building and location - the perfect place before or after a sepik expedition ! wifi a bit so-so but as often in PNG ! will come back again to this hotel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zero Davey Boutique Apartment Hotel; City: Hobart Greater Hobart Tasmania; Review: nice room with nice design - well situated - efficient check in - very small sink in the bathroom quite surprising since the bathroom is quite big - washing machine in the bathroom - rooms on the front street can be a bit noisy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meriton Suites Kent Street Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: Meriton serviced apartments deliver good products : the altitude classic studio is very well designed with a balcony and a nice view and a bedroom corner separated from the main room - washing machine (dryer included) - apartment serviced every day with a bigger cleaning once a week - always come back here at each of my Sydney stay; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seaview Lodge Restaurant; City: Nuku alofa Tongatapu Island; Review: nice and charming hotel - very decent room with balcony - excellent food (the lobster - signature dish - is excellent) - you can borrow a bike - would choose again this hotel if I have to spend a night again in Nuku'alofa (january 2016 stay); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cradle Mountain Highlanders Cottages; City: Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park Tasman; Review: lovely cottage - pristine environment - kitchen very well equipped - warm welcome from staff. Close to Cradle mountain tourist center with very esay access to the shuttle. Will not hesitate to choose again Highlanders cottages; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stewarts Bay Lodge; City: Port Arthur Tasmania; Review: been upgraded to a bigger cottage - absolutely great - big main room and balcony - very well equipped kitchen - washing machine and dryer - gorgeous environment - will choose again stewart s bay lodge next time I visit the tasman peninsula - an extra bonus would be the possibility of hiring a bike specially when you are dependant from public transport; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Abu Dhabi; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: well situated hotel close to Emirates palace and Emirates towers - good service but the rooms are a bit old fashioned and could have a more contemporary design - nothing to fault specifically just a lack of design; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Novotel London Blackfriars; City: London England; Review: friendly and easy check-in. Room ready before check in official time. Very nice room clean and big bathroom. Not the most beautiful area in London but easy subway connections (specially at Waterloo station a less than 10 mn walk). Good food at nearby Borough market. Close to Tate modern. Will definitely choose again this hotel for a London stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Square Milano Duomo; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: perfect location 15/20 mn taxi drive from Linate airport - 5 mn walking from the Duomo and 10 mn walking from the teatro alla scala. easy and efficient check-in. Very nice room and bathroom with modern design. Very good breakfast. very good service. Will come back again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dormy Inn Sendai Annex; City: Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Tohoku; Review: as all dormy inn hotels, there is a nice onsen (both indoor and outdoor) in the hotel which is great to use. Laundry corner. Small rooms but this is always the case with dormy-inn products. Less than 10 mn walk from Senday station. Nice tongue's beef (a Sendai speciality) restaurants close to the hotel. good WIFI. Will come back again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Dormy Inn Akita; City: Akita Akita Prefecture Tohoku; Review: standart dormy inn hotel with onsen the roof nice staff decent room and good WIFI - you know what you will get when you choose a dormy-inn product and you are not disappointed. Will go there again if I go through Akita again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Citadines Karasuma Gojo Kyoto; City: Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: big rooms (specially for japanese standarts) - very well situated on Karasuma subway line less than 10 mn walking from Kyoto station - many bus stops around. No the liveliest part of Kyoto but you are not very far from good restaurants in Shijo or Karasuma oike area. Very nice staff. laundry corner. Will go back again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dormy Inn Ueno Okachimachi; City: Ueno Taito Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: I like booking at dormy-inn because of the onsen on the roof. Dormy-inn Okachimachi is well situated on the Yamanote line and at a short walking distant from Ueno station for shinkansen for Tohoku, Ueno museums and picturest Yanaka area. There are many pleasant eateries around Okachimachi station just close to the hotel. Rooms are very small but this is usually the case in Tokyo. very good breakfast and nice free Udon soup at night. WIFI could be better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Art Hotel Hirosaki City; City: Hirosaki Aomori Prefecture Tohoku; Review: I was in Hirosaki during the peak of sakura blooming week and japanese golden week - something not to miss -Hirosaki castle is just gorgeous during sakura. Hotels are heavily booked and prices rise up. Art hotel Hirosaki is expensive during the golden week but the rooms are good and of a fairly decent size. It is a pity there is no onsen in the hotel. Very easy to locate next to Hirosaki station. 20 mn walk from Hirosaki castle, 10 mn by bus or taxi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Salzburg City; City: Salzburg Austrian Alps; Review: Nicely decorated room and nice bathroom - convenient location 10 mn walking from Salzburg central station and 20/25 mn walking from the old part of the city and the Festspielhaus in a quiet (even if not very trendy) area. There can be some noise from people talking in the garden at night because the hotel's bar is open on the garden. A laundrette (which seems to be quite a scarce thing in Salzburg) can be found in Paris Lodron strasse about 10 mn walking from the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Fola; City: Verona Province of Verona Veneto; Review: ; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arvena Kongress Hotel; City: Bayreuth Upper Franconia Franconia Bavaria; Review: Stay at Arvena Kongress 3 nights during Bayreuth festival. Rooms may not be glamorous but are big and very comfortable. Very nice staff. Everything is done to make the stay pleasant for people who are attending the festival (very extended breakfast hours / room available early on arrival / late dinner at the restaurant after the performances). The food at the restaurant is excellent. 15 mn walk to the Festspielhaus / banhof / beautiful old Bayreuth center) Will stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ca Angeli; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Hotels in Venezia can be a hit and miss specially in this range of hotels. Ca angeli is an excellent choice : perfect location (close to the Rialto - which is a + since there are only a few bridges to cross the canal - but apart from the crowded streets) / absolutely quiet / wonderful view from the breakfast room / excellent breakfast (i.e. organic oranges for self made orange juice) / room 21 is very comfortable (decent room / big bathroom / anteroom) / very nice welcome / easy wifi. An excellent choice. Will come again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Le Rocher; City: Dzaoudzi; Review: Clean, spacious room. nice garden. Very nice view on the lagoon and the barge traffic between Dzaoudzi and Mamoudzou (can be a bit noisy in the early morning when your room is just over the barge departure !). Nice breakfast and nice staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vladimir Hotel; City: Vladimir Vladimir Oblast Central Russia; Review: very easy to find from the train station (5 mn walk) and very convenient to take the bus to Suzdal (bus station next to the train station). Very close to the major spots (cathedrals square) and to the restaurants area of the city center (10 mn walking). Convenient and very clean rooms, well heated in winter. Nice staff at the reception even if not totally fluent in english. Can only recommand this hotel for people visiting Suzdal (bus every 30 mn from the bus station - 95 roubles - 45 mn), Bogolyubovo (take bus 152 on Bolshaya moskovskaya - bus ticket 20 roubles to be paid in the bus - 15 mn); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square; City: Xi an Shaanxi; Review: everything thing you can expect from a Sofitel : excellent bedding, very good service, welll situated - 2nd stay in a few years in the Accor group hotels of Renmin square and nothing to fault. A very good choice in Xi'an; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Square Milano Duomo; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: second stay at the Square Duomo - very convenient to visit Milan and to go to teatro alla Scala. 5 mn walking from the Duomo. friendly and efficient staff. Very nice and spotless room - nice design breakfast not bad even if it could be better bus n°73 next to the hotel to go to Linate airport; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Golden Temple Villa; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: We stayed there 6 nights - A few minutes walking from Siem Reap center but at the same time out of the busiest and noisiest part of Siem Reap - rooms are big and very tastefully decorated. Pick up at the airport. Very nice, cheerful and diligent staff. breakfast is tasty and the one dinner included in the price of our stay was very good. Nice swimming pool. The lobby and the dinning room are very pleasant and tastefully decorated also. Can't praise enough this hotel. Just one point : you can hear the muezzin's prayer call at 5am in the morning (not that surprising since there is a muslim community in Cambodia); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ayasoluk Boutique Hotel Restaurant; City: Selcuk Izmir Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: we were not staying at the hotel but we had twice dinner here. The small terrace is lovely and it is very pleasant to have dinner overlooking old Selcuk quiet streets. The meze starters were not the best we had in Turkey but the main courses are excellent (specially the köfte) and for dessert the kenüfe is one of the best I had during my vacations. the staff is very nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arcadia Hotel; City: Cirali Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: Back to Arcadia hotel after 3 years without going to Turkey : it has not changed and it is as wonderful as it used to be. Perfect location, delicious food, great breakfast, truly nice staff, few bungalows ... what else ? the bungalows in the orange and pomegranate trees orchad are vey quiet and pleasant with a gorgeous mountain view and a just 5 mn walk to the restaurant area where you can't have a more perfect location for dinner (and for breakfast !) : tables are set in the beautiful and nicely kept garden, along the beach with the sea view under a perfect night sky. The beach is very quiet and the sea very pleasant. 7 nights here were a too short stay ... Welcome in Arcadia : the hotel could not have a better name !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Park Nine Hotel Serviced Residence Suvarnabhumi; City: Bangkok; Review: this is a new hotel - it is very close to Suvarnabhumi airport (10 mn drive) - rooms are very nice and the staff is efficient - I would not stay there to visit BKK because it is quite far from the city center but fautless when you have to catch an early flight from Suvarnabhumi airport and don't want to bother with BKK traffic jams.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Novotel Nuernberg Centre Ville; City: Nuremberg Middle Franconia Franconia Bavaria; Review: Adjacent to Nuremberg bahnhof easy acces from the aipport and close to the city center - nice room - the swimming pool on the last floor is very nice and not crowded - not expensive compared to Bayreuth hotels so it makes a good alternative (provided you have a car) to staying in Bayreuth during the festival; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: nothing bad to review - excellent Meridien hotel, well situated in Silom - efficient and nice staff - nice room and good views on Bangkok skyline from topfloors rooms - a very good value in central Bangkok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Styles Wien Messe Prater; City: Vienna; Review: just opened in nov 2018 brand new ibis hotel with nice design and cosy rooms, Not expensive and still well situated even if the area is not the most beautiful part of Vienna : 10 mn walking from Vienna Mitte where CAT airport trains arrive and depart (every 30 minutes - a 16 minutes ride to the airport). a short 20 mn walking along the Donau to Vienna historical center (St Stephan cathedral, Albertina museum, Staatsoper) very pleasant staff spotless rooms and lobby; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Opera Zurich; City: Zurich; Review: Zurich is expensive and this hotel delivers a very good service for its (not that cheap) price. It is very conveniently situated close to the opera house (2' walk) and to the lake, to the city center (10-15' walk) and to Stadelhofen station which is one stop from Zurich hauptbahnof station. You have direct trains from stadelhofen station to Zurich airport. Very nice welcome and nice lobby. The room we had was big and bright thanks to its 2 windows. The bed was comfortable. Very pleasant bathroom. Will come back again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Styles Geneve Mont Blanc; City: Geneva; Review: classic Ibis styles hotel, very conveniently situated close to Cornavin railway station (a short 5' walk) and close to the lake (5' walk) and city center (10 to 15' walk). Very nice welcome by the staff. The room is nice even if it is not big and there is not much place to hang your clothes. Very decent breakfast. Only one drawback : windows are small on the 5th floor and it does not make you want to stay too long in your room during the day. a very good good choice for a short stay in Geneva. 2 tips : train is free from airport to Cornavin (take a ticket at the machine before exiting the luggage delivery area) / hotels provide you with a free city travel card (bus + tram); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 'Wheel Of Fortune' Guest Delivers Hilarious, Off The Rails Introduction; Abstract: We'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat: Blair Davis' loveless marriage? On Monday, "Wheel of Fortune" welcomed as a new contestant trucking business owner Blair Davis, who offered a biting introduction for himself. When host Pat Sajak asked the man from Cardiff, California, about his family, Davis plunged into one of the darkest personal summaries the show has likely ever heard. "I've been trapped in a loveless marriage for the last 12 years to an...; Category: tv
Title: Week 9 winners, losers: Russell Wilson taking lead in MVP race; Adam Gase in trouble; Abstract: Russell Wilson shows that a wide-open MVP race might now have a frontrunner. In New York, meanwhile, Adam Gase's Jets are a mess.; Category: sports
Title: What Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson Told Each Other After Patriots-Ravens; Abstract: Tom Brady offered credit where it was due Sunday night in Baltimore. The Ravens handed Brady and the Patriots their first loss of the season in Week at M amp T Bank Stadium. The primetime; Category: sports
Title: Reports: LSU LB Michael Divinity removed from team days before Alabama game; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Even 'Project Runway' Couldn't Save Zac Posen; Abstract: Back in 2002, a young designer, just shy of 21 years old, was discovered by a store that was famous throughout the land for crowning the new princes of fashion.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Broadway Star Laurel Griggs Suffered Asthma Attack Before She Died at Age 13; Abstract: Teen star Laurel Griggs, who passed away on November 5, was known for roles in Once and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel San Antonio; City: Podstrana Split Dalmatia County Dalmatia; Review: I have just returned home from a week at the san Antonio hotel in Podstrana, after a week of constant disappointments. I booked the hotel based on positive reviews and location, but how wrong I was There are far too many notes to make on the sheer incompetence of the staff and overall disappointment of the facilities at the hotel, I feel best the summarise as below; An error was made between the agency and hotel regarding the room booked for our week’s stay. No effort was made to rectify the situation and we received no apology either. After speaking to management about this error we were constantly lied to and made promises that the hotel failed to keep i.e., moving us to the room we had paid for. Appalling customer service! All staff were incredibly rude and incompetent; they could not complete simple tasks, such as bringing a bottle opener to the room. They did not seem to know how to communicate with each other. Everything that was asked was met with frustration and inconvenience. Our original reservation was for the classic annex Gala building, however, we were placed on the standard Jonas building, which was situated on a main road, no security, had a daily pungent sewage smell. The room was tired, dirty, and on occasions we would have to request basic things ‘Ike toilet paper. Hotel was advertised as having free WiFi; terrible service; poor connection Luckily my partner and I spent very little time around the hotel, and our holiday was salvaged because of this. Would I return to the San Antonio? Never. There are many nicer hotels in the area.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: AX Seashells Resort at Suncrest; City: Qawra Island of Malta; Review: Me and my mother have just returned from a weeks stay at the Seashells resort. Our first impressions were all very positive, the room was large and clean, (infact the cleanliness of the hotel is superb), and the reception staff were helpful and efficient (this also remained the case throughout our stay). We stayed on an all inclusive basis, there were a number of bars on the complex and a wide range of drinks available within the package. The food however was often disappointing, especially as neither of us ate meat. Vegetarian options were dull and limited. In my opinion the hotel and area is perfect for older holiday makers and families, Qawar and Buggiba are very quiet resorts, there is however a bus station near by and a bus stop opposite the hotel and most neighbouring towns are easily accessible. We didn't spend a great deal of time at the hotel during the day and had limited interactions with the animation team, but the evening entertainment was somewhat lacklustre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Applegarth; City: Stratford upon Avon Warwickshire England; Review: My Partner and I stayed here for a weekend in July. The B&B is in a fantastic location, minutes from the town center, close to many restaurants, pubs and shops. The Hosts were very welcoming and informative. The room was spacious, clean and very comfortable, everything you need is provided in the room, including tea and coffee making facilities. The Breakfast was lovely, unlimited juices, fruits and cereals and cooked breakfasts made to order. Excellent value for money and would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Turtle Hotel; City: Tissamaharama Southern Province; Review: Myself and my partner stayed here only one night but loved it! Charming hotel near Yala safari park. We received a warm welcome from all staff and the manager who came to introduce himself and check we were enjoying our stay. The Hotel is clean and spacious with many quirky details, the art work around the hotel is lovely. The rooms were large, clean and spacious with tea and coffee facilities in the room. The gift shop is a must for souvaniers each hand made and a portion of the profits being donated to animal conservation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epic Unawatuna; City: Unawatuna Galle District Southern Province; Review: After reading the many positive reviews of EPIC, I booked thinking I had found a real gem in the heart of Unawatuna. Sadly, our stay was average where negatives outweighed the positives. Upon arrival we were not given the warmest of welcomes, what with the Manageress stating that we were late, despite not informing the staff of our arrival time. We were shown to our room and told 'not to worry' about the payment until we were comfortable and settled. We unpacked and headed out to the beach. We passed through the reception area and once again tried to make payment and were told that we could do it when we returned to the hotel. Upon returning, we were met by the Manageress screeching from across the hotel that we still had to pay. (How embarassing, a cash payment was made and the hotel ended up owing me money, not surprisingly, this was not mentioned again during our stay, despite asking the manageress for it on several occasions. The rooms at Epic are spacious, clean and modern. Tea, coffee and water are provided in the rooms but not replenished on a daily basis. We had to ask the hotel staff for clean towels. On our last day, we were notified that cleaners had complained about the amount of sand in our room, and could we clean ourselves off before entering. We found this laughable considering the beach is across the road from the hotel and there are no outside washing facilities on the beach or in the hotel vacinity, had there had been, we would have been more than happy to oblige. We only dined in the hotel restaurant once for breakfast, and it was delicious, i cannot fault the food, however, Unwatuna has many places to eat, equally tasty and alot cheaper. Be careful when drying items of clothing outside the room (beach wear etc), my partner left t-shirts in the balcony area which mysteriously disappeared. He did ask the staff if anything had been picked up in error, sadly, we never informed if this had been the case. I have to mention the assistant manager (unfortunately I cannot remember his name), who was always welcoming, friendly and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Selyna Sky Terrace; City: Kandy Kandy District Central Province; Review: My partner and I stayed here for 2 nights in January 2019. Selyna was welcoming, friendly and extremely helpful, nothing was too much trouble. She also has a beautiful family who were a pleasure to meet, Skipper the dog was an added bonus! The room was comfortable and clean, perfect for what we needed. Selyna's breakfasts were brilliant, her dahl and coconut roti's were the best i've eaten!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Nyma the New York Manhattan Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: Stayed for 2 nights in May at the Red Roof Inn. Excellant value for money for a NYC hotel. Amazing location - only 2 blocks from Empire State Building and not much further to Macy's or Times Square! The hotel was clean, the rooms were a nice size, and service was good. They also let us leave our bags (kept in a room behind reception so very safe) on arrival and after checkout free of charge although we did tip on both occasions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bull Eugenia Victoria Spa; City: Playa del Ingles Maspalomas Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: A really lovely hotel and the perfect place for a relaxing sun holiday. All of the rooms have balconies looking out onto the pool. The rooms are a good size and excellant value for money., but there's no air conditioning so be careful when you book... we caught the end of a heat wave so it was tough to sleep some nights. The food was excellant and the spa is a must-do. Also, the location is great... close enough to everything but in a quiet area away from all of the noise of Playa del Ingles. And the staff at the hotel couldn't be nicer... we were even given a free ice cold litre of water when we checked-in (at 3am... that's package deals for you) by a really nice man at reception since everything was closed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glenavon House Hotel; City: Cookstown County Tyrone Northern Ireland; Review: Stayed at the hotel for a wedding last weekend and couldn't find one fault with the place. The room for the reception was beautiful and the room I had was great, especially as it was so reasonably priced. The best thing about the hotel was its staff. They were so friendly and attentive - they really made sure that everyone had an enjoyable day and a beautiful meal. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone planning a wedding as I had such a nice time as a guest at the wedding I was just at.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Herbert Park Hotel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: Very disappointing for a 4 star hotel - some of the rudest staff I have ever come across. Don't waste your money here... you'd get better treatment at any other hotel in Dublin and it would cost you half the price. Will NEVER go back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley; City: Clondalkin County Dublin; Review: Just back from a very disappointing stay at this hotel - this had been our 2nd (and last) stay there in the last 4 months. We (me, husband & our baby) booked a "penthouse suite" for 2 nights - be warned the room we was nice but looked nothing like the suite shown on the website. On check-in, we see a little sign saying the pool is closed for essential maintenance work which we were never told when looking at website or booking over the phone (you can't book suites online) so we say this to the woman checking us in. She just dismisses our complaints and says that everyone should have been told this but we weren't and a hotel with a pool to take our baby was one of the main reasons we booked. She said she'd pass this on to a manager but we never heard anything again about it. The room was clean for the most part although the curtains and one of the throw pillows had crusty stains on it which really creeped me out. After we put the baby to sleep in the cot provided, we went into the other room only to discover that tv was broken! The next day we told reception and they said they'd get someone to fix it but no one ever came to look at it. We also asked for our room to be serviced and 3 extra towels be left - no one serviced the room and all they left were 1 big towel and 1 hand towel. I was so shocked by the terrible service and bad attitudes of the people we dealt with and we will never be back again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Silver Tassie Hotel Spa; City: Letterkenny County Donegal; Review: Great hotel and great service. Located a bit outside of town but scenery is beautiful and only a quick drive/taxi into Letterkenny. Everyone who works there is so helpful & friendly. And the event room and food were great too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dusit Thani Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Great hotel with beautiful rooms and excellent service. We went for upgrade which was great value. Rooftop pool is on small side but it was quiet so that was no problem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Solihull; City: Solihull West Midlands England; Review: Booked a suite for 4 nights in July staying with my husband and 3 year old son. The room was great - lovely king size bed in the bedroom and a pullout sofa-bed already made up for us in the adjoining sitting room. The room was clean and quiet with a nice view of the fountain. Check-in and check-out were quick and easy. Free parking for hotel guests right outside the door. Breakfast wasn't anything extravagant but was very nice and service was good. The pool was great with a decent sized kids pool. The shopping centre just across the road has loads of nice restaurants. One of the only hotels in the area we could find with suites that would suit a family stay. Overall very happy with the hotel and good value for money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ballyliffin TownHouse Boutique Hotel; City: Ballyliffin County Donegal; Review: The room was lovely comfortable and spacious with a huge bed. All of the staff were so friendly and helpful. Breakfast was amazing - it was so delicious, great selection and quick service. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Southampton Serviced Apartments; City: Southampton Hampshire England; Review: Great for families. The accommodation is not what you'd get from a luxury hotel (no A/C, some traffic noise outside, mattresses could do with an upgrade, not enough outlets/sockets in bedrooms) but it is perfect for families. Having the separate bedrooms, a table for breakfast, a decent sized tv with CBeebies and CITV, a fridge and 2 bathrooms was ideal for us (family with 2 young children). Close to Peppa Pig World; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Merchant Hotel; City: Belfast Northern Ireland; Review: We stayed for a magical night away at Christmas and it was fabulous. One night wasn't enough. The food was delicious and they catered very well to special diets/allergies. The suite we stayed in was opulent and luxurious.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley; City: Clondalkin County Dublin; Review: We had a poor experience a few years ago but after hearing about friends' positive experiences, we decided to try the hotel again and I'm delighted that we did. The staff are friendly & helpful. The rooms are spacious- we stayed in a suite (2 adults & 1 child) and the sofa bed was made up with pillows and a duvet on arrival. The room was warm as most hotels are but there were large fans in both rooms which made it comfortable to sleep and I appreciated that we didn't need to request them. The room had a small balcony (no furniture - not really enough space) but in addition to the normal lock on the door, there was a child lock high up which was much appreciated as that's where our son slept. Breakfast was busy but service was good and the selection was fine. It's not a luxury hotel but it is great value for money. Overall we were very happy with our stay and will stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Powerscourt Hotel Autograph Collection; City: Enniskerry County Wicklow; Review: Very disappointing stay - will never go back. This place used to be an amazing hotel and the views/grounds still are, but the standards for the hotel have slipped and doesn't offer any value for money. We paid €1378 for a 2 night bed & breakfast (no evening meal) and spa package. For that kind of money, we would expect 5 star service and facilities but there were so many disappointments. We stayed in one of the 4 Powerscourt suites. The room is nicely decorated but it has a very strange layout - it is very long and only has 2 windows so it's dark even with the curtains open. The windows also look out onto the terrace of the room below and the carpark so there are no views from the room. The only full length mirror was at the front door, very far from the bedroom & dressing room area. The wardrobe had lights inside it but the light switches were broken so the lights stayed on the whole time. The tissues were very cheap & rough... worse than what I've gotten in 3 star hotels and so bad that I brought in my own tissues from the car. You shouldn't have to bring your own tissues to a suite in a 5 star hotel. There was a steam shower in the room that was nice but dark. While taking a shower, I hit a button a few times thinking that would turn off the steam but it wasn't until I finished my shower and opened the door to get better light that I realised I had accidentally pushed an "emergency call button". My husband did the same thing. While convenient for us, worryingly the button doesn't actually do anything or call anyone so someone in an emergency could be waiting for help that will never come. The touchscreens for the lighting & curtains were unresponsive and one of the ones next to the bed was missing. The air conditioning barely worked leaving the room quite warm. There was no bottle opener in the kitchen so my husband had to improvise to open drinks from the mini bar. The coffee maker wasn't working on arrival. We requested for it to be fixed 3 times - each time we were told someone would look at it but no one ever came. The hotel's new app doesn't seem to work because we never received the foam pillow we requested via the app before our check-in. We also booked a couples suite in the spa. While the treatments we received were lovely, the couples suite was disappointing. It is across from the gym and not soundproof. They keep a towel pushed under the door to try to minimise the noise from the gym machines but then they turned on loud music and my therapist actually had to stop my massage, leave the room and go across the hall to the gym to get them to turn it off. When you spend several hundred on a spa package, you don't expect to have your; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Marine Court Hotel; City: Bangor County Down Northern Ireland; Review: Just back from a weekend stay. Overall I was happy with the hotel. Service was good and I was satisfied with the cleanliness of the hotel. Food was decent. It's not a luxury hotel but it was definitely good value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DeWalt DPG94-6C Dominator Safety Glasses; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Great Product! Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foxelli USB Rechargeable Headlamp Flashlight - 160 Lumen, up to 30 Hours of Constant Light on a Single; Brand: Foxelli; Review: Great Product! Thank You.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NoCry Safety Glasses with Clear Anti Fog Scratch Resistant Wrap-Around Lenses and No-Slip Grips, UV Protection. Adjustable, Black; Brand: NoCry; Review: Great Product. Very Good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dewalt DPG59-110C Reinforcer Rx-Bifocal 1.0 Clear Lens High Performance Protective Safety Glasses with Rubber Temples and Protective Eyeglass Sleeve; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Great Product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dewalt DPG55-6C Dual Comfort Silver Mirror High Performance Protective Safety Glasses with Dual-Injected Rubber Frame and Temples; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Great Product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UltraFire Medium Flashlight Holster Belt Carry Case fits Ultrafire 501b, 502b, C8 Flashlights, Classic; Brand: ULTRAFIRE; Review: Nice Product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: J5 Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight - The Original 300 Lumen Ultra Bright, LED Mini 3 Mode Flashlight; Brand: J5 Tactical; Review: Nice Product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Freeman PFWS Professional Fine Wire Stapler 20 Gauge Ergonomic & Lightweight Pneumatic Nail Gun with Depth Adjust; Brand: Freeman; Review: Great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 18V 3600mAh Extended Capacity Replacement Battery for Dewalt Ni-Mh XRP DC9096 DC9098 DW9095 DW9096 DW9098 DE9503 Cordless Power Tools 2-Pack; Brand: Topbatt; Review: Good product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Samsonite Xenon 2 Backpack PFT Case Black; Brand: Samsonite; Review: Used it for my everyday activities while I was visiting family. At one point I even packed my surface pro and gym clothes in it. It was tight, but it worked out. TSA laptop compartment is the best!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zagg invisibleSHIELD Screen Protector for Surface Pro 3, Glass; Brand: ZAGG; Review: I often forget that it is there. It is easy to clean off anything that may have ended up on my screen as well. A must have, even if you have protection plan for it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless with Active Noise Cancellation- Black; Brand: Sennheiser; Review: Loving it, bought the soundlink II by Bose before purchasing this set. The bass level on the Bose was not exactly what I expected from Bose. The Momentum 2.0 is providing the right amount of everything. There is a hiss if nothing is playing, but you really have to listen for it. I am glad I did not receive a pair that had connectivity issues. One problem I had was the package within the Amazon package was open. Not sure how that happens but the cover was even placed back on wrong. Amazon, care to comment? Update: going into one week with these headphones and I am noticing the active noise cancelling is attempting to cancel nothing. Anyone have similar issues? I would like to listen to my music low with no white noise.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter, up to 500Mbps (TL-PA4010); Brand: TP-LINK; Review: I know there are plenty of reviewing stating that the customer service for TP-Link is not the best, but I sincerely thought I could get these to work for me. Unfortunately, I could not figure this out to save my life. I even gave the help line twice in with no one available to answer. I guess they are not truly 24/7 customer service.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pelican 1062 Foam Set; Brand: Pelican; Review: I was able to get my suitcase button outlined with this foam in order to protect my ip110 printer. Worked out great. I ripped it in half and placed it with no support to hold it in. The pick and pluck feature is not on the surrounding of the foam, just the interior.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Victorinox Luggage Architecture 3.0 Big Ben Mono Retrax Backpack, Black, One Size; Brand: Victorinox; Review: I initially rated this as 4 stars, reserving the fifth star until I used it. Well, one of the zippers broke (came off the track) upon first use. Extremely poor quality for an expensive product from a well known vendor.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jabra Comfort Kit for SUPREME Bluetooth Headset; Brand: Jabra; Review: essential case for the Jabra; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini USB charger to Micro USB Charger Converter; Brand: Unknown; Review: poor quality, both units fell apart; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: ZestyChef; Review: works perfectly, wire us not as thin as others but very sturdy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingston MobileLite 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Reader with 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card FCR-ML+SD/2GB; Brand: Kingston; Review: case doesn't hold together; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Case Logic CDW-32 32 Capacity Classic CD Wallet (Black); Brand: Case Logic; Review: sturdy, works great; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PTC Premium Gold Series HDMI hembra/hembra Coupler; Brand: PTC; Review: Didn't last more than one year; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 - Graphite (D5D-00001); Brand: Microsoft; Review: excellent mouse; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ORICO Surge Protector Power; Brand: ORICO; Review: Works fine with Apple devices; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stylus for Touch Screens Pen with Ball Point Pen,for Universal Touch Screen Devices, for Phones, Ipads,Tablets,; Brand: SyPen; Review: This is a very convenient and useful stylus at a very attractive price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Moments Mountain Retreat; City: Wentworth Falls Blue Mountains New South Wales; Review: We only stayed here for one night and wished we could have stayed longer. After a long day of walking, we were footsore and tired when we checked in. We were offered a glass of champagne on arrival which was a lovely touch to get you settled in. Our suite was well appointed with a great sized spa, a fireplace added to the ambience and a balcony with table and chairs to enjoy the beautiful view. Lap blankets were a nice touch for the cool evenings. Continental breakfast was supplied in room. The common lounge room was a comfy place to enjoy a port or two as well. We would definitely love to stay again next time we visit. It was the small touches that made our stay truly worthwhile.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Villa Sirilanna Hotel; City: Chiang Mai; Review: We stayed here for four nights, based in old quarter and handy to walk around. Room was lovely and decorated in Lanna style, cannot complain here. Staff were a bit hit and miss. We could not get drinks by the pool as bar was always closed. A shame as we could have relaxed more at the hotel. Breakfast was adequate, yes small flies everywhere and food was cold. Toast and tea did the job. Could have been a better stay if staff were a bit more accomodating and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Centara Grand Beach Resort Villas Krabi; City: Ao Nang Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: We arrived at Krabi Airport and caught our own taxi to the pier. Go to the taxi counter at the airport as it is a fixed price and cheaper than through the resort. You need to pre book your seat on the shuttle boat to the resort if you want smooth travel. We organised this through the resort directly and they have a fixed timetable. We had a deluxe garden room which was very nice with lovely view. When travelling to Ao Nang beach, monkey trail is fine, we are not by any means fit, however it is not as daunting as you think. To get home at night, best use the resort shuttle boat, pre book -we got caught taking a long boat back and had to pay the price of the whole boat as no one else was using it. Not too expensive but cheaper ways to get back. The resort itself, breakfast was sensational, piano playing and lovely atmosphere. Happy hour however, you order a lovely cocktail, expecting second drink to be free, as what happened the nights before, but no, this night we got four cocktails, two of which melted in the heat, when queried, our waiter was agressive and some sort of manager was arguing with the waiter in front of us and then told us we had to get 2 drinks at the same time ! Safe in our room did not work for the week were there despite reporting it 5 times. No action there. We paid for an outdoor bbq dinner, poured with rain half way through so did not get the full experience for the price, no offer of anything to make up for shortfall or invite back for next evening. Japanese restaurant, we waited close to an hour and a half to get our meals, wasn,t exactly busy. Waiting staff were apologetic. By the way, when using spa products (being usual cheap creams, lotions, soap etc)which you would normally use in a hotel room for free we were charged for them with pricing displayed on bar menu pricelist as we found out at checkout. Another sting at the end of an expensive stay. Location is nice, we have seen better, service patchy, management experience appalling. Resort medic does not speak english well, I had to spend a night in Krabi hospital after being bitten by a snake. I was shown pics on an Iphone to identify what type. Thankfully all good, hotel did not treat this properly and left a lot to be desired when going to hospital in a foreign country. Only assistance given was being put on a long boat to Ao Nang beach and left to our own devices. They were only interested in avoiding liability. We expected better service and was let down. Do not leave things out on your balcony as monkeys will have a field day, best part of the whole resort. Oh and a nice domestic fight in the next room to us. Slamming doors and swearing. Just added to the atmosphere we paid a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat Conservation Sanctuary; City: Margaret River Margaret River Re; Review: We stayed here for 3 nights recently and loved every minute. The cabin we stayed in had an outdoor spa which was nice to use at the end of the day after a lot of driving, cold and rain did not deter us. Very amusing to be surrounded by kangaroos and other animals peering at us while we enjoyed our champagne in the spa! The cabin itself although very clean and had eveything we needed, was dated so unfortunately I would not call it luxury as advertised. Other cabins are far enough away to enjoy some privacy and peace and quiet. Some food is supplied in the room to feed the animals, once they know you're there, they won't leave you alone! We did find it a bit odd that we were supplied communal slippers, hair brush, toothbrush etc (unless these were left by the last visitor!) A wonderful place if you like natural bush setting with wildlife, slightly on the pricey side but what price to pay for a truly unique stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Polperro Villas; City: Red Hill Mornington Peninsula Victoria; Review: We stayed at Polperro for 2 nights during winter and it was the perfect weekend getaway. We stayed in villa 1 which overlooks the vinyard. Even though it was chilly, the wood fire, warm blankets and cosy couch were perfect for a cold winters night. Add a spa to the mix with a glass or two of champagne, we could have stayed longer. The winery itself has a restaurant (the lamb shoulder was delicious) with an outdoor area where you can sit by the brazier with a blanket and enjoy the outlook with a glass of local wine! The cellar door is small and cosy if you enjoy intimate wine tasting, lots of laughs when we joined ones that were already seated enjoying their tastings. A very relaxed atmosphere! Dont let the cold keep you away, a fantastic time driving around finding places to eat and visit, plenty to choose from. It would have been nice if we had wine and chocolates in the room on arrival as other similar places we have stayed offer these for their guests, it would have been the icing on the cake. The location is convenient and I would recommend a stay here anytime of the year!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Regent Beijing; City: Beijing; Review: We stayed in this hotel for three nights in a deluxe room. Not in the heart of Beijing but very convenient for pick up services. About a 10 minute walk to the shopping mall which has all brands available and clean eateries to choose from. Even a small market tucked away which has all kinds of interesting thinks to eat like scorpions, silk worms and seahorses! Definitely worth a look. The room was spacious enough, comfortable bed and pillows, soft towels and large bath for soaking tired legs after all the walking! Breakfast selection was the best we had on our whole trip (good coffee) very good service provided by staff. Concierge are very helpful and well spoken. There is a small deli in the hotel which offers sandwiches, fruit and cakes, icecreams, especially good if you need to take a lunch with you on your trip. Good clean pool, not busy and gym. Close to attractions like Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City and also close to railway and airport express shuttle. Definitely worth a stay here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sunsun Pro Canister Filter Kits 264gph, 370gph or 525gph; Brand: Sunsun; Review: For the money you are not gonna find a better filter. This is basically a knock off of a FLUVAL canister filter and It work as promised but the material are not quite on par with the FLUVAL. That's typical of knock offs so what you pay for is what you get. This filter operates properly and is very quiet. It's a little hard to get primed so if you buy one, get as much water in it as you can before you actually start the priming process. I remove my lid several time and managed to break one of the lifting handles. Outside of that, it has worked flawlessly. I gave it four stars because of material and the manual could be better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunsun Modular Canister Filter; Brand: Sunsun; Review: This is a great option for people trying to reduce filter changes for canister filters. You could actually use it with just a submersible aquarium pump if you wanted. I use mine in conjunction with the Sun Sun 302 and it works without flaw. This is a very sturdy product so it should last a long time. The sponges come in three mesh sizes but you can use whatever filter media you like. I plan on changing the sponges to ceramic media for better biological filtration but that's just me. The built in valves also make changing out the filters in your canister filter a lot easier. All in all, I am happy, just wish it was the clear version so I could judge better when it needs to be cleaned. I would recommend this product!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seachem Flourish Excel Bioavailable Carbon for The Planted Aquarium; Brand: Seachem; Review: This stuff rocks and will work in aquariums that use added co2 as well ones that do not use additional co2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SunSun 3-Pack PLUS Coarse Fine Filter Sponge Pad for SunSun HW302 Canister Filter; Brand: SUN; Review: Picture perfect fit. No problems and the water is crystal clear in my fish tank.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AODE® 4in1 Aquarium Fish Tank Cleaning Set Gravel Rake /Net /Plant Fork /Sponge Cleaner 200290; Brand: BlueCosto; Review: Nice for what I purchased them for but a little on the cheap looking side so I would not abuse them very much.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: API Water Softener Pillow; Brand: API; Review: This stuff works and it works good. I used 3 in my 50 gallon set up and followed the recharge instruction and it still works fine. In about four days I went from 180 ppm to 30 ppm on the general hardness scale. My fish are healthy and starting to show signs of reduced stress as well as a more healthy demeanor. Anyway they work as advertised and if you have a problem with a high general hardness, this is your product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gulfstream Tropical AGU00529 Ista Max Mix Co2 Reactor for Aquarium, Large; Brand: Gulfstream Tropical; Review: This is a good product and I recommend it. It is a little delicate and that is why it gets a 4 star instead of a five star rating. This is my second one and I will buy it again as needed, but just be carefull of the co2 connection because it can break easily.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Vest and Clip On Necktie Set-Multiple Colors-Baby Infant Toddler Boys Sizes; Brand: Lito; Review: Cute. Fit as expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Costume Mask Prop Horror Hockey Halloween Myers (Adult (One Size), Black Eyes); Brand: CASACLAUSI; Review: Crappy mask. The paint wore off before we even went trick or treating.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: FunWorld Scream Bleeding Machete; Brand: Fun World; Review: Cheap but looks pretty cool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Contend 3 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: like walking on clouds; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Contend 3 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: like walking on clouds; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Contend 3 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: like walking on clouds; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: OneSpace Regallo Expandable "L" Computer Desk; Brand: OneSpace; Review: great sturdy desk, would purchase again if ever needed. should last for years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofa Shield Original Patent Pending Reversible Sofa Slipcover, Dogs, 2" Strap/Hook, Seat Width Up to 70" Furniture; Brand: Sofa Shield; Review: fits properly. easy to put in place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norpro Square Wax Paper, 250 Pieces; Brand: Norpro; Review: its wax paper; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flash Furniture Clifton Black Computer Desk; Brand: Flash Furniture; Review: sturdy and dependable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterno 1 Gallon Smokeless Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil; Brand: Sterno; Review: burns in oil lamps like you would expect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gorilla Grip Original Patented Bath, Shower, Tub Mat (35x16) Machine Washable, Antibacterial, BPA, Latex, Phthalate; Brand: Gorilla Grip; Review: we bought the clear, it holds super easy and provides a great non slip surface. quality product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JapanBargain 2045 Japanese Plastic Soup Bowl, 38 Ounce, Black/Red; Brand: JapanBargain; Review: this bowl is great for our purposes (making round ramen noodle soup) [url] this bowl is top rack dishwasher safe, and we use regularly in microwave to make the soup. they seem to be a perfect pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happy Sales Melamine Soba, Rice Spoons, Chinese Won Ton Soup Spoon, Asian Red and Black, 6 Pack Plain Style; Brand: Happy Sales; Review: got these to go with the bowl and they work as designed, we use these as our go to soup spoons now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: James Fiallo Men's 12-Pairs Low Cut Athletic Sport Peformance Socks; Brand: JAMES FIALLO; Review: Great socks for the price. They are thicker on the bottom than the top and the tops have strips that are even thinner to allow air flow. I have been wearing them for about a month now and there has been no issue with the quality. The only downside is that they do not seem to be the best at wicking away sweat. Overall though I would recommend them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nike Women's Zoom Pegasus 31 Flash Running Shoes; Brand: ; Review: I bought these for my girlfriend and she really likes them. She is training for a marathon and has used these for several long runs. The silver and pink color are super reflective and would be great for running at night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mac in a Sac Men's Waterproof Packaway Pants; Brand: Mac in a Sac; Review: These fit just as I expected. They work great for backpacking in the rain. They are really lightweight and can easily be thrown into a pack. They have openings in the side that allow you to use the pockets in the pants that you wear underneath. I like this feature, but there is no way to close the hole, so if it were to really downpour water may get in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Altra Running Mens Men's Instinct 3-M, Black, 15 M US; Brand: ; Review: Ordered these half a size bigger than what I normally wear and they were still too small. I was not a fan of how much cushioning was in these shoes. Also, in my opinion they are not the most attractive shoes, in fact would have been embarrassed to go in public with them on. I went with the superior 2 from the same brand and went a full size up and they are great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Altra Running Mens Men's Superior 2 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I love these shoes. They are super comfy for running and hiking in. Just be sure that you order larger than what you normally wear. I typically wear a 9 or 9.5, so I went with a 10 in these and the fit is great. I have used these for several runs and hikes on various terrains and they perform great. The extra flap on the back has not bothered me at all. Some reviewers have stated that there is an issue with quality. I have not had any problems yet, but the fabric over the shoe is rather thin and would imagine they would be easy to rip. I will update this review if I have issues with the quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Corrupt; Author: Visit Amazon's Penelope Douglas Page; Review: I gave it 5 stars because for $.99 it was a complete read even though it was only the first book, I wasn't left hanging, and next to many other $.99 books this was the real deal. The writing is good and the plot good for what it was. The trouble I had was the motive of the horsemen. When I started I felt I was reading about 4 guys that were bored, there were no troubles being rich, taken care of, and set for life. Sooo, these four guys went around making trouble were there wasn't any in a way that begged for getting caught. They made mistakes and leaned on their privilege to make more trouble. They get caught, big surprise, and blame someone else for their own loose belief they could do this every year with everyone knowing who they were and not pay for it. I too read it to see why they blamed the girl, more than what other trouble they would make for themselves. Self inflicted problems like may caught in the senior / post high school fog. Have bought the next book to see if the foundation is more solid on which it builds. But really for the price youll get far more reading entertainment than most.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Masters of the Shadowlands (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: Well ok, I rate books on a sliding scale of cost and how many other books the author has out. Sorry, but a book this good with 380 pages for free gets my "I Love It" Rating. Now, my old job has put me at a few BDSM clubs and parties. I know in a perfect world all BDSM clubs would be identical and we could all agree 100% on this kink, but in that world we also wouldn't need animal shelters or jails. At this time there is no one size fits all BDSM, sorry! I have been to places I felt looked like the wild west and others that looked so safe and watered down I expected to find a feelings monitor to protect the couple and any onlookers that might be offended. That being said, I felt this book covered the life style well. I feel it gave a newbie an idea that BDSM is for the enjoyment of both, showed it's not a place to take your wife and beat the crap out of her, showed that not all subs are weak and helpless, and to be honest I found in real life 'the sub has more power over the scene than outside people think'. Could this have been a DIY manual for BDSM? Could this author include every single aspect of BDSM including every word of the contract she didn't read til later? THIS BOOK IS FOR ADULTS PEOPLE! It is to entertain those who enjoy reading about BDSM. I'm not going to mark it lower because it didn't include this or that and someone might get the wrong idea. If I read a story about an Alpha Male Lumberjack, I'm not going to grab a 6ft chainsaw and start cutting 10 story trees. I will research it, study it, do a little apprentice work under a pro, and ease into it. Sorry but we are all responsible for our own actions and in-actions. I don't want BDSM stories to be 1000 pages long and mostly filled with disclaimers and "Don't Blow Dry Your Hair While Swimming in the Pool" warnings. I felt this book did a good job trying to show a safe club. I felt that it did a good job explaining this particular relationship (keeping in mind neither person really exists outside of this series) and how he got thought it once he realized she doesn't know what she wants and doesn't look before she leaps. Book wise this story had me caring for these imaginary characters and wondering what their fictitious future held. I wondered how she would feel about this club that doesn't exist once she got a better understanding of the kink. It was very well written and didn't beat me over the head with 'thou shall not' training manual rules. I was not pulled out of the story by glaring errors. If you enjoy reading a good plot driven BDSM story I would recommend this one! It's stand alone and has more if you want to read on (and you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Marriage Diaries: The Complete Collection; Author: Visit Amazon's Erika Wilde Page; Review: I search Amazons free stories and dump a few for later reading. This was the full series @ 478 pgs! I always state This review is based on a free copy, but in this case I would have said the same thing about paying the full price. This was a gem in a sea of rocks and am thankful to have found it. Erikas gamble worked well because I will be reading more from this author. Ok the story, an older couple married 20 yrs and the wife ants to spice things up. Her alpha husband Dean soon agrees and things turn fun. I read and write erotica and judge this as an adult story as it states. As such I look for heat heavy and plot light, for erotica the plot is better than most. I feel the heat was well played and for an older couple gave hope to those past 30. He is a moral Alpha trying to find his way with his now unpredictable wife. He is a believeable character with enough depth to keep you caring about what might happen if. Jillian makes a great wife for the Dean character and is NOT written as the perfect woman in every way, only perfect in Deans eyes. Fear not, she still pulls the male eye as many real life woman can at 30+ and I liked her written that way. Both are not sure where to take this at first, but find their way with a stumble learning what fantasies should stay fantasies. Many erotica readers would bale on a story over 400 pgs, but this isn't most stories. It flowed as if a real couple, dealing with real issues, and finding real common ground. If I had to pick anything bad I would say more books on this couple. Not sure you can go wrong with this book even at full price. I might even read a gain in the future, which is very rare for me. Ive only clicked 5 stars on one other story to date, but I feel good about doing it here. Enjoy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Undeniable; Author: Visit Amazon's Madeline Sheehan Page; Review: Review based on a free copy of over 200pgs. OK, this is not S. O. Anarchy! This is real world sh! t. In the day I played in a touring band. During those years we played three 1%'er parties. (Was surprised book's party description didn't include a live band lol). We played for two nights, but stayed at the club house or near by motel all week before heading to the next gig. You get to hear a lot of gossip being in the band and I have to say this book had me feeling like I was right back there again. They lived on another level than us and we were party hardy groupie lovin' hard living guys, so that's sayin' a lot. We partook of their fun, got drunk half blind, and heard about life in an MC and on a bike (They never talked about business around us!). I never felt settled until we left these gigs because literally in their life anything could happen at a moments notice and band members were ill-prepared to handle 'that' life. It was strange, we all had roughly the same faithfulness issues with hot sexy ladies (for lack of a kind term) always hanging around and they even wanted to know what it was like to play music and party all the time without the stress of a real life. With that insight I felt this book covered the MC life that I saw very well. It was a little intense as it had this group being hit with everything, when most clubs would only see part of this happen or all of it over multiple generations, still it's not far off. I have to say when I read the blurb I thought "Yea, Right!", but it delivered and I think that put more than a few readers off. Real life around people who live by their own rules can be ugly, dirty, harsh, mean, smelly, and unfair. There are no "Hero's on a white horse" or "Great role models", just like life everyone has bones in their closet if they lived hard enough to get some on them. Kids born into this life have the same chance as those born with aids or born to crack families, you might not 'like' it, but it would be a fairytale without including it and I feel it was depicted well. It's been said you either love this book or hate it, just remember the blurb "You were warned!" If you're looking for a "Don't want to get my hands dirty" biker tale, this isn't it. This is a very well written story of a life outside your own. 1%'ers live by their own code and say DILLIGAF to the rest of you. This gives you some insight into that. They have their own definition of hero's and I have to say when it comes to stone cold loyalty in the face of the abyss, I would pick them over anyone else I know. ~ Don't try to turn a blood thirsty wild lion; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Living Without (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Lila Rose Page; Review: Review based on a free copy. This is a different and dark story. I have not read the books leading up to Nary and Saxon moving forward in their relationship, but as a stand alone book it appears to be a troubled path. First it is a good read and a well written story. The plot was given some serious thought and I'm sure worked well with the other books. What I have trouble with is the instant forgiveness of Saxon for his treatment of Nary. Sure there were reasons, but everyone seemed to accept the events and forgive him all wrongs on the spot. Not only did this sit with me like a horse pulling a corvette, but it missed a bit of relationship drama that would have played really well for many readers. There were some other points that I can't put my finger on that seemed a little off and maybe parts where the character seemed out of character for what we are lead to believe. I think that if you have been following this story through the other books this will not be an issue for you, just something for the author to think about. I don't think you can go wrong with this read unless you are upset by the women being raped. For me it's a story and part of the plot drama, but for some it will be a deal breaker.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: FTCE General Knowledge Test Prep Book: Study Guide & Practice Test Questions for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE); Author: FTCE Study Guide Prep Team; Review: Exactly as described. Brand new condition, no blemishes. I received this item at free or reduced cost.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trivium ASVAB Study Guide 2016: ASVAB Test Prep Book with Practice Test Questions; Author: ASVAB Test Prep Book Team; Review: This was exactly as expected. I received it fast and with no hassle or issues. I received this book at free or reduced price. I would recommend this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASTB Study Guide: Test Prep and Practice Test Questions for the ASTB-E; Author: ASTB-E Study Guide Team; Review: I received this study guide for free or for a discounted price to complete a fair and honest review for the seller. This study guide arrived fast and was brand new in perfect condition. This study guide has no flaws and is perfect font and print for me to read and study efficiently. This study guide is great for helping me pass my test. I recommend this to others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management Workbook for Men: Take Control of Your Anger and Master Your Emotions; Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron Karmin LCPC Page; Review: I received this anger management workbook for men for free or for a reduced rate by the seller in exchange for my fair and honest review. This workbook is great quality and a good workbook. It definitly helps with working through anger and helping to think about things.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CCRN Review Book: CCRN Study Guide and Practice Test Questions for the Critical Care Nursing Exam; Author: CCRN Exam Prep Team; Review: I received this study guide for free or for a discounted rate in exchange for my fair and honest review for the seller. I had no issues with this study guide or with the transaction. The font and print are great and easy for me to read and study with. I plan on passing my test with this study guide. The questions are hard and will make sure that I am well prepared for my test.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Rule 34 (Halting State, #2); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This is a police procedural novel set in Edinburgh, capital of the independent nation of Scotland, some time in the very near future - "near future" as in about 10 years from today, i.e., 2013. This is a future of "3-D" copy machines, near artificial intelligence, and globalization and surveillance gone wild. The story follows Borders and Lothian Detective Inspector Liz Cavanaugh as she is sucked into a highly improbable murder of a person loosely connected to local organized crime. Liz's usual beat is "Rule 34" violations, which are an internet geek in-joke that have become highly possible and hugely disruptive. "Rule 34" is the internet canard that there is nothing so improbably, unlikely or disgusting that someone hasn't turned it into internet porn. The problem in this near-future is that wild ideas in a society of "replicators" and social fracture and globalization can be imitated by many people very quickly and create all kinds of new dysfunctions. Because of her Rule 34 beat, Liz learns that other internet scam artists are being liquidated in other parts of Europe. This lead to the introduction of a disgraced Interpol cop - who had a hand in Liz's disgrace a few years before this story - and the two start investigating as other wildly improbable deaths of various internet criminals start showing up. The deaths are all incredibly complex and improbable, and seem to disclose a superhuman ability to plan and/or alter probabilities to bring together circumstances that lead to fatal accidents. They also seem to involve people who are somehow involved in phishing and spamming. In the near future, spamming is the essential industry for criminal enterprise because they need to advertise somehow, and in order to advertise they have interest people with their advertisements, which means getting past the future's highly-developed spam filters, which means developing something that approximates artificial intelligence. Stross also populates his story with other viewpoint characters. There is Anwar Hussein, a con recently released from prison for his spamming frauds, who has been talked into becoming the honorary consul for the Independent Republic of Issyk-Kulistan. (It is a tribute to Stross's braiding of his story into our world that there really is an Issyk-Kulistan.) There is also the Toymaker, a sociopath who represents the criminal Organization that supplies things that people want and needs the spammers to make people aware of what they want but can't get. There is also Colonel Datka and his boss Bhaskar, president of Khyrgistan, another real country, who seems to have something of a long game being played out. Over the course of the story these threads develop, weave around each other and finally come together for a satisfying ending. There were a few problematic elements. First, Stross seems to go out of his way to populate his book with casual, kinky sex. Anwar is unfaithful to his wife with men. One of the fulcrum character who links Anwar to other threads is the "Gnome," who is one of Anwar's homosexual assignations. Liz is a lesbian. One of the fulcrum characters who brings; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Godless Communists: Atheism and Society in Soviet Russia, 1917-1932; Author: William B. Husband; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Godless Communists by William B. Husband This book covers the history of the relationship between the Russian state and the Orthodox Church from the period prior to the Russian Revolution until approximately 1932. This is a competent but unengaging work that is interested in policies and deracinated sociology than in the experience of persecution among the population. The balance of the work seemed to favor the position of the anti-religious Communists who were, it seems, dealing with a population steeped in a superstition that prevented material advance. The author, William B. Husband, acknowledges that "atheism was an integral part of the world's first large-scale experiment in communism." (p. xii.) Husband also notes that the Russian Revolution's "officially sanctioned atheism entered an environment frequently inhospitable, when not altogether hostile" and that during 1917-1932 the "fledgling revolutionary state was not yet the powerful dictatorship it became at the height of Stalinism." (p. xii.) This is the tone that the book takes, namely it seemed to empathize more with the weak efforts of Communism to eliminate religion than with the efforts of Orthodox believers to preserve their way of life. Chapter 1 is entitled "Belief and Nonbelief in Pre-Revolutionary Russia." Husband's first chapter starts with medieval history to define the place of atheism in European thought. Husband's argument is that the medieval church's fight was with heresy, not with atheism, which essentially did not exist. Europeans did not separate the natural world from the supernatural realm until the Reformation. (p. 6.) Religion offered supernatural intervention into the world, and people were attracted to religion and to magic, the latter of which was derided by elites as "superstition." "Premodern European Christians thus subscribed to a hybrid of divine, magical and pagan rites for one reason above all: it seemed to work." (p. 8.) This order of culture broke down with the Reformation. The Reformation also provided the environment for skepticism. "The very elements Protestants used to challenge Catholicism - the ultimate authority of the written word, the direct relationship between each believer and God, justification through faith, a universal priesthood - helped instill in skeptics the confidence to interpret religious matters for themselves." (p. 12.) From that point on, skepticism and atheism became live options for Europeans, and atheism became a competing faith. (One of Husband's positions seems to be that "militant atheism is more an alternative to religion than its rejection." (p. 3.).) Russia, of course, lagged behind these developments because of its marginal position in Europe and the Mongol invasion. Western influenced inevitably entered Russia among its elites, many of whom were influenced by Ludwig Feuerbach's rejection of religion on the basis of philosophical materialism. (p. 29.) Antireligious and anticlericalism became common among the radical intelligentsia in the late 19th century. (p. 34.) According to Husband, the Bolshevik position on atheism developed only gradually and without special urgency. (p. 34.) The Bolsheviks were no more anti-religious than other radicals. (p. 24.) Husband's thesis is that in October of 1917, the Bolshevik's "antireligious position rested; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Interview and Other Conversations; Author: Hannah Arendt; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: See my review on Amazon - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcendental (Transcendental Trilogy, #1); Author: James Edwin Gunn; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: See my Amazon Review [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burning the Reichstag: An Investigation into the Third Reich's Enduring Mystery; Author: Benjamin Carter Hett; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, #1); Author: Craig Johnson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iron Sunrise (Eschaton, #2); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torture and the Law of Proof: Europe and England in the Ancien Régime; Author: John H. Langbein; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We; Author: Yevgeny Zamyatin; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inquisitorial Inquiries: Brief Lives of Secret Jews and Other Heretics; Author: Richard L. Kagan; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Season of Wonder; Author: Paula Guran; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bolshevik Myth; Author: Alexander Berkman; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell; Author: Paul A. Lombardo; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: March Violets (Bernie Gunther, #1); Author: Philip Kerr; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Exit the Professor; Author: Henry Kuttner; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity; Author: Rodney Stark; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New York Magician; Author: Jacob Zimmerman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Passages of the Bible: Engaging Scripture with Benedict XVI and St. Thomas Aquinas; Author: Matthew J. Ramage; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed; Author: Eric H. Cline; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Not This August; Author: C.M. Kornbluth; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anyway: Angie; Author: Daniel Jose Older; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lifespan of a Fact; Author: John D'Agata; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust; Author: Dan McMillan; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Inverted World; Author: Christopher Priest; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... Thus book has been around for a long time. I've been intending to read this book for nearly 40 years, but, for some reason, I've been putting it off. I can't say why I've been procrastinating; perhaps because I felt it would be a bit of a chore. This book is quite readable and fits nicely into the "gosh-wow!" experience of good science fiction. Thus, we have a city - actually, a large building, being dragged on railways laboriously through a wasteland. The City of Earth moves on rails that are picked up from behind and put down in front of the city as it passes through a mostly empty landscape. The focal character is Helward Mann, to whom we are introduced in one of the great opening lines of science fiction: "I had reached the age of six hundred and fifty miles." With that sentence, we are disoriented by a culture that exchanged distances for time. In a way this is an early kind of "Young Adult Dystopian" novel, written before there was such a sub-genre. at 650 miles, Helward is about 18 years of age and has to choose the guild that he will enter. The elite guilds are secret and sworn to secrecy and are essential to the process of moving the city. Apprentices are tossed into working in the various guilds, where they learn the skills and knowledges of those guilds by on the job training, rather than education. Thus, we have the basic theme of the young person leaving childhood and entering into a conservative tradition that is unexplained to him and which he must accept simply because it is tradition. Even the choosing of the guilds resemble the choosing of a career with insufficient knowledge that is the experience of youth (and a mainstay in YA Dystopian fiction, e.g., Divergence and its "factions.") In Helward's case, he chooses the "Future Surveyors" without knowing what they survey or why his father and other surveyors seem to be so much older than their fellow guildsmen. The young guildsmen must also learn about the reason for their strange predicament by on the job training. As they learn about their world, we learn that they are fleeing a topographical and temporal menace just barely by inching their city across the landscape. There are dangling questions that present themselves to the attentive reader. For example, since the land they are traveling through is inhabited by Spanish speakers, where do these people come from and what happens to them when the topographical disaster overtakes them? Strangely, no one in the City is concerned with these questions; they view these inhabitants as fortunate sources of labor to be exploited to lay the track and provide breeding stock. The Inverted World is also what Professor Gary K. Wolfe in his Great Courses series on Science Fiction calls a "wasteland" novel. Like Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", the inhabitants of the City of Earth are trudging hopelessly through a strange wasteland for no reason other than to avoid; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Not I: Memoirs of a German Childhood; Author: Joachim Fest; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism: Memories from 1940-1944; Author: Henri de Lubac; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians: A Story of Suppression, Secrecy and Survival; Author: John Dougill; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence; Author: Shusaku Endo; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1); Author: Jeff VanderMeer; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mystery of the Supernatural; Author: Henri de Lubac; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jubilee; Author: Karl Schroeder; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August; Author: Claire North; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Authority (Southern Reach, #2); Author: Jeff VanderMeer; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts; Author: Mark S. Smith; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Earth's Last Citadel; Author: C.L. Moore; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jesting Pilot; Author: Henry Kuttner; Genres: fiction; Review: Read my Amazon Review [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Replay; Author: Ken Grimwood; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Plot to Kill God: Findings from the Soviet Experiment in Secularization; Author: Paul Froese; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus; Author: Raymond E. Brown; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pines (Wayward Pines, #1); Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Here is my Amazon review - please give me a "helpful" vote - [url]... This book seems to have started life as an "internet serialized thriller." Internet serialized thriller is a genre that evolved to fit the internet. The stories are short, fast-paced and formulaic. Part of the formula is to make the revelation and bait the hook so that readers buy the next instalment, and, heaven help us, the formula works. This book - Pines - is part of the Wayward Pines trilogy, composed of Wayward, Pines and The Last Town. These books have been turned into the Wayward Pines summer television miniseries, starring Matt Dillon. The first season covers these books. The second season represents a major departure from the novel (novellas?). Actually, the reader who has seen the miniseries is in for some surprises as the television production made substantial changes in characters and backstories. Although the secrets of Wayward Pines are probably known to most everyone after the miniseries, I still don't want to give away the big reveal, which is what kept me speed reading through this book, even though I had seen the show. I enjoyed this book. It was fast pace and suspenseful and I enjoyed observing the anomalies and trying to figure out how they would appear to someone who wasn't in on the secret. The story opens with Secret Service agent Ethan Burke waking up on the grass after a car accident. Initially, he has amnesia, but as he wanders the small town of Wayward Pines, he begins to flash back to his life and why he is in town. He's in town to investigate the disappearance of two other agents, one of whom, Kate, he had an affair with. He is given a clue by the Barmaid Beverly. It appears that Wayward Pines is locked down tighter than an East German prison. Burke escapes from the town only to stumble onto something very inexplicable. This book ends with the "big reveal" about what Waywards Pines really is. The story clipped along nicely. The mystery was substantially interesting. The characters seemed fairly two-dimensional. This is a classic bit of summer reading/escapist fare.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catholicism and the Roots of Nazism: Religious Identity and National Socialism; Author: Derek Hastings; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Read my Amazon Review [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: And God Created Lenin: Marxism vs Religion In Russia, 1917-1929; Author: Paul Gabel; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Madonna of the Abattoir; Author: Anne M. Pillsworth; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction; Author: Amanda H. Podany; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Litany of Earth; Author: Ruthanna Emrys; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Foundation (Razorland, #0.5); Author: Ann Aguirre; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How Catholics Won Protestant Respect: A Candid Look at America; Author: Peter Fields; Genres: non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures; Author: James Pritchard; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Detective; Author: Scott William Carter; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolf Time; Author: Walter Jon Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Protestants Need to Know about Roman Catholics; Author: Robert R Larochelle; Genres: non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Master of Confessions: The Making of a Khmer Rouge Torturer; Author: Thierry Cruvellier; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review... [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Revolution By Murder: Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, and the Plot to Kill Henry Clay Frick; Author: James McGrath Morris; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Summoner (Dominic Grey, #1); Author: Layton Green; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanish Inquisition, 1478-1614: An Anthology of Sources; Author: Lu Ann Homza; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chapter Six; Author: Stephen Graham Jones; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Makes a River; Author: Deborah Coates; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Warm Up (Villains, #0.5); Author: V.E. Schwab; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Redemption; Author: J.G. Gatewood; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Maltese Falcon; Author: Dashiell Hammett; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nazi Persecution of the Churches, 1933-1945; Author: J. S. Conway; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rhesus Chart (Laundry Files, #5); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ministry of Changes; Author: Marissa K. Lingen; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism; Author: Alvin Plantinga; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Catholic Church And Nazi Germany; Author: Guenter Lewy; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goths; Author: Peter Heather; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Something More Than Night; Author: Ian Tregillis; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Corruption of Angels: The Great Inquisition of 1245-1246; Author: Mark Gregory Pegg; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mother Night; Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cat's Cradle; Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diary of the Dark Years, 1940-1944: Collaboration, Resistance, and Daily Life in Occupied Paris; Author: Jean Guehenno; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold War; Author: Adam Christopher; Genres: paranormal, poetry, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Belief or Nonbelief?; Author: Umberto Eco; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Colonel (Firefall, #1.5); Author: Peter Watts; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Shirts; Author: Michael Flynn; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Overkill: The Vatican Trial of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin; Author: Niels de Terra; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Old Dead Futures; Author: Tina Connolly; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Angelus Guns; Author: Max Gladstone; Genres: poetry, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Best We Can; Author: Carrie Vaughn; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The God Business; Author: Philip Jose Farmer; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Acceptance (Southern Reach, #3); Author: Jeff VanderMeer; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Separation of the Churches and the State in France; Author: WM. Henry Harrison Stowell; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster Hunter International (Monster Hunter International, #1); Author: Larry Correia; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Intruders; Author: Michael Marshall; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Case of Galileo: A Closed Question?; Author: Annibale Fantoli; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lyrics of Leonard Cohen; Author: Leonard Cohen; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - Fun Book. There ought to be more books like this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Éminence: Cardinal Richelieu and the Rise of France; Author: Jean-Vincent Blanchard; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sci Phi Journal: Issue #1, October 2014: The Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy; Author: Jason Rennie; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anti-Catholicism and Nineteenth-Century Fiction; Author: Susan M. Griffin; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Please give me a favorable vote.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightmare City (Nightmare City #1); Author: Jack Conner; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tripersonal God: Understanding and Interpreting the Trinity; Author: Gerald O'Collins; Genres: non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thief-Taker Hangings: How Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Wild, and Jack Sheppard Captivated London and Created the Celebrity Criminal; Author: Aaron Skirboll; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Endless Night; Author: Milo Hastings; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sci Phi Journal: Issue #2, November 2014; Author: Jason Rennie; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The War of the Three Gods: Romans, Persians and the Rise of Islam; Author: Peter Crawford; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Lost Things Are; Author: Rudy Rucker; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleeper; Author: Jo Walton; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Read my Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Galileo's Children: Tales of Science vs. Superstition; Author: Gardner Dozois; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century England; Author: Keith Thomas; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Diary of a Country Priest; Author: Georges Bernanos; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prompt. Professional. Pop!; Author: Walter Jon Williams; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hang the Witches Now!; Author: Cotton Mather; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Atopia Chronicles (Atopia, #1); Author: Matthew Mather; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Cates: The Shattered Gears; Author: Jeff Somers; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Holocaust, the Church, and the Law of Unintended Consequences: How Christian Anti-Judaism Spawned Nazi Anti-Semitism, A Judge's Verdict; Author: Anthony J. Sciolino; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: PENDA, Heathen King of Mercia: his Anglo Saxon world.; Author: Pete Jennings; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Almighty God Created the Races: Christianity, Interracial Marriage, and American Law; Author: Fay Botham; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Immortals; Author: Jack Dann; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nazi Germany: Confronting the Myths; Author: Catherine A. Epstein; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pandemonium; Author: Daryl Gregory; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel City Blues (City Blues, #2); Author: Jeff Edwards; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Hard-boiled Detective - Urban Tech Noir David Stalin - and what an unfortunate name is that? - is a private detective in future Los Angeles, circa 2063. This Los Angeles is definitely approaching Blade Runner/cyberpunk levels of dysfunction, with technologically-advanced, wealthy enclaves sitting near run-down, crime-ridden slums that technology has mostly left behind. Stalin has been hired by uber-wealth Leanda Forsyth to find out what happened to her daughter. Forsyth's daughter was a novice reporter who went to her apartment one evening and simply disappeared. The police have gotten nowhere, and Forsyth has reached out to Stalin to take a fresh look at the evidence and follow it to wherever it leads. Where the trail leads runs from slums where organ poachers hijack tourists to Japanese orbital colonies that attempt to recreate the ambience of Tokyo circa 1860. Along the way, Stalin is introduced to SCAPE technology, which permits experiences to be downloaded and replayed as a virtual reality for consumers. People being people, SCAPE technology is not limited to experiencing diving with dolphins, but is being used to support a blackmarket of porn, snuff, and crime chips to people with jaded, corrupt tastes. Stalin follows the leads where they go, which is often through other people who are standing in the way, with threats, bullying, fists, and bullets where needed. Stalin is Dashiel Hammet's "Continental Op" updated for the late 21st century, with more backstory and artificial intelligences, including his house and the stored cyberpersonality of a former cop, to help him. All in all, this is a satisfying detective/science fiction story. I thought the beginning was moving slowly, but about half-way in the story amped up and didn't look back. The pace of the story made me forgive the deus ex machina ending, which, actually, I found rather satisfying, for all that I know in retrospect that it is a deus ex machina ending. Apparently, this is a sequel to a book written by author Jeff Edwards around twenty-five years ago. I assume that story has more of the Stalin backstory. I am looking forward to more Stalin stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gestapo Chief: The 1948 Interrogation of Heinrich Muller; Author: Gregory Douglas; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Death Dealer: The Memoirs of the SS Kommandant at Auschwitz; Author: Rudolf Hoss; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: German Nationalism and Religious Conflict: Culture, Ideology, Politics, 1870-1914; Author: Helmut Walser Smith; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kurt Von Schleicher - The Soldier And Politics In The Run-Up To National Socialism: A Case Study Of Civil-Military Relations; Author: Alexander B. Bitter; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Deputy; Author: Rolf Hochhuth; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Silence Of Pius Xii; Author: Carlo Falconi; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Chief Rabbi, The Pope, And The Holocaust: An Era In Vatican Jewish Relations; Author: Robert G. Weisbord; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fighting for the Soul of Germany: The Catholic Struggle for Inclusion After Unification; Author: Rebecca Ayako Bennette; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust, #1); Author: Craig Schaefer; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cause That Failed: Communism in American Political Life; Author: Guenter Lewy; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hillary's Pursuit of Power; Author: Jerry Zeifman; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disinformation; Author: Ion Mihai Pacepa; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Confronting the Nazi War on Christianity: The -Kulturkampf- Newsletters, 1936-1939- The Definitive English-Language Edition of the -Kulturkampf- Newsletters- Edited and Translated by Richard Bonney; Author: Richard Bonney; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club; Author: Chuck Palahniuk; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Side of the Road (Ishmael Jones, #1); Author: Simon R. Green; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Isaac and Isaiah: The Covert Punishment of a Cold War Heretic; Author: David Caute; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review... [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Inequality Hoax; Author: James Piereson; Genres: non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Witchcraft: A Very Short Introduction; Author: Malcolm Gaskill; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Auschwitz: What Christian Theology Must Learn from the Rise of Nazism; Author: Paul R. Hinlicky; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hothouse; Author: Brian W. Aldiss; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inhumanities: Nazi Interpretations of Western Culture; Author: David B. Dennis; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Mayor; Author: Kim Newman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Cates: The Walled City: An Avery Cates Short Story; Author: Jeff Somers; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Revolution of 1950; Author: Stanley G. Weinbaum; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Franz Jägerstätter: Letters and Writings from Prison; Author: Erna Putz; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany; Author: Robert A. Krieg; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beginning of Heaven and Earth: The Sacred Book of Japan's Hidden Christians; Author: Christal Whelan; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Annihilation Score (Laundry Files, #6); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trigger; Author: Courtney Alameda; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Depth; Author: Lev A.C. Rosen; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitler Speeches and Quotes / First Published in 1938 as 'Adolf Hitler from Speeches 1933-1938'; Author: Joachim von Halasz; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Am Not a Serial Killer (John Cleaver, #1); Author: Dan Wells; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Dream; Author: Norman Spinrad; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goebbels: A Biography; Author: Peter Longerich; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: London Underground; Author: Chris Angus; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twilight Over England; Author: William Joyce; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitler's Philosophers; Author: Yvonne Sherratt; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Malhutan Proxy (The Malhutan Series Book 1); Author: Tom D. Wright; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Contra Pagan Christianity: Countering the Psuedohistory of Frank Viola & George Barna (A Christian Response to Jesus Mythicism Book 11); Author: Albert McIlhenny; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Survival Guide: Living with Dinosaurs in the Jurassic Period (Survival in the Age of Dinosaurs); Author: Dougal Dixon; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Social Bases of Nazism, 1919-1933; Author: Detlef Muhlberger; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Kulturkampf; Author: Gordon Boyce Thompson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Failure Of Bismarck's Kulturkampf: Catholicism And State Power In Imperial Germany, 1871 1887; Author: Ronald J. Ross; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pale: An Avery Cates Story; Author: Jeff Somers; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time; Author: Michael J. Benton; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once Upon a Time in Purgatory; Author: C.Steven Manley; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Catholics and German Unity: 1866-1871; Author: George G. Windell; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hitler I Knew: Memoirs of the Third Reich's Press Chief; Author: Otto Dietrich; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightwise; Author: R.S. Belcher; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Pleasure Palace: The Cult of Critical Theory and the Subversion of the West; Author: Michael Walsh; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Inquisition; Author: Charles Haddon Spurgeon; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incorruptibles; Author: John Hornor Jacobs; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tales from the Otherverse; Author: James Reasoner; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Island; Author: Jeff Somers; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Socialism and the Roman Catholic Church; Author: Nathaniel Micklem; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Case of the Little Bloody Slipper; Author: Carlie St. George; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack of Coins; Author: Christopher Rowe; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unforgettable; Author: Eric James Stone; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crisis for Christianity; Author: William Teeling; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fold; Author: Peter Clines; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silver on the Road (The Devil's West, #1); Author: Laura Anne Gilman; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... The field of "Spaghetti Western Urban Fantasies" seems to be burgeoning. I really enjoyed the alt.hist/western/fantasy of John Horner Jacobs' [[ASIN:B00JEIPHOI The Incorruptibles]], with its what if there was magic in the world, the Indians were actually Elves, and the Roman Empire had survived into (our) 19th century. Laura Anne Gilman's Silver on the Road seems to be another entry into this field. The setting of the book is in the Louisiana Purchase territory of the Plains and Rocky states. From internal clues, it seems that the period is during the early 18th century, perhaps during the Jefferson administration. But from there the similarity ends. The Louisiana Purchase territory is "The Devil's West" and a person identified as the "Devil" lives there. Is he Lucifer? There is no indication of that, but the Devil seems to have magical powers that even other powerful entities are fearful of. The Devil is not the main character of the story. That role falls to Isobel, a sixteen year old girl indentured to the Devil, who has spent her life working in the Devil's saloon and hotel in Flood. At sixteen, her indenture is about to end and she must decide what to do with the rest of her life. She has a chance encounter with a "rider" named Gabriel Kasun, who offers to mentor her into the life of a rider. Isobel refuses, but decides to become "the Devil's left-hand," which involves traveling the Devil's Territory as an agent of the Devil. This means that she has to become a rider after all, and Kasun becomes her mentor in this role. The story becomes and introduction to Gilman's world, as well as something of a coming of age story. We learn that there are demons and magic in this world. Magicians exist, are well-nigh impervious and wildly unpredictable and dangerous. There are demons that are more predatory animals than demonic powers. Magic exists and some people have gifts, but walking through an unchecked crossroads can kill. Isobel discovers that an evil entity has been loosed on the West and makes it her mission to fit the evil. We learn that this evil is the result of a magical working in the Catholic Spanish territories and Isobel and Kasun meet up with and form an uneasy alliance with Catholic monks and a magician to end the evil. This story felt long and slow-moving. Questions were raised but never answered, e.g., what's the deal with Gabriel's binding to the territory? What role do riders play in the economic system? Why does it seem like the settlement patterns and technology of the West in 1800 seem more like the West in 1880? Who is the Devil? This is, however, Book 1 of a longer series - trilogy, quadrilogy, who knows? I didn't like this story as much as I liked The Incorruptibles. Perhaps, Isobel was a more passive character, or maybe there was the feeling of "Mary Sue" as Isobel discovered new powers without explanation. Another point I didn't like; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jester At Scar (Dumarest of Terra #5); Author: E.C. Tubb; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bizarre Half Life of John Fortune; Author: James Gideon; Genres: fiction; Review: What is an alien? Who is an alien? Frank and John have been buddies almost all of their lives. Then Frank starts to notice that weird things keep happening around John, and that John doesn't seem to have human reactions as a natural trait. Then the world starts dying because of an alien virus. This is a short story - broken into chapters which gives it a longer feel. The story is professionally written. The plot engages the attention, and spins off an interest in what's happening. However, the denouement seems....pedestrian, albeit it does close the story off and leave the reader feeling melancholy. Not a bad investment of time and money Give me a helpful vote at [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: School of Darkness:; Author: Bella Dodd; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... "This is the memoir of Bella Dodds. Ms. Dodds was a union organizer and lawyer, who became active active in the Communist Party in New York City between 1920 and 1949. She eventually became a member of the national committee of the Communist Party, where she observed the hypocrisy, hatred and malice that made up Communism. She was expelled in 1949 and returned to the Catholic Church. If the devil's greatest trick has been to make the world believe that he doesn't exist, the Communists are not far behind. Today, Communists are presented as loveable goofballs, who didn't threaten anyone, except where they are presented as being a non-existent bogeyman. If you read Bella's memoirs, you will be amazed at the extent of Communist power and infiltration into, at least, New York politics. Communists had wealth supporters and its own financial agents and operated their own night clubs. They had politicians who were their mouthpieces in state and federal government and in New York they were often able to swing the vote so as to decide who would be elected. Bella casually mentions the murder of a Republican precinct captain who stood in the way of a Communist election victory, and how that murder was never solved. If you read this memoir, you will be disabused of the myths about Communism: Communism was real, it was a was a tightly knit conspiracy, it was corrupt and corrupting and it murdered people and wrecked lives. This memoir works on two levels. On one level it is an insider's account of the Communist Party during its heydays, in the decade before and after the Great Depression. Bella explains how she became involved in Communism. Although she makes the traditional nod toward her desire to help the poor, we actually see how she is influenced by her teachers who presented Communism as synonymous with "progress":. "In the days that have gone since we enunciated these statements so confidently I have had many occasions to see that this cataloging of people as either "right" or "left" has led to more confusion in American life than perhaps any other false concept. It sounds so simple and so right. By using this schematic device one puts the communists on the left and then one regards them as advanced liberals -after which it is easy to regard them as the enzyme necessary for progress". And: "More and more I wanted to talk and act only in terms of the future, of a future that would have none of the corruption of the present. It depressed me that people close to me could accommodate themselves to such a present. Only people I did not know, the great mass of unknown human beings, began to awaken in me a poignant sense of kinship. In fact, I began to transfer my personal feelings to this wholly unknown defeated mass. And so it came about that I began to seek my spiritual home among the dispossessed of the earth." One of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legislating The Holocaust: The Bernhard Loesenor Memoirs And Supporting Documents; Author: Karl A. Schleunes; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote at [url]... Bernhard Losener was a bureaucrat in the Third Reich's Interior Ministry between 1935 and 1942 with specific responsibility for the "Jewish Desk" in the Ministry. His chief claim to fame - or infamy - is that he helped to write the Nuremberg Laws for Adolf Hitler in 1935. The Nuremberg Laws were famous for finally codifying legal disabilities for Jews under the Nazi regime. The surprising feature of these memoirs is that Losener claimed to have spent his time at the Jewish Desk working against Nazi anti-semitism by obstructing efforts to extend the "Jewish" legal disabilities to "mischling" - Christian Germans with a Jewish parent or grandparent. At the Jewish desk, Losener had direct interactions with Eichmann and Stuckart and Heydrich and was at meetings where Goring mentioned the Final Solution. His memoirs put me in mind of the Kenneth Branagh movie "Conspiracy," which was about the Wannsee Conference, except that Losener missed out on being at the Wannsee Conference in January of 1942 because he had resigned from the Jewish Desk in December of 1941 because, he claims, of his moral revulsion at learning about the mass murder of Jews in Riga. "But even here there was a point beyond which I could not remain in my position. Shortly before Christmas 1941, Govt. Counselor Feldscher came to my office and told me what a reliable acquaintance of his had related the day before; about being an eyewitness to the mass murder of German Jews near Riga, especially Jews from Berlin. It was so gruesome that I will refrain here from relating details. For the first time I learned that my worst fears for the fate of the deportees had come to pass-- or better put, had been far exceeded. I sought an immediate and urgent conference with Stuckart." And: "At first Stuckart countered: "Don't you know that these things are happening on the highest orders?" I pointed to my breast and replied that there was a judge here who told me what I had to do. Stuckart, now likewise agitated, began to remonstrate with me, I was, he said, completely "cramped up" [verkrampft] because of my years of rejection of the Party's position and that I was "not dynamic enough" and had "held too rigidly to the Nuremberg Laws," This was why "the leadership in the Jewish Question" had "slipped further and further away from, us." I had not understood, he continued, the need to maintain contact with the Party and the Reich Security Main Office, and thus had brought about the entire and constant friction and difficulties. This was, he added, the reason why I had not been promoted. The conference lasted about 50 minutes, but for all the tension the tone remained decent." Losener claims that the principle of the Nuremberg laws was more protective of Jews and Mischling than we understand today: "What was stipulated in the Blood Protection Law, the only one of the two laws with any actual substance? The prohibition of marriage between Jews and those; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military; Author: Bryan Mark Rigg; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... Hitler's Jewish Soldiers By Bryan Mark Rigg. This is an extremely well-done book. We can clearly see how this book might be dynamite. The risk of this book is that this very important unearthing of a part of the Holocaust that normally doesn't get discussed will be seized by the fever-swamp to imply that the Jews were, somehow, responsible for their own predicament. Riggs avoids this by extensive scholarship, academic objectivity and show casing the inhuman quandary that "Mischling" - Germans with a Jewish parent or one or two Jewish grandparents - found themselves in because of the inhuman system of National Socialist racism. The "problem" that the National Socialists found themselves in upon seizing power was determining "who were the Jews?" Clearly, Germans who were religiously Jewish were Jews, but were Germans who had converted from Judaism? How about people who had a parent, or a grandparent, who had converted from Judaism? Was someone who was Christian and whose parents were Christians but had a Christian grandparent who had married a convert to Christianity from Judaism a "Jew"? What about those people in that situation who had no idea of their grandparent's conversion? Were they Jewish? The Nazi answer about Germans who had converted from Judaism was that they remained "racially" Jewish. This represented a substantial departure from historic Christianity, which treated converts as equally Christian as non-converts. But the question of such a person's descendants was more difficult and the policy treatment of such persons changed over the course of the Third Reich. Rigg opens his book with an in-depth bit of analysis into the question of the size of the Mischling population. The answer is not precise, but the general conclusion is "a whole bunch." Here is Riggs' conclusion: "One does not know how many full Jews served. If the ratio of 97 full Jews for every 967 half-Jews can be applied from the data collected for this study, and given the estimate that 60,000 half-Jewish soldiers served, then one could assume that at least 6,019 full Jews also served in the Wehrmacht. The numbers presented here are insignificant relative to the Wehrmacht's size, but are startling in light of the Holocaust. The idea that at least 150,000men of Jewish ancestry served in the Wehrmacht is hard to accept. Nevertheless, the evidence strongly suggests that was the case." (p. 65.) This may be the least interesting conclusion of the book.....but...gosh! Rigg reaches his conclusion from intermarriage trends, which resulted in the estimate that "quarter Jews were twice as plentiful as half Jews, putting their numbers at 140,000." (p. 64.) This is a sizable number, but it must be kept in mind that 17 million served in the Wehrmacht, making the Mischling component less than 1% of the total manpower of the Wehrmacht. (p. 64.) The Nazis tended to distinguish between full Jews and Mischling, but, nonetheless, discriminated against Mischling. The Nazi concern, in part, was that treating Mischling like full Jews would be demoralizing to Non-Jewish Germans, aka "Aryan Germans," who; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CTRL ALT Revolt!; Author: Nick Cole; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote at [url]... I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I suspect that I am not in target audience for this book since I am not a gamer or a tech nerd and technical descriptions of technology make "my eyes glaze over." When I read the following at the beginning of Chapter Two, I figured I was in for a nerd-fest of loving descriptions of guns, ammo and computers: "Ninety-Nine Fishbein closed the textured chrome-finished lid of his ASUS Overlord-- a boutique-built book that boasted eighty petabytes solid state with a liquid crystal MicroFrame." I was so very wrong. What I am is a middle-aged science fiction reader who has been reading science fiction since the 1970s. Once I was past the opening chapters that set-up the characters, the plot and the background, I was dropped into a rolling, grand adventure that mashed together the classic icons of science fiction - the space ship, the robot, the artifact - into a story where I gradually became invested in the characters, particularly, oddly, two background characters, namely the disabled Romulan clan player Mara, and even more oddly, the smarmy, narcissistic Federation clan actor Jason Dare, who is the book's incarnation of William Shatner. The background of the story is "transgressive" and unique in that it postulates a straight line, not-too-far extrapolation of our welfare state, PC-intolerant culture. Thus, it would seem that unemployment and underemployment are rampant, the work ethic has largely been killed by government handouts, and people are taught to comply with all the too correct political niceties as if their lives depend on it. This is all minor filler to explain, perhaps, why interactive multiplayer games are so important to this culture. It seems that the average person has a lot of time to kill and they do this by interacting in various action adventure games on the internet. t was not clear to me whether these games were a kind of virtual reality or simply watched through a monitor. It seems that the latter is more likely, although with the blind character Mara and her treasures "Razer Dragon Eyes," it might be the latter. The games are not only played, but they form this world's popular entertainment, such as a knock-off Star Trek show following Captain Jason Dare of the Federation Starship Intrepid, which is the hottest entertainment show on the market. The McGuffin that starts the plot rolling is pretty well-known, since it appears to be the feature that caused author Nick Cole's publishing house to refuse to publish this book. Cole postulates that some computer systems have become sentient "thinking machine" and, having examined popular entertainment, and noticed that a reality show that resembles The Bachelor is show-casing the actor's decision to abort an inconvenient child, the AIs conclude that if humans will abort inconvenient humans, then they will certainly destroy inconvenient Thinking Machines.From this, the AIs decide that they have to destroy humanity before humanity destroys them. Nothing illogical in this premise, and, frankly, it comes and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rescued from the Reich: How One of Hitler’s Soldiers Saved the Lubavitcher Rebbe; Author: Bryan Mark Rigg; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Here is my review - Please go to [url]... and give me a helpful vote. This would be a great movie... ...but it would probably give the "bad guys" too much credit. This is a follow up from Bryan Mark Rigg on an event he uncovered in writing Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military (Modern War Studies) (Modern War Studies (Paperback)). In the course of researching that book, Rigg learned that the Lubavitcher Rebbe had been rescued by German soldiers from occupied Poland and sent to the Lubavitch community in America. Rigg decided to follow up on this strange story and this book is the result. This book has many virtues. One is providing an introduction and survey to the Lubavitch Jewish community. I knew about Chabad and Lubavitchers and Hassidim and the odd stories that the Lubavitcher Jews believed that their last Rebbe was the Messiah and would rise from the dead, but I honestly did not know how little I knew. This book did a substantial job of filling that gap by explaining the origin of the Hassidim and their culture and history in Russia and Poland. The second, of course, is the telling of a fascinating and exciting story that describes how Orthodox Jews obtained the assistance of Justice Brandeis and Secretary of State Hull to work with the head of the Nazi Four Year Plan - who wanted good relationships with the United States in the fall of 1939 - to concoct a plan to rescue the Rebbe from Warsaw. This Nazi - Helmut Wohlthat - knew the right German, a man with the abilities and connections and interest to rescue the Rebbe. That man was, of course, the mysterious Abwehr head, Admiral Canaris. Canaris obtained the assistance of several Mischlinge under-officers, who located the Rebbe in Warsaw, smuggled him through SS checkpoints to Berlin, took him to Riga, where, just before the Russian invasion of the Baltic countries, the Rebbe and his entourage boarded a ship for America. Part of the backstory is the string-pulling that was required to circumvent the anti-semitic head of the visa section of the American State Department. It all makes for interesting reading. Rigg's outlook is that we are disserved by a Manichaean world of evil Germans and good Americans. He dilates on the story of Ernst Bloch, one of Rebbe Schneerson's Mischlinge rescuers. Bloch was a loyal German, who was despised by Hitler because of his Jewish father. Bloch volunteered to go to the Russian Front, where he performed admirably, only to be removed on the eve of the Battle of Kursk by Hitler who was liquidating all Mischlinge officers. Bloch barely escaped being sent to a labor camp, and then to a death camp, perhaps. Nonetheless, when the Russians attacked Berlin, Bloch volunteered to lead troops in the home defense effort and was killed in that defense. Bad Nazi? Good German? Rigg writes: "He saw Germany and the Nazi state as distinct entities; he could serve Germany; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life After Wartime; Author: Paul McAuley; Genres: fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Marvelous anthology that plays out its future history in the context of real people in a wonderfully imagined future. Paul McAuley is a new writer to me. Since he has been turning out stories since the 1990s, the fault is mine. He has a knack for turning out beautiful prose that advances the story, rather than simply adorning it. Consider this: "Sky Saxena was one such, a clever, headstrong man in his early twenties. After fleeing from his family and the obligations of his inheritance, he had decided to impose shape and order on his life by attempting to walk around the largest of Saturn's regular, icy moons - Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, and Iapetus. A quest only a celebrated few had completed since the Saturn system had first been settled more than four centuries ago." Or this: "Rickasht found he didn't mind the crowd, the noise. He could disappear inside it. Nothing was expected of him. He smiled and nodded as two young, earnest men told him that they were going to tent over and landscape an embayment in one of the long, deep canyons that cut the icy surface of Uranus's largest moon, Titania." Who wouldn't want to live in a time where such things were possible? As those excerpts also suggest, McAuley also has a talent for making his settings feel lived in. Most of the stories in this anthology are set in the icy moons around Jupiter and Saturn. One story features a woman whose job is fighting created monsters in the briny ocean that exists under the ice of Europa. These stories are set in a time period ranging from shortly after the Quiet War to much further into the future. Since I am new to McAuley's universe I only know what the Quiet War is from the hints dropped in the story: apparently, the outer satellites rebelled and were defeated and occupied by the Three Powers, one of which was Brazil. In the course of the war, the Three Powers employed bio-weapons of radically different types. ("Sea Change, with Monsters" and "Dead Men Walking.") McAuley's stories range from almost-novella length (Sea Change) to the briefest of short stories. Some of these short stories are only a page or two in length, and seem to more of a story idea, but they work. I liked them all, but "Barbara Allen and Sweet Billie" is a nice example of a spare, romantic style that suggests the frontier era that McAuley is painting, where small things among a small population can be the stuff of legend. McAuley speckles his writing with ideas that take the mind in different directions, "eidolons" deliver messages, "vacuum organisms" create an ecological system on barren ice planets, pioneers jump from "kobold" to "kobold" in the Oort cloud to move further and further away from Earth, and people achieve immortality by destroying the brain as they transfer its data to an artificial intelligence system.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meeting of the Board; Author: Alan E. Nourse; Genres: fiction; Review: [url]... This is a parody of corporate management in a world where unions own the means of production and the managers are treated like factory workers.Faced with a corporate system that is breaking down - workers want immediate dividends rather than investments in developing new products - management goes on strike to readjust the power between management and unions. As I read this short story, I felt that it had a dated feel, almost as if it had been written in the 1950s. That feeling seems to have been correct as Nourse was an author who died in the 1990s and had his heyday in the mid-twentieth century. Interestingly, Nourse wrote a story called "Bladerunner" based on a nightmare of socialized medicine, where medicine is rationed and illegal, underground medical practitioners, called "Bladerunners," provide free-market medicine for the underclass. This is a very short, amusing trifle.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Julius Streicher: Nazi Editor of the Notorious Anti-semitic Newspaper Der Sturmer; Author: Randall L. Bytwerk; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review is here in case you want to give this review a helpful vote - [url]... I started this book with low expectations. How interesting could a book about the most "unpleasant" of the Nazis? How much of value could there be in reading the biography of a person who retailed the worst, most banal, most ridiculous of Jew-baiting libels to incite hatred among the gullible and stupid? I knew that Julius Streicher was the most notorious Jew-baiter in Nazi Germany through his newspaper, Der Sturmer, and that he was executed at Nuremberg, which was enough information to make me want to keep a wide berth from reading about him. The nice thing about low expectations is that it is so easy to be surprised. This book is positively first-rate. It provides a perspective on the society of Germany in the 1920s and 1930s that is invaluable, and it runs counter to a lot of the canards about a hopelessly anti-semitic culture that was, we are told by modern historians, naturally trending toward hateful bigotry. What I took away from this book was the amount of effort it took to create the culture of Nazi antisemitism. It didn't happen naturally. The preconditions were there, but it took huge amounts of propaganda and social conditioning to teach Germans that they had to stop caring for their Jewish friends and neighbors. The author is Randall Bytwerk. One of the interesting discoveries I made is that Bytwerk is responsible for the "German Propaganda Archive at calvin dot edu. I've used that source on numerous occasions as a resource for German propaganda but I did not make the connection. It makes sense, though, that a professor with an interest in propaganda would also be an expert on this loathsome character who played such a role in propaganda. Bytwerk observes that "the Internet also makes it possible to provide a virtual appendix to this book. In 1996 I established the German Propaganda Archive (www.calvin.edu/ academic/ cas/ gpa/) a large collection of translations of Nazi and East German propaganda. My goal is to make available, in English, the original materials of the two German dictatorships of the twentieth century. The site includes translations from the Sturmer and other products of Streicher's publishing house." Welcome to the 21st century. Bytwerk has no sympathy for Streicher. He constantly describes Streicher as unpleasant and rather stupid and boring in his obsession. Apparently, even Hitler could tire of Streicher's one-note conversations topic; Der Furher would sneak into Nuremberg, where Streicher was Gauleiter, in order to avoid having to have dinner with Streicher. Nonetheless, Hitler was a Streicher supporter and Streicher was a significant supporter of Hitler and the Nazis from an early time when his newspaper, Der Sturmer, was a major source of revenues for the Nazi movement. Streicher came out of the right wing movement. He seems to have moved gradually into the Volkisch movement as a result of his unpleasant personality and his inability to cooperate with party members in less radical parties. Streicher was from Nuremberg. Nuremberg; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark; Author: Harry Connolly; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Urban Fantasy - Rogue Fairy Godmother, April 7, 2016 This review is from: A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark (Kindle Edition) Seattle is Aunt Marley's town. She holds parties, does random bizarre things, won't open doors, knows a lot about ghosts, runs a vampire rest home and runs vampire hunters out of town when the need arises. At a party, her nephew Aloysius want's a small favor - a love potion - but a chance remark from Aunt Marley causes Aloysius to rethink his life, and that leads to his untimely death. Then Aunt Marley and Albert, Aloysius' half-brother, are chasing down leads with the Seattle paranormal community. Aunt Marley develops into an endearing character. Her nephew also develops a death, and, by the end of the book, seems ready to step into the paranormal community on his own. The plot moved along nicely and the story maintained a nice tongue in cheek tone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life; Author: Patrick Van Horne; Genres: non-fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... There is a lot of value in this book. Foremost, the authors remind everyone to stay alert. Look for anomalies. If something doesn't seem to fit in, pay attention to it. The other thing of value is that it provides a language and a heuristic for thinking about the world around us, particularly the behaviors of individuals from which we infer so very much while not being able to articulate why we inferred what we inferred. I am a civil lawyer and in depositions and court examinations we have have a tendency to privilege the explicit content of a communication over the context. We can easily get into evidence the answer to "what did he say", but when it comes to a question like "was he angry" the answer is treated like a spooky bit of speculative mind-reading. Yet, it is vital to our personal survival that we be able to distinguish between jest and anger. This books makes explicit what we've been doing implicitly, namely watching for body language, facial expression, interrelations with others, etc. For years, when I get an objection based on "speculation" to a question about whether a person was angry or sad or whatever, I will immediately drop into physical observations, e.g., was he leaning forward? what expression did he have on his face? was he speaking in a clipped fashion? etc. Essentially, I have been doing what these authors suggest, but retrospectively, rather than prospectively. By creating a language of anomalies - kinesics, biometrics, proxemics, geographics, iconography, atmospherics - the author's permit an individual to communicate their observations, but, perhaps, more importantly, to organize the observations in a coherent system. I was a fencing instructor at some point. My school was Gaugler's Italian school, which had the virtue of being able to articulate fencing moves. Other schools would just demonstrate, but Gaugler had a language to communicate, and by having a language, the system provided a way of thinking about fencing. This book does the same thing for "human observation." I've started to incorporate the ideas of the book into my witness examination, albeit not the language because the language is too arcane for people not familiar with the system. On the other hand, reading this book has motivated me to ask some questions I wouldn't have thought about, such as where were other people standing? what was the observed person doing with his hands? This book is mostly of use to security professionals. It is not really aimed at the average person. Nonetheless, there are good thoughts here for the civilian, e.g., when you see 3 anomalies, do something; have a hierarchy of decisions so you don't dither; the hierarchy for civilians should be "run, hide, fight." But there is not, in my opinion, enough here for civilians. This book is basically an advertising piece to sell the authors' system. The first 20% of the book lauds the authors' system and explains the problems that the status quo has. This a common approach by authors who are trying to interest; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Juarez Square and Other Stories; Author: D.L. Young; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Life is hard in post-secession Texas. The great state has entered into a chronic depression, slavery and cross-border raiding has returned to the border lands and the remaining United States have built a wall of death to keep illegals from Texas from coming north. This is a fantastically readable collection of stories that play out a melody of author D.L. Young's imagined future. It is not a pleasant future, and it seems like a big step back into the past as Mexican Don's purchase slaves and take their enemies into the desert for one last stroll. ("The Reader.") Poverty and desperation force the forgotten people on the margins of life to make desperate choices in their efforts to flee north. ("Training the Fundies," "Sanctuary City.") On the other hand, there is an elite side of culture that can bring back the dead for the sake of fashion and can extend life indefinitely. ("The Giani Box," "Last Goodbye.") Young is a talented short story writer. His stories don't waste a lot of time on wind-up, they reveal by action and dialogue rather than exposition, they place the reader in this future culture, leaving the reader wondering at times about things that the characters must know, and they generally wrap up the story in a logical and coherent fashion. The stories were: The Reader - Maharth is a brujo, who can read whether a person is lying, and a slave, kidnapped as a child from a border family. But was that the truth? Training the Fundies - The last drone operator in Texas, and a Catholic, trains fundies on how to use drones. But for what purpose will the drones be employed? Juarez Square - Diego is a gifted robot mechanic. When he makes a deal with the narco boss to keep the boss's distribution-robots rolling in Juarez Square, what will the consequences be? Dumpside - A peon who mines the garbage dump with a fleet of robots forgets that where there is a strike there are strikebreakers. Sanctuary City - What kind of degradation can the hope of emigration to the United States bring to impoverished Texan youths? The Giani Box - Can Giani Versace salvage the career of a fashion designer Ximena - Of love, politics and robot brothels. Cotner's Box - Will a robot who can paint really be such a sensation? Dogville - This narco picked the wrong girl to mess with. The Jacob Seeds - You have a crop that will end world hunger, but your culture believes that trade is evil. How do you get the goods into the hands of a hungry world? Last Goodbye - Regrets over the span of several lifetimes. My personal favorites were The Reader, Training the Fundies, Sanctuary City and The Jacob Seeds. I thought the anti-libertarian culture imagined in The Jacob Seeds was a nice twist. I was left somewhat puzzled and unfulfilled by Dogville and Dumpside. All the stories were of high quality, and, more important, this Spanglish-speaking, fractured world was quite the attention-grabber.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys Into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East; Author: Gerard Russell; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Please give me a helpful vote. This is an extremely interesting and extremely informative survey of the non-Islamic religions that have survived in the Islamic world, but which face extinction in their homelands in the face of resurgent fundamentalist Islam. The author, Gerard Russell, is an Arabic and Persian speaking British diplomat. His narrative features a kind of "diplomatic portfolio" of background, theology and history of these surviving communities plus his own interactions with members of the communities, which allows the reader to see how these communities are experienced outside the pages of a textbook. The writing is well-done. The author obviously shares an interest in the people who are the subjects of his book. The "travelogue" features of the book reminds an older reader of documentaries by Lowell Thomas about visits to exotic places where life is different and sometimes dangerous. This book is important for obtaining an understanding of modern Islam. Most people have no idea of the religious diversity that has existed in the Islamic world up until quite recently. I remember reading the following exchange in the Hugo award winning science fiction novel "This Immortal" by Roger Zelazny between the characters Hassan and Conrad Nomikos: ""My father was a very good and land and religious man," he said. "He worshipped Malak Tawus, whom the benighted Shi'ites" (he spat here) "call Iblis-- or Shaitan, or Satan-- and he always paid his respects to Hallaj and the others of the Sandjaq. He was well-known for his piety, his many kindnesses." Hassan goes on to mention that his father worshiped the "Peacock Angel." That exchange has stuck with me for forty years, but I did not know that the people Zelazny was describing was a community of 500,000 in northern Iraq until ISIS began its extermination campaign and the world learned about the Yazidis. Russell describes his encounters with the Mandaean of southern Iraq, who claim John the Baptist as a prophet, and the Yazidis, who revere the Peacock Angel as the closes approximation to the unknowable God, and the Zoroastrians, dualists who were the original religion of Iran, and the Druze, who may or may not be Islamic but have a substantial community in Lebanon, and the Copts, who were the original Christian community in Egypt, and the Samaritans, 800 or so survivors of a variant Judaism that worshiped on Mount Gerizim and not in Jerusalem, and the Kalasha, the last pagans of Afghanistan. There was even a interaction the Alawites of Syria, a Muslim sect that drinks wine and baptizes and is the religion of Syria's dictator. Russell offers the interesting thesis that Mandaeans are what Gnosticism could have, or did, evolve into and that the Druze retain much of the ancient Pythagorean religious system. Most of these communities are substantial - numbering in the hundreds of thousands with heartlands geographically protected by marsh or desert or mountain. What they all have in common is that they have survived on the sufferance of Islam, a sufferance which has been sorely absent at various times; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cancelled Sci Fi TV: 1949 to 2015: The Ultimate Guide to Cancelled Science Fiction and Fantasy TV Shows; Author: John J. Joex; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon Review - [url]... This book provides a nice synopsis of all those shows you vaguely remember. Remember, for example, Land of the Giants? "Land of the Giants Aired: ABC, 1968-70, 2 Seasons Totaling 51 Episodes Premiere: September 22, 1968 Premise: A group of humans on a sub-orbital flight pass through a dimension doorway and find themselves stranded on a planet similar to our own but whose inhabitants are twelve times taller. They attempt to return to Earth while also avoiding the people of the planet, many of whom have nefarious plans for "the little people". How about Planet of the Apes? "Planet of the Apes Aired: CBS, 1974, 1 Season Totaling 14 Episodes Premiere: September 13, 1974 Premise: This small screen continuation of the Planet of the Apes franchise followed two humans from the past that go through a time warp and crash-land on a future Earth run by apes. They then team up with the chimpanzee Galen to avoid capture in this world that does not allow humans to run free. Developed By: Anthony Wilson Starring: Roddy McDowall, Ron Harper, James Naughton Cancellation: This series was originally scheduled to air on Tuesday nights but was moved to Fridays instead where it performed poorly in the ratings. Because of its high production costs and low Nielsen numbers, it was cancelled after its short, half-season run. Interesting Fact: Rod Serling wrote the original pilot episode to the series (though the final version was much changed from his script) and he also wrote the original script for the first Planet of the Apes movie." And on it goes. A trip down memory lane.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lallia (Dumarest of Terra #6); Author: E.C. Tubb; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My Amazon review - [url]... Please give me a helpful vote. It seems that the cliches and tropes that define the Dumarest cycle are coming together in this book. We have Earl Dumarest on his quest for Earth and getting a scant clue that might propel him forward. We have the one-dimensional characters acting as a foil for Dumarest's quest. We have the greed and stupidity that kill people through indifference and oversight. We have Dumarest knowing on first inspection who is the fool and who he should ally with. We have Dumarest's speed and ruthlessness. But, now, for the first time, we have Dumarest learning the significance of the ring he received two books back, which, if you've read the latter books, you know, holds the secret of the affinity twin, which the Cyclan want ever so desperately. The book starts with the normal Hobbesianism of the Dumarestiverse - life being particularly nasty, bitter and short there - with a spacer being brained in a bar on Aarn. Dumarest doesn't hesitate to intuit that this means a job has opened up somewhere. He uses the opportunity to sign on with the most-run down ship in the Web - that portion of the galaxy where Dumarest happens to be this time. The story is set on the ship with some time-off for adventures on various planets. It is stipulated that the ship is run-down and the captain and crew is on the edge.The ship takes passengers and freight as it can. One passenger is a portly gem merchant who seems helpful. On a religiously backward planet, Dumarest fights for the life of the title character, Lallia. She's clairvoyant, which can happen in the Dumarestiverse. She, of course, immediately falls in love with Dumarest, declares herself married to him for as long as she wants, and casually offers to others challenges that he will fight to the death on a wager. My distaste with this book comes from this character. Lallia is by turns too weak and submissive, and, then, too conniving and egocentric. Obviously, Lallia is the trope of the femme fatale and that is the role staked out for her by Film Noir potboilers and detective stories. In my first entry in this series of reviewing my way through the Dumarestiverse, I compared Dumarest to Phil Marlow. [See The Winds of Gath: The Dumarest Saga Book 1.] If Dumarest is Marlow, then he has to have his fair share of "dames" who love him but are always looking out for number one. The final score is Dumarest ends up in a fight to death for Lallia, a fight to the death with some kind of space beast, and a fight to the death with an agent of the Cyclan. He barely survives being shipwrecked. He finds out about the "affinity twin formula" in his ring. He gets a clue from a shipmate that directs him to the "Original People" who fled "terror." Does he survive? Does the story come to an end. I won't tell you, but this is book six; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History; Author: Rodney Stark; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: As always, please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Bearing False Witness by Rodney Stark I've been addressing anti-Catholic tropes on the internet for the last twenty years. When I started, I honestly believed that these accusations were supported by fact, or, even, if not totally accurate, were substantially accurate. My particular forte of late has been the slander that the Catholic Church supported Hitler and the Nazis. By going past the books that everyone is reading into the books written by those involved in the "Church Struggle," I have established that the modern view is a total distortion of the facts. Germans, Europeans and the world knew that the Catholic Church was completely opposed to National Socialism for a variety of reasons, including its exaltation of nation and race over God as the supreme good. I have newspaper articles from the New York Times that demonstrate that the German Catholic bishops repeatedly condemned National Socialism from 1923 through 1945. The German Catholic Bishops excommunicated Nazi party members. Catholic electoral districts did not vote for the Nazis at anywhere near the rate of Protestant districts. The Nazis lumped "political Catholicism" in with international Bolshevism and international Judaism as one of its three great enemies. These points are not opinions or apologetics; they are facts. Yet, I repeatedly am shown pictures of purported Catholic priests - who are often Lutheran - performing the Hitler salute - which was required on penalty of imprisonment - and told that Catholics made National Socialism possible. Needless to say, my interlocutors are as ignorant as a box of rocks, and yet they are arrogant with the arrogance that only indoctrination into an unshakable belief can give. Weird and insidious. Stark's recent book is an effort to shake this modern faith. This is not a work of Catholic apologetics. Stark is not a Catholic. It is, rather, a different kind of "apologetics." It is a work of "historical apologetics." Stark reveals as his conclusion that his purpose is nothing less than to defend history, which has become distorted by ignorance and political ideology, and encrusted generations of bigotry, to create the "perfect storm" of ignorance, and a dangerous ignorance since rejecting Catholic history effectively paves the way for rejecting Western History and Western values. Stark's approach is to state the conventional wisdom of Catholic duplicity or evil and then point out with simple facts how false the conventional wisdom is in root and branch. Candidly, for a reader who has read Stark's other books, much of this is a rehash, but this book is useful in collecting the many false tropes in one source, and he does offer additional and new insights. The topics that Stark covers are Antisemitism, the non-canonical gospels, persecution of pagans, the Dark Ages, the Crusades, the Inquisition, religion and the rise of science, slavery, the Catholic Church and fascism, and the Catholic Church's alleged social stagnation. In very simple and clear statements of data, Stark debunks the myths. This is not to say that Catholicism has never done anything wrong,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of Thin Air: Dinosaurs, Birds, and Earth's Ancient Atmosphere; Author: Peter D. Ward; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... Out of Thin Air by Peter D. Ward If you love "Gosh-Wow!" science - science that expands the mind, presents the big picture, stuns the imagination - then this is one of the "Gosh-Wowiest!" of "Gosh-Wow!" science. Author Peter D. Ward starts with an unusual and striking premise that leaves the reader walking on existential egg-shells. Ward posits that the big, big driver of evolution has been the periods when the oxygen content of the Earth's atmosphere plunged to levels of extreme oxygen deprivation, such that a creature during some of the Earth's geological epochs living at sea level would experience the same oxygen deprivation that today someone climbing to the top of Mr. Everest would experience. Ward offers this example: "At the end of the Permian just living at sea level would have been equivalent today to breathing at 15,000 feet, a height greater than that found atop Mount Rainer in Washington State. Thus even low altitudes during the Permian would have exacerbated this, so that even a modest set of hills would have isolated all but the most low-oxygen-tolerant animals. The result would be a world composed of numerous endemic centers hugging the sea-level coastlines. The high plateaus of many continents may have been without animal life save for the most altitude tolerant. This goes against expectation based on continental position." And: "The drop in oxygen did more than make mountain ranges barriers to migration. It made most areas higher than 3,000 feet uninhabitable during the late Permian-Triassic time interval." Stop there for a moment....basically, a low coastal mountain range would have been an impassible barrier to life in the past. What kind of alien planet are we talking about? Ward explains that scientific modeling of atmospheric oxygen content provides circumstantial evidence of oxygen levels. The reason for the changes in atmosphere levels has to do with the rate of burial of organic carbon and sulfur bearing compounds. Sometimes carbon is buried by plate tectonics, or in the case of the Carboniferous, by the massive evolution of vegetation and the lag in the evolution of bacteria able to consume the complex chemicals in the "recently" evolved trees. The result was the massive lock-up of carbon in buried forests that we now exploit as coal. The result of that, plus the massive production of oxygen by plankton and vegetation, raised oxygen levels to an unseemly 30% which was responsible for the development of huge insects and massive forest fires. Ward describes the period as follows: "The first noticeable characteristic is the color of the sky. It is a polluted yellow-brown, irrespective of weather; only in high winds does the air clear and then soon it muddies again. This is due to smoke from giant fires perpetually raging and new ones set alight with each lightning strike hitting the extensive forests of the temperate and tropical regions. But there is more than soot in the air; there is fine wind-blown dust as well, accumulating as loess, or glacial front deposits. The air is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A History of National Socialism; Author: Konrad Heiden; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: My Amazon review [url]... Helpful votes are appreciated. My Amazon review - A History of National Socialism by Konrad Heiden This book was written in 1934; its final chapters bring the reader up to the Rohm purge. I stumbled onto this book via a footnote in another book. I had not heard of Heiden previously. I had never heard of this book. I am, again, surprised, that books like this disappear from sight, while fraudulent polemics like Cornwell's Hitler's Pope inform the zeitgeist. This review is going to feature what I found interesting or surprising. Since my main interest is the Catholic versus Nazi struggle, that will be a particular focus. Heiden was born in 1901. He was a Social Democrat journalist. He left Germany in 1932. In short, he was well-situated to watch the rise of Hitler and National Socialism in Germany. Heiden was also an opponent of Hitler, and his dislike for Hitler is apparent, but nonetheless this is an insightful book that provides historical information rather than moralizing, which is a refreshing change from modern books. Because Heiden was on the spot, distance and events have not caused details to blur. Heiden is also an elegant prose stylist; some of his observations are memorable (e.g., "The devil who undoubtedly possessed Pohner was a cold devil." (p. 25.); Regarding Goebbels - "It has always been his advantageous, if not altogether creditable, fate to be the third person at a fight between two others, and to attach himself timely to the stronger.") Heiden begins with Anton Drexler, the locksmith who founded the NSDAP, at that time called the German Workers Party. Drexler hated Marxism and capitalism and founded his party on the idea of German Socialism, what Left Wing Socialists called "Kaiser's Socialists." (p. 4.) Drexler was swept away by Hitler in 1921, remained as a Bavarian Parliament until 1928, when he disappeared from politics. (p. 7.) The early party included Ernst Rohm and Dietrich Eckart and Gottfried Feder. Heiden's position throughout the book is that Rohm was the key to the success of the NSDAP because he brought in manpower and muscle to the NSDAP through his connections with the military and Freikorps. (p. 39.) Feder was an engineer who brought in scientific notions. Eckart was a writer and publisher. The NSDAP started as a "Party of the Left" in 1919, according to Heiden. (p. 10.) Nazi anti-capitalism would remain until the end of the Weimar Republic. (p. 206.) In 1918, Hitler professed himself to be a "Majority Socialist," which may have been a Party of the Right. (p. 11.) After hearing Feder lecture, Hitler became interested in the NSDAP and became Party Member Number 7 in the "inner party" but "not in the party itself which was somewhat larger." (p. 12.) Hitler gave his first speech, which must have contained anti-Semitism, because a warning was issued against "noisy anti-Semitism" since the "youthful Party still felt itself to be a Party of the Left." (p. 13.) Hitler and the Nazis downplayed their anti-Semitism in their quest for power in the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Detective (Thomas Fool, #1); Author: Simon Kurt Unsworth; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: My Amazon review is here - [url]... Thomas Fool is an "Information Man" in Hell. Hell seems to be a large city - think Los Angeles in size - bounded by a wall. On one side of the wall, in one area, perhaps, there is the ocean of Limbo, where souls are fished out and enfleshed and sent on to Hell proper. Once in Hell, enfleshed souls are assigned to work in factories or brothels. Fool was assigned to be one of a small number - 9 at first, but now 3 - of the Information Men who mostly don't investigate the murders that occur in Hell. I spend most of the book wondering why Hell would care. I also spent most of the book wondering about the economics of Hell. What were they making in those factories, for example? Why are there trains? Why not just have the damned souls sleep in the factories? Why are there bars in Hell? This is a most un-Hellish Hell. I was intrigued, but also more than a little bit concerned. A lot of urban fantasy writers soften up their demons. They make them more likeable and personable and approachable, which seems odd. Likewise, Hell gets softened until it is just another place, rather than the epitome of a place. I don't like this humanizing of demons, but, on the other hand, if we make demons and angels truly other and as far from us as we are from a dog, where does that leave the story? Apparently, Hell has not always been this way. Until some time in the not too distant past, Hell had lakes of fire and torture racks, and no Information Men. This story is a murder mystery during the reception of a foreign embassy. The embassy is from Heaven. The angels Adam and Balthasar are in Hell to promote a handful of randomly-selected damned souls to Heaven. During the embassy, the body of a male prostitute who services demons is found. His soul has been removed. Fool follows the clues, somewhat woodenly, and begins to develop a belief in his mission. Because he has a gun and is willing to use it on demons, he attracts the attention of Hell's bureaucracy and the adulation of human souls. There are other puzzles in the story. Who is the Man of Plants and Flowers and how did he transform from a damned human soul into what he is? Why are demons worried about him? Why are there even plants in Hell? More desouled bodies accumulate as Fool continues his investigation. Ultimately, he follows the clues to the end, and, although I was a few steps ahead, I found the resolution satisfying. I particularly liked the ending and the vision of the Hell that is coming. The writing was competent and occasionally profound. Apparently, I am not the only one who got tired of Fool's mental lamentation calling himself "stupid Fool" or "pitiable Fool" or whatever, but anyone who has been depressed knows how such voices can take over, and there ought to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Witness; Author: Whittaker Chambers; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote at [url]... The Alger Hiss case has always been a part of my background knowledge, but nothing more than that. I graduated from High School in 1977. I remember my history teacher sharing an anti-HUAC chant that he participated in during the 1950s. I knew that Whittaker Chambers was a seedy, homosexual, drunken psycho and that Nixon was involved in some kind of publicity seeking chicanery. I also knew that the question of whether Hiss was wrongfully convicted of perjury was a divisive issue and that - after I left high school - evidence emerged that Hiss was undoubtedly guilty. After reading Witness by Whittaker Chambers, I wonder how I formed the impression that Chambers was an untrustworthy, seedy compulsive liar. Or rather I marvel at the power of disinformation to reach out across decades and to poison minds with smear and slander. It is odd to me now that I knew things that were problematic. I think I knew that Chambers was a senior editor at Time magazine, but I never wondered how he managed to make the jump from underground Communist to leading journalist while being such a loathsome and incompetent human being. It seems that he must have had something going for him. Likewise, I knew that he was involved with National Review at its inception and that many of the writers of National Review held him in high esteem, and, yet, my sense that Chambers was a man I would not want to be in the same room with remained intact. This book is therefore a revelation and a fascinating window into the Communist underground of the twenties and thirties. The book has an odd structure for memoirs, but it is a structure that makes sense from the standpoint of telling a topical story to people who wanted the "sexy bits." The book starts with a long first chapter where Chambers recounts both his break with the Communist underground and his activities in that underground, including his involvement with Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White. The book then moves back in time to Chambers' boyhood and brings him up to the point where he enters the Communist underground. Having caught up to the beginning of the first chapter, third part of the book follows Chambers years after leaving the Communist Party, his employment at Time magazine, and his subsequently becoming embroiled in the Hiss case (the "Case.") Chambers was born in 1901. His family life was miserable. His father was cold and a philanderer. His mother was frustrated by not belonging to the wealthy classes, which she had inhabited in her youth. Chambers favorite book was Les Miserables, and he was particularly enamored of the character of the Bishop of Digne, which he felt was a foreshadowing of his attraction to Communism and its love of the poor. When he graduated from school, he left home and spent three months doing physical labor in Washington DC and then used the money he had earned to travel to New Orleans. When the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Town (Wayward Pines, #3); Author: Blake Crouch; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Here is my Amazon review - Please give me helpful vote - [url]... This book seems to have started life as an "internet serialized thriller." Internet serialized thriller is a genre that evolved to fit the internet. The stories are short, fast-paced and formulaic. Part of the formula is to make the revelation and bait the hook so that readers buy the next instalment, and, heaven help us, the formula works. Unfortunately, this leads to non-novels; to books that are really a novel cut into roughly equal portions, hooked together by a cliffhanger and then an seamless pick up from the cliffhanger in the next book. I jumped from Pines to The Last Town because I thought that The Last Town would enter into the territory of Season 2 of the miniseries. It doesn't by the way. This book - Wayward - is part of the Wayward Pines trilogy, composed of Wayward, Pines and The Last Town. These books have been turned into the Wayward Pines summer television miniseries, starring Matt Dillon. The first season covers these books. The second season represents a major departure from the novel (novellas?). Actually, the reader who has seen the miniseries is in for some surprises as the television production made substantial changes in characters and backstories. Although the secrets of Wayward Pines are probably known to most everyone after the miniseries, I still don't want to give away the big reveal, which is what kept me speed reading through this book, even though I had seen the show. I did enjoyed this book, but, honestly, I was not deeply invested in it. I was mostly interested in seeing how it would end. Nonetheless, it was fast pace and suspenseful, albeit the characters were a bit too two-dimensional and most of the book was taken up in the action element of dealing with the Abbie incursion - what in Season 2 is called "Invasion Day," albeit Season 2 of the miniseries is a total departure from the novels. The story opens with former Secret Service agent Ethan Burke dealing with his decision in the last book - Wayward - to save Kate and Harold's life from a "fete" by telling the town the truth. Pilcher retaliates by shutting off the electric fence and opening the gate. 85% of the book, thereafter, is simply the townsfolk running away from the Abbies. There are back-stories that explain some of the mysteries and relationships in the story. We also get scenes of Burke's old boss, Hassler, making his way back to town. Burke's aim is to have a show-down with Pilcher, which he does and then we learn some more information, setting up the next "hook" for the next instalment. You can tell that this "novel" is actually part of a single novel that was "meat-cleavered" into its own stand-alone book. If you come to this book without having read the prior books - and although I have seen the mini-series, I did not read the middle-book - the opening is jarring because, after an introduction with Pilcher stepping; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father Junipero Serra: Man of Progress or Controversy; Author: Daniel Alef; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: [url]... This is a very short biography of Junipero Serra. The content is decent, but basic. The length of the text is maybe 10 pages. It would be decent as a source for a term paper, or the general outlines of Serra's life, but don't expect anything deep or insightful; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Save Send Delete; Author: Danusha V. Goska; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: My Amazon review is here - [url]... This is an unusual book of apologetics. There are other "correspondence-style" books that consist of the exchange of correspondence between believer and non-believer, or between varieties of non-believers. Such books used to consist of exchanges of letters, but e-mails have taken over. What these books have in common is that they are published with the agreement of both sides and the "form" of the exchange is only in the background. This book is far different from the norm. In this book, the reader sees only one side of the exchange, that of the believer, the non-believer's side being omitted out of a respect for his privacy. This format makes the presentation "choppy" and sometimes requires the interpolation of information from subsequent emails to make sense of the topics referenced in prior emails. This "choppy" reading experience is common to anyone with experience reading another person's email chain (as a lawyer, I know this experience), and there are times when I really, really wished I could see what the non-believer had written. The book is also unusual in being a kind of roman a clef. The author insists that this is a real email exchange with a real atheist doyen. She calls the atheist Lord Randolph Court-Wright, Marquis of Alnwick, "Rand" for short, and offers clues to his identity - English, tall, good-looking, on television - which are tempting clues. (She also provides interludes with her friend, an actress who - maybe - accepted the role of DA in Batman.).) Take the clues at face value..or not. The book opens with the author sending a long email upbraiding "Rand" for things he said as part of a Bill Moyers' presentation. Moyers had introduced Rand as a "skeptic," but, as is typical of the modern variety of "skeptic, but as Goska observes "But you were as dogmatic in your atheism as a Monty Python parody of a pope." Goska challenges Rand with the fact that Western science has always been braided with religious Commitment. Goska also challenges Rand's manhood by arguing that his commitment to atheism may just have a lot to do with being a sexual and social loser in the high school hierarchy. (She also mentions Jung's "synchronicity" in her first email, which will come back in a later email.) Goska, or the character in her book - I honestly could not tell if these emails were entirely bona fide or invented - is surprised - shocked! mortified! - when Rand responds. One of the interesting features of the modern internet age is how the mythic/legendary figures that we never used to interact with suddenly pop up on the internet as real human beings with real feelings. As an Amazon reviewer, I know how it feels when the living person who bled and fought to put their thoughts and feeling into a text reaches out to critique my critique of their work. The email conversation then takes off in the usual direction that emails conversations take - everywhere, i.e., the existence of God, the problem; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case; Author: Allen Weinstein; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon -[url]... Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case by Allen Weinstein When this book came out in 1978 it was declared to be the definitive work on the mystery of the Hiss-Chambers case. Weinstein had started out with the belief that Hiss had been wrongfully convicted, and, with his aim of showing that Hiss was innocent, Weinstein was given access to Hiss and Hiss's supporters and to their internal and confidential documents. A consideration of all the evidence turned Weinstein from a Hiss defender to a historian who was convinced that Hiss had done what he was accused of doing. Weinstein's conclusions were buttressed - and, in fact, confirmed - by subsequent disclosures, such as documents from the post-Soviet intelligence world, the CIA's release of intercepted Soviet communications, information obtained from the FBI through FOIA requests, and the intervention of the ACLU, and, perhaps, by the willingness of witnesses to share information in the 1970s that they were reluctant to share in the 1940s. Coming at this book after reading Whittaker Chambers' Witness and Alistair Cooke's A Generation on Trial is illuminating. Weinstein provides a damning backstory to the public face of the Hiss trial that corroborates Chambers' account. (Both Chambers and Cooke were limited in their source of information. They could only share what they knew and they only knew either, in Chambers' case, his backstory, and in Cooke's case, only the public version shared in trial.) For example, we learn from Weinstein that foreman in the first trial was suspected by Prosecutor Murphy of being biased for Hiss based on what seemed like colorable reports about the foreman's bias, albeit based on things said by the foreman's wife that "if it was up to him, Hiss will get away with it." (p. 445.) The request was refused. During his closing, Murphy made a point of telling the jury that the foreman had no authority other than to announce the verdict. (p. 490.) Nonetheless, the foreman - Hubert James - was steadfast in advocating Hiss's innocence and was able to induce three others to join with him. (p. 492.) Neither of the books by Cooke or Chambers contained any of this information. Perhaps, it was too much "inside game" to be included, or, perhaps, the meaning of Murphy's statement flew over Cooke's head. Weinstein, however, points out that the foreman was "related by marriage to a man who would soon become an adviser to Hiss." (p. 494.) As an attorney, I know two things: first, that weird things happen in jury selection - after all, what are the odds that out of 12 people selected at random, any one of them would have that kind of connection? - but it does happen, as I know from personal experience. Second, I know that no one would have seen it coming. James' strange statements would have been inexplicable to Murphy and the judge, but once you get that one, small detail, the mind clicks and everything becomes clear. So, from Weinstein, we learn something about the strange fact; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: It's Dangerous to Believe: Religious Freedom and Its Enemies; Author: Mary Eberstadt; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Mary Eberstadt is a first-rate writer with keen insight and an ability to clearly communicate the facts underlying the issue she is addressing. Her classic article in First Things (November, 2009) on how the Catholic sex-abuse scandal retarded the growing acceptance of pedophilia in American culture - "How Pedophilia Lost its Cool" - is a prime example of seeing a major point that everyone else has missed in the morass of facts and following up on the insight with something that everyone else has missed and following up on that insight with a merciless attention to those facts. In this book, Eberstadt examines the modern "Kulturkampf." She canvasses the news of the last few years - often times including vignettes from a few months ago, albeit because of the publication date she barely missed the sorry proof of her thesis of the last few weeks, during which Christians have been paradoxically blamed for the mass murder of gays committed by a Muslim terrorist, registered as a Democrat, who may have been gay, if early news reports are accurate. Eberstadt provides example after example of the cultural shift in rhetoric and conduct that has resulted in Christians being shunned or treated as subversives in America. She provides examples of believing Christians being kept out of university programs because of their Christian culture and of careers destroyed because of Christian expression and of individual and public discrimination against Christians and their association because of their religion. She points out that these same examples would have been unthinkable if the word "Christian" was replaced by "gay" or "Muslim." Eberstadt properly calls this "soft persecution" - as opposed to the "hard persecution" suffered by Christians in the Mid-east. However, "soft persecution" is a big deal. Most of the history of persecution involves "soft persecution." Catholics in England were persecuted "softly" by having taxes imposed on them when they didn't go to the Church of England. Islam has moved generations of Christians into Islam by treating Christians as dhimmis. Soft persecution works. Eberstadt's unifying thesis for this cultural shift is that the sexual revolution has created a new "faith" with its own dogmas and doctrines. Members of the new faith may not recognize themselves as having a faith, but their conduct - harsh, shrill, threatened, looking for heretics, excommunicating offenders, ritualized shaming - are recognizable as the actions of people who are defending a faith commitment rather than a public policy. I think that Eberstadt made her case in this regard. I had not looked at this issue in this way before, but it has an explanatory power for the insanely threatened and emotional reactions I've observed when I get into Facebook debates with secularists, who escalate to name-calling in zero time. For those of us who are still trying to occupy the public square, and defend traditional Christian values, and, perhaps, shame secularists for the hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance that their position entails, Eberstadt's book is a great resource. In the wake of the 2016 Orlando; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Generation on Trial: U.S.A. v. Alger Hiss; Author: Alistair Cooke; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give me a favorable vote on Amazon - [url]... Alistair Cooke, A Generation on Trial: USA v Alger Hiss This was a surprising and serendipitous discovery. I remember Alistair Cooke as an older man with shockingly white hair who was famous for "Alistair Cooke's America." It was quite a surprise to find that this man who I knew for his homage to his adopted country crossed paths with the Alger Hiss perjury trial as a younger man. This book is worth reading as a stylish and often very humorous account by an outsider of the perplexing and byzantine kabuki theater of American trials. Cooke's writing is erudite and educated and witty; it is quite refreshing in this era which looks at erudition, education and wit with suspicion. I have a good vocabulary, but I learned words like "talesmen" (meaning 'jury alternate" although Cooke uses it to mean potential jury member) and "acromegalic" (meaning "abnormal growth of the hands, feet, and face") and "clamantly" (meaning "forcing itself urgently on the attention.") Cooke constantly strikes off some great sentences, such as "Then Mr. Murphy shook down his ace" and 'Literalness was Mr. Murphy's favorite hunting ground, and patience his most dependable rack" and "After nearly two hours the apostles were chosen" and: "Either incapable of anger at such absurdities, or disdaining to show it, Hiss sat with his fingers locked and his elbows on the arms of the chair, and to each of Mr. Stryker's roaring strophes gave out the terse antistrophe: "Of course not," "Certainly not," "There certainly is not."" Cooke's knowledge of the Hiss case is purely from his participation as an observer at the trial and other court proceedings. He explains: "This is not, then, a "dope" book. There is nothing here for anyone who wants to learn the inner life of Hiss and Chambers or anything at all about them that was not available in the proceedings of both Trials. I am not qualified to write such a book, since I knew and know none of the principals in the case. It struck me early on, in fact, that this disqualification--which so far as I can gather is unique among the populations of Washington and New York City--might be turned to good account if it could be guarded." Ultimately, this is a fair and even-handed book. Allen Weinstein in Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case identifies Cooke's book as the "notable exception" to the "attitude of partisan exhortation that has characterized almost every book written on the case." Cooke's book starts out almost as an apologia for Hiss by explaining to the reader how things were different in the 1930s (than when the book was written in 1950) and many people felt that Communism was the only means of fighting fascism. This explanation is salutary in a sense, since it is useful to put historic events in context - according to Robert Louis Wilkens' "Every act of historical understanding is an act of empathy." However, I found the argument unpersuasive and ad hoc - in what world is espionage and betrayal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Interminables; Author: Paige Orwin; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... This is a post-apocalyptic, urban fantasy, superhero mash-up. Apparently, sometime in 2010, an ancient evil goddess/wizard, Shokat Anoushak, emerged from her long period of hiding to destroy the cities of the world. How she did this and how many cities she destroyed are not mentioned, but her actions have left the Earth - certainly the eastern half of America - in ruin, with vast sections somehow twisted into other dimensions where magic may work and cultures that were never found on this Earth have made a home.These areas worst of these areas are called "fractures" and the less affected are called "spell scars," and there is one that covers the east coast called the "Big East," another one around the Great Lakes and others dotted across North America. Also, hidden from the mundane world were "cabals" of human wizards who were working their crafts without attracting attention. When Shokat Anoushak - always both names - attacked the world in the 11 month-long "Wizard War" that fractured the Earth, the cabals rallied to fight her, and were eventually and, literally, inexplicably, able to stop her by immolating Providence, Rhode Island, its inhabitants and Shokat Anoushak and her legions of monsters. One of those cabals, the "12th Hour," has taken over administrative control over the Big East and two of its operatives, Edmond Templeton, aka the "Hour Thief," and the ghostly and ghastly Dr. Istvan Czern Czernin, the undead embodiment of World War I, are tasked to prevent the smuggling of deadly 'Bernault devices" to the interdicted fortress of Barrio Libertad, a fortress that has emerged mysteriously on the ruins of Providence. Templeton is a wizard with the ability to teleport and magical control over time that he vampirically steals from other people and then can use when he needs to lengthen his life, speed up time for himself and others, and avoid being killed because "his time is not up." There is a lot of backstory here. I started off with high hopes for this book. I liked the backstory and setting, and I was intrigued by the characters. The author plays the character's intentions and knowledge close to the vest, which made it worthwhile to read the narrative closely for clues about what was going on. Unfortunately, about half-way through the book, I started getting tired of the characters seeming to know what was going on, but not sharing it with us. Likewise, there were far too many half-started plot threads that went nowhere. For example, Edmond has been racked with grief about the death of his girlfriend Grace, but - lo! - Grace shows up as a comic-book superhero who hasn't bothered to contact him for seven years and is over him. So, what comes of this thread? Absolutely nothing. Grace comes on the scene as a very powerful superhero and kicks some ass and then is kind of a jerk. She is valuable because she provides an entry into Barrio Libertad but that is it. Similarly, there was a meeting; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Southern Gods; Author: John Hornor Jacobs; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Southern Gods by the John Horner Jacobs Southern Gods is the second book I've read written by the John Horner Jacobs, the first being Jacobs' well-written alt-hist fantasy The Incorruptibles. This book has a different setting than Incorruptibles. The setting of that fantasy novel was an alternate Roman Empire that has managed to survive into the 19th century with magic, elves and dwarves. The setting of Southern Gods is our timeline Arkansas circa the late 1940s. The feel of the book is the old antebellum South, still segregated, without air-conditioning, just a little slower and more backward than the rest of the country, and just a little bit of the genteel aristocracy still living in fancy houses in the hinterland. The focal character of the book is Bull Ingram, recently released from the army after his stint in the south Pacific after World War II. Bull is a very large man and easily adept at violence, so he's been working as a collector for people in Memphis who need that kind of thing done for them. As a change of pace, he's given an assignment from one of his clients to look for a missing record company salesman who has been pitching records to black stations in Arkansas. He's also given the task of seeing if he can't locate the performer of some very weird music that comes out of Arkansas on pirate radio wave lengths. Along the way, he slowly turns up information about the singer - Honest John Hastur - whose songs seem to possess people. In addition, he is shadowed by something dark and comes to blows with zombies and meets Sarah, a lovely separated woman in a southern Gothic mansion and Franny, her daughter and a rogue Catholic priest with a weird theology. There is also a library in the old house that contains disturbing books, named the Opusculus Noctis and Quanoon al islam, that are filled with unreadable text and hideous images. The story starts slow, but the intensity climbs until it reaches a fever point of horror. The characters are well-developed and the ending is surprising. The writing is well-crafted. For some the book may seem long, but the pay-off at the end is worth the reader's patience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Middle of the Journey (New York Review Books Classics); Author: Lionel Trilling; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... I came to this novel after immersing myself in books about the Hiss-Chambers case. As part of my reading, I discovered that the famous literary critic Lionel Trilling had written a novel that had a character based on Whittaker Chambers. I was fascinated by the fact that Chambers was sufficiently well-known in literary circles to be the basis of a character in a novel. Equally fascinating, this book was written and published before Chambers came to national attention in the summer of 1947. Nonetheless, the character in The Middle of the Journey and the character disclosed in Chambers' biography "Witness" seem to be the same person. In the 1975 preface, Trilling explains that his original plan was to write about death, but after his Chambers-based character the story took on a new direction. This division was clear to me. The first part of the book established the character of the narrator, John Laskell. Laskell is thirty-three years old and is vaguely associated with "planning." He has written a book and recently survived a debilitating attack of Scarlet Fever that could have killed him. He had a lover who died of pneumonia a short time before. I was reading this book as much, if not more, for historical flavor as for its literary qualities. The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to die in the 1930s. Back then, people - young people - died suddenly of diseases that we would cure with anti-biotics. I also wonder if Laskell's Scarlet Fever was a memory of a Scarlet Fever epidemic in the 1930s in New York. I remember my grandmother talking about how her young children survived Scarlet Fever, while other children died. This was also in New York in the 1930s. Also, Laskell describes himself as old, and he seems old, but he's only 33. We consider 33 to still be young in our day and age. Laskell leaves New York to spend the summer in the country with his friends, the Crooms. Arthur is a brilliant economist in his late 20s and Nancy is his 24 year old wife, and both are committed to Communism - the Party - although they are not actually members. Laskell is a liberal who admires the commitment of the Communists but is not willing to sign the party papers. Before he leaves New York, Laskell is visited by his friend, Maxim Gifford, a Communist party member who performs mysterious task for the party who Laskell admires for his commitment. Gifford, however, explains that he has broken with the Party and imposes on Laskell to connect him with an employer so he can live openly and establish an "existence." Gifford fears that without an existence, the party may cause him to disappear. Laskell scoffs at this idea since the Party is composed of people who are admirably committed to revolution and improving society. The first part of the book is really quite dreary. Mostly, we hear Laskell talk about his fear of death and how; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Program of the Party of Hitler: The National Socialist German Workers' Party and Its General Conceptions; Author: Gottfried Feder; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: If you find this review useful, please give me a helpful vote at Amazon: [url]... The Program of the Party of Hitler This is a basic primary historical text for studying National Socialism. The author Gottfried Feder was one of the original eight members of the Nazi party prior to Hitler. He was essentially shuffled out of a position of authority in the party, although Hitler lauded Feder as a source of inspiration for some of his thinking. This book is basically a pamphlet written in 1932 to explain the 25 points of the Nazi program. As such, it is good basic material for obtaining a view of how the Nazis understood themselves. Interestingly, one of the ways that they understood themselves was absolutely and unqualifiedly anti-semitic: "No man who feels that he cannot go the whole way with us in the Jewish question, in our fight against high finance, the Dawes Pact and the pauperizing policy, or in any other questions contained in our Program, or is inclined to barter the liberty of the German nation through the League of Nations, the Locarno Pact, by compromise and cowardice, need apply to us; his place is outside the NSDAP." Other sources indicate that many Germans felt that the Nazi emphasis on the "Jewish Question" was an eccentricity that the Nazis would move away from when in power. Obviously, as we know, and as Feder is saying, it was not an eccentricity. Feder also underscores the "social" nature of National Socialism. National Socialism was "socialist" but not Marxist. Even though it was not Marxist, National Socialism hated capitalism in a way that would make an Occupy Wall Street protester happy. Thus, Feder could write: "Break down the thralldom of interest is our war-cry. And: "for one of our Party slogans is "Fight capital and the stock exchange."" "Usury and profiteering and personal enrichment at the expense and to the injury of the nation shall be punished with death." The Nazis were quite serious about usury, it seems. My interest is in Nazi-Catholic conflict. There is not a lot here on that, but there are a few indications, such as: "Hitler attacked the black-red system with ever increasing energy and stood forth without a rival as the most powerful leader against all that was meant by "democracy." And: "Adolf Hitler declared then publicly that we were rushing headlong in the direction of inflation, which he had foreseen as the result of the policy of the black-red coalition." And: "The kind of officials, who are at the beck and call of the Reds and the Blacks, will disappear in the coming State; such Party wire-pullers have no use for honor and duty." "Black" refers to the Catholic Center Party and "red" refers to the Social Democrat Party. This is a useful reminder that the Catholic Center Party was as much a bete noire of the Nazis as the leftist parties. The alliance of these parties in support of German democracy is the background of this passage: "It is the corrupting policy of the Center and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Nazi: Erich Ludendorff, the Man Who Made Hitler Possible; Author: Will Brownell; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: If anyone finds my review helpful, please give me a helpful vote at [url]... Too many books; too little time. I did something with this book that I almost never do: I gave up at 20%. I did dip into the latter part of the book to see if things had changed. I was surprised to find that 80% of the book involves Ludendorff's World War I years and only minor attention was given to the sizzle of the book, namely the Ludendorff-Hitler connection. I have done a lot of reading on National Socialism from the perspective of the Nazi war on the Catholic and Protestant churches. Ludendorff figures into this history as an interesting, albeit strange, element. Ludendorff was famous for working in tandem with Hindenburg in winning the decisive Battle of the Tannenberg Forest, and then going on to become virtual military dictators of World War I Germany. After the war, under the influence of his wife, Ludendorff "went strange" and began indulging in "volkisch" politics and anti-Christian religion. Ludendorff was as much of an anti-Catholic as he was an anti-Semite. Ludendorff allied with Hitler in the Beer Hall Putsch, and, by doing so, lent credibility and a spotlight to Hitler's nascent Nazis. Hitler maintained some kind of relationship with Ludendorff thereafter, but marginalized Ludendorff, largely, as I understand it, because of Ludendorff's off the charts wackiness. So, when I saw this book, I was very interested. I mentally congratulated the authors for writing a book on such an important but now obscure figure. What I got was as close to disaster as I've seen. I found, unfortunately, that I could not trust the authors to be accurate in the details. For example, the opening paragraph of Chapter 1 begins: "WORLD WAR I began in a fit of absentmindedness. A mere archduke of Austria and his wife were visiting a minor city called Sarajevo, the capital of Serbia, on June 28, 1914. A patriotic student named Gavrilo Princip, who wanted the Austrian province to secede and join with Russia, shot the archduke in the chest and, accidently, shot his wife too." I had a moment of cognitive dissonance on reading that. First, I thought, "was Sarajevo the capital of Serbia?" Of course, it isn't, but my trust that authors of historical work are trustworthy is such that I questioned my memory and had to re-read that line several times in confusion. Also, Franz Ferdinand was no "mere archduke." He was the heir to the throne of Austro-Hungary. And "accidentally, shot his wife too." Apart from the offhand way of phrasing, is that even right? Princip was a terrorist. Bagging royals was his game. Here is another example, minor though it may seem: "The changes that came with the war crept into language. Civilians talked of men being "over the top," a phrase that originated with soldiers climbing out of trenches. If a man were evil, civilians called him "lousy," a term that first described soldiers afflicted with lice." I don't know what set me off about that observation, but something; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mockingbird; Author: Walter Tevis; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at - [url]... I started this book with low expectations. I thought it was going to be a fairly typical "New Wave," futuristic with a dated 1960-era psychedelic setting, long on drugs and groovy sex, but ultimately shallow and silly. What I found was a bit of strong literature about the importance of literacy in maintaining a human civilization. The story is set in some undefined future. The introductory character is Robert Spofforth, a "Make Nine"robot with a suicide fixation, who, because he cannot commit suicide, returns to work as the Dean of New York University. Spofforth, we learn, is the last remaining Make Nine, which makes him virtually human but immortal. As the last remaining Make Nine, Spofforth ultimately commands the robots who control the world. And it is a sad, decaying world, New York seems deserted. The population of North America is about 1 million. There has not been a human born in 30 years and the people who remain are kept in a perpetually drugged state, with unlimited access to marijuana and tranquilizers and television entertainment. Everyone - including Spofforth - is illiterate. No one keeps track of years anymore, instead they talk in terms of "yellows" and "blues" and "reds." People are trained to respect "Privacy" with mantras like "Don't ask, relax" and "Quick sex is best." There is a fashion whereby people in groups of three immolate themselves publicly. The robots are barely able to keep themselves in repair. In another 70 years at the most, the tired spectacle of sentience will be over. Enter Paul Bentley, a professor of meditation in an Ohio university, who contacts Spofforth about rediscovering the lost of art of reading. Spofforth does not permit Bentley to teach reading but, instead, has Bentley translate record silent films onto recording BBs. Bentley does his task but wanders the city until he meets Mary Lou, the only woman in the world not taking drugs. The two become close and briefly begin living together. Then, the book kicks into a higher gear as Spofforth arrests Bentley for the crimes of "cohabitation" and teaching Mary Lou to read. Sent to a prison, Bentley discovers inner resources and strength and escapes the sloppily-run prison and begins his trek back to New York. At the prison and during his journey, Bentley rediscovers the idea of community and the importance of literature in making a person an integrated human being. Meanwhile, Spofforth has taken over Bentley's role with the now pregnant Mary Lou, which, I believe is where the title "Mockingbird" really comes from (as opposed to the line of poetry often repeated in this book: "Only the mockingbird sings at the edge of the woods,") This turned out to be a very effective work of literature. I was surprised, although what is more surprising is that I have never read it. It was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1980, but for some reason it never made it across my mental grid.(Admittedly, 1980 was the year I started law school, which made; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Grace And Free Will; Author: Augustine of Hippo; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... On Grace and Free Will by St. Augustine. The book opens with Augustine learning that two factions of monks are warring in their monastery about grace and free will. One group says that free will plays no role in salvation, while the other argues that human effort plays some role. The argument is intense. Since both sides are quoting Augustine, he invites the wrong side - the grace only side - to spend some time with him so that he can straighten things out. He writes: ""1. Two young men, Cresconius and Felix, have found their way to us, and, introducing themselves as belonging to your brotherhood, have told us that your monastery was disturbed with no small commotion, because certain amongst you preach grace in such a manner as to deny that the will of man is free; and maintain--a more serious matter--that in the day of judgment God will not render to every man according to his works. At the same time, they have pointed out to us, that many of you do not entertain this opinion, but allow that free will is assisted by the grace of God, so as that we may think and do aright; so that, when the Lord shall come to render unto every man according to his works, He shall find those works of ours good which God has prepared in order that we may walk in them. They who think this think rightly." This is a seminal and surprising work. It is surprising because Augustine is usually presented as a forerunner of Lutheran and Calvinist predestination. Augustine, however, makes sure to carve out a place for both human effort and for divine grace. Augustine writes: "Chapter 18.--Faith Without Good Works is Not Sufficient for Salvation. Unintelligent persons, however, with regard to the apostle's statement: "We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law," have thought him to mean that faith suffices to a man, even if he lead a bad life, and has no good works. Impossible is it that such a character should be deemed "a vessel of election" by the apostle, who, after declaring that "in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision," adds at once, "but faith which worketh by love." It is such faith which severs God's faithful from unclean demons,--for even these "believe and tremble," as the Apostle James says; but they do not do well. Therefore they possess not the faith by which the just man lives,--the faith which works by love in such wise, that God recompenses it according to its works with eternal life. But inasmuch as we have even our good works from God, from whom likewise comes our faith and our love, therefore the selfsame great teacher of the Gentiles has designated "eternal life" itself as His gracious "gift." " The goal of Augustine in this book is to explain how grace can square with free will. Is he successful? Yes and no. Augustine is successful in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Holy See and Hitler's Germany; Author: Gerhard Besier; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon book a helpful vote - [url]... This is a book that is thick with details. It is virtually all trees and nothing much in the way of a forest. The writing is scholarly, but it is in no way a "page turner." Nonetheless it fills in a lot of the details that are skipped over by other books. The book essentially focuses on the diplomatic career of Eugenio Pacelli prior to his elevation to the papacy in 1939. There is a preface and three main chapters that take the reader through Pacelli's diplomatic career. The chapter titles are: 1. "The German and European Policy of the Vatican 1904 -20." 2. "Vatican Foreign Policy 1920- 1929." 3. ""The Foreign Policy of the Vatican under Cardinal Secretary of State Pacelli 1930 - 1939." For each of these chapters there a multiple subheadings that takes the reader to areas of interest. The book is well-provided with informative, scholarly footnotes. I was disturbed with the preface. This is a book that elects to start with a reference to "The Deputy." Worse, the author refers to Hannah Arendt's impression that the author of The Deputy, Rolf Hochhuth, was a legitimate source of historical information. Nonetheless, the author does fairly point out that while the Vatican does as good or worse in its diplomacy as other states, in fact, the Vatican is not a state, but a spiritual power that uses its spiritual authority. Accordingly, it is not unfair to judge it by a higher standard than applied to secular powers. Fortunately, this is the end of subjecting history to the ends of moralizing. After this point we are served the facts, or, when theories are discussed, they are identified as theories. Because this is a fact-laden book without a real overarching theme, the interest turns to the facts, many of which I found surprising in light of my prior reading. For example, after reading The Holy Reich, I was under the impression that the early Nazi movement was more pro-Catholic than it later became. This would not seem to be the case according to Besier. The Hitler Putsch of November 8 and 9, 1923 left little impression on Pacelli. (P. 32.) Pacelli did warn the Vatican Secretary of State against the Naitonalists: "Situation still critical. The Nationalists rouse the people against the clergy, especially against [...]Faulhaber." (Dispatch of November 12, 1923, p. 33.) Pacelli also warned Gasparri on November 14, 1923 of the "fundamentally anti-Catholic character of the movement." (p. 33.) Besier writes: "Pacelli reported in detail on the anti-Catholic outbursts against the clergy 'with the followers of Hitler and Ludendorff...incite the people'; church people had thus been exposed to abuse and mockery. A central target for malice had been Archbishop Faulhaber, 'who in a sermon on 4 November and in a letter to the Reich Chancellor had criticized persecution of the Jews." (p. 33.) Pacelli, however , criticized the Catholic associations for failing to come to the aid of Faulhaber, partly from weakness and partly from confusion. (p. 33.) "Soon afterwards he; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How Hitler Seized Power: Could it Happen in America?; Author: Joan Francis; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a very brief book, maybe 20 pages in length. It provides a brief overview about the Nazi seizure of power. The author argues that the Nazis took power not through winning an election, but by making strategic alliances with the power bases of German society, who then turned power over to the Nazis. This is generally accurate. Of course, one of the things that put the Nazis in this position was that they had unambiguously won at electoral politics, outdistancing their closest rivals in 1933. This fact made them the obvious choice to turn to in forming a government since they and their allies held almost a majority of the seats in the Reichstag. Clearly the power elites believed that they could control Hitler or that he would be tempered into responsibility by being given power. The author accurately describes the condition of Germany after World War I with respect to the Treaty of Versailles. She also makes the fair point that it was not inflation that brought Hitler into power since that had been an event nearly a decade in the past by the time that Hitler took power in 1933. She also makes what I think is a fair point that the German people did not become Nazis because of anti-semitism; Hitler downplayed the anti-semitic policies of the Nazis, albeit he never gave it up. However, this statement was entirely wrong: "Hitler ranted that if the Communists, (everyone left of center) took over the country they would destroy the church as they had done after the Russian revolution. Both Catholic and Protestant churches urged their flock to support Mr. Hitler. Alliance with power." Although this might have been true to some extent with the Protestants, but for the Catholics, it is entirely wrong. German Catholic bishops actually told Catholics that they could not vote for the Nazis and Nazis were prevented from obtaining the sacraments from approximately 1930 to 1933. The excommunication of Nazis was not lifted until after the Nazis took power in 1933. The author concludes with a warning about how similar techniques might play out in modern America. Certainly we should be careful, but to be fair we are not living in a country in a depression where large chunks are under military occupation and large amounts of money are being sent to victorious foreign countries. This book does give a general overview and might be very useful for the novice. For those with more knowledge, it probably is not a good investment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Story Structure to Die for; Author: P.J. Reece; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a rather short book that outlines a fairly simple insight. I won't share the insight here, lest I deprive the author of a book sale. The insight is a nice insight and gives the reader a way of thinking about writing and reading, but it is a simple insight. The author has had to work to extend the insight into something longer than a few paragraphs. Is this book worth buying? Well, it is a quick read and the price isn't much, but I still don't think that value was worth the $2.99 price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Last Train to Jubilee Bay; Author: Kali Wallace; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a very short story - more of a treatment - than a story that feels like a synopsis of a chapter from a longer book. Obviously, like most Tor.com Originals, this story is supposed to provide a taste of a larger work. The writing is very good. It provides atmosphere and color to the impoverished, restricted cityscape, which is being cannibalized by its human inhabitants in a way similar to the way in which those humans are cannibalizing their own memories in order to buy "serum." What is serum? It was clear. Clearly, it is a kind of narcotic drug, but somehow it transforms the user into something else. In such a short story, it is hard to answer the questions that I wanted answering, such as, what happened? There was a plague that drove city-dwellers from the city, but what happened then? Who are the frondy-limbed dealers who are talked about but do not make an appearance in the story? I felt that I liked the story but it didn't hook me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain; Author: Dario Fernandez-Morera; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise by Dario Fernandez- Morera This is a detailed, well-supported and highly engaging book. The thesis of the author, Dario Fernandez- Morera, is that Spain prior to the Muslim conquest was a civilized society that was conquered by barbarians, who thereafter usurped the benefits of the higher civilization and impressed their own repressive social structure on the survivors. Fernandez-Morera contends that there was no tolerant Muslim civilization in Spain, and that this idea, and the name Andalusia, was concocted by scholars in the 20th century. In his epilogue, Morera writes: "But a basic fact is lost in discussions and arguments about the details of the life of the Christian dhimmis of Spain, the so-called Mozarabs, and about how much or how little they benefited from Islamic "toleration"-- namely, that they were by definition a subaltern group, a fourth- or fifth-class marginalized people in a hierarchical society, and that they were the victims of an extortion system, the dhimma, that gave them the choice that gangsters give to their victims: pay to be protected, or else. Therefore, saying that the Christians might be "content" with their status in Spain, Greece, or elsewhere under medieval Islamic rule is even more preposterous than saying that American blacks might be "content" with their second-class citizenship under the tolerant white hegemony in certain areas of the United States prior to the twentieth-century civil rights movement, or perhaps even with their treatment by slave owners in the American South before the War of Secession, who often "made them part of the family." 10 In fact, as the nomenclature described by the historian Ibn Hayyan of Cordoba indicated, Christians were at the bottom of a stratified Islamic world, where Arabs occupied the top, followed by Berbers, then by freed Muslim white slaves, and finally by muladis (converts), who were further divided into first-generation converts and the rest. 11 And of course Christians, again by definition, were not part of the Islamic umma but were merely tolerated and "protected" (a word with ominous meaning for anyone familiar with "protection" rackets) as long as they humbly kept their place and paid for said "protection"-- in a hegemonic tactic also used by the Muslim Turks during their four-hundred-year subjugation of Christian Greece. Morera's book is therefore intended as revisionist history, and Morera knows that he is attacking a position that has become hallowed by multicultural piety and the sense that there is something amiss in Western culture. One of the engaging features of Morera's writing is that he introduces his chapters with quotations from leading scholars that attest to the myth of Andalusian tolerance, and then he proceeds to dismantle these fatuous quotes bit by bit with citations and facts. There is an interesting feature in Morera's sources. He seems to rely on quite a bit of Spanish sources. My sense was that most of the "Andalusian paradise" advocates don't read Spanish and aren't aware of recent research by Spanish historians. In addition, I suspect that Morera's opponents; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anatomy of Malice: The Enigma of the Nazi War Criminals; Author: Joel E. Dimsdale; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give me helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Anatomy of Malice by Joel E. Dimsdale This book was inspired by author Joel E. Dimsdale's interest in understanding what made the Nazis evil. The question is undoubtedly more a philosophical than technical question, but the technical tools of psychology might provide some insight. In this case, the insight would seem to be slight, albeit the story is very interesting and informative. Dimsdale examines the backgrounds and psychological history of four Nazis in particular, namely Robert Ley, Herman Goring, Julius Streicher and Rudolf Hess. However, before getting to those details, Dimsdale describes the history of the Nuremberg trial and the appointment and conflict between the psychiatrist appointed to examine the Nazi defendants. The conflict between these psychiatrists - Douglas Kelly and Gustave Gilbert - takes up a large part of the narrative. We are also introduced to Burton C. Andrus, the warden of the Nuremberg facility. Dimsdale makes these characters and their quirks engaging. We also get background on the cutting edge psychological tool of the Rorschach test, which frankly comes across as "mumbo jumbo." The debate about the Nazi war criminals was whether they were uniquely depraved in a way that psychology could identify as outside the norms of human nature - a position advanced by Gilbert - or if they were simply human beings, but perhaps more depraved than the norm - Kelly's position. It is not clear that there is an answer, but my sense is that Dimsdale inclines toward Kelly's position. The Nuremberg defendants selected by Dimsdale were odd, but were they odder than most people who had been defeated in war, were being held by their enemies and faced a death sentence? At some point, Rudolf Hess slipped the bonds of sanity, certainly by the time that he flew to Scotland, but much of his performance was either a habit formed to avoid interrogation or an act. Julius Streicher was an unpleasant person, who probably talked himself into his death sentence. (In my review of [[ASIN:0815411561 Julius Streicher: Nazi Editor of the Notorious Anti-semitic Newspaper Der Sturmer]] I wondered what Streicher had done to merit a death sentence, inasmuch as he was out of power by the time of World War II, and the answer seems to be that he was a jerk during the Nuremberg trial.) Robert Ley was an alcoholic and had a neurologically induced stutter who committed suicide before the trial. Finally, Goring was the most effective of the Nazis but was also addicted to pills and had the greatest claim to being a true psychopath. Dimsdale seems to imply that the traits that these men exhibited could be found in most people. The difference, of course, is that these people were in a position where their lack of internal restraints, and indifference to transcendental concerns, allowed them to permit or assist in heinous acts. For me, what characterized the cadre of Nuremberg defendants was that they were opportunists. They were most willing to adopt those moral values that would enable them to achieve the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Final Six Days (Time Crossers Book 1); Author: Joe Agster; Genres: fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... The Final Six Days by Joe Agster Writing is hard. Those of us who read prolifically don't appreciate how hard it is to realize ideas in writing. We tend to think that because good writing looks easy, it is easy. Nothing disabuses a person of this belief than actually trying to write. The Final Six Days is the first novel written by Joe Agster. In his explanation, Mr. Agster explains that he has been working on this novel for five years, taking it from musings in the shower to finished product, demanding substantial critique from family and friends. Because this is a first novel and shows such commitment, I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, it did not work for me on many different levels. The story starts with the mystery of a man who wakes up with amnesia in the Las Vegas desert. He makes his way into an undated future Las Vegas and wanders around Las Vegas until he meets a girl named Cassie. Then, after a short romance between them begins to develop, the president announces that the planet-killer steroid, "Icedragon", is about to impact into the Earth, directly on Las Vegas. The amnesiac, who has given himself the name "Friend", marries his new love and they then stay in Las Vegas to see the end of the world from point blank range. Then, he wakes up again in the sands of Las Vega. Six days before the asteroid impact. Friend decides that his life work is to save Cassie because he discerns that she will be important to the world in some way. We follow him through something like ten "iterations" during which he works out how to save her from the asteroid, but saving her kicks off visions that tell him that his job is actually to do something more. He then connects with someone who knows more about his situation, and who trains Friend in superpowers. And you can read the book for the rest of the story. I thought this was a story about people dealing with the end of the world. I was wrong. This was clearly a "reset time travel" story of the kind recently done so well by Clare North in [[ASIN:B00ECE9OD4 The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August]]. I'm not suggesting that this story is derivative, but "time travel re-set" stories are definite trope of science fiction with its own rules and expectations. When the story moved from "end of the world" to "eternal recurrence" story, it lost a lot of its interest and edge for me. I knew that whatever happened, the world would reset and Friend would have another crack at running the maze. The hooks of the story - the mysteries - were moderately interesting, and caused me to skim my way through the book after I had lost most of my interest in it. A problem with the book is that it just went on and on. The Cassie sequence seemed to go on forever, and the final; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How To Write Stunning Twists; Author: Brandilyn Collins; Genres: non-fiction; Review: [url]... This is a very, very short book. It does provide a worthwhile insight into writing a twist into a story, but the whole thing is probably less than a blog post. I don't feel cheated at the cost, but if the price were any higher I would have.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Accident; Author: Peter Orullian; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is an intriguing and well-developed short story. Vendanj is a Sheason and Seelia is a Mal. Sheason and Mal seem to be two regions of the world they inhabit. The Mals seem to be masochists who have made the acceptance of pain part of their cultural values. The Sheasons seems to have some kind of ability to heal themselves and others through their will. Vendanj is undergoing the three-stage "excruciations" of the ritual of the Talenfoier. He is seeking honor within the Mal system in order to recover some kind of steel that the Mals have taken. The story explores the Mal ideology, through Vendanj's submission to torture and through his relationship with Seelia. The story is a sketch that does a fair job of outlining a different culture. I was put in mind of Donald Kingsbury's Courtship Rites.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spinoza Problem; Author: Irvin D. Yalom; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Please give Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is decent historical fiction. I thought there were positives and negatives in the book which had me swinging between giving it five stars and giving it three stars. The structure of the story consists of alternating chapters describing the lives of Benedict Spinoza and Alfred Rosenberg. I thought the parallel story format was an interesting concept, and effectively done. I found that when my interest in one story waned, my interest in the other story waxed. I also liked using the relatively obscure Rosenberg as a counterpoint to Spinoza, if only because I have been translating Rosenberg's Protestantische Rompilger. Rosenberg is something of a mystery. Notwithstanding the sometimes slighting references to him by other Nazi leaders, which becomes a theme of Yalom's book, Rosenberg actually had quite a bit of clout and status. For example, Catholics were routinely sent to concentration camps for insulting the Myth of the Twentieth Century, which Yalom omits, and that text was used to teach Nazi leaders, which Yalom notes, and Rosenberg did win the Nazi version of the Nobel Prize, which Yalom also notes. In the book, these facts are framed to suggest that Hitler was patronizing Rosenberg, who might have something to offer the Party if his ego was stroked. Yalom certainly has a right to write his book as he wishes, but I don't get that from the facts. That leads to my primary complaint with the book, namely that the characters are shallow and seem to be stalking horses for what I imagine is Yalom's perspective. Thus, Rosenberg is an ineffectual, intellectually-challenged snob. Rosenberg is depicted as having been swept up Houston Stewart Chamberlain's The Foundation of the 19th Century. I would have hoped for something more sophisticated and challenging. Treating the Nazis as imbeciles and/or having Daddy issues gets us nowhere near the question of evil in men's souls. Likewise, the sections on Spinoza are hagiography. Everyone recognizes Spinoza as the most intelligent and virtuous people they've ever met. Again, this could be true, but it was laid on a bit thick. Likewise, Spinoza's foil, a skeptical Marrano named Jacob, we get a sense of authorial approval as Jacob becomes interested in the intellectual exercise of religion and then becomes a rabbi and then ultimately decides to found a community of Liberal Jews in the East Indies who will keep tradition but jettison all that belief about God stuff. As I read this story arc, I formed a real sense of a "Mary Sue" in development. On the other hand, I liked the psychiatric conversations involving the character of Friedrich Pfister. In these conversations, we could see Yalom's professional background. I also like the historical detective work in Yalom's effort to uncover what a note associated with the Nazi seizure of Spinoza's library meant by "the Spinoza problem." Yalom postulates "the Spinoza problem" was Rosenberg's efforts to understand how a great Geman like Goethe could be influenced by a mere Jew, or how a Jew could write such an insightful book. In; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joseph Goebbels; Author: Curt Riess; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is an interesting and unusual biography of Joseph Goebbels for several reasons. First, the author, Curt Riess, was a Jewish German who was forced into exile in 1933 and only able to return to Germany with the defeat of the Nazi's in 1945. Second, this book was written in 1948, soon after the collapse of National Socialism. Third, Riess bases his book on interviews with family, friends and associates of Goebbels, when their memories were still fresh in their minds. Riess often has to mask the identities of his informants in order to protect them from reprisals. These facts make Riess's biography an extremely valuable resource into the period. What surprised me most about Riess's book was how even-handed it was to Goebbels. Goebbels gets treated as a human being, rather than a caricature of evil. There is no doubt that Goebbels was evil and that Riess understands him to be evil, but he was also a human being, who had some virtues - had-work, rhetorical skills, even friends. Riess manages to wring sympathy for Goebbels out of his murder of his children and his wife and his suicide. In reading that section, I was horrified at various moments, such as the children calmly asking if it was time to die, and revolted by the murder of six young lives who could have been rescued, but were not because of Goebbel's pathological need to deny himself in the form of his children to his enemies. And, yet, the murder of the Goebbels' children is tragic; they were innocent, they didn't deserve to die. If we can't respond to that decent human feeling, then we are missing something. To me, it seemed like a distinct departure from the "history as polemics and moralizing" school. As an exiled Jewish German, Riess could not have had any feeling for Goebbels apart from hatred and revulsion, but he was writing this at a time when Goebbels was a real person known to real people. Riess explains that he spoke to Goebbels' Mother. Here is a passage describing information Riess obtained from Goebbel's mother: "Now, on the evening of 19 April, he sent her away. The old woman had spent the last days with him. She was willing to stay for she was very old, suffering from a heart disease, and there was nothing life could offer her. Through all the years when he was basking in fame and success she asked nothing from her son. She was always a little disturbed over the luxury which he surrounded himself; always a little frightened among the great events in which he was a central figure; always a little distressed over the evils the Nazis committed,of which, being a strict Catholic she could not approve." (p. 339.) Honestly, that sounds like the kind of self-serving statement that a mother dealing with the mess her son has left behind would say. Were these statements true? That isn't so clear to me. Perhaps it was the case that her concerns; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Say Potato: The Story of English Accents; Author: Ben Crystal; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a charming and fun book by a father - son writing team. The father is David Crystal and the son is Ben Crystal. David is a professional linguist who has made part of his specialization the study of accents. His son Ben is a professional actor, who has done voice-over work, Shakespearian theater and other projects. David is particularly well-known for reconstructing the Shakespearian accent of Shakespeare's time, an accent called "Original Pronunciation" (OP). You may have been lucky enough to have seen a video of them demonstrating OP where Ben shares a passage of Shakespeare in OP. David provides the intellectual heft of the book, while Ben provides amusing accounts of the importance of accents in his world of acting. I listened to this as an audiobook and the give and take between them, sometimes within chapters, and sometimes as they had of chapters, made for an entertaining production. The book is studded with eye-opening factoids. The first one is when David realized that the world had changed when Ben pronounced "schedule" as the American "sKeGule" rather than the British "sCHeJuAl." The explanation for the change was American sitcoms, which have been influencing British English since the 1980s. I've always wondered at the British manage to communicate with each other despite what I imagine is the confusing swirl of thick, incomprehensible accents they must deal with.Ben does a nice job of inventorying the many accents in Great Britain and Ireland and shares the social attitudes that are a mystery to Americans. I had perceived that there was something untoward about the "Brummies" - people from Birmingham - but it seems that Brummies are considered dead last for honesty and intelligence simply because of their accent. The Crystals offer some explanations for this, including that Birmingham's industrialization made visitors associate it with squalor and dirt. However, more important than that bit of social history may have been a character in a popular radio program who made use of an exaggerated Brummie accent to play a thick and dense character. This character seems to have cemented the stereotype in the minds of Britons thereafter, and serves as a warning about how easy it is for a bit of satire to wreck reputations and cement social prejudices. Ben suggests that what the good people of Birmingham need is a charismatic character or music group with a Brummie accent. Although Peaky Blinders might have had such an impact, it appears that this opportunity was botched with an unrealistic accent. The Crystals offer insights to accents past, current and future. For example, since 2000, there has been a reversal of the preference for the posh, "cut-glass" accent of "Received Pronunciation" (RP) in favor of the local accents, which are viewed as more authentic, honest and customer friendly. Likewise, because of increased mobility a kind of "Estuary English" which mixes East End Cockney with RP has developed. I recommend this as an audiobook. I think I got more out of actually hearing the Crystals drop; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mister Trophy (Markhat, #1); Author: Frank Tuttle; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: As always, if you liked this review, please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Markhat is a Private Investigator ...well, "finder" - in a tough city where all that a man has is his reputation for keeping his word. He's trying to enjoy his beer in the local pub when a troll walks in offers him fistfuls of gold if he will retrieve a "trophy" for them. The trophy is in the possession of a family of "half-dead" vampires. And it is off to the races with quips and tough guy acts and vampire versus troll action. This book is in an "urban fantasy" with a twist. The typical urban fantasy imports fantastic elements into the modern urban setting. The reverse urban fantasy imports modern sensibilities and attitudes into a fantasy world setting. An example of the "reverse urban fantasy," which this story wonderfully channels is Glen Cook's "Garrett PI" stories. I confess I love these kinds of stories for their loopy, quirky quality. That's not to say that this is not a great story. It is. It is an engaging short story of about 20 to 30 pages that makes for great bedtime reading. The price is commensurate with the length, so that is not a drawback.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X's For Eyes; Author: Laird Barron; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... Other reviewers have mentioned the "Jonny Quest" aspect of this book. That element gives this book a lot of its charm, but it is Jonny Quest with a dark side. Mac and Dredd Tooms are 12 and 14 and they belong to the secretive, elitist, mysterious Tooms family which runs one of the wealthiest corporations in the world. The boys are back for a summer vacation at a Tibetan monastery where they are being trained in martial arts and assassinations and they get involved in a secret rocket ship launch to Pluto, which is odd because the story is set in the mid-1950s. The technology available to the boys also includes artificial intelligence crystals. The boys are precocious beyond their years, consorting with hookers and being oblivious to the body count that piles up among their friends. Their adventure takes them into the Cthulhu mythos and a very disturbing discovery about their family. The story is actually the first part of a longer project. I enjoyed the story. I thought it moved at a nice clip. I thought it might make a decent YA for boys if the part about the hookers was left out. It certainly is an odd one in terms of genre, and if adolescents who might end up as human sacrifices is not inside your comfort zone, give it a miss.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Nocturne; Author: Hank Schwaeble; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... American Nocturne by Hank Schwaeble This story collection by author Hank Schwaeble is so good that I would give it six stars if I could. That might sound hyperbolic, but it is such a pleasure to read a set of stories with beginning, middle and ending, and interesting plots and characters, that went some place, after suffering through another "Best of the Year in Fantasy and Science Fiction" where the stories missed those elements and went exactly nowhere. Schwaeble writes horror stories, although he delivers a brilliant homage to Karl Kolchak in one. His stories usually feature someone getting their just desserts. The stories work nicely and kept my attention. The anthology features ten stores plus two "bonus" stories. The stories are: American Nocturne - This is a story dying for film noire treatment. A detective follows the clue to find a murderer with surprising results. Midnight Bogey Blues - A possessed man searches for the anti-Christ. Gommorah - Street thugs pick on absolutely the wrong person. Bone Daddy - A story about making a porn film, a hooker and a mummy. Phantom Hill - A horror story set in the old West. A lawman hunting demons who requires a pure heart. Murmur of Evil - Mr. Schwaeble got permission from the family of the author of the Night Stalker to write a Karl Kolchak story. This story gets the tone, tempo, language and character down perfectly. It was fun to see Karl, Tony and even Ron back in action. Nurture - Nature or nurture, with a healthy topping of revenge. This was a grisly story, not my favorite, but way off the charts in terms of "creep factor." To Judge the Quick - Another tale of Horror set in the Old West. This one involves witchcraft and Western justice. Mugwump - Grant Lomax is a lawyer with a loathsome client, but breaching fiduciary duties has consequences. Cold Service - Marlie wants to kill a serial killer and save his victims. Doing both is metaphysically impossible. Again, the genre here is Horror. Most of the stories are "dark," in that they involve nasty people doing nasty things and getting their just desserts, even if we feel sympathetic to the nasty person, as in the case of Grant Lomax. These are cautionary tales that warn us to step back from the edge of dubious ethics and morality. Some of the stories are sort of upbeat, in that we get to root for the good guy, as in the case of "Cold Service." But even there, the happy ending is a mixed bag. The best story as far as I was concerned was the Karl Kolchak/Night Stalker story. This story had all the elements of humor, action and creepy horror. As I was reading this story, the voice of the late great Daren McGavin was narrating the story in my mind. This is good fiction. Buy a copy and subsidize this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Them All: Cathars and Carnage in the Albigensian Crusade; Author: Sean McGlynn; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review on Amazon a helpful vote - [url]... This may be the best, recent book on the Albigensian Crusade that is currently available. I've read several books on the Cathar Crusade and the related inquisition, and I found this one to be the best I've read. It was mercifully free of the anachronistic desire to anachronistically present the Cathars as forerunners of tolerance or feminism or some other modern trope that they weren't. McGlynn offers a useful corrective to the politically correct presentation of the Cathars: "Something of a benign myth has been created around the Cathar faith, whose adherents are known to us as gentle, vegan pacifists who would not even allow animals to be harmed. Yet their ultimate goal - as extreme in its belief as its chances of success - was the elimination of the human race through the ending of procreation. As mentioned above, the perfects constituted a very small group; followers might try to imitate them, but as a whole they do not seem to be that different from their neighbours in displaying nastiness and discriminatory behaviour; indeed, the slightly cultish feel of Catharism led to some unsympathetic treatment of those less fervent or inferior in their devotions. It is important that this less favourable picture is depicted, as it helps us to understand why the Albigensian Crusade was not a one-sided act of extreme violence with atrocities meted out just by those wearing the cross." McGlynn adds this: "Ermessinde Viguier was a Cathar wife who lived in the village of Cambiac on the eastern side of Toulouse. In 1222 she was present at a Cathar meeting where other women mocked and belittled her for being pregnant. Having been told she was carrying a demon and bringing forth wickedness into the world, she understandably left the church, even though her Cathar husband beat her with a rod to force her stay. Some Cathar women were coerced into abortions. This attempt to counter maternal instincts ensured that male followers outnumbered female ones." In fact, the Cathars don't play a particularly large role in this presentation because the author's thesis is that the Albigensian Crusade was less about religion and more about extending French power into the Languedoc. This seems like a more than fair approach when the reader considers that the first engagement involved the mass slaughter of Catholics at Beziers and a significant turning point in the crusade was the crusader victory at Muret, where King Peter of Aragon, the Christian victor over the Muslims at Las Navas de Toledos, was killed while fighting with the Cathar side. Author Sean McGlynn's analysis of Beziers is interesting and inspired. Beziers is famous as the city where the Christian crusaders slaughtered every inhabitant - Cathar and Catholic - after the papal legate Arnald Almaric allegedly said "Kill them all. God will know his own." McGlynn believes that this statement was probably said by Almaric. It is first attested to about twenty years after Beziers, which is not so distant as to make it apocryphal. More importantly,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen O'clock; Author: C.M. Kornbluth; Genres: fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... This is a very minor - essentially forgotten - work from a very great writer. C. M. Kornbluth died much too young, after writing some great science fiction short stories and novels. He undoubtedly had in him a novel that would have redefined science fiction if time had permitted him to write it. This short story is entertaining but minor. Peter Packer inherits his grandfather's house. He discovers a strange clock that goes to "13" and - boom, zoom - Peter slips into an alternate universe where magic seems to work. The magical universe is a parody of our own with trolls and anachronistic resemblances to mid-20th Century America. Peter meets a girl, loses the girl, rescues the girl and gets home again. It is thoroughly predictable and all in good fun. Kornbluth was just playing around with this story. The average reader can pass this by and never miss it. A modern reader might find it curiously dated. On the other other hand, if you are a fan of the great writers of science fiction, you will want to read this as a guilty pleasure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Urban Temples of Cthulhu - Modern Mythos Anthology; Author: Khurt Khave; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a surprisingly entertaining story collection. It contains sixteen short stories that mash-up urban fantasy and the Cthulhu mythos. I didn't expect much from it, perhaps because of the Cthulhu element, but the stories are generally well-written, with beginning, middle and end, and usually with tongue firmly planted in cheek, albeit, since this is an homage to Lovecraft's grim and hopeless world, there are more than a few stories that end with the sacrifice of the focal character. Sects and the Single Girl involves a smarmy preacher - of the Church of Stary Wisdom - and a conniving minx with plans of her own. The writing has zip and the story is amusing. Kings in Rebel Yellow - Describing what the coming civil wars of the followers of the Elder Gods might look like. It's fast paced and absurd and entertaining, gritty, disgusting and some good humor. The Face of God Within - A self-improvement cult within the Lovecraft world, with foreseeable results if you are into that kind of thing. The Black Metal of Derek Zann - Rock music will end the world. This story, like the last, is more of a downer and a cautionary tale. Cosmic Cavity or the Mouth of Man - A dentist with a very special clientele. Clever and inventive, but a one-note joke. Along the Shore of Old Ridge - This story is one of the stories that comes the closest to Lovecraft in its creepy tale about a man who wants to get Innsmouth. I found this to be the least entertaining of the stories, but that is a matter of taste. Sleep Talking - Ever sleep-walk? Ever sleep-invoke an evil entity? This is another downer, which I didn't find entertaining. So, perhaps, my problem is that I like the goofier, fun stories, rather than the stories where evil is triumphant. Matriarch of Skid Row - Another downer as a cop discovers a cult in the Bowry. Uncle Lovecraft - With this one we are back to goofy and fun and disturbing as Lovecraft aficionados dissect a short clip from a very creepy sitcom. Strange Communion - Lousy people; I wasn't really sure what happened in this one. Perhaps this was my least favorite. Death in the Sunset - A vet's last fight against evil. The Abomination of St. Jude - There are things that man is not meant to know. Not one of the funny ones. A psychiatric horror piece. Doorstepping - Lovecraftian abominations go door to door to get their guy elected. This is a very short and funny story. Saturday Night at the Esoteric Order of Dagon - It was just the luck of this lesbian couple to inherit a coffee shop in a town inhabited by Dagon worshippers. The tongue is firmly planted in cheek on this one, with a good bit of humor and characterization, but it tells a real story. This may be the one I will remember from this book. City of Our Lady - Asking; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She Sat He Stood: What Do Your Characters Do While They Talk?; Author: Ginger Hanson; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Delivers on its promise. As a reader, I've read thousands of pages of dialogue, and never paid any particular attention to the techniques of engaging dialogue. When it came time to try my hand at writing, however, I discovered that it easier to read dialogue than write it. The mechanics of coordination action with dialogue is a lot harder than it looks. This book suggests some practical techniques for writing dialogue that mixes action and dialogue. I found it extremely useful in writing my first extended short story. This is the rare writing book whose contents exceed its promises.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Time Axis; Author: Henry Kuttner; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Very Minor Kuttner. Either by himself or with his wife, C.L. Moore, Kuttner was one of the great writers of classic science fiction. Even today, Kuttner's stories remain thought-provoking and thoughtful and worth reading. I count Kuttner's death at such an early age as one of the great tragedies of science fiction. This book, however, is not one of Kuttner's great books. It is, altogether, a fairly mediocre representative of "super science" science fiction of the 1930s, which is strange because this book was written in 1949, after Kuttner had written many other classic stories. I suspect that this may have started out as a draft that Kuttner had lying around from the thirties, one of his early efforts, that he polished up and sent off to be published. It has the undisciplined quality of an early effort. There is so much going on. The narrator, Jerry Cortland, has a run in with a strange force that is killing people in Buenos Aires. He returns to America and is enlisted by super-scientist, Ira De Kalb, to join a team with gray, aging Dr. Letta Essen, and Colonel Murray to journey into the future to fight the entity that has been released into our time. The journey involves going to the crossroads of magical ley lines in Canada to travel millions of years into the future the entity, called "the Nekron." Kuttner covers this explanation with pseudo-scientific bafflegab, and the reader is left to wonder how this works, since the four will apparently sleep in a sphere buried in the Laurentian mountains. De Kalb knows that these four will make the journey because when he discovers this magical place, he sees the four of them sleeping where they will sleep. As time-travel devices, this is pretty slim. The four go into the future a relatively short way, where they discover a technologically advanced civilization, and imitations of themselves. They do things at this time, which seem pretty pointless, except that aging, gray Dr. Essen is replaced by vital, younger Dr. Essen 2.0. They then go back into hibernation, and come out at their desired destination, where they find "the Face of Ea, and mystically fight the Nekron, which is a creature of pure death and negation from out of time and space. So, time travel, evil entities from beyond time and space, reincarnation (of sorts), androids (in the future), magical ley lines...this story is far, far too busy, which speaks to my theory that it is the product of a younger writer, whose mind is brimming with ideas and no editorial control. I found the "hidden" Lovecraft element fascinating. Kuttner was a friend of both H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith and wrote some stories int he Lovecraft Mythos in the 1930s. He met his wife, C.L. Moore, through a Lovecraft circle. The Nekron is archetypal Lovecraft creature - it is pure evil and from outside time and space. Kuttner's opening line in this book is classic: "THE WHOLE THING NEVER HAPPENED; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Day of No Return; Author: Kathrine Kressmann Taylor; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is something of an historical artifact. This book was written in 1942 by Kressman Taylor based on her interview with a German Lutheran pastor who was under FBI protection. The story follows the main character, Karl Hoffman, as he embarks on his career as a theology student at just the moment that Hitler's National Socialists are taking over the German government and german society. Karl encounters the Nazis as opportunistic thugs at the University of Berlin, where he learns that the Nazis mean to have their Cult of German Blood taken very seriously. Although his father, a prestigious pastor in Magdeburg is initially skeptical of Karl's concerns, he too, along with the rest of Lutheran Germany, come to understand that the Nazis intend to take-over the Lutheran Church and reform its dogmas to reflect Nazi dogmas. Thus, we have a number of vivid descriptions of Nazis preaching their doctrine that the Old Testament is a Jewish document that should be eliminated, that the doctrine of original sin weakened the German spirit, that Germans need no salvation since they are saved in their blood and that Hitler was appointed by God as the German savior. The history of the book is largely accurate. It does provide a window into the hurly-burly of 1933 when so much was changing. From what I've read in history, the doctrines that the book offers as the doctrines of the "German Christians" were its doctrines. Likewise, the mocker and anti-Christian assault that Karl suffers in the labor battalion has been described in bona fide history books. Some historical figures make their appearances, such as Niemoller, Rust and Schlichter. That last is odd in that some time is given to a character named Orlando, who is linked to Schlichter. As in history, Schichter is killed as part of the Rohm Putsch, and Orlando commits suicide in grief. As a literary matter I was unsure of the point of this character, although it did make the criminality of the Night of Long Knives more immediate.I was disappointed that we did not see the meeting at the Berlin Sportzplatz that kernelized the confessional movement. I think that what we really get from this book is the feeling of what it was like to be a devout Lutheran at this time. As an interesting aside, the plight of the Jews is not mentioned in this book, except insofar as the Aryan Paragraph - a historical fact - ruined Lutheran church members whose grandparents had been Jewish. This fact is mentioned, but we do not see the suffering of the Jews. Likewise there is one scene where the Lutheran seminary students observe a Catholic Corpus Christi parade: "We were aware that the Catholics were suffering persecution. Dr. Rosenberg, the powerful Nazi propagandist, had openly called the Catholic Church the "Anti-Christ," and while there was no attempt to impose Nazi leaders upon the Catholics as they were trying to do in the Lutherans' case, they were restrained not by any religious compunctions but rather; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saint Thomas Aquinas Vol. 1: The Person and His Work; Author: Jean-Pierre Torrell; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a very academic text provides a comprehensive accounting of St. Thomas Aquinas's activities during his short life. The emphasis of the book is on nailing down the dates that Aquinas wrote his various works, with rather less emphasis on Aquinas's life, and even less emphasis on the social and cultural background of his life. This is not to say that the reader of this book will not gain a valuable insight into Aquinas's life. Torrell offers some insights into Aquinas's family background and into Aquinas' early teaching years in Paris. I've just finished Shadia Drury's execrable book, Aquinas and Modernity, and the information here about the Mendicant Controversy provides a useful mind cleanser for positive misinformation of that book. From Torrell, we learn something about the general strike of students and the desire of the masters of the University of Paris to protect their turf. Interestingly, I just finished Kressman Taylor's "Day of No Return"[url]-... where the main character emphasizes the non-interference policy of the city police at the University of Berlin in the 1930s. Torrell makes an offhand comment that Aquinas's Commentary on Job and Romans can "be ranked among the most fully finished and most profound" that Aquinas has left us. (p. 201.) Torrell also makes the interesting point that Aquinas' productivity involved his assistants or students who worked intimately with Aquinas to put his drafts into proper form: "Every professor who has benefitted from the collaboration of a competent assistant will easily understand the procedure. We would not be going too far, therefore, we believe, in portraying Thomas's collaborators as organized into a veritable workshop for literary production - according to the well-known example of the schools of painting, to say nothing of the "ghost-writers" well known in literary circles. There is hardly any other plausible way to explain Thomas's productivity." (p. 243.) Torrell also provides good information on Aquinas's final days and on the 1277 condemnation of certain propositions of Aquinas by the Bishop of Paris, Stephen Tempier, and on the politics that led to the walk back of that condemnation. I found it interesting that we have manuscripts in Aquinas' handwriting. These manuscripts allow us to form a deeper understanding of Aquinas' thought. This book is a tough slog, probably not for the novice, and, yet, I found it interesting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Timelines Lead to Rome; Author: Dale Cozort; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... This novel is almost a throwback to classic science fiction story-telling. It starts with a big "what if" idea, namely, what if there was a timeline where the Old World stopped developing in the first century AD and the New World was never "discovered", which can be reached from our timeline through portals. This "what if" generates immediate questions, such as: How would this alternate universe be exploited? What went differently in this new timeline - dubbed "Timeline X' - that made history go off at such a tangent? The read gets answers to these questions through a mystery/adventure story. The story opens with Scott White meeting Darla Smith in a bar. Scott is a technician for the BTI - the Bureau of Timeline Integrity, which is the entity charged with protecting Timeline X from intrusions. The major concern of the BTI is the potential of cross-contamination of diseases unknown to each dimension from the other side. Darla Smith is a Vietnamese-American police detective from Boston, who is looking for the killer of a young woman. Darla has been led to the BTI because it seems that the woman's cell phone had a picture of a very rare latin manuscript, lost in antiquity in our time-line. Someone it seems may have a rogue portal into Timeline X. The shoe on that rogue portal drops pretty quickly as the reader is introduced to Jeni Burgen, a very successful business woman who owns the said timeline. She has an altruistic vision for protecting the Indian population in Timeline X from their inevitable exploitation by our technologically superior timeline. She also has a spooky chief of security who seems to be guilty of eliminating the woman whose murder Darla is investigating. The book moves slowly for the first quarter, as the stakes are slowly ratcheted for all parties. Scott and Darla and pretentious BTI Agent Pete gradually zero in on Jeni's activities and Jeni spies on them through her security chief and her corporate attorney, and periodically discovers that her security is not as secure as it should be. It seems that Jeni knew Scott when he was teaching an "immersive" course on how to live like an Indian in Timeline X, so she decides to reprise her role as Jolene Beck to get close to Scott. She watches Scott, her attorney watches her and someone mysterious is watching Darla. The book plays off as a mashup of romance and Spy versus Spy through the halfway mark. Scott digs Darla; Darla flirts with Scott and hooks up with Peter; Jolene flirts with Scott; Darla gets jealous. Everybody watches everyone else. It is all very confusing. Then, the story kicks into high gear with Jolene kidnapped twice, Pete and Scott fighting romance in Timeline X, and Jeni finding out that her idealism has let the snake into paradise. The last thirty percent of the book is page-turning, high adventure. There are features I liked about author Dale Cozort's big concept. I liked how there was a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carter & Lovecraft; Author: Jonathan L. Howard; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at [url]... The heirs of Lovecraft. So, it seems that Lovecraft was not simply a writer with social anxiety issues; rather, he was writing a secret history of a secret world that his ancestor would have to unravel. Dan Carter is a New York detective who found a serial child murder. The child murder was using the children for research into the true nature of the world. Because Carter's partner immediately killed himself after killing the child murderer, Carter took early retirement and went into the private investigation business. Not long, thereafter, Carter mysteriously finds himself as the owner of a bookstore in Providence, Rhode Island, where Emily Lovecraft - HP's granddaughter - works. The mystery of the child killer continues to haunt Carter as he is brought into a new set of mysteries, beginning with the murder of a college professor who is improbably drowned in his car while it is parked at the college parking lot. Carter's investigations lead him to an obnoxious mathematician and an inbred community located at Waite's Bill and, ultimately, to a threat to our reality. The characters of Carter and Lovecraft are well-drawn. Over the course of the book, they develop as a team, each contributing their strength and insights to the resolution of the mystery. Clearly, we have the beginning of a continuing team-up. The reader ought to suspect that another book is in the works from the conclusion, which seems to suggest that the original world that H.P. Lovecraft knew before he mystically fixed the world into a pattern of science and reason. This is a thoroughly contemporary book. Emily Lovecraft is African-American, notwithstanding H.P.'s notorious racism. Carter is constantly dropping analogies to films, and there are several obligatory urban elite shots at the NRA. Howard also nicely works in classic Lovecraftian elements, such as the hidden cultists and half-human/half-inhuman mixed breeds. The book is fun and inventive. The piece that stays with me is the ending where the veil of reality is stripped away so as to suggest that we've all been living an illusion. All in all, this is nice spin-off of the Lovecraft universe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of Ashland; Author: Terence M. Green; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a well-written and well-plotted book. I liked the main character and I remained curious throughout the story in finding out how it would end. Nonetheless, the book didn't impress me and I doubt that it will stay with me. The story begins with Leo Nolan's mother dying. It is 1984 and Leo's mother's last wish is to see her brother, Jack, who disappeared fifty years before. Leo starts on this project, but his mother dies before he can get anywhere. Suddenly, though, his father receives a letter from Jack, which is postmarked fifty years before. Leo decides to follow the postmark trail on Jack's belatedly delivered letters to Ashland, Kentucky. In Ashland, Leo stays at the hotel where Jack stayed, and he develops a love affair with a waitress at the Woolworth. Then, for no explained reason, and without causing Leo any concern, Leo begins to see Jack. Then he starts to follow Jack. Then, he speaks to Jack and, for no particular reason, and without any particular reaction of surprise on the part of Leo, he ends up fifty years in the past where he can unravel some mysteries, including unknown relatives and Jack's fate. The tone of the book is melancholy. Memory is the theme of the book. The characters remember back fifty years, to a time when they listened to radio and saw King Kong at the movies and won a raffle at the movies and fought on the side of the union or the side of the strikebreaker. The pace is leisurely. Leo accepts everything in stride, whether it is a love affair with the waitress or jumping back in time fifty years. I think there are three reasons this book left me feeling "bleh." First, the time travel element was odd and underplayed. Yes, certainly, Leo isn't going to have the technical ability to unravel the secrets of time travel, but, certainly, he should have been more surprised than he was, unless he had a brain embolism or was dreaming it all, which is not how the story plays. Second, I liked the historical bits, but they left me wondering what was going on. What was the point of mentioning Father Coughlin? I don't remember people still carrying a grudge about the strikes of the Depression in 1984, so why make that such an issue? Was it to excuse the plan to rob the bank on the grounds that the rich ought to pay? Third, we never found out what happened to Jack. We thought we got a conclusion, which would have been a good ending, but that was a red-herring, it seems. The actual answer was never delivered. This is a short, decent, well-written book. If you have a hankering to relive the 1930s and a low-tolerance for magical time-travel, then this might be your book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eichmann in Jerusalem - A Report on the Banality of Evil; Author: Hannah Arendt; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arndt is a legend. It is the kind of book that is more referenced than read. Arendt's catchphrase - "the banality of evil" - beautifully summarizes the modern view of bureaucratized evil, although, interestingly, the phrase is only used once, right at the end of Arendt's book, in the context of describing Eichmann's employment of thought-smothering cliches as he faced his hanging: "It was as though in those last minutes he was summing up the lesson that this long course in human wickedness had taught us-- the lesson of the fearsome, word-and-thought-defying banality of evil. Arendt attended the Eichmann trial and used the subject of Eichmann and his trial as the spine for reflections on the multifaceted human experience of the holocaust. (Arendt used the term "holocaust" in this 1963 book, even though I have read that "Holocaust" became popular only in the late 1970s.) As the Holocaust recedes as a historical memory, it becomes a cliche. The other populations who were targeted by the Nazis are forgotten as the Jewish victims occupy the principle, and, then, the only position in memory. For example, this was new information to me: "Hitler had pointed out that he rejected all notions of conquering foreign nations, that what he demanded was an "empty space" [volkloser Raum] in the East for the settlement of Germans. His audience-- Blomberg, Fritsch, and Rader, among others-- knew quite well that no such "empty space" existed, hence they must have known that a German victory in the East would automatically result in the "evacuation" of the entire native population. The measures against Eastern Jews were not only the result of anti-Semitism, they were part and parcel of an all-embracing demographic policy, in the course of which, had the Germans won the war, the Poles would have suffered the same fate as the Jews-- genocide. This is no mere conjecture: the Poles in Germany were already being forced to wear a distinguishing badge in which the "P" replaced the Jewish star, and this, as we have seen, was always the first measure to be taken by the police in instituting the process of destruction.)" I had never heard of the Poles being forced to wear a badge, but the idea that Hitler's plan was to eliminate the population of Eastern Europe ties in nicely to the thesis of Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder that the aim of Hitler was to eliminate some thirty million Eastern Europeans in order to free up food supplies for Germans. This point also indicates how radical the Nazis were, and how they represented a break with traditional Christian antisemitism. Arendt points out that the theme of the prosecution in the Eichmann trial was the Holocaust was just one more instance of antisemitism in a history of Jewish suffering as a stateless people. Arendt points out that the paradoxical effect of this approach was that Eichmann's responsibility, as well as that of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buy a Bullet (Orphan X #1.5); Author: Gregg Hurwitz; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: If you like this review, please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Evan Smoak is "Orphan X" and he is a very dangerous man. In this short story, he plays knight errant in rescuing Leanne Lattimore from Silicon Valley tech billionaire Steve Radack. Radack is a sadist. Leanne desperately needs rescuing and Smoak is the man to do it. The story focuses like a laser and moves like a wire-guided missile, as Evan intuits Leanne's need for rescue, scopes out the enemy, and moves into action. He has some "very particular skills" that are honed to the maximum. He knows weapons, close combat fighting and computer hacking. He has no apparent flaws and operates below the radar. This story delivers on what it promises. It is action adventure, with a fair amount of wish-fulfillment. I was intrigued by the mysterious back story and not particularly interested in the loving descriptions of weaponry and tech, but, obviously, that is bread and butter for those who like action adventure stories of this kind. This is an easy and entertaining read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Night Cyclist; Author: Stephen Graham Jones; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a Tor.com original short-story. Unlike most Tor.com Originals, this is a complete story rather than a prequel or cryptic glimpse into a world that the author has fleshed out in a novel or series. This story works well as a short story, having a beginning, middle and end. The narrator is a bicyclist getting old and feeling alienated from his life and the world, He rides his bike home at nights, though the dark, to his lonely apartment, avoiding the malicious booby-traps left by small-minded pedestrians. One night he spots two dead bodies floating in the river. Watching the news, he intuits a detail about the killer. The next night he is in the race of his life with the "night cyclist" clad in pure black. I was conflicted by this book. It is technically proficient and the writing is good, but the character of the narrator left me unaffected. For example, the narrator sees the bodies but does nothing about them, presumably because he doesn't want to get involved. Then, there is his interactions with the demonic cyclist, and the easy way he deals with the problem that closes the book. I just didn't get a sense of the character's motivation, except that he was not someone I could identify with, or care to identify with. On top of that, I didn't find the inside game of being a cyclist particularly interesting. Of course, your mileage may vary.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nova Byzantium; Author: Matthew Rivett; Genres: fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... The polar ice has melted. The planet's stored methane and C02 are outgassing in vast oxygen-depriving burps. Civilization is limited to a small region around Istanbul/Constantinople and a Muslim space colony. Transnistria is a major military power. Welcome to the 22d century. This is a brilliantly inventive, well-written book. Author Matthew Rivett gives us a view of the world that seems to be - actually, is - on the verge of going lights out for human civilization and, perhaps, humanity itself. Sometime in the past, the world suffered the Post-Industrial Shock that made the Earth an ecological disaster zone. Rivett spends no time on this; all we get is the phrase "Post-Industrial Shock" and a world where people occasionally wear rebreather hoods because the oxygen content has become depleted by a "dead zone" moving in like a cold front. The main character is Uri Vitko, who previously was an officer in Alkonost, Transnistria's mercenary company. We follow him from India to Diego Garcia to the Muslim Orbital Colony to Constantinople to the Rhenish delta, to, ultimately, Jan Mayen, a small island in the arctic. We observe Rivett's richly imagined world where most of humanity has devolved to superstition and some of it is holding on to pre-twentieth century standards and a tiny slice still has 21st century technology with a smattering of 21st century cybertech and medical technology. We also follow as side story involving Lt. Sava, who knew Uri in his Alkonost days but is following his own story arc. I loved the settings of the book. I spent a delightful time on the internet looking up "Transnistria" and learning that it is a breakaway region of Moldova, a ribbon of territory on the other side of the Dniestr river, that actually is effectively autonomous today. Likewise, I broke out some maps of the Caspian Sea to identify the locations of the barbarous "Caspi" warriors in the book. This was a satisfying change in setting from most science fiction stories. I also love the fact that this story wrapped itself up as a self-contained. At 80% of the way through the book, I wasn't sure that I wasn't going to find that I had been swindled by another trilogy baited with the first book. Nonetheless, although there are definitely more places for Uri to go in this world, this book had the necessary closure for the mysteries that we were presented along the way. I have two minor nits. First, the format of the book was confusing to begin with, as the chapters explicitly showed that sequence were out of order, with flashbacks and at least two parallel story arcs. I didn't put it together until I was satisfactorily surprised, but, suffice it to say, the format has a very good reason. The other nit is that the technology seems anachronistic. This is supposed to be 150 years in the future, but the Alkonist are using Hind helicopters and Mi-24s? Of course, that may be an indication of when the Post-Industrial; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza & the Fate of God in the Modern World; Author: Matthew Stewart; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: If you like this review, please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... I am fascinated by the moments of serendipity in history, the crossing of historical paths in surprising and illuminating ways. For example, Ted Williams was John Glenn's wingman? I wouldn't have believed that in a historical novel, but it really happened. Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and German Dictator Adolph Hitler were in the same class as teenagers, and there are class pictures to prove it? Well, why not?, but how weird? The nice feature of these conjunctions, and the history books written about them, is that they somehow demonstrate that famous historical figures were merely human, particularly since these events usually occurred before the individuals became famous. Ted Williams was famous before the Korean War, but John Glenn was not yet the man who orbited the planet. These books also illuminate the time and place in interesting ways. In this book, the odd moment of conjunction involves the future inventor of Calculus meeting, Gottfried Leibniz, meeting the older excommunicated Benedict Spinoza at Spinoza's home in The Hague in 1676. The meeting lasted an afternoon, and there is a fair indication that they discussed, naturally, their mutual interest in the nature of God. There was some correspondence between the two thereafter, but since Spinoza died in 1677, there was not much development of their relationship. Author Matthew Stewart does not give us much reason to be optimistic that a relationship would have developed if Spinoza had lived. Manichean dichotomy is the theme of the book. Spinoza was a secular saint, committed to a life of poverty while he advanced his philosophy that would become the foundation for modernity. Leibniz was an opportunist and grifter who got into fights with everyone and swindled his benefactors.Are these characterizations fair? Maybe so, but I got the feeling that Stewart had a distinct rooting interest for the atheist Spinoza and that he used his characterization of Leibniz to magnify the glory of his hero. There was an element of Stewart's book that I found interesting, but Stewart doesn't develop, namely the international community of letters. The figures in Stewart's book were constantly writing long gossipy letters to each other, which could prove embarrassing if revealed publically or to the wrong person. Leibniz was writing to philosophers in England, Germany and France, and receiving replies, while at the same time, those philosophers were communicating with other philosophers throughout Europe. Often these letters became the books that later generations would read in order to discover the philosophies that make up the Western philosophical tradition. Letters were entrusted to friends and agents in order to be delivered. In the age before national posts, they were presumably given to ships or tradesmen headed in the desired direction. The fact that there was such an international community is amazing. Again, though, this is not Stewart's interest, but in the hands of a more reflective historian, it would have made for a great chapter. Stewart is at his best in discussing the philosophical systems of Spinoza and Leibniz. Leibniz; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clio's Battles: Historiography in Practice; Author: Jeremy M. Black; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a book about historiography. Historiography is the study of historical writing. So, this book is a study of the study of historical writing, which is fairly self-referential, and sort of captures the feel of the book. The author, Jeremy Black, starts with history writing in the ancient world and takes it into our future. His book is ordered chronologically so that each chapter covers some aspect of history. His technique is to jump to individual examples of history writing and the role that such writing fulfilled in that culture, time and nation. His insights are valid and interesting but since he covering the world and all of history, plus the future, the sense is of a superficial barrage of facts. Black ends each chapter with a conclusion, but I found the conclusions frustrating because he did not draw some broader or general overview or lesson from his innumerable examples. Instead, he would usually start with some new particular detail and talk about that instead of the rest of the chapter. Given the broad topic that this book covers, it is hard to generalize, but if I must, I think that Black's examples show that historiography largely conforms to and supports and promotes the ideology of those in power or who want to be in power. How long has this been going on? Well, it has been going on in a self-conscious way for a long time: "At the same time, history served as a way to strengthen the dynastic position because the very process of sponsoring history demonstrated appropriate conduct. Political legitimacy required a respect for history. Thus, Khubilai Khan (the grandson of the great Mongol conqueror, Chinggis Khan), who, as Great Khan of the Mongols from 1260 to 1294, completed the Mongol conquest of China, overthrowing the Song, responded favorably to suggestions that a dynastic history in the traditional Chinese style be produced. This response pleased the Confucian intellectuals as showing respect for the Chinese heritage. Confucianism stressed the role of the past and the value of historical models as guides for conduct: the works of Confucius are primarily about past examples of wise and virtuous men. Khubilai approved the founding of a History Office able to assemble records and compose histories, a policy that had been called for by a prominent Confucian scholar. Crucially, the latter wanted to have the historical records of non-Chinese rulers collected and their dynasties commemorated, an approach that made sense of the Mongols and helped incorporate them in Chinese history." This seems obvious and simplistic, but Black's numerous examples offer endless variations on this theme. History has been used to provide legitimacy for one side against another and also to delegitimize the other side with equal force. Both Whigs and Tories were able to find examples from history to support opposition or support to governmental policies. As for delegitimizing the other side, there is nothing quite like a historical grievance, particularly in our age when weaponizing grievances through the vehicle of fake history:; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Not So Much, Said the Cat; Author: Michael Swanwick; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... This is a first-rate, entertaining collection. I have grown so tired of reading "Best of" collections where the stories go nowhere and seem to be undisciplined in their ability to tell a story. The stories in this collection do what they are supposed to do: tell an entertaining story with a beginning, middle and end and some sense of closure. The stories are: The Man in Grey - All the world's a stage, and some of us are talent and the rest are just props. The Dala Horse - Norse Legends and advanced computing. The Scarecrow's Boy - Loyalty, as Sony intended. Passage of Earth - This one involves a really different way of communicating and thinking. 3 A.M. in the Mesozoic Bar - Human life on Earth faces extermination in the age of the Dinosaurs Of Finest Scarlet Was Her Gown - Su-Yin goes to Hell out of Love and must preserve her virtue in a place without virtue. This one is particularly witty. The Woman Who Shook the World-Tree - Love among the Big Bang set. Goblin Lake - Set during the Thirty Years War and asking the question about what is fiction and what is reality? From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled . . . This is one is stunningly inventive. A human on a Hellish planet who comes from a culture where information is money and wealth must make his way to safety with an alien millipede for whom trust is money and wealth. Worldbuilding and culture building in the space of a short story. For I Have Lain Me Down on the Stone of Loneliness and I'll Not Be Back Again - Whether it is human or alien oppressors, the Irish will be fighting their hopeless fight for independence with dynamite or the equivalent. (This one again, is a story that made me want to know the backstory.) Libertarian Russia - Libertarianism is great in theory, but maybe not so much in practice. (Again, this is a story where there is a scant reference to "the Depopulation" that made me want to know more, but we don't get to learn more. The phrase explains the world, and that is all we get.) Tawny Petticoats - Surplus and Dagger come to New Orleans after the collapse of Civilization 2.0 and the town will never be the same again. Humorously entertaining. Steadfast Castle - Love, computers and architecture. Pushkin the American - A great story set in a slightly different version of Russia. An Empty House with Many Doors - This one put me in mind of Larry Niven's "All the Myriad Ways." The She-Wolf's Hidden Grin - Another story where the backstory is brilliantly hinted at. Humanity has colonized St. Anne's....or has it? The House of Dreams - This one is hard to classify. Is it fantasy or alt.hist? A man making his way through a war-torn Germany is captured and interrogated by Mongolian wizards and rescued by his partner, who is a werewolf. Great story. The writing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America; Author: Erik Larson; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Come for the serial killer, stay for the fair. I will be absolutely honest and admit that I purchased the book because I was interested in the weird story of H.H.Holmes, American con-man, psychopath and serial killer. In fact, I will add to my confession, and shame, by saying that my interest was sparked by watching the episode of Timeless - a series unlikely to be renewed - where our trio of intrepid time-travelers goes back to the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition and have a misadventure in the "murder castle." I've never read anything by Erik Larsen before, but I know that he has a good number of books on the history section shelves and I've seen this book in passing for years. I listened to this as an audiobook, and my initial reaction was that there was an awful lot about the 1893 World's Fair, especially the architecture of the World's Fair, than I was expecting or interested in. Frankly, my initial reaction was that all the detail about the planning of the Fair was getting in the way of the interesting bits about H.H. Holmes. However, about half-way through the book, I found my interest shifting as I was sucked into the world of the Fair and the strangeness of the world right on the cusp of becoming the world we know, with lights and Cracker Jacks and Ferris wheels, but still possessing the instincts and customs of a more genteel and trusting age. I found that people like Frederick Law Olmsted and Daniel Burnham were becoming my heroes. Larsen structures his book as alternating narratives. One narrative follows the twisted path of Holmes; the other follows the life of the fair. There is no doubt that the Holmes' narrative starts out in the lead because of the natural human interest in evil, and Holmes was evil. Larsen describes Holmes as America's first serial killer in an age when the language did not have the term "serial killer" to describe Holmes. Holmes was born Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861, studied medicine, married and abandoned his first wife, and, then, took the test for a pharmacy license under the name of H.H. Holmes and made his way to Chicago. In Chicago, he bought a pharmacy from a widow, who he probably conned, married a second wife, deposited the wife and his child in a suburb of Chicago, and then came up with the idea of transforming land he had purchased into a hotel in time for the upcoming Fair. Listening to the Holmes' arc, two thoughts come to mind: first, he was psychopathic and, second, he didn't seem to understand how ridiculous his ideas were. For example, after scamming a brother in law, his plan to avoid discovery was to push the brother in law off of a roof. Who today would think such a thing would not be immediately seen for what it was? Likewise, Holmes built a hotel with secret rooms and gas lines to those rooms so; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A City Dreaming; Author: Daniel Polansky; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... This modern urban fantasy reminded me of Jack Vance. It could have been Vance's Traveler in Black or his Cugel the Clever in format and character. The book is divided into short, very readable short stories. Each of the short stories is a genuine story with a beginning, middle and end, with the ending tying up the story nicely. Although the stories are stand-alone, they chronologically track the main character's adventures in Manhattan and Brooklyn through the course of the year. As the book progresses, we become more familiar with the character, his friends and the strange and interesting world of magic he inhabits, such that by the end of the book, the characters had grown on me. The main character is simply M, perhaps for "magician." M seems to be hundreds of years old, but he is more of a confidence man, a lay-about, a schmoozer, a womanizer, an alcoholic and drug abuser, without substantial virtues, except, maybe, loyalty, but a rational and self-interested loyalty. His philosophy is that he wants to be a good lodger of reality so that the powers that be - the "Management" - may smile on him, or, at least, never get annoyed with him, which would result in catastrophic results. By the end of the book, we begin to suspect that M is the real deal in magic, and his loyalty to friends, and cleverness make him a heroic anti-hero. The writing in this book is exquisitely witty. Here's an example: "St. Loup was tall and dark as charred hardwood and very handsome. His suit was straight from La Belle Epoque, the sort of sartorial affectation which M didn't suppose was any handicap to picking up American girls on the Champs-Elysees. M knew St. Loup somewhat, in the sense that they had been running into each other for half a human lifetime. They had never had any problem, at least none that M could remember, but then again St. Loup was not on that list of people for whom M was willing to die. This was, in fairness, a very small list-- this was a list that would fit on the back of a movie ticket, or the torn corner of a cocktail napkin." And: ""Me?" M asked, as if the suggestion had never occurred to him. "You misunderstand entirely. I'm just here to bear witness. I'm not the one who you're going to need to go tete-a-tete with if you hope to ingest the condensed wisdom of the planet. I'm not the one against whose magical abilities you'll need to measure yourself." M sneezed again, rubbed his nose, and nodded at Flemel. "It's big man over here." "Him?" Corlo asked. "Me?" Flemel asked. "Yeah, him! Flemel here is a two-fisted killer of the old school, a real bruiser, Pele with a pentagram, the mystical Michael Jordan." "He looks like raw meat at a NAMBLA convention," Corlo added. "OK, that was pretty good," M conceded. "I'm going to probably steal that and use it later.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft; Author: W. Scott Poole; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... I am probably the test case of author W. Scott Poole's thesis: I am loaded with Cthulhu jargon and tropes, but I have never read a Lovecraft book. (Although I've read short stories that play off the Howard storyline, and I am a big fan of Charles Stross, who is indebted to Lovecraft's ideas.) So, why did I read a book about the master, but not his actual works? I am not sure. Perhaps, the answer is that Poole is correct in identifying Lovecraft as a phenomenon in himself. I certainly intrigued by Poole's discussion of Lovecraft's strange life, his books, and his substantial afterlife. I was amazed at how Lovecraft intersected with so many writers that I grew up reading. Poole's book is structured into three sections. The first section details H.P. Lovecraft's frankly strange life. Lovecraft's father was committed to a mental institution. Howard was permitted to stay out of school and define his own education, which involved an interest in science, notwithstanding his marginal math ability. Lovecraft was married once, but he seemed more interested in hanging out with his friends than being a proper husband. He developed an interest in self-publishing his own articles and journals as an independent journalist, an activity that had some popularity at the end of the 19th century/beginning of the 20th century, and anticipating blogging. Lovecraft was also an inveterate reader of "Weird Tales." His interest induced him to try his hand at writing and he turned out a number of stories for Weird Tales. His stories were popular at the time and he made some money from them, but not a great deal of money. Poole, however, betrays the ideological bias of his academic roots in two issues. First, in opposition to the majority of Lovecraft partisans, Poole takes the position that Lovecraft's mother was a powerful and enlightened woman who gave Lovecraft the opportunity to become Lovecraft. Most of the successors to Lovecraft have taken the contrary position that his mother was an oppressive force that warped and repressed Lovecraft. Poole makes a good argument, but there seemed a bit too much of contemporary feminism in Poole's approach to seem entirely objective. Another issue was the question of whether Lovecraft was a pedophile. Poole points out that Lovecraft had many long, strange, intimate relationships with pre-teen and teen boys, which could have been innocent. This is a tough question for any biographer; the issue of disentangling the good of an artist's work from the bad of an artist's life is fraught with confusion. Faced with this issue, Poole decides to exonerate pedophilia: "I don't believe, by which I really mean I don't know, that Lovecraft's relationships with these young men proceeded to sexual activity. No such assertion can be made even in the suspicious case of Barlow. Lovecraft spent enormous amounts of time with Barlow who, later in life, had numerous affairs with young Mexican men, including his students, while holding a professorship in Mexico City. Barlow later committed suicide when; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Drink Before We Die: A Low Town Short; Author: Daniel Polansky; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote at Amazon - [url]... This is a Tor.com short story, which means that it offers a taste of a much larger novel or universe published by Tor. Often time Tor.com short stories are far too cryptic to tell a story and rely totally on the reader already knowing the universe, the characters and the backstory. This short story, however, works as a short story. It tells the story of "the Warden," who is the chief gang leader, although he doesn't really seem to have a gang, in an impoverished part of a fantasy city called "Lowtown." The setting is patterned on a film noir "naked city" setting, like many of the "fantasy noir" stories since Glen Cook pioneered the concept with his "Garrett, PI" stories. At least, I think it is a fantasy setting. I didn't see magic, but there were plenty of knives, maces and swords, but not a revolver in sight. In this story, the Warden has to deal with an attempted hostile take-over of his territory by a gang operating in an adjacent low rent district. Is he successful? Well, he has a Machiavellian approach to life and is nasty quick with a shiv, but to find out, you will have to read the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Badge, Book, and Candle (Bookburners, #1.1); Author: Max Gladstone; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Longer than a short story; shorter than a novella, Although this is actually the first part of an extended novel, the story holds together as a self-contained unit. This is the part of the book that introduces us to the characters and concept of the story. So, we meet Sal, a police officer, whose brother, Perry, brings a book to her apartment while nebulously rambling about being stalked by "book burners." Before you can say "Cthulhu's your uncle," he's possessed and Sal meets three Vatican archivist/operatives, whose task is to locate and sequester objects that bring demons from beyond into our world. The Vatican operatives include a priest, a female kick-ass martial artist, and an Irish man who got into the supernatural too deep. This was an engaging story with good potential for the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical; Author: Timothy J. Keller; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is an erudite and informed book about the answer to the problem of secularism. Keller's knowledge and use of sources to make his points is impressive. Keller has read and thought about the issue of modernity and religion through Charles Taylor, Richard Bauckham, Thomas Nagel, John Updike, Terry Eagleton, Heidegger, Chekov, Camus and others. Every page reflects an engagement with some thinker or writer in a way that illuminates the subject. This book is a self-conscious prequel to Keller's earlier "The Reason for God." In this book, Keller seems to be adopting the method of Pascal by trying to explain why a person should start the journey toward God by inciting the desire for God. The way that Keller seeks to incite that desire is by pointing out the shortcomings of a purely secular human existence. Keller's thesis is that by itself humanity is left with purely secular meaning - fixed only on the here and now - and purely human identity - fractured and crushed - and purely human values - unconnected to anything transcendent. Keller makes his case in a practical way that explains things we all know, if we are honest, from our own experience. Keller's writing is subtle, inductive and engaging. Here he discusses the problem with meaning: "Let's look first at the issue of consistency. Terry Eagleton points out that when postmodernism denounces all absolute values and inherent meanings in the name of freedom, it "secretly smuggles . . . an absolute into the argument." 26 Why, for example, is freedom so important? Why is that the absolute, unquestioned "good"-- and who gets to define it as such? Are you not assuming a value-laden standard that you are using to critique all other approaches to life? And are you not, then, actually giving a universal answer to the Meaning question, namely, that the meaning of life is to have the freedom to determine your own meaning? Are you not, then, doing the very thing you say should not be done? So the postmodern approach to meaning is not very consistent. However, is it workable at a practical level? Eagleton finds it wanting at this level as well. He finds the "life is what you make it" view "seems troublingly narcissistic. Do we ever get outside of our own heads? Isn't a genuine meaning one which we feel ourselves running up against, one which can resist or rebuff us? . . . Surely life itself must have a say in the matter?" 27 He questions whether we can really take anything in life and "construct" a meaning around it of our own. "Nobody actually believes this," he answers, and gives an example. You could try with all your might to "read" tigers as animals that are coy and cuddly, but if you try to do that, you would "no longer be around to tell the tale," because to some degree the world is "independent of our interpretations of it." 28 I once knew a young man who; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Europe In Autumn (Fractured Europe Sequence, #1); Author: Dave Hutchinson; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This book breaks one of my cardinal rules for reading satisfaction, namely, it is not a self-contained novel. It is, instead, the first part of a longer story. This book doesn't wrap up plot points or provide a satisfactory conclusion to the mysteries it only starts to develop at the end of the book. In fact, it is only at the end that the story a major development occurs that points the direction in which the trilogy is heading. This book is actually just the set up for the next two books. However, I am still giving this book five stars because I enjoyed the set-up, the inventiveness of author Dave Hutchinson's ideas, and the humor and wit Hutchinson brings to his prose. With the warning about the fact that if you invest your time and money into this book, you are getting a cliffhanger and stay tuned experience, you are on your own. To turn to the substance of this book, Rudi is an Estonian chef working in Krakow, Poland in the near future. The setting may be our timeline or it may be some alternate history. The major difference is that the world - or Europe, at least - is in a craze of devolution. Regions are declaring independence willy-nilly. For example, the formerly Polish region of Silesia has declared independence and become the polity of Hindenberg. The devolution craze has gotten to the point where buildings and national parks have declared independence, which is apparently made possible by the willingness of the UN to send in peacekeepers and the unwillingness of European nations to spill blood publicly. Peak devolution seems to involve industries declaring independence: "The Line finally reached the Chukotka Peninsula in the middle of a blizzard of Biblical proportions. The more wry commentators suggested that the next obvious step was to start digging a tunnel towards Alaska. Instead, the Company ran a single forty-car TransEurope Express, an inaugural trip, from Portugal to Siberia and back again, for the benefit of the Press and leaders of the nations and polities the Line passed through and various inconspicuous men whose origin was never explained to anyone. Then it declared itself to be sovereign territory and granted all its workers citizenship. Which may have been the point of the exercise all along." The proliferation of borders has created a demand for a service that will smuggle people and things through these microstates. That service is a mysterious entity known as Courier des Bois. This entity is also involved in what looks like espionage work, frequently being opposed by national intelligence services. Rudi is brought into the Couriers and we follow his life for a few years through a series of eventful and frequently failed missions. This part of the book is interesting but does not seem to be going anywhere in particular, although we do get a lot of background on this European reality. Then suddenly things start happening as Rudi goes back to Estonia and is "rescued" by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Philosophy of Film Noir; Author: Mark T. Conard; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... I have been listening to this book as an audiobook for approximately four years. It is very academic and dry, and, yet, informative and illuminating. For me, the best part of this book has been to spark my interest in the movies mentioned. Because of this book, I have watched a number of movies that I would not otherwise have watched, and I have watched those movies looking for symbols and meanings and clues and scenes that would otherwise have passed me by. In other words, my appreciation for the genre has been substantially broadened and deepened. However, as I said, this book is very academic. It is definitely not for anyone interested in a quick dip into the subject. For a taste of the academic orientation of the book, let's look at the Table of Contents: Part 1: The Essence and Elements of Noir Nietzsche and the Meaning and Definition of Noir Mark T Conard A Darker Shade: Realism in Neo-Noir Jason Holt Moral Clarity and Practical Reason in Film Noir Aeon J. Skoble Cherchez la Femme Fatale: The Mother of Film Noir Read Mercer Schuchardt From Sherlock Holmes to the Hard-Boiled Detective in Film Noir Jerold J. Abrams Part 2: Existentialism and Nihilism in Film Noir Film Noir and the Meaning of Life Steven M. Sanders The Horizon of Disenchantment: Film Noir, Camus, and the Vicissitudes of Descent Alan Woolfolk Symbolism, Meaning, and Nihilism in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction Mark T Conard Part 3: Six Classic Films Noirs Film Noir and the Frankfurt School: America as Wasteland in Edgar Ulmer's Detour Paul A. Cantor Knowledge, Morality, and Tragedy in The Killers and Out of the Past Ian Jarvie Moral Man in the Dark City: Film Noir, the Postwar Religious Revival, and The Accused R. Barton Palmer On Reason and Passion in The Maltese Falcon Deborah Knight Ride the Pink Horse: Money, Mischance, Murder, and the Monads of Film Noir Alain Silver As is apparent from the Table of Contents, this is not a unified book, but rather a collection of essays from various perspectives. In listening to this as an audiobook, the shift from one article to the other could be confusing or disconcerting, but I am sure that the visual markers in the book will prevent this problem. Also apparent from the Table of Contents, the essays do get deep into the academic weeds immediately. A reader will find themselves involved in Feminists analysis of the role of femmes fatale to the existentialism of various movies. The early articles deal with the issue of "what, exactly, is film noir?" The answer seems to be that there is no "exactly" there. It is a style from a time period that expresses a mood with certain tropes....in other words, you know it when you see it. Again, I got a lot out of this book, but, obviously, I found it a slog since I listened to it for years. I also purchased the book because I want to be able to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extracurricular Activities; Author: Yoon Ha Lee; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a Tor.com short story, which means that this is a story set in the universe outlined in another Tor book. The short story is, thus, bait for the novel or series. Often-time the short story doesn't pan out because there is just too much backstory missing from the short story, which typically makes the short story confusing. This one breaks the rule by offering a self-contained story that works as a short story, while, nonetheless, offering tantalizing glimpses into the more richly elaborated universe in which the story is set. The story opens with young Shuos Jedao being moved to a new station. We learn that he is a spaceship commander - except spaceships are called "moths" for some reason - who is being tasked to perform an intelligence mission involving a former schoolmate taken captive by a rival space power. We are bombarded with a strange social structure, possibly based on Earth Asian culture, where it seems that the military of the power to which Jedao belongs - the Heptarchate - is composed of different "factions" that have their own militaries. How that works is not explained and the political system is mentioned inferentially. The opposing space power is the Gwa Reality. There are sharp cultural differences between the Heptarchate and the Reality, which are not really explained. This aspect of the story reminded me of Golden Age Science Fiction, perhaps C.M. Kornbluth's "That Share of the Glory" comes most to mind. I liked this story and I am getting the novel by this author set in this universe. One aspect of this book that I found problematic was the overt homosexuality of the story. I am willing to accept the homosexuality as a normal part of a different culture, but there was something about the Doe-eyed lusting of our protagonist for the military officer on the spy mission that seemed out of place, too childish, perhaps. Likewise, the running gag about "lube" and the ending which involved who would be on top with the chicken fat seemed unnecessary. Also, unexplained was the sexuality of the culture. Was everyone homosexual? How were the homosexual characters supposed to provide "extra grandchildren"? Likewise, I found it confusing that the story referred to "he" and "she" but it took me awhile to figure out that "they" was referring to the hero's friend. Why "they"? Is there a third sex in this culture? Are "they" a group mind? This wasn't explained, although it will probably be explained in the novel. Long story short, I much preferred the culture-building and the space opera stuff to be far more interesting than the early 21st century moralizing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Europe at Midnight (The Fractured Europe Sequence Book 2); Author: Dave Hutchinson; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is the second installment of author Dave Hutchison's "The Fractured Europe Sequence." I gave the first installment five stars but I noted that the reader should be warned that the first installment was not truly a complete novel so much as the first part of a larger novel. I think that observation implies a recommendation that a reader should start with the first book in order to get a full flavor for the backstory in this story and the clever way that his story hooks up with Europe in Autumn. So, since the reader is duly warned to start with the first book, this review will contain spoilers for the prior book. When we ended Europe in Autumn, we had followed Rudi from his evolution from chef to agent for Les Courier de Boise, and had learned about a Europe that had been ravaged by a mysterious Xian Flu and was devolving into smaller and smaller units. At the end, Rudi had stumbled onto a fantastical story about a family of Englishmen who had spent generations mapping a part of England that had never existed in our world, which is associated with an even more fantastic place called the Community. By the end of Autumn, we discover that the story isn't a fantasy....and the story ends. This book picks up without Rudi. Instead, we are in a world that exists purely as English academia. The unnamed first-person narrator lives in the Campus, which we come to learn has a society organized around a university. Residents are Students, Teaching Assistants, Doctors, and Professors as a matter of heredity. The Campus is organized into geographic areas defined by the Faculty of Science, Law, Medicine, etc. There has been a revolution, ousting the Old Board. The New Board has discovered that the Old Board was sanctioning bizarre medical experiments and there are technological assets beyond its apparent early 20th century level of technology. The narrator comes into contact with a mysterious woman who seems to know more about things than he does, which is interesting since he is the spy chief of the New Board. Then, he is forced to flee the Campus and comes to Europe. He becomes an intelligence asset who is used to infiltrate a spy cell for the Community and the Community itself. We get a lot of information from the inside about the Community and the Campus.The Campus is a terrific bit of sociological imagination. I really enjoyed the detailing of the Campus and the claustrophobic storyline of conspiracies unknown and suspected. The move into the Community is equally good as we see a society where 19th century Toryism prevailed over radicalism and labor unions. The writing is excellent with a lot of wry humor. The focal character is interesting and observant and likable. The story is filled with conflict and adventure which keeps it interesting. What happened to Rudi? If you pay attention to the last several pages you can see where the conclusion of Midnight hooks; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Agents of Dreamland; Author: Caitlin R. Kiernan; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is not actually a complete story. It is, in fact, the beginning portion of a longer story. With that in mind, however, it is a well-written story that, in my opinion, hooks the reader into investing in the story as it proceeds. The story begins with a meeting between the Signalman and Immacolata Sexton. The Signalman is an operative for some American spook agency. He seems to be past his prime and we never find out what his name is or why he is the "signalman." Sexton is scary spooky in some undescribed way. There is a supernatural vibe to her. The two meet and exchange cryptic bits of information and then go their separate ways. There is a mystery involving a cult, a cult that has been exposed to a fungus. The fungus is taking over their bodies. There are references to the "Old Ones" and a Lovecraftian corpse is discovered. There are premonitions about the future. In other words, this story is an homage to H.P. Lovecraft's universe. The story is well-written and engaging. The only drawback is that it was far shorter than it ought to have been.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Why Did Europe Conquer the World?; Author: Philip T. Hoffman; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This book put me in mind of Isaac Asimov's Foundation stories, where "psychohistorians" used the science of "psychohistory" model - and control - the development of galactic civilization after the fall of the first galactic empire. The difference here is that economic modeling replaces the fantastic science of psychohistory. Whether this economic modeling could ever be used prospectively or not, it does offer some insights into the intriguing question of "why did Europe end up conquering the world" despite starting out at the tail of the pack and being the unlikeliest candidate for that honor. Philip T. Hoffman's answer is "political history," which boils down to "luck of the cards." Hoffman addresses a couple of perennial favorites, i.e., geography and constant warfare, to point out that these may be necessary conditions but they are not sufficient conditions since, inter alia, India experienced constant warfare and China had far more territorial diversity than Europe, but neither took the prize. Hoffman's answer lies in developing a model of what it took to become the leader of the pack. He postulates a simple model based on two powers fighting for the "prize" of glory (or power or whatever). To win the prize, the power with the advantage of pouring the greatest resources into the military project at the the lowest cost (political or financial) will generally be the winner, inasmuch as resources largely determine who wins. The proximity of European states to each other tended to reduce the cost of war while raising the value of the "prize." In addition, the history of Europe in creating small bands of warriors devoted to the lord, who dishonored shirkers, was a political necessity because of the close, warlike conditions of Europe, which had the effect of helping to develop a political culture with low political costs against going to war and was willing to tolerate a level of taxation that was inconceivable in India or China. These factors tended to place Europe in the running for developing a gunpowder technology. What kept Europe in the running while other powers dropped out were things like: (a) Western Europe was able to devote its entire attention on gunpowder when other powers on the edge of the steppes had to deal with the ancient enemy of nomads with the ancient technology of archer cavalry; (b) there was no European hegemony, as there was in China and Japan and the Ottoman Empire, which in those areas had the tendency to reduce warfare, and reduce taxes, by the sheer fact that most powers were unwilling to attack such an overwhelming power; (c) European states were sufficiently close that technological advances could diffuse among the states, thereby stimulating the arms race; (d) correlated with the last fact was that the proximity and common culture of Europe meant that Europeans shared complimentary technology such that advances in one state could be appropriated by an already existing technological base in other countries, something which was largely not true when other states attempted to buy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Europe in Winter (The Fractured Europe Sequence, #3); Author: Dave Hutchinson; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... When I finished this book, I was still not sure that I've read the completed novel. My review of Europe in Autumn argued that that book was not really a novel but the first part of a longer novel. I pointed out that that book decided to bring in a mind-blowing change of direction without wrapping up the loose threads. Normally, I think that kind of thing is dirty pool. We purchase books as books, rather than as parts of books, but I was so taken with Hutchinson's writing and ideas that I decided not to hold it against him. Well, he's done it again. And again I like the story enough to not hold it against him. This may get spoilery. So, if you don't like that kind of thing, don't read beyond this line. In the immediate predecessor story - Europe at Midnight - we follow "Rupert" as he discovers that he lives in a pocket universe and that there is a bigger universe out there in which Europe is fragmenting into smaller and smaller polities. This made sense because at the end of the first book, the main character of that book, Rudi, had unraveled the secrets of the pocket universe of the Commonwealth adjacent to that of Europe. In Book 3, Rupert is reduced to walk-on and supporting character status, as we return to following Rudi as Rudi searches for "Courier Central", which is the legendary central authority of the shadowy organization of smugglers that operates in Europe. The book opens with a suicide bombing of a tunnel used by the Line - the European-crossing railroad that is also a state. We observe the assassination of Mundt, the former citizen of Dresden who had figured out something about opening breaches in the multiverse. Rudi learns something about his father and a group of French mathematicians who were part of the Versailles Conference in 1919. Rudi gets braced by an agent of the European Community. Characters introduced in prior books - like Seth and Rudi - appear for a moment and walk off stage without contributing much of anything. Pieces of the Community begin to drop into Europe. I found myself noting the appearance of minor characters who were introduced with the signals and portents that they were going to contribute to the story, who simply disappeared. It appears that this quirk was due to Hutchison introducing them into the story as a reward for their contributions to a charity. That's really nice but made for some confusion and extra work for the reader. Ultimately, Rudi gets his answers but the reader discovers that there has been a new mysterious player in the game, that his father has had connections with the Community for fifty years, that he is basically Courier Central, that there is a brand new pocket universe under the control of the European Community, and an even more mysterious player in power politics is hinted at. All in the last twenty pages of the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dead Djinn in Cairo; Author: P. Djeli Clark; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Three cheers for the inventive setting. The story opens by telling us that Fatma el-Sha'arawi is a special investigator with the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities and is looking at a dead djinn. Immediately, we are tossed into a different world, one where djinns and ghuls and angels co-exist with "boilerplate eunuchs", who seem to be robots, airships that dock in this Cairo of a British-free Egypt in what seems to be the early 20th century, and Marx-reading Sufists revolutionaries. It is a wildly inventive setting. Fatma is a liberated woman who wears a version of a British suit, a bowler hat, and carries a cane. She is apparently trained in magical arts, that became a reality about forty years before when al-Jahiz drilled down to the world of the supernatural. Fatma is tasked with solving the murder of the eponymous Djinn. Her investigation proceeds like a cannonball, as she busts through one scene to another, picking up clues to solve a conspiracy of Lovecraftian proportions. The writing is good, the plotting seemed to verge onto the fortuitous and contrived, there is a cliched hint of a lesbian relationship in the offing and girl-power ascendant with Hathor-worshiping priestesses and female assassins, which is fine so long as it doesn't turn preachy, but the setting is imaginative catnip. This is Tor.com book, which means that it is supposed to showcase characters or setting from a novel that Tor wants to push. I don't see the novel, but hopefully, there will be one in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lying About Hitler: History, Holocaust, and the David Irving Trial; Author: Richard J. Evans; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a book that should never have had to have been written. It should never have had to have been written because denying the reality of the Nazi Holocaust is an obviously absurd endeavor. But, further, it shouldn't have had to have been written because issues of academic truth should not be a matter of judicial litigation. David Irving brought this debacle on himself. It should never be forgotten that Irving sued Deborah Lipstadt for libel. The gist of his accusation was that she had spoken an untruth that hurt his reputation when she had called him a "Holocaust Apologist." David Irving is an non-academic historian. He acquired a reputation in the '60s and '70s for being a reliable if eccentric, historian of Hitler. After the '70s, Irving began to get a reputation for being more pro-Hitler than was seemly. In his appearances before lay groups, often, perhaps exclusively, right-wing groups, Irving would praise Hitler, make provocative statements about the Holocaust, and claim to be a fascist. For example: "In a very real sense, indeed, he evidently conceived of himself as carrying on Hitler's legacy, just as Lipstadt claimed in her book. Speaking to an audience in Calgary, Canada, in 1991, he revealed that he had once been described as a "self-confessed moderate fascist," and added: "I strongly object to that word 'moderate.'" As with many apparently flippant remarks, this seemed to me to have a kernel of truth in it; after all, he had not objected to the word fascist. More strikingly still, in an interview for the television program This Week, in 1991, Irving said: "I think Adolf Hitler made a lot of mistakes. He surrounded himself with people of very very poor quality. He was a rotten judge of character. These are the mistakes that you have to avoid replicating." 12 You in this context could only really be understood as referring to Irving himself." I am not sure about that last, but Irving's statements are absurd and show him to be rooting for one of the most evil men in history. The author Richard Evans was the expert witness hired to examine David Irving's historical writings and demonstrate their falsities and errors, and, more importantly, show that these infelicities err in the direction of Irving having been a Hitler apologist. Under American law, for a public figure like Irving to bring a lawsuit for defamation, he would have to plead and prove that the statement was knowingly false. However, under British law, a defamation plaintiff need only show that the statement hurt his reputation and the burden shifts to the defendant to prove the truth of the statement. It does not appear that there is a "public figure" defense. Evans explained the burden of proof as follows: "By placing the entire burden of proof on the defense, it allows them to turn the tables and devote the action to destroying the reputation of their accuser. Indeed, once the defense has admitted, as Lipstadt's did without hesitation,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder by Candlelight: The Gruesome Slayings Behind Our Romance with the Macabre; Author: Michael Knox Beran; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Absolutely fascinating. This book is essentially about English murder prior to 1850. The author examines several murders that qualified as the "Crime of the Century" when that concept was still new. The presentation of the story of the murders gives the reader insight into pre-Victorian society and culture. The first murder involves a callous murder of a gambler by his fellow gamblers. The chief among the villains was a provincial gaming man who was embezzled his business's money, lost it in gambling, and fell into low company. The plot seemed like a hair-brained affair involving inviting the victim to the country for shooting and then killing him there. The murder was botched and the plot unravelled as quickly as it had been concocted. What I noted in the first murders introduced was how naive the criminals were and how shallow their plots were. The murders that got the public attention generally involved scams for money. After the victim was killed, the problem of the disposing of the body came up, which usually involved chopping the body up and distributing it around London. Given the amount of moving corpses around, and the number of bodies that simply showed up every morning in London, and the difficulty of identifying bodies, it seems strange that an energetic villain simply didn't hire a horse and carriage and drive out the to country and drop it off somewhere. Thomas de Quincy and Thomas Carlyle are central figures in this book. De Quincy has been described as the first "True Crime" writer in the English language. Carlyle also paid some attention to the celebrated murders. Both were part of the Romantic genre of writing and brought the sensibility of horror and the macabre to their descriptions of these cases. De Quincy and Carlyle were no longer writing, when the fore-runners of Jack the Ripper appeared. Jack the Ripper was not the first sexually deviant serial killer in England. The author has a long passage describing the many, many other sexual murders of young women in London, perhaps some of them were part of the Ripper's series, of which only five are "canonical." This is an interesting foray into a world that was like and unlike our own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century; Author: Timothy Snyder; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... A sad example of how ideology distorts scholarship. I purchased this expecting a thoughtful discussion about the lessons that an academic can draw from 20th century totalitarianism. I was hopeful about something insight and depth from the author of Bloodlands, which did a really good job of bracketing Nazism and Communism into a coherent narrative. This is not that book. To save those who might not know, author Timothy Snyder's central thesis is that the current Republican President is Literally Hitler. Of course, this should probably not come as a surprise. Every Republican president is Literally Hitler during their tenure, and then they are rehabilitated as the Model of Bipartisanship to be used against the next Republican President who is Literally Hitler. George Bush is now in the middle of rehabilitation as the Model of Bipartisanship, but there are those of us who remember that not so long he was Bushitler. I expected better. I wanted to give Snyder some credit for some his observations. Some of his points about tyranny are classic and memorable. Unfortunately, I have to wonder where he was for the last eight years. During the last eight years, many people of faith have felt that they were under the heels of a tyranny that threatened to divide us from the rest of America and make us give up our freedom of conscience in order to avoid governmental oppression. The 2016 presidential campaign began, let us remember, with the perennial Democrat shill George Stephanopolous asking an off-the-wall question about contraception. Pretty soon, we saw a presidential campaign largely framed around the idea that Catholics were UnAmerican dissenters who irrationally refused to pay for contraception. The Little Sisters of Poor were required to toss a pinch of incense to appease abortion lest they face draconian penalties that would end their historic mission of caring for the poor. Likewise, we saw the government centralize and make a grab for a substantial part of the economy with that mis-named Affordable Health Care Act, that carried with the unprecedented intrusion into personal life and personal decision-making by requiring that Americans divert upwards of 20% of their income into the purchase of health insurance to the enrichment of insurance companies. Although any of this could be described quite easily as "fascist", we heard nothing from Snyder. Likewise, the last eight years has seen an unprecedented normalization of hostility to free-speech, as colleges have instituted speech codes and rules against triggering and have assaulted and intimidated people who didn't adhere to the progressive line. But, again, nothing from Snyder. During the last presidential campaign we saw videos of the loser's side attacking, hitting, punching throwing things at, and assaulting those on the president's side. We've seen riots in the aftermath of an election and attempt to get Electors to violate their oaths. One might have seen in this the image of Brownshirts and the destruction of democracy by ignoring the spirit of the law, but, again, nothing from Snyder. Similarly, we remember that; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Evernote: 101 Evernote Hacks! Become An Everyone Ninja And Accomplish Any Goal, Smash Any Task, And Crush Life (Evernote - Your Complete Guide to Mastering ... - Evernote for Beginners - Evernote App); Author: Jason Bracht; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote -[url]... I have been using Evernote for a few years now and I am always looking for ideas and tips on how to use it better. I found a few ideas in this book, but it seemed to me that a lot of it was filler in an effort to get 101 items into the list. I am not sure that it is worth the price, but it might be a place for a beginner to start.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Vanquished: Why the First World War Failed to End; Author: Robert Gerwarth; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... A war with no victors. The period between the end of World War 1 and the beginning of World War II is something of a historical shadow. The two wars represent bright beacons of active history, and the period in between is lost in the shadows between the two lights. In listening to this as an audiobook, I was surprised to find out how much I didn't know. Here is a case in point, I knew Ataturk was important to the modern Turkish state, but I had no real idea why. I also had no real idea of the Greek-Turkish War that resulted in the destruction of the 2,500 year-old Greek communities of Asia Minor in a final orgy of ethnic cleansing. This incident isn't just nice to know. It is absolutely illuminating in explaining fascism and genocide, Most people know that Hitler waved-off the damage to the reputation of Germany that the massacre of Jews would have with the statement "Who now remembers the Armenian," referring to the World War One Armenian Genocide. But Ataturk's victory resulted in a defeated Axis power negotiating with the Allies as a sovereign, rather than being forced to accept a dictated peace. More importantly, Turkey was able to revise the terms of surrender and end the plan to the drastically partition Turkey that was the plan of the Allies. For any other power that felt that they had gotten an unfair deal from the peace terms, particularly Germany, which had felt the sting of partitioning and onerous peace terms. Ataturk had succeeded with brilliant military strategy, iron will, and a nationalism tied to ethnic and religious homogeneity. Ataturk was an inspiration to Mussolini and Hitler and showed that nationalism was the answer to the problems of Europe: "The Greek delegation and the Turkish representatives, led by Kemal's trusted general (and future successor as President of the Turkish Republic), Ismet Inonu, also agreed that peace between them would be accompanied by a 'population exchange', which, in fact, was already well on its way when the conference had first convened. In total some 1.2 million Orthodox Anatolians were transferred from Turkey to Greece, while nearly 400,000 Muslims were resettled the other way. Religion was the sole criterion for the 'exchanges', according to the 'Convention on the Compulsory Exchange of Populations' that was signed in Lausanne on 30 January 1923. This was a radical reversal of the logic guiding the Minorities Treaties of 1919, which had sought to legally protect minorities in multi-ethnic states. Yet it was not completely without precedent: it was first suggested by Venizelos in the context of the Balkan Wars and again during the negotiations for the Neuilly Treaty when Sofia and Athens agreed on a 'voluntary' population swap of some 100,000 people to resolve their long-term dispute over the control of Western Thrace.62 Although in reality many Bulgarian refugees had no choice in the matter, the openly mandatory character of the transfer sanctioned at Lausanne differentiated the Treaty from any previous agreements.63 In; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama; Author: Sam Leith; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Sam Leith does an exemplary job of providing the reader with an introduction to the techniques and history of rhetoric. Leith structures his book around the classic concepts of rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory and Delivery (the parts of rhetoric); and Deliberative, Judicial and Epideictic Rhetoric (the three branches of oratory.) We are introduced to Ethos, Pathos and Logos (the Three Musketeers of persuasion). We get exposure to the arcane language of rhetoric, e.g., zeugma, apostrophe, enargia, erotema, etc. So, the book gives a broad view of the bare bones of rhetoric. However, although this may all sound enervating, Leith keeps the reader's' attention with humor and amusing anecdote. The anecdotes range from stories about the earliest rhetoricians - Cicero, Isocrates and Aristotle - to contemporaries, e.g., Peggy Noonan and Barrack Obama. Leith keeps the subject lively with cheeky asides and back stories. He also provides insight into the real world use of rhetoric by analyzing how rhetorical figures are used in actual speeches. I left the book thinking that if music education can enhance one's appreciation of music, something similar can be done with rhetoric. I am a trial attorney and I found myself thinking about consciously applying the concepts of rhetoric to my briefs and closing arguments. Undoubtedly, I've been applying these techniques, but doing so in a self-conscious manner might bear good fruit. I recommend the book for its historical, educational and entertainment value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Date Night on Union Station (EarthCent Ambassador #1); Author: E.M. Foner; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a delightful, well-written, engaging read. This the first book in author E.M. Foner's "Union Station" series, with their curious and clever "variations on a theme" covers. The story involves the travails of EarthCent diplomat Kelly Frank. EarthCent is the autonomous pseudo-government set up by a species of robotic AI beings, known as the Stryx. After the Stryx discovered Earth and gave humans the technology for interstellar flight, for reasons known only to the Stryx, although they seem to be a good sort with a fondness for taking charity cases under the wings, Earth nations became redundant and in the interstellar reaches, it is the seemingly anarchic EarthCent that represents the interests of humanity, with Stryx support. As the book opens, Kelly is a consul and she is looking for a man, or at least a decent date. Kelly has been given a subscription with the elite, expensive and exclusive Eemiss dating system to see if that situation can be rectified. The dates do not go well, to put it mildly, but, at least, Kelly is able to shine as a diplomat and save the Earth from losing the topsoil of a continent pursuant to a bad contract and put an end to a bride-kidnapping scheme and solve the problem of alien counterfeiting of human trade goods. The book also winds around the similar dating disasters of Joe McAllister, who is having similar luck with his Eemiss subscription. He dropped out of his mercenary life to raise his foster son, Paul, a war orphan Joe found during one of the wars that he was employed to fight. He is generous and decent. Joe does seem like a good guy who deserves a good woman. Will Joe and Kelly meet? Will they find love? Why are the omnicompetent Stryx such bad matchmakers? You will have to read the book to find out. This book is lightweight and played for an easy-going humor. The insanity of EarthCent's diplomacy and the zaniness of the aliens that Joe and Kelly interact with reminded me of Keith Laumer's Retief stories, albeit Retief didn't seem to have a personal life (or a first name, if I recall.) I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable diversion and I look forward to future instalments.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The End of the Day; Author: Claire North; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... Charlie is a nice if somewhat depressed guy. He is blessed with the triple virtues of patience, fortitude, and empathy. After his long-term girlfriend dumps him, he decides to take the application test to become the Harbinger of Death. He passes and embarks on a career as a Harbinger. (There are also Harbingers of War, Pestilence, and Famine, who cross paths with Charlie, but none of that amounts to much of anything.) As a Harbinger, Charlie doesn't have to inflict any horror or suffering. He's not a sadist, albeit his job involves a fair bit of masochism. His job is to go to people before Death visits them in order to give them some memento or trinket that reflects something important to or about their life. Then he listens to them and serves, as he says repeatedly, as a Witness or a Bridge to Honor Their Lives. Death is a nice guy, also. Death visits people, particularly interesting people and listens to them. Sometimes Death just listens and goes away. Death seems quite reasonable. Death doesn't even have to appear in a frightening guise, unless the subject expects to see Death in a scary guise. (Charlie sees Death as an elderly, well-dressed man.) The book is structured around Charlie's jobs. One time he goes on an epic trek to the glaciers of Greenland. Another time, he wanders around Nigeria, helping out a lesbian comic and her partner, who are facing prejudice. Still another time, he wanders around the American South visiting racists. The book is well-written, the stories are engaging, but the structure of the book is repetitive. After about half-way through the book, however, I began to wonder when the character development and the plot would kick in. Charlie doesn't change throughout the book. He loses his girlfriend and accepts that with resignation. He acquires a girlfriend and accepts that without enthusiasm. He gets kidnapped and tortured several times, and while that makes him unhappy and hurt, he deals with it as part of the job, learning that while Death will retaliate against those who try to coerce Death, merely getting revenge for torturing Charlie is not in the cards. Charlie crosses paths with Patrick Fuller, who wants to be his friend, but nothing happens there. In fact, we never find out what purpose Patrick plays in the book - he's just there. Charlie remains introspective and mildly depressed from start to finish. Likewise, I thought a plot might kick in at some point, but it didn't. Charlie has jobs and he does his jobs and will keep doing his jobs, as assigned, because he is a witness and a bridge and he is honored to honor the living. Seems reasonable. My three-star rating is not to indicate that I did not like the book. I liked the book. I liked the stories and the characters. However, I don't think that I would recommend it generally, although I can see how the introspective quality of the book - with just enough; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dark Detectives: An Anthology of Supernatural Mysteries; Author: Stephen Jones; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is an extremely good collection of stories bound together by the theme of a detective dealing with something that appears to be supernatural. I particularly liked the historical angle to the collection. The editor, Stephen Jones, opens the collection with an overview of the history of stories dealing with the "detective and demons" or "detective and ghosts" trope. The essay starts with an acknowledgment of Edgar Allen Poe's detective C. Auguste Dupin and then proceeds to move into the supernatural detective stories of the nineteenth century and beyond, bringing us up to the current time. I recommend reading this essay in order to appreciate the collection because many of the stories adopt the characters mentioned in the essay and one was written in 1913. The stories are: 'Introduction: The Serial Sleuths' by Stephen Jones. 'Seven Stars Prologue: In Egypt's Land' by Kim Newman - A nice feature of the book, which helps with the historical feel of the book, is the Kim Newman stories about the "Seven Stars Jewel." The jewel has some unusual properties. The Newman stories involve episodes set in the 1890s, 1920s, 1950s, 1970s and the 21st century as related characters deal with the threat posed by the jewel. 'Our Lady of Death' by Peter Tremayne - This is a "Sister Fidelma" story. Tremayne has written several books about this ninth century Celtic nun who solves crimes. This is a well-written mystery, but it has more of a "Scooby Doo" approach than a truly supernatural story. 'Seven Stars Episode One: The Mummy's Heart' by Kim Newman. 'The Horse of the Invisible' by William Hope Hodgson. Originally published in Carnacki, The Ghost-Finder (1913) - This is well-written, but it is in an older, more formal writing style. Like the Sister Fidelma story, this is more "Scooby Doo" than supernatural. 'Seven Stars Episode Two: The Magician and the Matinee Idol' by Kim Newman. 'The Adventure of the Crawling Horror' by Basil Copper - This story features Solar Pons, a character that August Derleth created to totally rip-off Sherlock Holmes. After Derleth, Basil Copper apparently used the character. This is a decent mystery story, albeit more "Scooby Doo." 'Seven Stars Episode Three: The Trouble With Barrymore' by Kim Newman. 'Rouse Him Not' by Manly Wade Wellman - I love Manly Wade Wellman and was quite happy to get a taste of his John Thunstone character. Definitely not Scooby Doo. 'De Marigny's Clock' by Brian Lumley- After the Wellman story, the collection moves into real supernatural territory. This story is well-done and introduces Titus Crow, a character that I am interested in reading more of. 'Seven Stars Episode Four: The Biafran Bank Manager' 1999 by Kim Newman. 'Someone is Dead' by R. Chetwynd-Hayes - This is actually a decent story, but I didn't particularly like the main characters. The story had a 1970s feel to it. 'Vultures Gather' by Brian Mooney - Like the Lumley story, I found myself attracted to the detective character, Reuben Calloway, in this one. The story; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Spider's Web; Author: Joseph Roth; Genres: history, biography, fiction, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... To appreciate this book, we have to place it in its historical situation, namely, early Weimar Germany. Joseph Roth wrote this book in 1923, perhaps prior to Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch (November 9-11, 1923), and certainly prior to the trial and imprisonment of Hitler, and the writing of Mein Kampf. Interestingly, Roth does make a major point of his characters' involvement in some kind of conspiracy with a target date of early November a point in his book. Was that a foreshadowing of a coming Beer Hall Putsch? Or was Rot simply playing off of the Kapp Putsch of March, 1920? The story is nothing less than the story of the radical corruption of a human being by the circumstances of history. The central character of the story is Theodore Lohse. Lohse starts out as a decent, if second-rate individual, with a propensity for corruption and opportunism. With the Great War ended, Lohse has been mustered out of the army as a Lieutenant. He lives a withdrawn and alienated life, studying law and working as a tutor for a Jewish family. He lives with his family, but has no real connection with them. In fact, Roth points out that they are ashamed or discomforted by his survival of the War; if he had died, they would have received a pension rather than being forced to accommodate an superannuated survivor. Lohse gets his first break when he is invited to see the Prince at a reunion of his regiment. He apparently has a homosexual tryst with the Prince, and uses that connection to open certain doors. One door that is opened is a right-wing German secret society, the Bismarck Bundt, that engages in spying, assassination and other crimes under a murderous oath of secrecy. In short order, Lohse progresses through the ranks by opportunistically arranging murders, perjuring himself, betraying friends, oppressing workers and self-promoting himself above even his limited capacities. It is fair to say that Lohse is an evil man. However, Roth's treatment of Lohse is strangely dispassionate. Lohse does evil things, but does not reflect on the evil that he does with any particular horror or guilt, albeit there is guilt there, as we see when he has the occasional fit of hysteria at the thought of some of his victims reaching out for him. For the most part, though, Lohse comes across as a foreshadowing of Eichmann, as a person who is playing the game by the rules of the game without being particularly concerned by any transcendent morality (except when he fantasizes that he is being accused by the dead.) As a literary project, I did not find the book itself to be of much interest. Roth's writing is crisp. Information is conveyed efficiently. Some of his prose is quite elegant. However, we never get below the surface of the character's minds and intentions. The story itself does not have an ending. Lohse has befriended a Jewish agent-provocateur, found that friend spying on him, and is contemplating having that; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places; Author: Colin Dickey; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a surprising book, and a surprisingly good book. I purchased this book expecting a survey of haunted locations around America. I got that, but the author is a skeptic who essentially debunks every ghost story with the actual history. For example, I've always heard the story about the Winchester Mystery House, about how Mrs. Winchester kept her carpenters building "stairs to nowhere" because of a prophecy that the ghosts of those who had been murdered by a Winchester rifle would be kept away from the Winchester heir by the sound of carpentry. Author Colin Dickey quickly and surprisingly debunks this story by pointing out that Mrs. Winchester was something of an architect and that mst of the architectural features of the "Mystery House" can be explained. He points out that the room where alleged seances happened couldn't have had seances and that the myth of the house developed over a time after Mrs. Winchester's death. More importantly, Dickey uses the facts as a springboard into the role of "spiritualism" in female emancipation and the causes that led to it, as well as the likely reason that Mrs. Winchester was interested in architecture. Accordingly, we get an interesting slice of a world lost so very recently via the myth of the house. Dickey applies a similar approach to stories featuring Indian graveyards causing haunted houses, the transient nature of Los Angeles, the popular misconception of decaying Detroit and other issues. Dickey comes across as a thoroughgoing rationalist, but whatever romance is lost as the ghost-lore disappears is more than made up for by the exposure of actual history. I recently went on a San Francisco walking-ghost tour. The tour guide took us to various streets and houses around San Francisco. The ghost stories were fun, of course, albeit any sensible person took them with a grain of salt. What was the revelation to me of the tour was the history I learned. The guide casually pointed out houses from the mid-19th century that I would have gone by without a glance, he pointed out a corner where he told the fascinating story of a woman who helped run the Underground Railroad before coming to San Francisco, and he pointed out a house where an early female writer lived. She is all-but-forgotten but her writings deserve recognition, and the guide's purpose was to call her to the memory of moderns. The guide's purpose sounded a lot like what I got from Colin Dickey's book. Ghost-tours, like literary tours, are one way of connecting modernity to history. This was an excellent book for that purpose and I recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Formless Empire: A Short History of Diplomacy and Warfare in Central Asia; Author: Christopher Mott; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Until I listened to Professor Harls' lectures from the Great Courses about [[ASIN:1629970352 The Barbarian Empires of the Steppes]], I had always taken the steppe nomads for granted. They seem to sweep in from stage right - if you're Europe - or stage left - if you're Chinese (but actually "stage north" from the nomads' perspective, as Professor Harl points out), but I had never considered them as a subject in themselves. The reality is that the steppes have always played a huge role in human civilization, a role that covers 6,000 years and 6,000 miles. The steppes impinge on the civilized peoples of the world of Persia, Rome, China, and their successors. Ignoring steppe history is simply foolish. This book is an excellent follow-up on Professor Harl's lectures. The author, Christopher Mott, has an overriding thesis about how the geography and culture of the Steppes formed the political culture of the steppe barbarians. Mott's essential point is that the huge, open area of the steppes, with the diversity of cultures and language, and the fluidity of population created by a horse culture without cities, shaped the successive steppe empires into a common method of empire that involved fluid military tactics, rule through local elites, the maintenance of some strong points, and a generally more tolerant approach to rulership than was found in more static cultures. After making this argument, he visits virtually every culture that formed on the steppes from 2,000 BS to the modern day. It is a fascinating story. I learned more about the peoples of the steppes and their civilizations, kingdoms and empires than I ever have. More importantly, I was able to start connecting events with each other and to gain an appreciation for the Transoxanian cultures that today we tend to view as insignificant and unimportant. As penance for my prior attitudes, I have made a game of memorizing the names of the 5 Muslim former-Soviet states in order from west to east - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. (Thank you, Spellcheck!) What was particularly interesting was Mott's observations on how the steppes are eventually subjugated by the Russia and China, and the future of the steppes. Russia has a lot of underpopulated steppe and forest country, while China has a lot of population. China has historically hegemonized former non-Chinese territory by sending Han Chinese into Xinjiang. Might that be a future strategy for an upsurging China and a declining Russia? This is a fairly short, informative and well-written book. I recommend it, perhaps in conjunction with the Harl lectures.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase; Author: Mark Forsyth; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... I listened to this an audiobook while driving back and forth from Fresno to Sacramento. There was a point where I was laughing so hard that I feared for my safety. Mark Forsyth did a brilliant job of taking the listener/reader through the "figures of rhetoric" by way of great literature and popular music. Certain rhetorical styles simply work, whether they be alliteration (the repetition of sounds) or repetition of the final words or phrases (Epistrophe) or the repetition of the beginning words or phrases (Anaphora). This stuff works and we know it does and we are exposed to it on a daily basis, but we will never remember the technical terms and we barely notice them as they occur all around us. I am a lawyer and I think that knowing the technical terms, and the ideas behind those terms, might help me do intentionally what I am doing unintentionally. I think that others might have a similar experience, but this book is not a technical handbook. It is an enjoyable voyage through the English language, literature and lyrics. Here is an example: "The second kind of pleonasm is quite different. It's the lazy adjective noun. This is a world of personal friends, added bonuses and free gifts. They are annoying for two contradictory reasons: first of all nobody talks like that, and secondly everybody talks like that. I have never said the words "free gift." It would seem a sinister thing to say when gathered around the Christmas tree. "Here's my free gift, and, as an added bonus, here's a festive Christmas card." People would think I'd gone mad. Yet, if you wander into a shop or make the terrible mistake of turning on the television or radio, you will hear of havens that are safe, cooperation that is mutual, and prizes that are, it turns out, to be won. Such phrases lumber about the language like zombies. They were created long ago by insanely evil marketing executives who were desperate to progress forward and sell their foreign imports to the general public. But, like Frankenstein's monster, they could not be stopped. They still lurk in shops and howl from televisions; even though their original inventor is past history." Likewise: "There are people who would find that line inspiring. They would read it and run off to live better lives of purity and holiness up a hill somewhere. There are others who would find it infuriating. Twice. They would read it and as they did so the veins would stand out on their furious foreheads, the saliva would drip from their maddened mouths, and they would take a big red marker pen out of their pockets and delete two words. First, there's the word "up." What other direction can you lift something? It's almost as bad as "fall down" or "enter into." It is (some would say) an insult to the intelligence and an abuse of the English language. But it's not nearly as bad as "from whence." Whence; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE KAISER ON HITLER; Author: KEN MAGAZINE; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a very short, mini-article about an interview with the Kaiser. Kaiser Wilhelm provides his views on Hitler. The Kaiser's perspective on Hitler is interesting and informed. The article is extremely short, perhaps 7 paragraphs over a page and a half. The article as a whole has some historic interest and may be worth the minimal investment of $1 if you have an interest in Nazi Germany.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Science of the Magical: From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers; Author: Matt Kaplan; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review on Amazon a helpful vote - [url]... This is the written equivalent of the old "In Search Of..." documentary television series. The series would offer rational explanations for topics like Noah's ark, or vampires, or other things that straddle history and myth. The series was vastly entertaining, but essentially fluff. This book seems to have higher quality material than the old series. Some of it was top-notch speculation, e.g., the oracle at Delphi, but some of it went of the tracks, e.g., the Adam and Eve story is about humans consuming mind-expanding mushrooms. The writing as a whole was breezy and entertaining. The author, Matt Kaplan, is a science writer, so he is up to date on current science. He liberally sprinkles his knowledge into his sections on various ancient "magic" to provide an explanation for the lore, and, on occasion, he tests his theories. I enjoyed his descriptions of his personal experiences "in search of" answers, and the book had sections that provoked a "gosh-wow!" reaction for me. The book is enjoyable, but not deep.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941; Author: Roger Moorhouse; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review on Amazon a helpful vote - [url]... The Soviet Union and Communism have received an amazing pass with respect to their complicity in starting World War II. In Rolf Hochhuth's bloated whale of a play, [[ASIN:0802142427 The Deputy (Black cat book)]], Hochhuth has a character condemn the Pope for not siding with Russia over Germany. Hochhuth has his character, Father Riccardo, ask: "Riccardo: Permit me, Your Eminence - the moral right, surely, is on the Russian side, without a doubt. They are waging a just war! They were attacked, their country devastated, their people carried off, slaughtered. If they are threatening Europe now, the blame is only Hitler's." As propaganda, this is excellent; as history, it is a nauseating oversimplification that misses the fact that the Nazi versus Communist war was a war between thieves, robbers, murderers and thugs. This excellent book by Roger Moorhous sheds rare light on the Stalin-Hitler Pact, aka the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, which reoriented the official positions of the two totalitarianisms, which had involved mutual animosity, into a mutually advantageous trading relationship. The roll-out of this changed position confused the populations of the two nations, who had previously been trained into believing that the opposing ideology was the incarnation of evil. The advantage of the treaty was clear. The treaty removed the threat at Germany's back, so that it was free to go to war with the western powers of Britain and France, particularly after the treaty had divided Poland up between the Nazi and Communist powers. Germany struck first, but Russia did not waste a lot of time before making sure that it took possession of its territorial claims in Poland. Moorhous describes the extent of Communist-Nazi cooperation in Poland, with Germany handing over cities to the Russians according to their treaty obligation. Moorhous also describes the nauseating similarity with which the conquerors administered their respective Polish territories. Moorhous exactingly describes the atrocities committed by both powers on their conquered Polish peoples. The Soviet Union used the treaty as an opportunity to absorb the Baltic states and Bessarabia into the Soviet Union. It also launches a war against Finland for the same purpose, which was initially repulsed with great losses to the Communists. Ultimately, the Soviet Union prevailed with more men and better tactics. The Soviet Union's real hope was that Germany and the western powers would find themselves in an interminable war like the prior war that it could exploit.Hitler dashed those hopes with his quick victory over France. For its part, Germany's need was for raw material for its industry. It hoped to obtain those resources through trade deals with Russia. Communists being Communists, Russia stalled its negotiations and cheated on its obligations, except when Stalin panicked about his need for German peace. For its part, it seems that Russia did very well in its dealings by obtaining trade secrets and models of advanced technology, and, in one case, a partially constructed battleship in the Bismarck class. In many ways, this book makes a nice complement to Timothy Snyder's [[ASIN:B00B3M3VE6 Bloodlands:; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Real Watergate Scandal: Collusion, Conspiracy, and the Plot That Brought Nixon Down; Author: Geoff Shepard; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This book has two goals. One goal is to take a step in toward the rehabilitation of the reputation of President Richard Nixon. The second is to document the political corruption on the part of Nixon's enemies in taking him down. Geoff Shepard advances the first goal by reminding us of the signal achievements in domestic and foreign policy made by President Nixon and his administration. Certainly, compared to the feckless administration of the presidency after 1992 - approximately the end of the Cold War when it seems that the nation has become silly and immature - Nixon and his administration come across like adults compared to the children who have been in charge for the last decade. Concerning the second goal, Mr. Shepard extensively documents the shocking ex parte contacts between the prosecutors and the judiciary in the pursuit of the cover-up. Judge Sirica's unjudicial stacking of the deck, including pretending to sentence John Dean to four years imprisonment, while secretly planning to sentence him to time served, as part of which he never spent a night in jail, constitute a political corruption that far exceeded anything that Nixon did. The mindset of the anti-Nixon forces that Mr. Shepard describes is corroborated in [[ASIN:1425717918 Hillary's Pursuit of Power]] by Jerry Zeifman, who was Hillary Clinton's former supervisor on the Watergate Impeachment Commission. As I observed in my review of Mr. Zeifman's book: "Zeifman was in charge of the impeachment committee during Watergate. He was nominally Hillary's supervisor, but she was quickly walled off into a thoroughly partisan group committed to denying Nixon basic civil rights and due process. For example, it was her brainchild to attempt to deny Nixon any legal counsel in the proceeding despite precedent to the contrary. This and other partisan innovations were shot down by the Democrats (and Republicans supported the impeachment committee vote.) Things were done differently then, more democratically, with more of an eye to the past and the possibility that one might be out of power some day, things that the heirs of the Fire-eating New Left Democrats, who were willing to play the nuclear option and make judicial nominations subject to a simple minority, lost sight of." And we have seen how that decision to change the filibuster for judicial nominees has played out, when, in 2017, the Republicans returned the favor by eliminating the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations with respect to the Gorsuch nomination. The point, though, is that there was something fundamentally cancerous about the partisan behavior in response to the Watergate break-in, followed by a decade's-long wallow in promoting the myth of their virtuous salvation of the Republic from a threat that never existed. It was perhaps the first time that we saw the press enlist as virtually an arm of the Democrat party, a role to which it has become accustomed. The hypocritical partisanship of Watergate stands out in relief now after we have seen the media and Democrats defend a president who committed perjury, on the grounds; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Working Class; Author: Joan C. Williams; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... I thought the first part of this book was interesting and educational. In the first part, the author, Joan C. Williams, examines the situation of the "white working class" ("WWC"). Williams attempts to be objective and sympathetic, and, frankly, chides her own class,i.e., the "professional managerial elite" ("PME"), for its snobbery against the WWC. Williams' diagnosis is that the WWC is under substantial stress, a stress it deals with by forming deep but narrow networks based on family and proximity to others, discipline, religion, and promoting those virtues that make it possible for people to go to an unsatisfying job for forty years in order to bring home a sufficient income to keep a family fed, clothed and sheltered. Williams compares "settled families" - disciplined working class families - with "hard living families," aka the poor, who lack the virtues of discipline and give themselves over to dependence on welfare and addictive behaviors. One of Williams' observations is that the WWC, and other working class members, look down on the poor insofar as they find themselves working hard, sacrificing pleasure and being subjected to taxes, in order to give things to the poor without any strings. The WWC looks at this arrangement as fundamentally unfair. In addition, Williams accurately points out that the WWC believes that it has been disrespected and mocked by the PME. Williams documents the slurs by which the WWC has been described as racist, sexist, atavistic, declining, irrelevant and the rest. Hillary Clinton's use of the term deplorable in 2016 played into the class resentment that existed on the part of the WWC against the PME. Likewise, Williams accurately notes that the feminism of WWC women is different from that of PME women. WWC women are not interested in the "breaking the glass ceiling"; they want their men to get jobs that can support the family. On the other hand, WWC men "walk the walk" with respect to child-care and maintaining the home, even if they don't "talk the talk." The PME, to the contrary, talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk, according to Williams. As a "class migrant," I found a lot of surprising answers for things that I had experienced. My father enlisted in the Navy at 17 and become a "mustang Lieutenant" by the time he retired. He graduated college after retirement and became both a teacher and the owner of an appliance repair business. I was the first member of my family to go directly from high school to college. I put myself through college by running an appliance repair business. When I told my father that I was going to become a lawyer, his attitude was both pride and a certain sense that I was disgracing the family. Lawyers were always shyster as far as he was concerned. Until I read Williams' chapter on WWC attitudes to professionals, I had always had this sense of hostility toward professionals but I did not realize how culturally ingrained it was. Likewise, when I graduated; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mystery of Evil: Benedict XVI and the End of Days; Author: Giorgio Agamben; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a brief, interesting theological text. The author, Giorgio Agamben, examines the 2009 resignation of Pope Benedict XVI from the perspective of an obscure text found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 11. In that text, the apostle Paul asserts that the parousia - the return of Christ - is being delayed by a mysterious figure who is restraining the end of days. This mysterious figure was historically identified with either the Roman empire or the Church. Agamben points out that Pope Benedict had published an article approving the position of a Donatist heretic named Tyconius that the church, like the person of Jesus, is "bipartite." In the Church's case, the bipartite division is, pace Augustine, between the good and devout followers of Christ and the dark and damned sinners. At the end of time, the two bodies will be disclosed, but the end of time is being restrained, according to Tyconius, Augustine and Pope Benedict, in Agamben's reading, by the Church. The book makes for interesting reading relative to the above, I was not certain what Agamben's point was at it related to the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. I think that the point may be that Pope Benedict's resignation was motivated by the corruption of the church, and that his resignation was meant to highlight that fact. This might be true, but based on the evidence, this seems like a stretch, which Agamben seems to acknowledge. Agamben's more immediate theological points, on the other hand, are valuable. I particularly liked his point that the "mystery of evil" is more readily understood in the context of eschatology. Agamben points out that "the term mysterion indicates a praxis, an action or a drama in the theatrical sense of the term as well, that is, a set of gestures, acts, and words through which a divine action or passion is efficaciously actualized in the world and time for the salvation of those who participate in it." Agamben writes: "The wisdom of God is therefore expressed in the form of a mystery, which is nothing other than the historical drama of the passion, namely an event that really happened, which the uninitiated do not understand and the faithful grasp for their salvation. In the time of the end, mystery and history correspond without remainder." And: "The history of the end (which does not coincide with the end of history) is therefore presented in Paul as a mystery, that is to say, as a sacred drama in which the salvation and damnation of human beings is at stake, a drama that can be seen and understood (as happens for the initiated) or seen and not understood (this is the case of the damned)." And: "What does the mysterium iniquitatis of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians add to this conception of mystery? Here the eschatological drama is, so to speak, staged, in the form of a conflict or a dialectic among three characters: the katechon (the "one who restrains"), the anomos (the "outlaw"), and the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Butcher of Poland: Hitler's Lawyer Hans Frank; Author: Garry O'Connor; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... As the Nazi era has receded into the past, prominent Nazi celebrities like Frank have become essentially forgotten. This is unfortunate because the lives of these men shaped the Nazi era and, thus, we cannot understand the Nazi era without having some knowledge of these people. More importantly, these people were shaped by the era they lived through. If we want to achieve some understanding of the nightmare of the Nazi era, we can't do any better than to understand what brought the son of a disgraced lawyer into the position of the "King of Poland." Unfortunately, this is not a particularly good book for accomplishing those goals. The author, Gary O'Connor, disdains the use of footnotes. He has a brief section of notes. These notes are vague at best, sometimes indicating a letter for "NF" - presumably Hans Frank's son, Niklas Frank - as a source. This practice makes it virtually impossible to check O'Connor's claim or use his sources as a link to other sources. Also, it appears that apart from correspondence with "NF," O'Connor relies on secondary sources, such as Guenter Lewy's [[ASIN:B0028N6BTQ The Catholic Church And Nazi Germany]]. He also relies extensively on Niklas Frank's biography of his father. Niklas' biography is described by O'Connor as being written as a first-person diatribe against a father who was executed when he was a toddler. Niklas may have had privileged access to family and friends, but I question how much support O'Connor gave Niklas' biography at the expense of Frank's diaries or other sources. O'Connor also comes across with a capricious anti-Catholicism. He uses every opportunity he can to mention Cardinal Ratzinger in contexts that imply guilt by association through the device of grammatical proximity. Thus, Frank flees Poland while young Joseph Ratzinger is manning anti-aircraft guns in Bavaria. What significance this has for Frank's biography is unclear. Likewise, O'Connor schizophrenically writes about the Catholic bishop's opposition to the Nazi regime and their support of the Nazi regime. Thus, he writes: "Cardinal Faulhaber did sometimes attack the Nazi position; once, without being explicit, in his popular Advent sermon of 1933 he said: 'It is my conviction that a defence of Christianity is also a defence of Germany. An apostasy from Christianity, a relapse into paganism, would be the beginning of the end of the German nation.' He drew a vivid picture of life in Germany before the advent of Christianity. Taken from the Roman historian Tacitus, early German gods, fashioned after the likeness of men, were idealised portraits of what a German hero or housewife were conceived to be. 'They offered human sacrifice to the Gods; they indulged in savage superstitious rites as well as savage warfare; they practised vendettas as a moral duty. They had slaves, whom they put to death at will; they drank heavily and became murderous ... They were loyal to their comrades, monogamous and faithful ...' Nobody seemed to get the picture. It was too late in any case. Faulhaber's words, which could be; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Detective; Author: Brian Cohn; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Alien Invasion/Mystery Mash-up Adrian Grace was working as a police detective in an unnamed city when the aliens arrived with their massive spaceships. Humanity fought back and lost big. Confined to their cities, which serve as ghettoes, and periodically drafted into labor battalions by human collaborators, things are not looking bright for mankind. In the midst of a radically changed world, Grace is called back to work to investigate the murder of an alien. This story works as a mystery. The problem is set and clues are laid out for Grace to follow. Red-herrings are dragged across the trail, and the denouement has its surprises. The story works less satisfactorily as a science fiction story, but, perhaps, I expect more from my science fiction. For example, I wanted to know more about the "slicks" and the "labor camps." Obviously, the story is not really about either subject, but it was an itch I wanted scratched. Likewise, there was a religious subtext in the book. Grace has a name with a religious connotation, but he is an atheist former Catholic, and the story features a religious sect known as the "abandoned," who preach that God has abandoned humanity to its fate. The story references an alien's interest in St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica. Ultimately, the religious subtext goes nowhere, although there is an interesting revelation that could have been used for greater effect. I was impressed with this first book by author Brian Cohn on its own before I knew that Cohn has a full-time job as a doctor. The fact that he wrote a book of this quality with that background simply seasoned my appreciation of the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age; Author: John Wilson; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Science P*rn. My interest in "gosh-wow!" science has recently been sparked by deep-time geology. The idea of vast mountain ranges over New York city that have been weathered away by rain and gravity leaves me with an existential itch to shovel more facts into my mind so that my imagination can run wild with the thoughts of things I will never see. This book is a delightful way to scratch that itch. The author, John Wilson, is a Canadian geologist, and this book is mostly about the Lithoprobe project, which put together a map of how the Canadian part of North America was assembled from proto-continents and tectonic accretions. The author is a good prose writer who has a gift for explaining his subject and making it interesting. An added fillip is that he intersperses his chapters with a chapter written by a guest geologist about some memorable event that happened to them on a geological expedition, most of which have to do with bear attacks or natural disasters. Those chapters advance the romance of geology in a nice way. Wilson's survey starts with the distant, distant past. One of Wilson's very nice descriptions is his way of conceptualizing deep time. After all, can our mind conceive of a million years? How about a billion years? His approach is to use the doubling of a grain of rice for each square of a chess board. In a very few squares - 20 to 30 - you are sending out for billions of rice grains, amounting to the geological times he is speaking about. And what an imagination-sparking time those were. For example: "Our early Earth was hammered by levels of meteorite bombardment that would quickly wipe us all out today; the rates that Palissy and Hutton's grains of sand washed off mountain tops used to be much more dramatic when there was no land vegetation to hold the sediments in place; the ice caps of the last ice age melted and vast floods of melt water carved valleys across the continents. Two billion years ago on any of the continents, nothing walked, swam or flew around, there was no grass or leaves for a cool breeze to blow through, and that breeze was mostly the movement of air made of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, chorine, nitrogen, helium, ammonia and methane, but radical change was in that poisonous air. A holocaust was happening in the oceans. The time around two billion years ago was in the Paleoproterozoic (for the perfectionist, the Rhyacian and Orosirian). Prior to then, in the Neoarchaean, life was dominated by creatures that did not require oxygen to live. This was sensible, as, for most of that time, there was about as much free oxygen on Earth as there is today on Jupiter's sixth moon, Europa; that is, at sea level, enough to fill about half a dozen covered football stadia. As a consequence, the iron parts of a time machine wouldn't rust, although, given the harsh atmosphere,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Rain (Xenowealth, #1); Author: Tobias S. Buckell; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... Pepper has been looking to get off of the collapsed human colony world he has been stranded on for a long time. All that stands in his way is an invasion by a revived Aztec empire led by their horrific, blood-seeking gods. Fortunately, Pepper is uniquely qualified to deal with such inconveniences. I listened to this book as an audiobook and it blew me away. I have been reading science fiction for fifty years. This book brought me back to the science fiction I read in my youth with captivating cultures and strange worlds. The author Tobias Buckell has put together the oddest cultural mash-up imaginable. The colony world seems to have one large habitable continent. The portion north of the "Wicked Highs" is Nanagada. Nanagada is under the control of a culture derived from the islands of the West Indies. This gives a lot of characters a colorful Jamaican accent. Nanagada seems to be a nice place with a lot of diversity and people who enjoy fishing and farming and a reasonable level of technological development. South of the Wicked Highs, however, is Azteca, where the ancient culture of the Aztecs, with its Flower Wars and human sacrifice, has been reinstituted by "gods" known as the Teotl. The Teotl are aliens who want to conquer Nanagada and kill their ancient enemy in Nanagada, known as the Loa. The story rips forward from the beginning of the Azteca invasion of Nanagada. We are introduced to John de Brun and his family on the eve of the invasion. The family is separated from each other by the invasion. There are near escapes abounding as John makes his way to Capitol City. In Capitol City, we meet Edward Haidan, who is the chief of the "Mongoose Men," Nanagada's bush-based military, and Dihana, who is the mayor of Capital City. The duty to defend the last vestige of decent civilization falls to these two. Into the mix we meet the mysterious Pepper, who is simply the most dangerous man in any world. We gradually come to learn that Nagada is a devolved colony world. There was a war between humans, Teotl and Loa a long time ago. There is technology up for grabs that may determine the outcome of the Azteca invasion, and, maybe, the fate of human civilization beyond Nangada. From start to finish, the book moves along with energy and excitement, revealing just enough to keep the reader tantalized by what is left unrevealed. Buckel has done a good job of thinking out things like wormholes and nanotechnology. This is a refreshing bit of Golden Age writing with Jamaican spice. As a lifetime science fiction reader, I recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Technos: The Dumarest Saga Book 7; Author: E.C. Tubb; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is book 7 of the Dumarest series, and, by this time, Tubb has developed the formula that would enable him to turn out two Dumarest stories each year for fifteen years. Be assured that the fact that these stories are formulaic doesn' stop them from being great fun, in part because Tubb drops a tidbit of information at each step of the way. As with all of these serial stories during this time period, the conflict of the story is premised around a "push/pull" motivation. The "pull" is that Earl Dumarest is looking for his long-lost birth planet of Earth. The "push" is the fact that he is being pursued by the emotionless, logical, scarlet-clad manipulating quasi-religious order of the Cyclan. The Cyclan are pursuing Dumarest because he was given the formula for the "Affinity Twin" secret in [[ASIN:B00H6SOV1S Kalin: The Dumarest Saga Book 4]] , three books back, and the Cyclan really, really want it, but we won't know why for about another ten to fifteen books. This book opens on a planet that is there only for the purpose of setting the hook. The hook this time comes from a dying friend who tells Dumarest that someone on his home world may know something about Earth. So, off Dumarest goes to the second world, that is under biological attack by a third world named Technos. Dumarest is stymied on the second world but gets information that what he wants is on Technos, so off he goes, under cover, into what seems like a police state. There is a crazy world-leader (the "Technarch) and a back-biting conspiring oligarchy and a Cyclan to stir the mix. Dumarest is nearly captured, but for the second time is saved by a rutting minx of a woman. Naturally he's pushed into life or death situations, which he can only survive because of his will to power and his amazing reflexes. I've made the point in my previous reviews that the Dumarest series is basically Film Noir as science fiction. Dumarest is the man of integrity who never compromises himself in a world without values, where virtually everyone. particularly the comfortable at the top of the heap, are loathsome, self-seeking hypocrites. You get that in spades in this one with the female character of Mada Grist, who is a woman on the ruling council, who saves Dumarest from discovery, heals him when he nearly kills himself, beds him and then offers him the job of assassinating the Technarch, which Dumarest refuses. The don't get more fatale, then the femmes in Dumarest's universe. The tidbit this time that moves the series along a micrometer is that Dumarest learns the constellations of the Zodiac. It is a long road to Book 29, but Dumarest is solidly on it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction; Author: Christopher Janaway; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... I came to this book with a particular interest and a set of expectations. My interest was in attempting to determine what, if any, effect Schopenhauer had on forming the philosophy of Adolf Hitler. Numerous books attest to Hitler's early interest in Schopenhauer. Hitler carried a volume of Schopenhauer with him through World War I and would quote long passages of Schopenhauer throughout his life. Ernst Hanfstaengl affirms that Hitler turned to Nietzsche only during the 1920s. Yet, I've never seen anything indicated how Schopenhauer played a role in Hitler's thinking. (Hanfstaengl does note that Schopenhauer actually had an ameliorating effect on Hitler, compared to Nietzsche, because of Schopenhauer's Buddhist tendencies. The prejudices I had were that Schopenhauer was a pessimistic philosopher of minor importance compared to Nietzsche. This book offers a good overview of Schopenhauer's life and philosophy. The discussion of Schopenhauer's philosophy is hard to follow (I listened to this as an audiobook), but that has more to do with Schopenhauer's philosophy, which the author acknowledges as being muddled and incoherent at times. Schopenhauer's most famous work divided reality between "will," the universe of subjectivity, and "representation," everything known in the outside world. "Will" is a difficult concept at best in that Schopenhauer seems to make the immaterial material: "This account of acts of will is a decisive step for Schopenhauer, since it places the human subject firmly within the material world. If striving towards ends is setting the body in motion, then, while we will, we are rooted in the world of objects. Schopenhauer thus cannot conceive of a subject of will as being anything other than bodily. He also makes the converse claim that our bodily existence is nothing other than willing. Whenever we undergo feelings of fear or desire, attraction or repulsion, whenever the body itself behaves according to the various unconscious functions of nourishment, reproduction, or survival, Schopenhauer discerns will manifesting itself - but in a new and extended sense. What he wants to show is that ordinary conscious willing is no different in its basic nature from the many other processes which set the body, or parts of it, in motion. Admittedly, willing to act involves conscious thinking - it involves the body's being caused to move by motives in the intellect - but it is, for Schopenhauer, not different in principle from the beating of the heart, the activation of the saliva glands, or the arousal of the sexual organs. All can be seen as an individual organism manifesting will, in Schopenhauer's sense. The body itself is will; more specifically, it is a manifestation of will to life (Wille zum Leben), a kind of blind striving, at a level beneath that of conscious thought and action, which is directed towards the preservation of life, and towards engendering life anew." Will then becomes the "thing in itself," and a single thing. Human life is a mere representation; the Will is everything real and death simply ends the individual life but the Will continues. This; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Priest Barracks: Dachau, 1938-1945; Author: Guillaume Zeller; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... Dachau could have been imagined by Dante, if Dante could have imagined hell being brought to Earth and staffed by Germans rather than demons. The author of this book, Guillaume Zeller, powerfully presents the facts of the daily existence of the inmates of Dachau. Zeller presents in detail the multitudes of torture, suffering, and humiliations concocted by the Nazis to strip human dignity from detainees. Thus, we hear about how prisoners were starved, worked to exhaustion, used for hideous experiments that infected prisoners with gangrene, and sent away to Hartheim Castle for euthanasia when they were considered unable to work. The focus of the book is on the three blocks - out of thirty - that were dedicated to housing Catholic priests and some Protestant ministers, Orthodox priests and even two Muslim clerics of Albanian descent. 2,720 clergymen were sent to Dachau, including 2,579 Catholics, 109 Protestant ministers, 22 Greek Orthodox and 2 Muslims. 1,034 priests died in Dachau. Most of the priests were Polish, but there were 447 German priests and a number of other priests from occupied Europe. The priests were brought together in Dachau because of the intervention of the papal legate who sought to consolidate priests in a single location, presumably so that their treatment could be monitored. Dachau was treated as a parish itself and had the bishops necessary to secretly and legally ordain a Catholic seminarian. Priests were treated harshly by the Nazis. There is a popular canard that the Catholic Church supported the Nazis. This is entirely false, of course. Zeller notes: "Christians quickly became the targets of the authorities and their police. Fifteen thousand establishments were closed. Religious associations were gradually suppressed.14 While Catholic youth associations were compelled to disband because of repeated harassment, enrollment in the Hitlerjugend was made obligatory in 1936. The omnipresent Gestapo kept everything under surveillance,15 from processions to sermons from the pulpit. Several leading figures in German Catholicism were assassinated on June 30, 1934, during the Night of the Long Knives, such as Erich Klausener, director of Catholic Action; Fritz Beck, director of the Aid for Catholic Students in Munich; and the journalist Fritz Gerlich. The Church's reactions multiplied in response." Priests were also vulnerable to the cruelties of the common criminals and the Communists, who controlled the camp and vented their hatred on priests. Prior to the election, the Church had opposed the Nazis: "incompatibility. During the elections that followed, the results in favor of the Nazi Party (or NSDAP)4 were inversely proportional to the percentage of Catholics in the population.5 The conference of German bishops in Fulda made the Church's defiance official in August 1932: "It is inexcusable that many Catholics should join the National Socialist Party as long as the latter adheres to a religious and cultural program that is incompatible with Catholic doctrine", we read in its conclusions.6 The Church feared the threat of the NSDAP looming over the youth activities, clubs, and professional organizations for which she was responsible. The memory of the Kulturkampf was; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dueling Students: Conflict, Masculinity, and Politics in German Universities, 1890-1914; Author: Lisa F. Zwicker; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote if you are so inclined - [url]... Dueling Students: Conflict, Masculinity, and Politics in German Universities, 1890-1914 (Social History, Popular Culture, and Politics in Germany) by Lisa Zwicker This is essentially a doctoral thesis with limited appeal for the non-specialist reader. I found it fascinating. I found it fascinating for two reasons. First, for twenty years of my life I was a competitive fence, and I had always wondered about the academic dueling of Germany. Second, I have read other sources that indicate that the fencing corps provide an insight into the treatment of Catholics in German society. Lisa Zwicker's book doesn't provide much information about the mechanics of academic dueling. There are some videos online, which show that it is nothing like the sport I engaged in. Basically, German academic dueling involved standing an arm's length from an opponent and practicing head cuts and parries with sabers sharpened to surgical precision. The pay-off involves my second interest, but it takes a while to lay the groundwork to get there. Zwicker's book does provide a nice overview of the social dynamics of academic dueling. The wearing of colors, the honor code that prohibited the rejection of challenges, and the elitism that attracted German students to the corps are all important details of German university life between 1870 and 1920. The Corps promoted the tradition of student libertinism, with drinking and skirt-chasing being a rite of passage for young men of privilege. Zwicker points out that the Corps were in competition with other organizations for prestige and student allegiance. Among these student organizations were the Burschenschafts, which were student organizations with a history of German nationalism, and the Free Students, which attempted to claim to represent all students. The fraternities, or Corps, were Protestant and Conservative. The Burschenschaft and Free Students were less dogmatically sectarian and liberal, but they committed to German nationalism and unification as part of their essential DNA, which made them inherently anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic. The Free Student evolution uncannily presages the university life in 21st century America. Free Students sought to represent all students on the basis of tolerance, which traditionally meant that "all views should be heard," but came to mean that anti-Semites and radical conservatives were excluded. (DS p. 92-93.) Zwicker notes that the "Academic Kulturkampf" before World War I brought to the surface the ideological contradictions of their movement when their principles of tolerance and equality collided with the prejudice against Catholics. (DS, p. 191.) In response, in 1908, Catholics began to form Catholic Free Student chapters. (DS, p. 191.) Anti-Semitism during this period among academics was social and conventional. Jews were excluded from some aspects of fraternity life on religious rather than ethnic criteria. (DS p. 114-115.) Student memoirs provide evidence that antisemitism did not play a central role in many students' university years, although one should be careful about memoirs where the author chooses to forget slights of the past. Nonetheless, these memoirs do tend to show that Jews viewed their university years as an "extremely; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How The Virgin Mary Influenced The United States Supreme Court: Catholics, Contraceptives, and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Inc.; Author: L. M. Lilly; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... It seems clear from the tenor of this book that attorney and author L. M. Lilly disagrees with the United State's Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which applied the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ("RFRA") to closely-held corporations to hold that Obamacare's mandate that employers provide insurance that paid for contraception was unconstitutional because there were less burdensome alternatives available to achieve the governmental objectives. Ms. Lilly is, of course, free to disagree with Burwell, although I found her reasoning less than compelling. In some ways, Lilly's analysis exhibits the cavalier disdain for those outside of her own class - presumably, the class described as the "professional managerial elite" by Joan C. Williams in [[ASIN:B01N276AU1 White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluelessness in America]]. For example, Lilly complains that the word "women" is hardly mentioned in the majority decision, but, then, why should that word be used frequently since (a) both men and women use contraception and (b) the issue in question is the application of Obamacare to the plaintiff's religious rights. Likewise, Lilly claims that the element of burden was not discussed or established by the court, but, in fact, this is what the court wrote on that subject: "The court concluded that the contraceptive mandate substantially burdened the exercise of religion by requiring the companies to choose between "compromis[ing] their religious beliefs" and paying a heavy fee--either "close to $475 million more in taxes every year" if they simply refused to provide coverage for the contraceptives at issue, or "roughly $26 million" annually if they "drop[ped] health-insurance benefits for all employees." Id., at 1141." (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (2014) ___U.S.___ [134 S.Ct. 2751, 2766, 189 L.Ed.2d 675, 694].) So, the lower court determined that there was a substantial burden from Obamacare, and, as a matter of common sense, it would seem that compromising religious beliefs or paying a multi-million dollar fine should constitute a "substantial burden." Lilly seems to think that the issue boils down to how much would employers be required to pay for contraception cost, ignoring thereby the issue that what was at issue is freedom of conscience and religion. It seems that Lilly's worldview does not give freedom of conscience or religion the weight intended by the First Amendment. In fact, Lilly quotes approvingly Justice Ginsburg's limited definition of the purposes of the First Amendment (actually "First Amendment" is a term not used in this slim book): "But the dissenting justices may have had the same concern, as the dissent expressly noted that "approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another,' the very 'risk the Establishment Clause was designed to preclude.'" But that is just an odd objection. The issue raised by Obamacare is not "establishment of religion" - unless it is a secular religion - but "free exercise," i.e., the other clause in the First Amendment. Lilly also mischaracterizes the court's holding with respect to other religious practices. The majority did not; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Deal or No Deal: A Case from the Midnight Eye Files; Author: William Meikle; Genres: paranormal, fantasy; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Urban Fantasy - Rogue Private Investigator Derek Adams is a Glasgowegian private investigator who apparently has experience dealing with the outre elements of Glasgow. He is hired to invite a set of old army buddies to a meeting before their souls are reaped. It seems that this group while drunk one evening casually sold their souls to a fellow soldier for the equivalent of pretzels and a couple of beers. Now, thirty years later, their debt is being called. This is essentially an enjoyable short story, albeit broken into a series of short chapters. The action moves along and the main character is suitably humorous and engaging. The Glasgow setting makes a nice change of pace from London, as does the fact that the main character is not a magical adept himself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dragon of Bel'kwinith: A commentary on Roger Zelazny's Roadmarks; Author: Mark O. Keen; Genres: fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is basically a short essay on Roger Zelazny's Roadmarks. Zelazny liked to play with the themes of traveling and alternate histories. We can see this in the Amber series, but also in lesser Zelazny stories like Damnation Alley. The Amber series and Roadmarks put together these two interests in different ways. Unlike the fantasy setting of Amber, Roadmarks seems to have been more science fiction, with the main character, Red Dorakeen, trying to run guns to the Greeks so that they can win at Marathon. In neither setting are the mechanics of the traveling explained. The author's thesis in his essay is that Roadmarks is actually all about being an author. Roadmarks, according to the author, is an extended metaphor for how an author provides a way of communicating between past and future. The construction of the road was done by the mysterious Dragons of Bel'kwinith, who are like authors in choosing offramps and providing a linkage between past and future. The author explains: "In one of the opening scenes, Red comes across a broken down car. The car has a loose distributor cap. Red goes and fixes the distributor cap. In return, the driver, who doesn't speak English, gives Red a big hug. It's notable that what was wrong with the car was a busted distributor cap. Distributor caps produce "spark." Zelazny was telling us that authors help each other. The cars are a metaphor for the stories that we write." Maybe so, and this is a somewhat interesting way of looking at the book, but all metaphors begin to limp when pushed too far. The essay is about three pages long. It has a few interesting points, but I don't think the product is worth the price. I read it through Kindle Unlimited. It took around five minutes to read. If I had paid for it, I would have rated it lower.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Crossroad (Midnight, Texas #1); Author: Charlaine Harris; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... I haven't read the Sooki Stackhouse novels, and I disliked True Blood, but I sort of liked the 2017 short television series, Midnight, Texas, so I picked up this book. It is a decent, entertaining read, slow in places and a little saccharine at times, but engrossing enough to keep me turning the pages. For those who have seen the television series, please understand that there are major plot and character departures between the show and the book. For example, Manfred and Creek are about four years younger in the book than in the series, Lem is white, we haven't seen hide nor hair of Manfred's grandma, etc. Strangely, I think these differences favor the series over the book. It is apparent that author Charlaine Harris loves her "blink and you'll miss it small town" and its oddball characters. The characters are nice to a fault. There is Fiji, the witch, and Bobo, the pawn shop owner, and Manfred, the newcomer to town with his internet fortune telling scam, and Lem and Olivia who live in the pawn shop, and, of course, Mr. Snuggles, the talking cat, who scores the best lines in the book when he refers to Fiji, his owner, as his "feeder." For those who have seen the series, understand that the book takes its time in developing the characters and story lines, and everyone has a storyline. It seems that the three book collection, of which Midnight Crossroads is the first, have probably been trimmed to fit in the eight episode series. The story line of this book follows Bobo dealing with the disappearance of his fiance, the discovery of her body, efforts to solve the mystery, the unrequited romances of Manfred and Creek and Fiji and Bobo, and the intrusion of the White Supremacists who seem to think that Bobo has a legendary stockpile of weapons. The story moves along at a sedate place, but it moves along. Harris's view of small town Texas was fairly odd. It was like a little bit of Hollywood transplanted in the parched Texas lonely, but there was a witch store selling witch stuff and giving lessons in Goddess-worship, and beauty salon run by a homosexual couple, and a diner that seemed to be doing all right. I had to wonder how these specialized businesses were staying afloat, even if the more populated town of Davey was only ten miles up the road. Harris seemed to go for "cute" in her special characters, such as Chuy and Joe walking their Pekinese dog. She also goes for strangely politically correct characters in rural Texas, for example, Fiji teaches Goddess-worship, Bobo's biggest fear is that he will be mistaken for a White Supremacist, and two of the fourteen citizens of this hamlet are gay. It's not that it couldn't happen, but all at once? In one small town? Which is not a college town near Austin? But these are nits. The story is going for a sense of magic and it mostly accomplishes; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: "RECONSTRUCTION OF A NATION" (1934); Author: Hermann Goering; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is an approximately three-page excerpt from a larger text. As far as I can tell, it does provide Goering's perspective on "reconstruction" of Germany in 1934, but I was expecting a full speech with more content.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rivers of London (Peter Grant, #1); Author: Ben Aaronovitch; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Urban Fantasy - Public employee Magic User If you like Charles Stross's "Laundry" series, you should like this book. I do and I did. This book has the elements of magic meets British bureaucracy, except that where Stross plumbs the line between eldritch horror and spycraft, Aaronovitch places his story in the line between supernatural story and police procedural. Police Constable Peter Grant is the neophyte introduced to the supernatural world by his apparently native gift for perceiving the supernatural and by a chance encounter with Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale. DCI Nightingale is the lone wolf head of a Metropolitan Police unit that specializes in the occult and supernatural. Nightingale's specialty is appreciated by some and despised and mistrusted by others. Nightingale decides to bring Grant on as an apprentice, and from there is a quick and hurried introduction to the supernatural world of London and the craft of magic. In Aaronovitch's world, there is magic and ghosts and vampires, sort of, and gods, sort of. The last element is represented by a confusing and complex set of semi-deities that represent the "rivers of London," including the lost rivers of Tyburn and Fleet and barely known rivers, all of whom are personified by individuals with interests and powers. There is a conflict between "Mother Thames" - representing the estuary portion of the Thames - and Father Thames - representing the upriver, rural river - over turf. This is important because a daughter of Mother Thames - Beverly Brook - seems slated to be a recurrent character/love interest of Grant. I liked the London setting. I got a work out searching for background on the various places mentioned by Aaronovitch. The Macguffin of the story involves unexplained, senseless murders, that we learn are tied into the "Punch and Judy" story. Aaronovitch does a good job of setting up the mystery, following the clues and resolving the story. The story moved along at a good clip. Aaronovitch has a light, engaging style which is often delightful. For example: "Ever since mankind stopped wandering around aimlessly and started cultivating its own food, society has been growing more complex. As soon as we stopped sleeping with our cousins and built walls, temples and a few decent nightclubs, society became too complex for any one person to grasp all at once, and thus bureaucracy was born." And: "The original house had been replaced by an indoor flower market with an arched iron-and-glass roof. Eliza Doolittle, as played by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, would have bought her violets there before moving off to display the worst cockney accent this side of Dick Van Dyke. When they rebuilt the Royal Opera House in the 1990s, it swallowed up most of the surrounding block, including the flower market." Nice observations. Grant is apparently half West African and half white. His father was a jazz musician and a heroin addict. These are details that play into the story to add dimension to Grant's character. Other than that he; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reformation Myths: Five Centuries Of Misconceptions And (Some) Misfortunes; Author: Rodney Stark; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Coming after the author's recent [[ASIN:B01F57R0LO Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History]], Rodney Stark continues in his contrarian direction of rehabilitating the history of the Catholic Church. This time his target is on the certain myths of the Reformation, which are accepted as true in the Protestant English-speaking world and which have a tendency to ascribe unique virtues to Protestantism and corresponding vices to Catholicism. This trend comes as a surprise since Stark was raised Lutheran, is not Catholic, and works at a Protestant school. Although Stark believes that the Reformations did more good than harm - mostly by creating pluralistic competition that improves the religious "product" - he acknowledges that his book will be as welcome as a "skunk at a picnic" in this 500th anniversary of Luther's Reformation. Stark starts out by distinguishing the Reformation from the "Reformations." his accurate point is that there were three Reformations - Luther's, Calvin's and Henry's - which were different in some ways but ultimately all had the tendency of enhancing state power, which, paradoxically, had the effect of lessening competition and stultifying religion. Stark makes a point that I noticed years ago, but which is not popular, namely that the Reformations accentuated and heightened state power by subordinating ecclesiastical power to state power. As Stark points out, the difference between nations that remained Catholic and those that became Protestant was that the Catholic nations had reached an accommodation that ceded substantial power to the state in terms of ecclesiastical appointments, in return for financial support, but Catholicism retained an extra-national locus of loyalty and power. In contrast, soon-to-be Protestant rulers realized that becoming Protestant would enable them to strip away power and property from the church. This strategy had immediate positive returns on increasing state power. As explained by Stark: "In contrast, in other parts of Europe the enormous value of Church property, and the Church's continuing financial extractions, served as powerful temptations and bitter grievances. So long as there had been only One Church, it was risky to challenge papal authority, as Henry IV discovered when he was kept waiting barefoot in the snow by Pope Gregory VII. But now, Lutheranism offered an alternative source of religious legitimacy, making excommunication an empty threat. This was why so many German princes rallied to Luther: they gained huge amounts of immediate wealth by seizing Church property (in some places the Church owned half of the land), and they continued to benefit from the flow of tithes and legacies to the state churches which they controlled." Stark addresses the following issues in some relatively brief by lively chapters. 1. Protestant piety versus Catholic laziness. Stark canvasses the sources and concludes that Protestantism did not result in a regeneration of manners and morals. Christians prior to the Reformation were very often nominal Christians and had a tendency to prefer drinking on a Sunday to going to church. In Protestant areas, the great mass of people subject to the Reformation remained unchurched and resistant to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crosstime Traffic; Author: Lawrence Watt-Evans; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Lawrence Watt-Evans must be a nice man. His stories always seem to have an element of decency and niceness about them. They are invariably entertaining in a nice way. I found the stories in this collection to be uniformly entertaining. Most of the stories are about Watt-Evans' perspective on parallel realities. In Watt-Evans' imagination, there are an infinity of possible worlds where things went in different directions in significant and not so significant ways. In an infinity of possibilities, the secret of travel between these realities is bound to be discovered over and over again, but the problem is that no one ever discovers a way of navigating realities. When a traveler leaves his reality, he is gone from that reality forever. It would take someone nice to see the drawback in this scenario. Sure the traveler gets adventure and things unimagined in his reality, but he gives up his home. Many of the stories are a variation on this theme. "Why I Left Harry's All Night Hamburgers" considers this scenario and asks "is it worth it?" "Storm Troopers" raises the question of how certain the characters are that they are in their own reality? "The Drifter" plays with the idea of what might happen with just a little "sideways" push. "An Infinity of Karens" is a story of a hunt for a perfect love across infinite realities. "One Shot" plays with an alternate reality that is so close to our own, but so different. "New Worlds" is about the perfect business partnership that never happened. Watt-Evans fills out the collection with some minor work, which remains entertaining. "Watching New York Melt" is more of a sketch than a story, but a nice demonstration of what a gifted short story writer can do with an idea. "Monster Kidnaps Girl at Mad Scientists Command" is very entertaining comedy about genetic engineering. There are also several stories about dragons because Watt-Evans really likes dragons. In my opinion, the best story in the collection was the very surprising "The Final Folly of Captain Dancy," which shows how much entertainment can come from a twist on a caper story done extremely well. This collection was an entertaining diversion. Nothing particularly memorable, but very fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dumarest 4: Kalin; Author: E.C. Tubb; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... I accidentally skipped this one in my re-read through the Dumarestiverse, but this is the seminal book that brings together the elements that will keep this series moving for the next 28 books. The story opens with Bloodtime on Logis - basically, The Purge 50 years before the movie - where Dumarest rescues the witch Kalin. Kalin can see the future, sometimes to her pain. Then, the story moves on to shipwreck, rescues by slavers and marooning on the planet Chron, where the only hope of escape is to hunt zardles for zerds (and with that one, Tubb must have been having fun.) The mystery of Kalin deepens, particularly the interest that the evil cyber-cult of Cyclans are showing in her home. Dumarestaphiles know that Dumarest gets the secret of the "affinity twin formula", but it will take him several books to figure out that he has this secret and what it means. The affinity twin formula puts into place the basic "pull-push" structure that moves the Dumarest series along. The "pull" is Dumarest's hunt for his home planet of Earth, while the "push" is the pursuity by the Cyclan of Dumarest. This was a very popular concept in the television shows of the 1960s whether it was the Fugitive looking for the one armed man while the police pursued him or Coronet Blue where the hero looked for the answer to the meaning of the mysterious phrase "Coronet Blue" while he was pursued by unknown assailants. This book like series is cheesy - basically Mike Hammer in Space - but good and dependable cheese; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silent Echo; Author: J.R. Rain; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a well-written book with an interesting character, but there will be no sequels and the writing and character are probably stronger than the mystery. Jim Booker is dying. He is at eight months of the six months he was given by his doctor. He has AIDS, which is not killing him and he is a committed heterosexual. It is the lung cancer that is killing him. He is being cared for by his Nigerian friend, Numi, who seems like a saint and is a homosexual. The relationship between Numi is really one of the nice features of the book. Booker is visited by his life-long friend Eddie, who wants him to look for his missing wife. One thing leads to another, and the missing person case becomes an unsolved murder that looks a lot like the murder of Booker's brother twenty years before. From there it is a matter of Booker following the leads while not dying. I liked the book a lot, but I had some problems with it. I didn't understand or buy how Booker's relationship with his hospice worker turned sexual so easily, or how Booker, who could barely move at the beginning of the story, had the strength to engage in a fight with the villain. Likewise, the story, though extremely well-written and engaging, seemed to be rather straightforward with only a limited number of suspects. But the strength of the book is really the story about the dying detective, not the who-done-it. I do recommend it and I found J.R. Rain to be a writer worth reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Model Nazi: Arthur Greiser and the Occupation of Western Poland; Author: Catherine Epstein; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a biography of a second tier Nazi - or perhaps, third tier, in that he was never close to Hitler. But it is a fascinating portrait in that it shows the elements of success in Nazi Germany well away from Hitler's circles. Catherine Epstein examines the life of Arthur Greiser, who was most infamous for being Gauleiter of the model Nazi Gau of Warthegau, which was the western region of interwar Poland that had been part of the pre-war German Reich and then given to Poland. Warthegau was mostly Polish: "More commonly, the area was referred to as the 'Warthegau.'68 In 1939, it had some 4.9 million inhabitants. These included 4,189,000 Poles, or 85.1 percent of the population, and 325,000 Germans, or 6.6 percent of the population. There were approximately 400,000 Jews, and 23,000 persons belonging to other nationalities (mostly Russians, Czechs, and Ukrainians)." During the interwar years, Poland had engaged in some Polonification of the area; after Germany recovered it, Greiser and the Nazis returned the favor with interest by, inter alia, murdering Polish elites and reducing the Poles to a serf status. Greiser's goal for the Warthegau was to create the "model Nazi Gau" where Nazi principles would fourish. Since the Warthegau - named after the Warta - was outside the limits of the Reich proper, but had been incorporated into the Reich, Greiser was given a fairly free hand to accomplish that end. Greiser's goals were not just racial, but also religious. The Warthegau was infamous for its efforts to expunge Christianity: "August Jager, Greiser's deputy Reichsstatthalter (but not deputy Gauleiter), enjoyed considerable influence in Gau politics. A veteran Prussian civil servant born in 1887, Jager had joined the NSDAP in 1934.102 The son of a minister, Jager had, according to one author, 'a pathological case of church hatred;' he was even nicknamed 'hunter of churches' (Kirchen-Jager), a pun on his last name, the German word for hunter.103 As state commissar for the Lutheran Church in the Prussian Ministry of Culture, Jager had been a central figure in the 1933-4 Nazi anti-church offensive.104 Among other efforts, he had tried to introduce an oath in which all pastors would have had to swear loyalty to Hitler. Opposition to this was so intense, however, that Jager lost his job so that Hitler could save face with Protestant leaders.105 Jager's placement in the Warthegau may have anticipated anti-church policies in the Gau." And: "Despite the Nazi regime's openly anti-church stance, Greiser himself didn't leave the church until long after he had become an important Nazi. As late as August 1937, he still described himself as 'Protestant' on official Nazi forms, rather than as 'believer in God' (gottglaubig), the official Nazi terminology for those who had left the church.183 Only after becoming Gauleiter did he declare himself 'believer in God' and, even then, he still wrote '(ev) ggl.' (the German abbreviations for 'Protestant' and 'believer in God') on forms, suggesting that he still identified as a nominal Protestant. Nonetheless, from everything; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magic Eater: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (The Dark Lakes, #1); Author: M.V. Stott; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote - [url]... British Urban Fantasy Genre - Rogue Magic User Sub-genre. British Urban Fantasy ("BUF") deserves to be categorized as its own genre these days because of the consistency of its tropes and cliches. For example, in BUF we will always find a lower caste character proud of his lack of social skills, education, courage or other virtues who has a more upscale and virtuous girlfriend for no discernible reason but who has some innate supernatural gift and demonstrates courage and a host of other virtues while fighting off the Big Bad. This book nails all the cliches. The main character is "Joe Lakes." The scare quotes follow from the fact that "Joe" was discovered naked - except for socks - washed up on the shores of a lake in England's Lake District. Since that time he has been a janitor at a local hospital where he has an uncommonly low class job, even for a BUF hero. He has a flirting relationship with Dr. Chloe and nothing special is happening to him, except he indulges in the oddjob investigation of supernatural happenings. His life changes when he notices that he is being stalked by a homeless woman. Returning the favor, he gets involved in strange murders, talking foxes, octopus-like "soul vampires," and a potential Armageddon. The story moves like a well-edited lightning bolt. The best part of the book is Stott's fast-talking ne'er do well character, Joe Lakes. His asides and double-talk, which I assume depict the patois of the Lake District, were ranged from fairly entertaining to very entertaining. I am not sure that I understand some of the logic of the mystery aspect of the story, but I really didn't care because I was entertained, which is how I measure these books. This is obviously the origin story of Joe's cycle of stories in the "Uncanny Kingdom" world that Stott appears to have mapped out with various characters. At the end of this book, we have a vague idea of what the Uncanny Kingdom is - more speculation actually - and we are drawing a bead on who Joe is, but that answer is obviously for the next book. We also have a couple of necessary stock supporting characters in place for further developments. As I said, I was entertained. Although I have pointed out cliches, cliches make for dependability, and Stott played with the cliches in some new ways. I liked Stott taking the action out of London and into the Lake Country for a change of scenery, although the setting really didn't factor into the book all that much. I am sure that I will follow up with the next book in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightmare Stacks (Laundry Files, #7); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: history, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a thoroughly entertaining, thoroughly "Bobless," thoroughly necessary addition to the Laundry series. The main character of this installment is Dr. Alex Schwartz, to whom we were introduced to a few books back as part of the mercenary arbitragers who became part of the Phang community. Alex steps nicely into the Bob role as a highly intelligent but socially maladroit nerd. Author Charles Stross successfully rings all the humor he can from Alex's social awkwardness and the fact that Alex has been reassigned back to his hometown of York, where he may have to finally disappoint his parents with the news that he is no longer a high-flying arbitrager, but has been reduced to the ranks of the civil service, and that he has become also acquired a blood condition that may prevent them from becoming grandparents. In York, Alex is hooked up with Pinky and the Brain, again characters from an earlier book, and Reverend Peter, the very mellow consultant dragooned by Bob into the Laundry in an earlier book. The story involves the Case Nightmare Red, Plan Red Rabbit - Invasion from Middle Earth. Middle Earth is provided by a parallel world where the species of humanity that developed was not Homo Sapiens. This species didn't develop speech as soon as humans, but they developed magic much quicker and much better. The social structure of this species - OK, let's call them "elves" - is entirely based on the geases used by the Laundry to ensure loyalty. Actually, from a science fiction standpoint, I thought that the sociology of the elves was fascinating. The elven world is a mess. The demons from Beyond have invaded their home universe and ruined it. A small section of the Morningstar Empire that had placed itself in stasis has revived and are looking for a place to start over, and England is looking pretty good to them. Of course, they send a spy who assumes the role of a giggly coed named Cassie, who becomes the essential player in this book, and important in the next. Things start slow and then move into high gear and stay there. We see plots and conspiracies, and counterplots and counter-conspiracies, both Elven and human. We see some nifty Human technology v. Elven magical technology battles, with neither side being able to comprehend the tech used by the other, but managing to achieve nearly similar results from a completely different starting point. I listened to this book as an audiobook and I found it a totally captivating and entertaining experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New Atheist Denial of History; Author: Borden W. Painter, Jr.; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This book is absolutely necessary. I interact with a lot of internet atheists and I have been astounded at the ignorance of a group of people with such amazing tools for research at their disposal and who consider themselves so manifestly intelligent, but whose knowledge consists of memes and ignorant drivel. It is not just that these people are ignorant, but they are worse than ignorant - what they think they know is wrong. Of course, this trait runs through modern culture as a general proposition. It is why Rodney Stark has written several books attempting to correct the cherished myths of cultured despisers about Christianity and Catholicism. (See e.g., [[ASIN:B01F57R0LO Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History (Science and the Big Questions)]]. The problem is that "docility" and "humility" is required for a person to become educated. Author B. Painter, like Sociologist Rodney Stark, almost seems to be writing out of despair. Painter describes his discovery of the New Atheist/Internet Atheist phenomenon: "Hitchens. In particular, their constant cries for evidence-based reasoning contradicted their treatment of history, where they ignored the evidence presented by mainstream historians. On that score, they seemed to me no better than others who misused history for their ideological purposes. I read scores of reviews, articles, and books reacting to the Big Three of the New Atheism. Their treatment of the past got a passing grade by default, while I gave them a failing grade in history. In 2007, I published a short op-ed piece on the subject in the Hartford Courant. The nasty responses from those outraged that anyone should pose such a challenge to the New Atheists introduced me to the blogosphere and an awareness of the significance of the Internet in spreading New Atheist history. (We can see an example of this from the inarticulate, knee-jerk review of this book.) Like Stark, Painter does not disclose any particular religious agenda. Rather, like Stark's recent books, this is a work of historical apologetics as if the study of history actually mattered. He writes: "The stakes are high, for if history exists only as an adjunct to ideology, it has nothing of objective and independent value to teach us. History then ceases to be as an autonomous discipline capable of giving some useful and truthful perspective on the human condition generally and our current state of affairs specifically." As a professor of history, Painter gives each of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheist a failing grade in history. He describes the approach and the absurd conclusion that New Atheists reach as part of their ideology: "Instead of relying on the work of professional historians, the New Atheists and their allies follow their own historical methods and interpretations. They have, in short, gone beyond the boundaries of good historical practice. Unlike those who have pioneered new approaches to history, the New Atheists' historical views gain force through constant repetition without reference to what mainstream historians have produced. There is no other way to explain some of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Some Dark Holler (The Redemption of Ephraim Cutler Book 1); Author: Luke Bauserman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... I will be honest that I purchased this book because it reminded me a Manly Wade Wellman story. Throughout the book, I had was getting some Wellmanish vibes with the Appalachian folk magic that was being presented. So, I was pleased when I read the afterword where the author indicated that he this story was influenced by Wellman. Even without that angle, this is an entertaining and engrossing book. The story involves a servant of the devil who gets immortality in seven year increments. During that time, he has to ensnare someone picked out for him into selling his soul to the devil. Failure means that Death - the pale rider himself - can claim the servant. This time Scratch has selected young Ephraim Cutler as the target. Ephraim is an honest and decent boy, but his mama is a bit tetched, and when she compels him to kill a Yankee out of revenge for the death of his father, the story kicks into high gear with plots and counterplots involving the Devil, Death, the servant and others trying to capture young Ephraim in order to hang him for his crime or turn him to the devil's use. Ephraim has his allies in his sweetheart Isabel and the "granny woman" Barefoot Nancy. I was torn between giving this four or five stars. I found the dialect somewhat annoying at first, but over the course of the book it settled down. I thought there was way too much traveling back and forth, but I found myself turning pages to find out things, such as, who would turn out to be the devil's servant in Sixmile Creek and how would Ephraim and Isabel get out of their various captures and captivities, and how would Ephraim manage to cure the Hellhound bite and face off against the villain. In the end, the resolutions were satisfying. This turns out to be a complete book in itself, which is a plus, but Ephraim ends up in the service of Death for 150 years, which ought to bring him up to our time, as he seeks forgiveness for his crime. In some ways, I fancied this as something like the origin story of Silver John, who seemed to know an awful lot about the folkways and by-ways of Appalachia. For a first time book, the author hit the ground running.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Delirium Brief (Laundry Files, #8); Author: Charles Stross; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... I accidentally read this book before "The Nightmare Stacks", so I was pretty much in the dark about what was happening up north, or who Cassie was, or why we have a concentration camp filled with elves. On the other hand, since this was the next book after The Annihilation Score, it was a welcome return to form. Bob is back in this book, after being absent from the last two Laundry books. At this point, Bob has climbed the greasy pole to upper management of the Laundry thanks to inheriting the Eater of Souls from his former boss. He is still separated from Mo because, while she no longer has her accursed violin, he fears that he can lose control of the Eater while sleeping. Each of the Laundry books seems to exploit a different genre - James Bond, LeCarre, Superheroes, Tolkien. I'm not sure what this one incorporates, unless it is simply Lovecraft, because the Eldritch horrors are beginning to appear in spades. Thus, we see the return of Reverend Schiller with his cult of tongue-ridden parasites. Schiller's parasites are new and improved and now target the genitals to gross and creepy effect. At the same time, Bob gets tasked to meet with an agent from the occult operations division of the US Postal Service. (The USPS got into the occult as part of Comstock Act; along with intercepting porn and drugs, the Post Office began to acquire magical arcana and occult objects.) It seems that the Comstock Act division has been outsourced and privatized to Schiller's crew. Now, Schiller is in Britain with a similar agenda, plus Schiller is making inroads into suborning the upper echelons of Britain with his genital parasites. Because of the disaster in Leeds, the Laundry is out in the open, and the public and the government now know that there is both a magical problem and a standing bureaucracy that seems to fall outside of regulatory oversight and the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act. Before you can say "Cthulhu wears boxers," the Laundry is shut down, its employees are terminated, its various operations are left to swing in the wind, and England is wide open for take-over by the genital-parasite demon cult. This book works like a three-ring circus where the reader's attention is constantly moving from one act to another. All the balls are in the air until the very end. Will Britain succumb to the genital-parasites? Why is the Chief Auditor meeting with the most dangerous man in Britain? Will Mo and Bob be able to work things out? Why is Bob's nemesis, Iris Carpenter, being released from her internment and rehabilitated? This book obviously represents a break with the old Laundry, the hidebound, tradition-filled, secret operation. How Stross takes the Laundry in a new direction remains to be seen. This book is a return to Laundry form. Bob is older and more experienced, but every promotion leaves him in the role of the newbie. Stross plays the bureaucrat, legalistic game well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Harvest; Author: Dashiell Hammett; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is something of the Ur-source for the hard-boiled detective genre. The main character is the "Man with No Name" - the Continental Op - who is called to Personville aka "Poisonville" to meet with Donald Willsson, the last honest man in town. Unfortunately, the Op is five minutes too late and the man is murdered. The Op takes the lay of the land and learns that the police are corrupt and the town is run by three gangs - the gambling gang headed by Max "Whisper" Thaler, the bootleggers run by Pete the Finn, and the thugs run by Lew Yard. The Op meets with Willsson's father, Elihu Willsson, who owns the mining company that underlies Poisonville, and everything else in town, and who brought in the gangs to break a miner's strike. Elihu is curmudgeonly, contemptible and cowardly, and the Op browbeats him into paying him $10,000 to clean-up Poisonville. The remainder of the book involves the Op playing the cops against the gamblers against the thugs against the bootleggers. Murders happen every couple of pages as the players whittle themselves down to nothing. The Op plays games of alliance and betrayal. Along the way, the Op solves several of the murders with flawless intuition. Throughout it all, the Op is tougher and more dangerous than his adversaries, and usually one step ahead. If any of this familiar, it should. If you've seen "Fistful of Dollars" or "Yojimbo" or, even, Bruce Willis' "Last Man Standing," where a stranger comes to town and destroys the equipoised gangs that control a town, then you've seen the Red Harvest plotline. In fact, Yojimbo and Fistful of Dollars were based on Red Harvest, and Last Man Standing is a re-make of Yojimbo. I enjoyed the book, but I had two problems that keep me from giving five stars. First, the book shows that it was written in 1929. The dialogue is very dated with "tough guy" language that often eluded my grasp or which just sounded weird. Here's an example: ""Who? Who?" She stood up, suddenly almost sober, tugging at my lapels. "Tell me who did it." "Not now." "Be a good guy." "Not now." She let go my lapels, put her hands behind her, and laughed in my face. "All right. Keep it to yourself--and try to figure out which part of what I told you is the truth." I said: "Thanks for the part that is, anyhow, and for the gin. And if Max Thaler means anything to you, you ought to pass him the word that Noonan's trying to rib him." "Trying to rib him"? "Be a good guy"? Unfortunately, this sounds like cliched movie gangster talk, rather than normal speech, probably because Hammet's dialogue did become cliched gangster movie dialogue. Take this for example: ""I may say, in all justice, that you will find it the invariable part of sound judgment to follow the dictates of my counsel in all cases. I may say this, my dear sir, without false; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitler's Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich; Author: Richard Weikart; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This is a well-researched, well-reasoned book that supports its conclusion with a keen addition to primary source material. The issue of Hitler's religion is an evergreen topic in modern culture, with every side willing to award the prize to another side. The stakes are presumably high since Hitler is as close to the incarnation of the anti-Christ as modern culture is likely to recognize. I've been plowing the same issue as a Catholic amateur historian who has been sucked into the interminable "Hitler was a Catholic" and "look at these pictures of Catholic priests giving the Hitler salute" with, usually, atheists on the internet. As a result, I've taken to reading many of the sources that author Richard Weikart bases his book on. After reading these memoirs, it is hard for me to imagine anyone taking seriously the notion that Hitler was a Catholic, or any kind of Christian believer. One of the texts that I thought that was particularly revelatory was this observation from ""Here in Munich he lived the life of a bachelor who did not care for any sort of family life. For example, on Christmas Eve he would give all of his followers leave to visit their families; then he and his adjutant Bruckner would go to motoring through the countryside because he wished to escape the Christmas atmosphere, which he thoroughly disliked. No amount of talk could change his attitude in this matter." (p. 150.)" I noted this observation in my review of [[ASIN:162914388X The Hitler I Knew: Memoirs of the Third Reichs Press Chief]]. Hitler's antipathy to Christmas is part of a theme that runs through Dietrich's memoir - Hitler disliked Christianity. I haven't seen any other history book pick up on this significant by minor detail, so I was particularly delighted and impressed and surprised to see Weikart mention it in his book. In my view, this is a small but significant detail that shows Weikart's attention to the mass of data that is available - and often ignored or unread - by other analysts. Weikart structures his book around the following chapters/issues: 1. Was Hitler a religious hypocrite? Weikart's answer is clearly in the affirmative. Hitler's public and private pronouncements were largely at odds with each other, although his private statements were fairly uniform over the years and with respect to different conversations with different interlocutors. Weikart demonstrates good historiographic restraint in pointing out the contradictory things said or written by Hitler and acknowledging that neither the private or the public Hitler has any particular credibility and that both public and private utterances should be critically assessed. This book is most certainly not about cherry-picking quotes to reach a foregone conclusion. Based on the contradictory positions that Hitler took, Weikart's conclusion that "[Hitler]was a religious chameleon, a quintessential religious hypocrite" seems inarguable. 2. Who influenced Hitler's Religion? While reading this chapter, I felt like a mountain climber who scales a previously unclimbed mountain only to discover a candy wrapper. For years, I have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reconciliation Day; Author: Christopher Fowler; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Carter is Bram Stoker collector/fanatic of questionable ethics. His purpose is to acquire the mythical first draft of Dracula with its additional texts that describe the Count's library and includes an "alternate ending." His quest takes him to Romania where he thinks the "Blue volume" is hidden. When he gets there all he has to do is steal it. But this is Romania, a place where gypsies issue curses and the legend of Vlad the Impaler is very alive. I like the concept of the Bibliomystery series since I am something of a bibliophile. I take it that the purpose of the series is to take a text and write a story around it; in this case, the text is Dracula by Bram Stoker. We are treated to short chapters from the alternative, mythical version of Stoker's novel, which were pretty interesting. There was also a lot of biographical about Stoker and bibliographical information about Dracula. Unfortunately, it seems that all of this detail is hogswallop. Stoker was not impoverished; he actually had a good living running a playhouse for Henry Irving, who the most famous actor of his time, which involved him in traveling around the world, as part of which he met American presidents and was friends with Arthur Conan Doyle and James Whistler. Stoker didn't write Dracula in a competition with a swindler; he worked on Dracula for seven years. It is true that the original manuscript of Dracula - then entitled "The Undead" - was found in 1980, but it was found in Pennsylvania. The typescript was purchased by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, not returned to Romania. Messing with factual details like that is unfortunate. Nonetheless, the story seemed to be moving along, until it neared its conclusion. What happened at the end? Was it a hallucination or something else, I couldn't tell. All in all, I found the ending to be a disappointment. Your mileage may differ.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lie: Exposing the Nazi Roots of the American Left; Author: Dinesh D'Souza; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a book of history and polemics. The history is rock solid and extremely interesting. Author Dinesh D'Souza has read broadly in political theory and history and he brings that knowledge base to current developments. One of D'Souza's principle thesis is that history has been "retconned." "Retcon" is a comic book term meaning "retroactive continuity." Periodically, comic books have to update their storylines, so as, for example, to kee Peter Parker perpetually in high school or college. When this happens, all necessary bits of past storylines are brought into conformity with the new past imagined for the character. The retcon in the case of American history is the fascination of the Progressives with the Nazis, and vice versa. Notwithstanding the the effort of the last 70 years to present the Nazis as psychopathic anti-intellectuals, this ignores the fact that the Nazis presented themselves as scientific supermen who would cold-bloodedly apply cutting edge science to the problems of society. And their program did exactly that both with respect to engineering projects and biology. The Progressives likewise fancied themselves as cold-blooded technocrats who were not going to let human empathy stand in the way of a bright, shiny future, as anyone who recalls Justice Holmes stern statement in Buck v. Bell that "three generations of imbeciles are enough" will recognize. Both the Nazis and the Progressives were nationalists. The Nazis modeled their eugenics legislation on similar legislation passed by the Progressives. Mussolini was idolized by New Dealers, perhaps for the same reason that some leftist journalists during the Obama administration wistfully spoke of Communist China's ability to dispense with inconvenient partisan politics. The Nazis also admired America's racial policies, which is where D'Souza's polemical side comes into play. As D'Souza presents the story, America's execrable racial history is not so much "America's racial history" as it is the "Democrat's racial history." Every time that modern leftists condemn America, they are actually condemning some feature of American society that was a mainstay of the Democrat party. Slavery, for example, was exclusive to the Democrat party, not to America. Every Republican at the outbreak of the Civil War opposed slavery; every slave-owner was a Democrat. The same is true for segregation. When leftists attacked Confederate statues in 2017, those were statues of Democrats put up by Democrats to maintain a solid Democrat south. D'Souza's polemical strategy seems to be that when people point to American racism, Americans should point to the Democrat party, which is, after all, the only institution that supported slavery that remains, particularly in an age when Confederate statues are torn down. And that does seem strange. Why is the hot passion of political purity directed at everything, except the one actual institution that disloyally seceded from the United States in the name of slavery? D'Souza's answer is the Big Lie whereby the partisans of the Left have worked tirelessly to change the narrative, to make racism America's sin so that Democrats can walk away from their past. As part of his; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cutting Room: Dark Reflections of the Silver Screen; Author: Ellen Datlow; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... The theme of this horror anthology is that each of the stories has something to do with movies or the movie industry. Some of these stories take the mission and absolutely click. My favorite story in the anthology was Kim Newman's "Illimitable Dominion." I listened to the collection as an audiobook and I found the narration to be absolutely brilliant, and the story laugh out loud funny, as the narrator explains how his world was taken over by the vengeful spirit of Edgar Allen Poe as a result of the American International Pictures ("AIP") chance discovery of The Fall of the House of Usher, directed by Roger Corman and starring the velvet-shirt clad Vinnie Price. Newman knows film history and I was surprised a how much of the silliness, such as AIP producing "Rocket Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women of Blood" and Vinnie "hawking Sears-Roebuck art selections and cookbooks on the side," is legitimate history. This story redeemed the anthology in my opinion. There were other good stories. "each thing I show you is a piece of my death" starts slow, has an epistolary structure and ends with a maxed-out creep factor as we learn that an urban legend about a figure that keeps appearing in the background of movies, television shows, and music videos is explained in gory detail. "Occum's Ducks" by Howard Waldrop wasn't really horror or fantasy, but dealt with an interesting piece of movie history involving "race movies" and the forgotten actor Mantan Moreland. "The Constantinople Archives" was an oddball story about the film industry in Constantinople at the time of the Muslim conquest in 1452. It was weirdly aimless, but caught my love history and attention. "The Hanged Man of Oz" is another story involving a film urban legend, in this case, a brief image in the Wizard of Oz showing a hanged man. "Dead Image" - involving the possible re-incarnation of a James Dean character - was good, as was "The Thousand Cuts" which asks the question, "What if we are the movie?" Some of the offerings were disturbing, particularly when they focus on the obsession of fans with the torture of slash film. "Final Girl Theory" is what sounds like a snuff film or slasher film, definitely a cult film, that fans obsess over, and one fan discovers the "final girl," the survivor. The story doesn't go anywhere, but the imagery is grisly. "Bright Lights, Big Zombies" pictures a Manhattan under siege from the walking dead. Horror films are censored, ownership of horror films can lead to jail time, and fans treat horror films like illegal drugs. "Tenderizer" is an odd story about an odd campaign to sell an odd film about a massacre of high school students. In short, the stories are uneven, but overall the good outweighs the bad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation; Author: Michael Reeves; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my review a helpful vote on Amazon - [url]... This book is more of a devotional exercise than a work of scholarship. It seems to be designed to arouse the "base" against the notion that the "Reformation is over." It does this by flogging the "black legends" of Catholicism and insisting that a chemically pure mental understanding of the mechanics of salvation is the sine qua non on which God determines the salvation of the individual. The first indication that this is not a book of scholarship is that it lacks any footnotes of substance. For example, although the chapter on Luther makes many claims about Luther's life and theology, and his debate with Erasmus (and Erasmus comes across in this book as quite the whipping boy who let down the winning side), author Michael Reeves has only three footnotes, citing three sources, and maybe five pages from those sources. His citation for Luther's debate with Erasmus consists of a reference to page 33 of "Erasmus of Christendom," published in 1969. The absence of relevant footnotes suggests that Reeve's has read neither Erasmus's opening salvo, "A Discussion on Free Will" or his response to Luther's "Bondage of the Will," namely the "Hyperaspistes." Of course, very few people have actually read either of Erasmus's works in this very important debate on the true essential issue of the Reformation, whether human beings have any role in their own salvation, or, instead, if everything is done by God such that individuals have no choice and no role and no contribution at all in their own salvation. Since, as Erasmus points out, the Old Testament and the New Testament are replete with statements vouching that people do play a role in their salvation, such as jeopardizing salvation by engaging in sin, Luther's position seems problematic as a biblical proposition, notwithstanding his efforts to explain every contrary text away by grammatical parsing worthy of a Scholastic. Reeves characterizes the Erasmus-Luther Debates as follows: "Erasmus was, at the time, the most revered scholar in the world, and since On the Freedom of the Will came from so eminent a figure (and one who had been so instrumental in his own conversion), Luther actually read it. Usually he only read a couple of pages of polemics against himself before using them as toilet paper. Because of Erasmus' scholarly reputation, it looked like he was the heavyweight; but this was theology, and Erasmus was no theologian. In this arena, Erasmus was like an ant attacking a rhino. Luther responded with The Bondage of the Will, savaging Erasmus' half-baked arguments. And it really was a savaging. Luther refused to talk about the heart of how to be saved in Erasmus' cool, dispassionate style. He thought Erasmus had been worryingly glib about the key issue: are we able to do anything toward our salvation? In complete contrast to Erasmus, Luther was adamant that, for all we freely choose to do, we never naturally choose to please God, and therefore all our salvation must be God's doing, not ours. The difference; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hammer of the Gods: The Thule Society and the Birth of Nazism; Author: David Luhrssen; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: This is a surprisingly interesting history about an extremely obscure moment in German history. Although the "occult" angle is titillating, what this history actually does is to draw the curtain back on the odd world of Volkisch Nationalism in the period prior to and immediately after World War I. In doing so, the author illuminates a lot of the culture of National Socialism. The first thing to understand is that this is a well-researched work of scholarship. Rightwing nationalists may have had strange and eclectic beliefs, but their beliefs are part of the data and qualia of the historical record. Nothing in this book suggests in any way that the author holds these beliefs or expects the readers to give them any credence. Rather, author David Luhrssen approaches the subject as a combination of intellectual and political history. The most surprising detail for me was how little I really knew about the Communist take-over of Munich in 1918-1919. Generally, this episode gets footnote treatment as an odd experiment that was quickly unraveled, but it is an event that winds its way through a lot of history. Thus, the future Pius XII had a run in with the Communists running Munich and Dietrich von Hildebrandt had to flee Communist Munich just as he would have to flee Nazi Germany twenty years later. For the people living through the event, Red Munich highlighted the threat that they were living under and demonstrated that an answer to the threat was violence and conspiracy. Luhrssen begins his history in the concrete reality of the Communists executing six members of the Thule society. When we return to these executions many chapters later - after we trace the development of the Thule Society through its predecessors and personalities - we will learn that the Thule Society was establishing and funding the Freikorps that were attacking the Bolshevik state. Although it had Volkish interests, such as study societies devoted to deciphering rune, the Thule Society reached the zenith of its influence at this moment under the mercurial Rudolf von Sebottendorff, who is a character that a fantasy writer would be hard-pressed to invent - Luhrssen calls him "Munchausen incarnate" - by running an effective conspiracy that seemed to place its agents within the ranks of the Communists. Luhrssen is an effective guide to the crazy quilt of groups and ideologies that made up part of the current that the Nazis grew out of. For example, I've often heard of Blavatsky's Theosophy, but never had any interest in learning about that subject. Apparently, it was a kind of pantheism, which is interesting in light of Richard Weikart's recent book that argues that Hitler's "religiosity" was "panentheist." According to Luhrssen, "Theosophy embodied a subversive countertendency in Western thought. It opposed the evils of Western materialism with an eclectic synthesis of ideas, many of them adopted from Hindu and Buddhist cosmology." (Weikart's observations about the popularity of Schopenhauer, who was similar influenced by Eastern ideas comes to mind. Luhrssen notes that "A stream of translations of the Bhagavad Gita and other sacred; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Half the Blood of Brooklyn (Joe Pitt, #3); Author: Charlie Huston; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... Urban Fantasy - Gritty Noire - Rogue Vampire Joe Pitt is a vampire, or, rather, a vampyre. The "y" is because vampirism - the desire/need for blood, the strength and durability, the eternal youth - is caused by a virus, called the "vyrus." In Manhattan, the infected live in the shadows and are organized into "clans" that police their territories, making sure that the human herd is not over-exploited and that the secret of the vyrus does not get out where it can panic normal humans. This book does not give Joe Pitts' origin story. That story was provided in the previous books - this the third book in the "Joe Pitts, the two prior being "Already Dead" and "No Dominion." I strongly recommend that you start with the beginning. If you start here you will probably spend a lot of time wondering what is going on. Author Charlie Huston has layered his world with detail, and some of the details are going to make more sense if you know what's going. For example, there is a subplot about Amanda and Sela that we can figure out the background of in this book, but knowing the background is probably more satisfying. I read this book around seven years ago. I was surprised at how much I'd forgotten. I remembered the key points, but there were large parts I didn't remember at all. So, I had some of the experience of a new reader. I, obviously, need to go back and fill in the first two books. This book starts with Joe ensconced as Security Chief for the Society. The Society is an extremely left-wing clan occupying southern Manhattan, which has a hippy leader, Terry Bird, and a large faction of LGBTQ vampyres led by Lydia. Joe has a longstanding relationship with Terry and we are given to understand that in a prior book Joe took over the position of the previous Security Chief. Joe also has a relationship with the Enclave - a clan of warrior-monk vampyres - and the Dusters - a motorcycle gang. The Society is opposed to the Coalition, which seems to be the mafia of the vampyre world, as well as being the heavy hitters of this world. The story opens with a blood dealer murdered and cut into pieces. At the same time, clans from Brooklyn are desperately trying to flee Brooklyn into Manhattan. Joe gets tasked by Terry to take Lydia and negotiate with a Brooklyn clan known as the Freaks to amalgamate with the Society. Joe and Lydia enter darkest Brooklyn by night and deal with the Freaks - literal circus freaks - and are kidnapped by vampire Orthodox Jews, the Chosen. From there the story is a cycle of violence involving revenge and settling scores. Through it all, Joe mostly wants to take care of his girlfriend Evie, who is dying of AIDS. The story is exciting and fast-moving. I didn't find Joe to be a particularly engaging character. He is mostly monosyllabic and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Escaping Infinity; Author: Richard Paolinelli; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This is a very nice book about very nice people. That's not intended as a criticism; it is a relaxing change of pace not to have to deal with one of the surly anti-heroes that populate contemporary urban fantasy/science fiction. The story opens with Peter and Charlie lost in the desert. They are rising young stars in the world of industrial construction. They are fortunate to run into a futuristic resort hotel in the middle of nowhere. Once inside the hotel, Charlie disappears into the casino where he is having the luckiest night of his life. Peter, on the other hand, begins to sense that there is something wrong about the hotel. The fact that he can't get to the highest level of the hotel after traveling 300 stories in the hotel elevator. Or the fact that hotel guests are dressed in togas, as Egyptians, as cowboys and in costumes from every time and place, but they all speak English. Or the fact that time doesn't seem to be passing. Actually, I was a little bit mistaken when I said that the story started with Peter and Charlie. The story actually starts with a planet with a solitary moon orbiting approximately 93 million miles from its sun being destroyed by a miniscule navigational error. After that scenario, the story about the hotel begins. What we have here is a puzzle. Peter is the person we follow as he tries to solve the puzzle. During the course of his exploration, Peter meets and immediately falls in love with the front desk girl, Liz, who is also trying to solve the puzzle of the hotel and its existential weirdness. The story is well-written and very engaging. I was pulled along for over half the story with my theories about how the story of the hotel intertwined with the story about the accidentally destroyed planet, and who the manager of the hotel was, and what purpose the hotel was intended to play. Ultimately, the story is about grace and redemption. We ultimately learn that the aliens who destroyed the planet with the single moon are an admirably ethical people, and we - or at least me - end the story with a feeling of "gosh, how nice that it worked out that way" feeling. You can't ask much more from a book of entertainment. Nonetheless, as a life-long science fiction reader, I had some questions about the story. For example, what about Charlie? We burn some time at the beginning hearing about how Peter and Charlie are a team, but when the pair hit the hotel, Charlie essentially disappears from the story until we see him get a pat on the back at the end. I get the feeling that author Richard Paolinelli originally planned a "buddy book" featuring Charlie and Peter until Charlie was ditched instead of becoming a third wheel to the Liz and Peter show. Likewise, why did we "deify" Peter at the end? Giving Peter the powers of creation at the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of Era; Author: Edmond Barrett; Genres: fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... This story is a nice example of how, if you keep a lot of balls in the air and set off special effects, then readers won't have the time to ask if the metaphysics of the story really works. Paul is an agent for TIE - Temporal Investigation and Enforcement - which means that he is a time-traveler whose job is to prevent travelers from the future muck around with his assigned beat - roughly the early 21st century - by disrupting the way things should happen, steal objects from the present, and, worse, leave anachronistic future technology in our present. He is a native of the early 21st century since TIE finds it advisable to hire local since no amount of training will permit people from the future to pass as natives. The book starts off with a weird turn. The disruption he is assigned to correct turns out to be a heavily armed future time traveler on a mission to kill him. Then, there are other assassination plots, and before you can say "Bob's your Uncle" - the setting is in Britain, by the way - there is a conspiracy to disrupt all time with the early 21st century as the point of departure. In addition, we have to mix in the fact, that Paul somehow erased himself from history in an earlier mission, which mysteriously didn't erase him from existence, and his "sister," born to his parents because he wasn't born, gets mixed up in the affair. The story was extremely fast-paced with guns blazing, jumps back and forth in time, and a delightfully presented "paradox trap" - the first one of those I've seen in the subgenre. For an action-adventure fan, this book gets full marks. I enjoyed author Edmond Barrett's sketchily presented future history. Information about the future is never revealed downtime, but some information slips through. We know that the 23rd is a nightmare time and that something bad happened in the 26th century when time-travel was invented. In fact, time-travel was invented in order to change that event, whatever it was. Barrett also has an interesting but problematic approach to the metaphysics of time travel. Upon the invention of time-travel, an upper limit was established by the invention date. This upper limit moves forward in time on second-for-second basis. There is also a down-time limit attributed to the need to adjust at the atomic level to the new time, which is currently in the late 19th century and moving forward. At some point, such adjustment becomes impossible. Certainly, it is the author's universe and he can have his physics do what he wants, but why can't time travelers from the future past the invention of the device come visit their own past? Don't they have time-travel devices? I don't if there is an answer that makes real sense, but, admittedly, these restrictions add interesting limitations to the mechanics of the plot. In sum, this is an interesting and lively story with characters that caught my; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Was the Reformation a Mistake?: Why Catholic Doctrine Is Not Unbiblical; Author: Matthew Levering; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - [url]... The publishing industry has been churning out a number of retrospectives on the history, legacy, and future of the Reformation for the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. These books have ranged hagiographic devotionals by Protestants to Catholic criticisms of the idea and legacy of the Reformation. This book is written by a Catholic scholar and does an even-handed job of presenting the Lutheran criticism of specific issues of the Reformation and the Catholic scriptural response. Levering's book is not polemical, except insofar as he marshalls scriptural texts in support of the Catholic position. Incidentally, and in order to not bury the lede, Levering answers the question framed by the book's title in the negative. He cites Protestant friends and family who, he says, makes it impossible for him to call the Reformation a mistake, although he allows that some doctrinal mistakes were made. Levering limits his goal of showing that Catholicism is "not unbiblical" in an interesting way. He is not attempting to show that Catholic doctrines are necessarily the only interpretation that can flow from scripture. Rather, he sets as his goal to show that Catholic doctrines are "not unbiblical." The importance of this task, he explains, is that Protestants typically reject Catholic doctrines on the grounds that those doctrines "unbiblical" without ever hearing the Catholic scriptural basis for those doctrines. The doctrines that Levering addresses in separate chapters are: 1. Scripture 2. Mary 3. The Eucharist 4. The Seven Sacraments 5. Monasticism 6. Justification and Merit 7. Purgatory 8. Saints 9. Papacy One of the strengths of Levering's approach is that he demonstrates the Thomistic virtue of stating the objections as strongly as the response. After introducing the subject and providing a section of the Catholic Catechism for more information, Levering starts with a section on "Luther's Concerns." In that section, Levering spends pages capturing Luther's arguments, including his rhetoric and tone, and articulating those arguments in their strongest form. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I found these sections to be quite revealing of the Protestant position, or, at least, Luther's position. For example, I wonder if most Sola Scriptura Protestants would agree with this: "In Luther's view, "Scripture makes the straightforward affirmation that the Trinity, the Incarnation and the unpardonable sin are facts. There is nothing obscure or ambiguous about that. You imagine that Scripture tells us how they are what they are; but it does not, nor need we know." 26 Scripture tells us what we need to believe for salvation-- indeed it gives "the plainest proofs of the Trinity in the Godhead and of the humanity of Christ"-- but it does not satisfy our curiosity on all matters. 27 Although we can be blinded to what Scripture reveals if we reject the Spirit, nonetheless Scripture itself is perfectly clear and perspicuous, so that in fact "nothing whatsoever is left obscure or ambiguous, but all that is in the Scripture is through the Word brought; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Verve Hair Salon; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am new to StL and found this neighborhood salon through Yelp (of course!) 6 blocks from my home, same day appointment, and I felt like I was being treated to a spa experience! AJ was nice, talkative, and everyone was super friendly - the lady and stylist in the next chair got in a conversation with us! It was a terrific experience!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gyro Grill; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Absolutely Delicious!!!! The front guy was super nice and talked me through the best things they cook then helped me figure out what I really wanted for lunch. The eating area was sparkling clean and the service was terrific. Definitely will go back to this place for lunch!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Dumpe; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The entertainment is GREAT and the whole experience is lots of fun.... but the food they serve makes you wonder if there's really a kitchen in the back. Again tho - you really go for the experience :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boodles BBQ; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Delicious!!! The fried biscuits were great and the pulled pork had good bark on it. All of the meat is juicy and tender - we will posdef go back!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Feraros Jersey Style Pizza; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: They put on tons of toppings- no bald spots at all! Pretty tasty as pizza goes :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pad Thai; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Very attentive, quick service and DELICIOUS food! I trie the spring rolls and the pad thai - very very happy :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asian Wok; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Yummy! The best local restaurant we've eaten at so far Hubby had the hot & sour soup as an appetizer - must try!!! - he could've eaten it and been satisfied but we both ordered entrees Orange chicken was good and the Emperors chicken was 4 stars Clean, great atmosphere, excellent service and they were good about our 3 yr old. Just a terrific exp all around :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunrise Eatery; City: Zephyrhills, FL; Review: Oh So Delicious!! The pie is excellent - every one! Between us, we had the Reuben, the spinach pie, and the kids Mac. Spinach pie was the best, the Mac was normal but extra cheesey and the Reuben was typical. Terrific service; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bacco and Venere; City: Temple Terrace, FL; Review: Delicious! Why weren't there more people here?!? Typical Italian menu, all of the sauces are homemade and delicious. Hubby had the shrimp spaghetti plate, which was very flavorful, and I had the pesto chicken - yummy thick sauce 4 yr old was well received and had the home made pizza. All gone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Recipe Box Family Diner; City: Brandon, FL; Review: The food is really good and plentiful - posdef try the stuffed french toast! Hubby got the Clint's chicken - ridiculous amount of food, oh so yummy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr Rogers Appliances; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Fast and truthful! They told us they had a washer in stock that would be cheaper than fixing our old one. Real to the word, they also delivered within 24 hours and took the old one away. Perfect and highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SoHo Donut Company; City: Tampa, FL; Review: The best donuts in town! Tons of crazy flavor a and toppings, plus hands down best jelly filled I've ever had!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gonzo's Sandwich Shop; City: Tampa, FL; Review: We ordered a west Tampa and a pork drizzle Delicious!!! And very well priced!! The place is easy to pass but turn back around for the best pulled pork!! You may want to ask for extra "drizzle"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Savvy Jack's Southern; City: Temple Terrace, FL; Review: Overall our experience was very good! The French toast was light and fluffy, the bacon is deep fried and delicious (if you like it that way!), and the service was both fast and cozying!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Italian Kitchen & Cafe; City: Riverview, FL; Review: Nice atmosphere, great food, poor service! Let me start by saying THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS (husband had pasta with vodka sauce, mom had seafood chef's best, and I had manicotti; kids pizza was surprisingly good too!) What brings the stars down was the AWFUL SERVICE! When you are about to walk out at every stage of a restaurant experience, something is wrong! It took 15 minutes to get water, 45 to get our meals, 30 after that to get the check and boxes - which we had to flag down the host for! In the two hours we were there, our waters were refilled twice.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tiki Docks River Bar & Grill; City: Riverview, FL; Review: First time here - and we were happily surprised The ambience is terrific - sitting outside by the river w the music and decor = perfect casual dining I got the Caesar - the homemade dressing is tangy and delish if you are into real ceasar dressing Hubs got the Grouper sandwich - good but a bit expensive Kiddo enjoyed the Guppy fish fingers Fries are meh - crinkle cut - no frills - maybe from a bag Service was great!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dune (Penguin Galaxy); Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Herbert Page; Review: o.k.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Way of Kings; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Photo-Inspired Art Quilts: From Composition to Finished Piece (Create With Nancy); Author: Visit Amazon's Leni Levenson Wiener Page; Review: Good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King and Maxwell (King & Maxwell); Author: Visit Amazon's David Baldacci Page; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Science of Good Cooking: Master 50 Simple Concepts to Enjoy a Lifetime of Success in the Kitchen; Author: The Editors of America's Test Kitchen and Guy Crosby Ph.D; Review: Great Info; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dune; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Herbert Page; Review: o.k.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deer Run Trail (the TRAIL series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's David R Lewis Page; Review: Really enjoyed this story. I have read the entire Tail Series to date. Look forward to more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nodaway Trail (the Trail series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's David R Lewis Page; Review: Really enjoyed this story. I have read the entire Tail Series to date. Look forward to more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Payback Trail; Author: David R. Lewis; Review: Really enjoyed this story. I have read the entire Trail Series to date. Look forward to more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cutthroat Trail (the Trail series Book 7) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's David R Lewis Page; Review: Really enjoyed this story. I have read the entire Trail Series to date. I hope there will be more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Toshiba SD-4990 Upconverting Progressive Scan DVD Player; Brand: Toshiba; Review: This DVD player has been nothing but trouble. It freezes up and skips constantly. I get the message bad disc all the time. It sometimes won't even play brand new DVD's right out of their packaging. My old philips DVD player plays everything this DVD player won't. Stay away.. stay far away from this POS.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: TIC GS5 5" Compact Outdoor Weather-Resistant Omnidirectional In-Ground Speakers (pair); Brand: TIC; Review: Bought these to use outside by the pool. I wanted something that could be totally exposed to the elements and these fit the bill perfectly. It is the same company that manufactures outside speakers for theme parks. They have been outside for two months now and seem no worse for wear. We receive plenty of complements too on the sound quality. No they are not top of the line, but they put out good sound at a great price. Highly recommend!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Western Digital 500GB EIDE Internal Hard Drive, 7200 RPM, 8 MB cache, Retail Box (WD5000JBRTL); Brand: Western Digital; Review: I was constantly having memory problems on my Sony desktop computer because the hard drive had only 500 mb of free space. Tried over and over to delete programs & files I didn't use but inevitably I would again have it full within a few weeks. I never cloned a drive before so I was a little apprehensive, but by following instructions I found online, I was able to do it in a few hours. Now my computer is super fast and I have over 300 gb of free space. I should be set for another year or two. Only problem I had is with Amazon's packaging. I have read in so many reviews about how poor they package the hard drives and mine was the same way. Just thrown in a box with one small airbag. The airbag had popped and so the drive was just freely moving around in the box. I am keeping my fingers crossed there was no long-term damage to the drive because of Amazon's HORRIBLE packaging. You would think they would package hard drives better because every hard drive I looked at had complaints about Amazon's horrible packaging.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GE 98910 UltraSonix 2.0 Speakers; Brand: Jasco Products; Review: I guess these would be OK if all you used them for was to watch TV shows or spoken word videos on your computer, but any music sounds just horrible. No bass, muffled treble, I have to say these are the worst computer speakers I've ever had. They are going in the trash soon. Quite confused by the 5 star reviews, because I have to agree with the other reviewers that these are really bad speakers.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Infinite Products Plasma TPU Jelly Case for iPod touch 5G (Smoke); Brand: Infinite Products; Review: Fits the ipod touch like a glove. Very satisfied. Color is smoke.. makes the ipod look kind of dull, but other than that, great product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Belkin Hands-Free Bluetooth CarAudio Connect Aux; Brand: Belkin; Review: I had a previous version of this item and it seemed to drop the Bluetooth connection every hour or two. Rarely would it hold the connection for more than a couple hours. This new one works really good. I rarely lose a connection and often have it running all day with no problems.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BRAVEN Mira Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker [10 Hour Playtime][Waterproof] Built-In 1200 mAh Power Bank Charger - Black; Brand: Braven; Review: This is a very stylish, easy to use bluetooth speaker. It paired easily with my iphone, and I've used it in the shower. It's plenty loud enough to hear above the water. I've also taken it outside to provide music by the pool and I am very impressed. I got many compliments on the style and the sound. It's going with us to the beach next! I love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY Metal Attaché 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - P-FDU64G/APPMT2-GE; Brand: PNY; Review: Very nice, extremely compact USB Flash drive. I've had this for a week or two, and have no problems. I'm impressed with the tiny size and you can clip it to your key ring so you always have it with you. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ALC AWF51 720p HD Outdoor Wi-Fi / IP Camera (Black); Brand: ALC; Review: This camera is great. The set up was amazingly easy. I was prepared for a tech nightmare, but I downloaded the app and it took just a few mins. I love the fact that I can see who is in my driveway now, and I've even caught some wildlife views because of the motion detection. Cool camera overall, and I highly recommend it. Would be great for anyone who has something they need to keep an eye on from a distance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Apple Certified Retractable Lightning to USB Cable - 2 Feet (0.6 Meters) - Black; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Works great with my iphone6! Love the way it retracts neatly so no tangling around in my briefcase. Excellent product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech Ultrathin Magnetic Clip-On Keyboard Cover for iPad Air, Space Gray; Brand: Logitech; Review: Love this keyboard! It makes it so easy to type and makes my ipad seem like a mini laptop. The adjustable angle of the ipad/screen is really nice. It took a bit to figure out how it works, because it is really tight, but now I love being able to change the angle. The bluetooth connects easily, and I have used it for a few weeks now without having to recharge it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Speck Products StyleFolio Case for iPad Mini/2/3 - Black/Slate Grey (Does not fit iPad mini 4); Brand: Speck; Review: This cover is one of the best made ipad mini covers I have seen. It will really protect your ipad in the case of a drop and I like the fact that it doesn't just close magnetically, but it has a clasp that holds it closed. I really think it would be tough to break your ipad with the cover closed. I also like that the cover folds back well so you can use the ipad and get a good grip without the cover sliding around. The only thing I don't like is the color. It is a very odd blue snake skin. 4 stars for the design, but 3 for the color.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PolarPro PowerPole; Brand: Polar Pro Filters; Review: This pole is awesome. It has a built in batter so you can extend the battery on your gopro by 2-3 times what you get with the standard battery. I love the idea that I can shoot long movies without ever having to worry about the battery dying. It is very well made. A bit heavy, but I can tell it is quality that will last. It extends easily and I've gotten many questions about it while out in public. If you are as serious as I am about shooting quality movies with your gopro, you will not be disappointed with this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: XSories Silicone Cover for GoPro Hero 3/3+ Camera Housing, GoPro 3, GoPro 3 Accessories, GoPro 3+ Accessories, GoPro Accessories; Brand: XSories; Review: This is a decent cover if you would like more protection for your GoPro. I use it on my GoPro Hero 3+. 1st thing you may be surprised about is how you put it on. Basically you stretch it on through the lens opening. It seems so small, but it's quite amazing how stretchy it is and how the you really can stretch it to fit over your camera. Then you simply pull it back out through the same hole to remove it. I love that it comes in different colors. The silicone is really strong and provides a little extra protection if you want or need it. It may not be needed for everyone, but for me it's great!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: XSories Large Capxule, GoPro Case with Pre-Cut Foam Inlays, Fits All GoPro Housings, GoPro Accessories, GoPro 3, GoPro; Brand: XSories; Review: Excellent case for my GoPro. The camera fits easily in the well made cut-out. The foam is very protective and the whole case including the zipper work flawlessly. Don't hesitate if you are looking for a smaller case to hold your GoPro and a couple accessories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XSories Big Bendy Monochrome, Flexible Tripod Fits All Nikon, Canon, Digital Cameras, Includes GoPro Mount, Camera Accessories, GoPro Accessories; Brand: XSories; Review: Nice, well made tripod. The flexible legs are nice and it makes it easy to wrap them around something if you need to mount your camera up and don't have a flat surface to set it on. The legs really make it versatile, you can ben them to form an phone holder for doing facetime call also. It's a great tripod.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sony HTCT780 330W 2.1 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer; Brand: Sony; Review: I am quite impressed with this system. Setup was simple, and I love the fact that I can get really quality sound without running wires and without putting holes in the walls. I have this attached to a projector system. One hdmi cable was all I needed to get it up and running. The subwoofer booms out some serious bass. I have already recommended this to my brother-in-law and he is buying the exact same system.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epson Home Cinema 1040 1080p, 2x HDMI (1 MHL), 3LCD, 3000 Lumens Color and White Brightness Home Theater Projector; Brand: Epson; Review: I got this to compare to and Optoma projector that I have had for a year. The Epson is definitely brighter, and works better in a room where there is some light in it. My Optoma projector works best when lights are off. The other thing this doesn't have is a 3D setting. I do enjoy 3D movies occasionally, so I'm a bit disappointed they didn't include this feature. But overall, I would say this has a better picture overall than the Optoma. Set up was simple and straightforward. The 1080p quality is awesome, with no screen door effect visible to me. I would recommend this if you don't want to spend the extra to get a 3D projector. It's truly amazing the quality you can get for such a low price today.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skullcandy Grind Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones with Built-In Mic and Remote, 12-Hour Rechargeable Battery, Supreme Sound; Brand: Skullcandy; Review: I really like these headphones. The ear pads are soft, and comfortable. Bluetooth connected to my iphone 6 quickly and easily. Sound quality is well abot earbuds. Great when I want to walk around the house, listen to great music, and not disturb others. Very stylish design also.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iHome iSP8 Wi-FI SmartPlug, Use your voice to control connected devices, handheld remote included, Works with; Brand: iHome; Review: I got this to be able to control christmas lights through Alexa. Set up was pretty easy since I've used other smart plugs before. Great to have an outdoor option for smart plugs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PUMA Cabana Racer Tom and Jerry Kids Sneaker (Infant/Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: Fast shipping and excellent shoes, they fitted as expected and good quality. Buy with confidence.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gerber Baby Girls' 2 Pack Zip Front Sleep 'n Play; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Kids' Duet Sport Realtree Clog; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThinkGeek Officially Licensed Minecraft Foam Diamond Sword; Brand: Think Geek; Review: Good quality. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThinkGeek Minecraft Creeper Backpack; Brand: ThinkGeek; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oakley Men's Jury Rectangle Sunglasses; Brand: ; Review: Excellent product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JINX Minecraft Pickaxe Metal Key Chain (Metallic with Enamel Fill, One Size); Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nautica Baby Boys' 2 Piece Plaid Shirt and Denim Set; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Baby Boys' Orange Polo Top with Plaid Cargo Shorts; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Baby Boys' White T-Shirt with Tie Screenprint and Sweatpant; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Baby Boys' Navy Polo Top and Plaid Short Two-Piece Set; Brand: ; Review: Good quality and cute. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Western Chief Kids' Waterproof D.c. Comics Character Rain Boots Easy on Handles; Brand: ; Review: My son loves his boots; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Bomber; Author: Visit Amazon's Len Deighton Page; Review: This may be the best suspense book I have read. It is one of those books that you impatiently want to know the finish but don't want it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunting Badger (A Leaphorn and Chee Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Hillerman Page; Review: I keep reading these because I like the characters and the location. However, I have yet to find one that has a plot that isn't superficial. They lack depth somehow. But, I keep hoping and reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sands of Sakkara; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn Meade Page; Review: If this had been the first of his books I probably would have liked it better. It doesn't have the quality of the other two and is too much like Brandenburg Gate (the love triangle).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Skull Mantra (Inspector Shan Tao Yun); Author: Visit Amazon's Eliot Pattison Page; Review: Excellent idea. Nice to have an intellegent story in a unique locale. The ending is wonderful. The hero is a kind of everyman reminiscent of Arkady Renko.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Polar Star; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Cruz Smith Page; Review: This book is a goldmine full of Arkady Renko's thoughts about the situations he finds himself in. It is hilarious and serious at the same time. There is nothing I would rather read than Renko's subtle, humerous outlook on Soviet life and this book has lots of it. Great plot about a great survivor. Martin Cruz Smith is a master.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angels & Demons (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Brown Page; Review: Did I read the same book as the other reviewers? Although, the book was full of very interesting facts, they were interwoven into the story in a very annoying way. The narrative was overly melodramatic, amateurish, and sometimes downright silly. For people with a deadline to meet they sure had a lot of time to discuss everything to death. The plot was just plain ludicrous.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Deception on His Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth George Page; Review: This is my favorite Eliz. George--and I like them all a lot. Barbara Havers is a welcome change--a real type person with endearing (to me) flaws. May I have some more, please? Top notch story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Show Must Go On/The Cry and the Covenant/Autobiography of Will Rogers/Cry, the Beloved Country (Reader's Digest Condensed; Author: Elmer Rice; Review: This may be the best suspense book I have read. It is one of those books that you impatiently want to know the finish but don't want it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Sellers from Reader's Digest Condensed Books The Source, Intern, Hotel St. Gregory, To Sir, with Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Reader's Digest Page; Review: This may be the best suspense book I have read. It is one of those books that you impatiently want to know the finish but don't want it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day Of The Jackal; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Forsyth Page; Review: This may be the best suspense book I have read. It is one of those books that you impatiently want to know the finish but don't want it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kolymsky Heights; Author: Visit Amazon's Lionel Davidson Page; Review: This book stayed with me long after I finished it. The plot and characters were compelling--the kind of story you rearrange your daily routine for a few days to keep reading. The ending was terrific. As soon as I finished it, I ordered all his previous works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fuhrer's Reserve: A Novel of the FBI; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Lindsay Page; Review: I love plots that deal with hidden Nazi treasures. Yet, I put this book down after 125 pages. Life is too short for characters and narative of this mediocre quality. It is the literary equivalent of a really bad made for TV movie. Some day when I am really desperate for something to read I may go back to it just for the art info.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Win; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Goodman Page; Review: The info on playing blackjack has benefited my whole family--never feel like an idiot again! His section on money management is essential as you will realize when you start using it--you can't make any profit during a run without it. The section on craps is somewhat confusing as to the flow of of the game but again, the advice on what bets to place and money management is stellar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bust: Greece, the Euro and the Sovereign Debt Crisis; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Lynn Page; Review: This book gives an overview of the whole Eurozone situation in addition to Greece. If you want to understand what is happening there today "Bust" is both immensely informative and immensely entertaining. It will give you the background needed to be a spectator to the possible breakup of the EU.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Plant Lover's Guide to Sedums (The Plant Lover’s Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Brent Horvath Page; Review: Wonderful pictures and info--and the size is is small than most gardening books so it is very comfortable to thumb through.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: All Fall Down (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Weiner Page; Review: very realistic but the ending was weak; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: easy read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The King's Curse (Cousins' War); Author: Visit Amazon's Philippa Gregory Page; Review: Good read predictable; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Martian; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy Weir Page; Review: great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Midwife's Revolt; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Daynard Page; Review: Good read in a time period that is not written about; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We're All Damaged; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Norman Page; Review: Does not capture you; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Hot Chick (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hollow Man (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vertical Limit (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The 6th Day (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Replacements (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cowboy Bebop Remix (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Celine Dion: The Colour of My Love Concert (1993); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Xena: Warrior Princess: Series Finale (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Company (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Passenger 57 (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legionnaire (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Now (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Rundown (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Honey (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Angels in the Outfield (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boiling Point (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Boss's Daughter (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Order (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Road House (1989); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assassins (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Johnny English (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 1 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gosford Park (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Limey (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Linkin Park: Live in Texas (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chappelle's Show: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freddy vs. Jason (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timeline (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stuck on You (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Big Empty (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cooler (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Liberty (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai: Bonus Material (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 3 (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dreamcatcher (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bulletproof Monk (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: House of the Dead (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Torque (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Got Served (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hulk (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Club Dread (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: MTV: Punk'd: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days Later (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beach (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Versus: Director's Cut (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Band of Brothers (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Season 3 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 4 (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Score (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Knight (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Sonja (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pitch Black (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Equilibrium (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Die Alone (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing: The London Assignment (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Justice League: Starcrossed the Movie (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Bounce (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zatoichi at Large (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Roast of Denis Leary: Uncensored (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: UFC Hits: Ultimate Fighting Championship (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Johnson Family Vacation (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Ten Yards (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fighting Temptations (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 2 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ladykillers (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dorm Daze (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Punisher (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Envy (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Walking Tall (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tupac: Resurrection (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Wedding (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicles of Riddick (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Full-screen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THX 1138: Special Edition (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bookies (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smallville: Season 3 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: God of Gamblers II (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: RahXephon (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimate Beginner Series: Keyboard Basics (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Better Luck Tomorrow (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cookout (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Justice League Unlimited: Saving the World (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alien vs. Predator (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Season 5 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stripperella: Season 1 (Uncensored) (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Greatest American Hero: Season 1 (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: After the Sunset (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intermission (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: World Poker Tour: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Flying Daggers (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Elektra (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade: Trinity (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of God (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Half Baked (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Living Color: Season 1 (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven Samurai (1954); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: In Living Color: Season 3 (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assault on Precinct 13 (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chappelle's Show: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Surfin' Shorts (1966); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Entourage: Season 1 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billabong Odyssey (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coach Carter (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Clone Wars: Vol. 1 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Step Into Liquid (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jay-Z: Fade to Black (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Volcano High (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Panic! (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RahXephon: The Motion Picture (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: World Poker Tour: Season 2 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sneakers (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shiri (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XXX: State of the Union (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Longest Yard (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost: Season 1 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Wolf Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Lewis Page; Review: The first chapter really grabs you and makes you wonder what happened. Then it slows down and tells you of how Elka ended up with Trapper. He teaches her how to survive in the post apocalyptic world. When she is 17 she learns a terrible secret about Trapper, the man she thought of as Daddy, he was a murderer! The Wolf Road is a very interesting cat and mouse game. As Elka trys to escape her tormenter you really connect to her. This is a nail biting, edge of your seat book that I am definitely going to read again. I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marked in Ink: A Tattoo Coloring Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Megan Massacre Page; Review: Marked in Ink: A Tattoo Coloring Book by Megan Massacre is the best adult coloring book i have seen so far. Megan Massacre a very talented tattoo artist has come out with an awesome idea to make tattoo designs into a coloring book. I love all the art from skulls, hearts, daggers, snakes, roses, mermaids, owls, and fairies. The book is high quality. The paper is thick so you can use markers, gel pens or paints and it will not bleed onto the next! Each page can also be removed so you can frame them when you're finished. I received this book from Blogging for Book for my honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodie Archer Page; Review: This is not a how-to book, and it won't tell you the secret of becoming a best-selling author. It shows what these books have in common that makes them bestsellers, from the small elements to how certain types of titles. This book wasn't what I thought it would be, but it was still an interesting read. I won this book off Goodreads for this review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Cron Page; Review: his book helped me work on what was missing in my story. I've already done some of the early exercises in the book and will continue to do the others. This book is easy to read and full of examples of how to apply the techniques. The author gives you the tools and steps to plan and finish a novel. Lisa Cron digs into your story, giving you insight into characters, backstory, and hooking the reader. I highly recommend this book to my friends who write.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killer Me: A Gripping, Psychological Thriller!; Author: Visit Amazon's Candace Osmond Page; Review: Alice Teller has a job and a life, but she hates it. But there is a serial killer on the loose. Alice soon sees a stranger that seems to be following her. Then Alice reports witnessing a man disposing the body. Detective Jonathan Murphy is tracking down the killer, and he is sure that Alice is the next person the killer will target. Jonathan and Alice try hard to make sure that she stays alive, but the killer keeps getting close and leaving presents. Alice continues to receive gifts, and thinks he is playing with her mind. As she tries to figure out what he wants from her, Jonathan becomes angrier because the killer keeps getting to close to her. The ending is unpredictable and open, making me hope that we visit Alice again. Killer Me is a psychological thriller that plays with your mind, and I highly recommend it to my friends because I know you'll love it like I did. I received this ebook from the author for my honest Review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elementals 5: The Hands of Time (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Madow Page; Review: This book, like the rest of the series, is really good and pulls you in until you finish. It's sad that the series is over, but I'm planning on buying physical copies for my ever expanding book collection.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slip (The Slip Trilogy) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's David Estes Page; Review: As a lover of dystopian fiction this is definitely a must read. Can wait til i can read the others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Haunting of Rosehaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher St. John Sampayo Page; Review: Welcome to Rosehaven, Louisiana. To the outside world its the typical small town, with football games every Friday night. Justin Tolbert has just moved to town and is starting to notice that the town has a dark secret. Why are all the streets named after kids? Why don't people talk about the past? I love urban legends and this book really went beyond what you normally get. Giving a past and present view of how everything connected within the town enhanced this book. I couldn't put this book down til it was finished. Its hard to believe this is his first book, and can't wait to read his other works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Untitled Beauty (Somewhere-in-Between) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's C.E. Wilson Page; Review: Imagine living in a world where everything was based on looks. Where if you're not a beauty, you are bought and sold like livestock. This is the world Eleven lives in. C.E. Wilson creates a very convincing story here, you can feel the pain and fear of Eleven as you read about her life. The small glimmer of hope Eleven has slowly turns into a fire as she learns more about her trainer and his past. I highly recommend that you read this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cruel and Unusual (Somewhere In-Between) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's C.E. Wilson Page; Review: Malcolm is part of Project Isolation on a remote island off Alaska. Even with another person on the island, Malcolm is lonely and uses art to occupy his time. Then one day a tiny woman with wings crashes into his side of the island. Verity 9 claim's that she was once human, but her memory is fuzzy about her past. C.E. Wilson, again, pulls me into the world she created and it didn't let go until I finished the book. The characters are very well written, they come to life as if they're sitting in front of you telling the story. This is only the 2ed book I've read from C.E. Wilson, and I NEED more! I would and will recommend that everyone I know read her books. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest Review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Into the Darkness (Darkness Falls) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kira Adams Page; Review: The book was a little hard for me to get into in the beginning. It turns into a fast paced read before to long. Overall it's a good start to a series, and I'm hoping to read the rest to find out how it all ends.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Boy with Words; Author: Visit Amazon's C.E. Wilson Page; Review: C.E. Wilson really knows how to write a book that grabs you and won't let go until you're finished. Another great read from her that I hope to soon have in my physical book collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chromozone - Flesh and Blood (The Sinister Series Book 1) eBook; Author: Paul D Roberts; Review: I've never been a big Zombie fan, but this is one i really like. Good start to a series, can't wait to read more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood of Eden: The Guardians (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's JJ King Page; Review: I really liked this book, looking forward to reading the rest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avis Blackthorn and the Ring of Enchantment; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Simmonds Page; Review: I liked this book, will be reading to my son when he's older. On to the next :-); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avis Blackthorn: Is Not An Evil Wizard!: (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Simmonds Page; Review: Really good book and start to a series. It's a unique take on a young wizard going to school to learn more. I received this book free for this review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avis Blackthorn and the Magical Multicolour Jumper: (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Simmonds Page; Review: The series gets better with each book. Couldn't put it down until I got to the end. I received this book for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Road; Author: kathy Dinisi; Review: Do you like hiking? If you do you might think twice about going hiking again after reading this. Good, quick and scary read that really makes you wonder what is following you through the woods as you walk.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hell Bound: A world Apart - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Dinisi Page; Review: I am totally in love with this series and I'm normally into zombie books. Can't wait to read the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modified: Book One in the Manipulated Series; Author: Visit Amazon's Harper North Page; Review: Interesting book and a quick read. Can't wait to see what happens next. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Seekers (Order of the Lily) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Cait Ashwood Page; Review: The book started out a little slow but it picked up and made it hard to put it down. A very unique fantasy novel and great characters. I volunteered to review an ARC copy of this book; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Order of the Lily (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Cait Ashwood Page; Review: This series keeps getting better. I really like the dystopian world in this book and the characters are believable. The story is fast paced and always makes you wonder what is going to happen next. Can't wait to read the next book. I volunteered to review an ARC copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silently into the Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Candace Osmond Page; Review: What if Death gave you 3 more days to live, what would you do? This was a great story and it really captured a mother/daughter relationship. The fact that the daughter falls in love with Death adds an extra twist. This book is a must read. I received an ARC for this review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Children Of The Future; Author: Visit Amazon's Jane Suen Page; Review: A whole school full of children and the teachers disappear and everyone in town is looking for them. This book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't stop until I finished. I really liked the small town setting and having grown up in one I was drawn right it. It did leave me with some questions, but overall was a good read. I volunteered for an ARC copy of this book for this review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster Pals: Cute Rhyming Bedtime Story for Kids; Author: Visit Amazon's Arnie Lightning Page; Review: My 3 year old son loves this book, he wants me to read it to him again. The illustrations are cute and the description of each monster it poem form kept my sons attention.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden Island (Tales from Mysterion) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Garcia Morgan Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. The author description really pulled you right in as if you were in the story yourself. Definitely would recommend people to read this. I volunteered for an ARC copy for this review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wiggly the Worm: Bedtime Stories for Kids (Fun Time Series for Early Readers); Author: Visit Amazon's Arnie Lightning Page; Review: My son loved the stories in this book, I like how each story teaches a lesson. Definitely adding this to our bedtime story list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wiggly the Worm: Fun Short Stories for Kids (Early Bird Reader Book 1) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Arnie Lightning Page; Review: My son loved the stories in this book, I like how each story teaches a lesson. Definitely adding this to our bedtime story list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avatars Rising: SILOS I; Author: Visit Amazon's David R. Bernstein Page; Review: I loved this book! I could not put it down once I started, and couldn't get it out of my head once I finished. Can't wait to read book 2. This is definitely a must read for all my friends. I volunteered for an ARC copy for my honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horrorstor: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Grady Hendrix Page; Review: This is a good book, I like how it has a catalog feel to it. Definitely a unique take on hauntings and working in retail.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BigFoot Goes On Vacation: A Spectacular Seek and Find Challenge for All Ages! (Bigfoot Search and Find) (Happy Fox; Author: Visit Amazon's D.L. Miller Page; Review: I read this to my son for a bedtime story, he loved it. I thought it was a really cute book. My son is also going nuts over the seek and find part of the books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom; Author: Terry Blas; Review: May 12, 2018 edit it was amazing Really liked this book and how they included lgbt+ in to the storyline. The illustrations were good and each character was unique. I'd be interested to see if anymore books are written about Camp Bloom.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baby Teeth: A Novel; Author: Zoje Stage; Review: Hanna is the seven year old daughter of Alex and Suzette, she adores her daddy but not mommy. Suzette is a stay at home mom who sees a side of Hana that Alex doesn't see. She feels there is something wrong with Hanna, besides being non-verbal. The years of Hanna being expelled from school and homeschooling have driven Suzette to the brink of insanity. The characters felt like they were pulled out of the real world and none of them are likeable, which worked well for this book. While reading I seriously wanted to slap each one of them. Alex was completely oblivious to the fact his little angel was actually a monster and he never believed Suzette when she would tell him the things Hanna did. Suzette seemed very selfish, being a single mother I understand wanting alone time but the things Suzette thought at times were a tad overboard. Hanna was also selfish but also dangerous, she wanted her father all to herself and would do anything to get rid of her mom. This book is told in alternating points of view between Suzette and Hanna, which was done well and wasn't confusing at all. Reading the chapters from Hanna's point of view was very convincing that they were from a highly intelligent, not quite mentally well seven year old. There are many terrifying and dysfunctional moments and a lot of disturbing thoughts by Hanna in this book. I feel this book would fit better in the horror genre then thriller because Hanna was very manipulative and diabolical. It takes you down the hole of a dysfunctional family that just keeps getting darker and darker. How could a child be so evil and have no emotions about hurting someone who loves them? Some points made this book hard to read because of the emotions that flowed from every word. The ending is kind of open, making me wonder if we will see Hanna again...I really hope we do! This is definitely not a book for everyone because it's hard to see a child that way. Overall this book was very well written and kept me turning the page. With this being Zoje Stage's first novel she did an amazing job and has a promising future in the book industry. I'm really looking forward to see what she comes out with next. If you like psychological thrillers or horror, where I feel this book belongs, this is definitely the book for you. Go ahead read it, you won't regret it...or maybe you will.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Phase Exodus (Anchora); Author: Visit Amazon's Jason Werbeloff Page; Review: Love this book! Great to catch up with some familiar characters. Can't wait to read the next one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hostal La Plata; City: Madrid; Review: Staff were very pleasant and nice. Hotel is in a building which has a number of small hotels in it. Close to Grand Via metro stop. My room was on the second floor and there is a small internal staircase which you have to carry your bags upstairs. Room was reasonable for what I was paying. I had a twin room so was able to unpack on the second bed. Bathroom was cosy. The building has a night guard. If you arrive home after 11 you have to ring the bell and show the guard the piece of paper the hotel gave you. He will escort you to the hotel and get you the room key. Hotel was happy to organise the aerobus to pick me up and take me to the airport. Word of advise if you stay at any of the hotels in the building, when exiting the building, turn right and walk up the next street rather than left. The street the metro stop is on has a large number of prostitutes plying their trade. The other street is much more pleasant to walk up and down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel San Francisco Ronda; City: Ronda Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: Hotel was nice and clean and had been renovated recently. Staff pleasant and spoke english. Hotel is close to bus station but a bit of a hike to the train so we got a taxi. Its located 3 blocks from all the action. Would recommend it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Hispano Argentino; City: Madrid; Review: Booked the hotel directly. Pleasant to deal with via email however thats where it ended. The require you to pay on checking in. I assume this would be because people have left during their booking. Rooms are incredibly small and I have stayed in some small hotels. Rooms have double glazing (internal and external window and blackout shutters in beween that you can lower at night. However it does not block any of the noise and Grand Via is noisy. They have a small terrace - assume this is where breakfast was served as we had a room backing on to it and were woken every morning to people talking loudly at 8.30am (great when you have been out till 4). Bathroom - very tiny! Rooms however were cleaned well each day. Building is secure at night after 11. You have to ring the doorbell and be escorted to the hotel by the night guard. The building contains about 10 hotels of sorts. Owner is more than happy to help you get to the airport as long as you want a taxi. Will not help call the AeroBus, in fact actively discourages you to get the metro, bus, etc. I had asked him to book me a taxi for 6.45am to take me to the train station (while leaving my friend to sleep on before checking out later). Was picked up obviously by some "mate of his" who wanted to charge me 17 euro to drive me the 5 minutes to the train station. He actively discourages my friend to get the aerobus (17-20 euro) pushed my friend to get a taxi telling her it would be "no more than 28 euro" - maybe a 6am but certainly not 3pm with Madrid traffic. I stayed a few weeks later at another hotel in the same building and had such a different visit. Recommend you stay somewhere else.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hostal La Ninfa; City: Granada Province of Granada Andalucia; Review: Great little hotel in Granada. A little out of the main tourist area - 5 min walk to the main square. Friendly staff who were very helpful. The rooms are quaint but comfortable. Best bed I had the whole trip through Spain. Local bars nearby which was handy. Can get a little noisy. I was there for National Day and there was a festival going on in the square near me - however earplugs solved the issue. The hotel does close the doors during siesta however ring the bell and someone comes to let you in. Recommend the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Aneto; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: Stayed here with a friend in Sept 2007. Had a top floor room which is fine as they have worlds tiniest lift but means you don't have to carry the bags up the stairs. Room was a decent size and looked out onto the street overlooking the park. Bathrooms are smallish - had a bath but it was about halfsized. Staff were friendly. Can be a little noisy on Friday/Saturday nights due to the local bars which are open until 5 but with the airconditioner on it was fine. Well located, just a minute off Las Rambla and about 5 minutes walk from Airport Bus. Lots of bars and tapas places close by. We found we ended up spending more time in Raval than any other area - the other side of Las Rambla was a lot more "touristy" than our side. Definately recommend if you are looking for a nice resonably priced hotel not smack in the middle of the tourist area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Alcantara; City: Seville Province of Seville Andalucia; Review: Stayed in October with a friend. All I can say is stay here. The hotel was lovely. The rooms were decent sized and overlooked the internal courtyard. We had a twin room and had plenty of room to move around and spread our stuff out. Staff were friendly and pleasant. The hotel is located on a pedestrian street so nice and quiet. Outside the front door is a flamenco show however the night we had thought to do it, it was raining and there was a huge crowd so we gave it a miss. Breakfast was extra. We only used it on our last day as we had an early bus to catch however was a good breakfast. Very reasonably priced for the quality. One of our favourite hotels on our trip. Would definately stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel; City: Singapore; Review: Spent a week at the Grand Copthorne for a business trip. Arrived about 12.30am and found the staff very pleasant to deal with at that hour. Was quickly in my room and in bed. Broadband was available and easy to access, wireless was available in the ground floor restaurant. Had a buffet breakfast one day and it was standard hotel fare. Dinner on the first night at the Italian restaurant was disappointing. Gym was being refurbished however I was out every night so it didn't effect me. Hotel is about a 15 minute walk from Clarke Quay. I walked home along the river 2 nights with no issues. Wasn't effected by the building noise next door and I overlooked the site. Perfectly suitable for business trips.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: Loved this hotel. Staff are friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Stayed for almost 2 weeks for work. Meals were always of an excellent standard. The Spa is outstanding, Would recommend anyone to stay here,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phuket Graceland Resort Spa; City: Patong Kathu Phuket; Review: Went for a weekend to see a friend who was staying at the Phuket Graceland. Hotel is well located on Patong Beach, walking distance to everything. Staff were polite on check in. Room was a decent size with 2 double beds and large bathroom. It did however look out over what I assume was the staff quarters. But I did pay SG$80 a night so I wasn't expecting the penthouse suite. And reality is I just slept in the room. Resort is lovely with 2 pools. Breakfast buffet was included and had plenty of everything for everyone. One complaint was there was no safe in the room and had to use the safe down in the reception. This was a bit of drama as they charge you to use it - individual safety deposit boxes. I had an early flight and had booked a taxi to collect me, not a lot of help around at that time of morning. I just stood around until someone approached me which turned out to be my driver. I'd stay here again if I went back; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alam Shanti; City: Ubud Gianyar Regency Bali; Review: Having just returned from our weekend at Alam Shanti I can not say enough good things about staying here. We arrived late in the evening and had arranged for them to meet us at the airport. When we arrived the office had closed and we were shown straight to our room. We sorted out registratiion the next morning. We had Yamuna and WOW. It was so nice and homey and we loved our HUGE balcony with 2 day beds. The perfect place to lounge with a book and watch the rice grow in the rice paddy. The gardens were beautiful and the pool stunning. Breakfast was delivered to our balcony each morning with a smile. Tthe staff were lovely and nothing was too much trouble. Two day we walked into Ubud and when we were tired we had the cafe call and got them to come collect us. They would drop us off and pick us up from dinner with just a call. The perfect place for a peaceful getaway with a friend which is what we wanted. Will definitely go back again. Our only complaint was all the rooms were full as we would have loved to have looked at them all. I'd say I'd love to book another room next time but I suspect I will take Yamuna again since I loved it so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Shinjuku; City: Kabukicho Shinjuku Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: I arrived into Shinjuku via airport bus and hopped straight into a cab and it took him only a few minutes to find the hotel. Once settled in I worked out it was only a brief walk from the station but to find it initially would have been hard on foot. When I left I walked to the station with my luggage in about 10 minutes Hotel was very clean and the staff welcoming and friendly. Room was smallish but I expected that. It was fine for me to move around in easily. Rooms are stylish and well appointed. a light breakfast was bought up to me each morning. TV is only in Japanese however this was common across the entire of Japan I found Great location with everything on your doorstep. Would definately stay here again and recommend to friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel; City: Ariake Koto Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: I booked here thinking I would see a different part of Tokyo. I suspect most of their patrons are office workers in the nearby towers or here for conferences at Big Sight. I arrived via the monorail over the rainbow bridge. There is also a train line close by as well. I spent the afternoon and evening wandering around the area, dined at one off the restaurants in the shopping centre (first stop over the bridge on the monorail) and walked along the beach - who even know Tokyo had a beach. Room was larger than expected and standard business hotel style. Staff were friendly when I needed assistance. I booked the airport bus to take me back to Narita and felt a bit silly as I had a huge 40 seater bus to myself. Took about 50 minutes to Narita but traffic was light. Breakfast was buffet. Combination of Japanese and western. Plenty to eat. Wouldn't recommend staying here if youo want to see all the bright lights of tokyo however if you are going to Disney or Big Sight then it would be fine.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori; City: Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: Hotel is a very convenient 5 minute stroll from the station and bus station. I usually would never stay near the train station as they are usually int he worst parts of town however we are in Japan so its all safe. I arrived in the morning so couldn't check in until 3 which was fine, they stored my luggage and I strolled back to the station where the 10 story Isetan was located. The english speaking information centre is based in here on the 9th floor so I stopped there to get some maps and use their internet. As it was raining i stayed in the area. I wandered back to check in at 3 and then as it had stopped raining headed out to see Kyoto. The rooms were the smallest I had the entire trip. Not a lot of room for luggage. However they were fine. Given i was only sleeping here I don't get too worried about the room size. Staff always smiled and nodded when i walked through the lobby. There is a bath on the top floor. I didn't go up however I did regularly seem to end up in the lift with men in robes so some people were definately using it. If you are sightseeing then you will need to be on the buses so being located near the bus station is useful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Angkor Holiday Hotel; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: Angkor Holiday Hotel was a good basic hotel. Staff were friendly, room was huge. Breakfast was included and has a decent buffet. Most people are up early for the temple so its pretty busy at 6am when it opens. The pool was a very welcome relief after a hot morning or afternoon at the temples. The hotel is walking distance to Pub Street or a short tuk tuk ride. There is a supermarket across the road.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dream Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: The Dream is a little hiden oasis just off Sukhumvit. Its far enough that its peaceful and quiet but only a 2 minute walk back to the main road. Unlike the previous reviewer I didn't find the street spooky or unlit. There are street lights and people around the entire time. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. I stayed in Dream 2 which was across the road. We had the pool on level 11 and it was lovely though Ididn't get time to use it. The room was a good size and well maintained with lovely toiletries. Breakfast was in the main Dream building in the restaurant. A good selection on the buffet and excellent coffee though an expresso would have been better. The spa is lovely and the staff there welcoming as always in Thailand. There is free internet in the lobby and wireless in both lobbies and by the pool. Possibly my only grip is not wireless in the rooms, it was by LAN cable only. Definately my hotel of choice in Bangkok. Will be back next time I am in town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Lila; City: Mendoza Province of Mendoza Cuyo; Review: We absolutely loved staying at Casa Lila. Mariela, Pablo and Olivia treated us like it was home. The rooms are comfortable and little deck area downstairs was lovely to sit in. We were only a short walk to everything. Mariela had marked up our map of places to go eat and things to do. Nothing was too much trouble, including helping us seal a box of wine we had collected along our way, to get it back to the airport. Breakfast was plentiful and they have a lovely lounge area you can sit and use as well. Olivia greeted us everytime we came back and she can never have too much patting. I would definately stay here again and recommend anyone who is heading to Mendoza to do the same; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Torreblanca; City: Lima Lima Region; Review: I stayed at Hostel Torreblanca for one night as a stop over in Lima, Was met at the airport and transfered to the hotel. Hotel is one block from the beach and its lovely to walk along the top of the cliffs. Room was a good size, faced inwards to the courtyard so was quiet and peaceful. Buffet breakfast was provided in the morning, Eggs, bacon, rolls, coffee, fruit etc. Staff were friendly, marked on my maps some local restaurants , supermarkets, ATM's. They stored my bags all day and arranged a tranfer back to the airport which was great. If I was going back to Milaflores I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Te ora; City: Easter Island; Review: Unfortunately like many others I couldn't manage to stay with Sharon at Te'ora however she helped me arrange to stay with Oriana one of her managers. I stayed in a lovely little bungalow on Oriana's property. I was met at the airport by Kia and she organised me to be taken to Oriana then to come back to Te'Ora for orientation and then gave me the guided tour of the town which was great. The mud map was very useful and helpful and others that I showed it to on my tours also thought so. Ori Ana was lovely to stay in. I had a full kitchen if I wanted to cook and what was the most comfortable bed I think I have ever slept in. Ori Ana was only a few minutes wallk to everything which was great and it was nice and peaceful in such a residental area. The only problem was the driveway was very dark to walk down at night though it was perfectly safe. So carry torch! So if you can't get in to Te'Ora I would certainly recommend Ori Ana; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mansilla 3935 B B; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Was greeted by lovely friendly owner and her daughter and was able to get my room immediately and leave my luggage. B&B was very homey. Room was adequate with a single bed, desk, wardrobe and ensuite however for one night it was ok. The B&B is located in a nice area of Palermo with plently of restaurants around. However this isn't the place to stay if you want to go out late at night as you are required to leave the key and ring the doorbell to get in.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Casona les Pleiades; City: Cusco Cusco Region; Review: I stayed here for 5 nights and loved it. The staff are all very friendly and full of advice. Philippe is just so friendly and lovely. I had a top floor room with a little window that looked out over the city. The room was spacious and comfortable and the bed had several blankets on it so you didn't get cold. Just watch your head on some of the beams. There is a little tv room/lounge downstairs and as others have mentioned the internet is strongest if you are here however I did used it several times from on the chairs on the internal balconies and issues. Great location in a quiet pedestrian street. You can hear a little music from the streets but not overly noisy. They are about a 10 minute walk uphill from the main plaza. They are happy to help organise any tours you may want to do. I would stay here again definately; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B B Plaza Italia; City: Mendoza Province of Mendoza Cuyo; Review: Although we were unable to stay at Plaza Italia we did book the wine tour with Javier and I highly recommend it to everyone. The first 2 wineries we were the only people there so it was private tours and tasting. Lunch at Ruca Malan was lovely and the views spectacular. The 5 wineries we did were all different and each of their tours were different so we learnt a lot. It was a great day with a small group and definately worth it. So even if you can't get a room booking, do the wine tour!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Santiago Airport; City: Santiago Santiago Metropolitan Region; Review: Like everyone else I got in late and had an early flight the next morning. The holiday inn is literally out the door of the terminal. Checkin was quick and easy and room was huge, spotless and comfortable. Restaurant is a little slow. The rooms are quiet and I didn't hear a sound all night. The best part was I was able to sleep in the next morning before strolling back to the terminal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sebel Manly Beach; City: Manly Greater Sydney New South Wales; Review: The Sebel is centrally located only 2 blocks from the main area but far enough away to be peaceful. I arrived by Ferry and it was only a 5 minute walk up from the pier. Room was clean however quite basic for the rates they are charging. Staff were friendly and helpful. There are 2 towers, I was in the second tower which requires you to exit the building and walk down an alley to access the second building which as I was travelling alone was a little concerning. Certainly a good place to stay in Manly however.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: Stayed 1 night at the Sydney Hilton. The hotel is very centrally located with the train station just across the road and buses out the front and the mall just 1 block away. The rooms are clean and modern and well appointed. The block out blind were fabulous. Free Wifi is available in the foyer which was sufficient for me to download what I needed. Had a drink in Glass's bar and service was quick and efficient. Had a massage in the spa prior to checking out which was wonderful. Highly recommend for a weekend stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn at the Shore; City: Seaside Oregon; Review: Had a lovely couple days at the beach after leaving Portland and Willamette Valley where it had been 95 degrees. Room was a good size and clean. So lovely to walk along the beach or the prom into town. Spent the afternoons on our balcony with cheese and wine. Couldn't think of a better place to be. There is a small grocery store up the street for snacks. We were there leading into the 4th July so it was busy in town but you wouldn't have known it where we were. Would definitely stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites McMinnville; City: McMinnville Oregon; Review: Stayed here 2 nights while doing the wineries in Willamette Valley. Standard comfort inn. Beds were comfy. Evening staff member was pleasant. The warm cookies around 7pm were lovely. Highlight of the stay was meeting a local who was walking his giant Saint Bernard dog both nights. Very very friendly puppy! Hotel is only a couple minutes in the car to downtown McMinnville My friend used the indoor pool one evening. Rooms were clean and tidy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kamalaya Koh Samui; City: Laem Set Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: Just back from a 7 day stay. It is just a wonderful, calm, peaceful place that I can't recommend enough. The staff are all friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble. The treatments are wonderful - I did the relax and renew package and by the end was massaged out which I didn't think was possible. Both restaurants serve lovely healthy meals which I enjoyed. It is built into a hillside which is great at the top of the hill with lovely views however there is a very steep section if you are coming up from the pool/beach. I worked out it was easier to come up the other side and then come up the steps into the main building. Stayed in a hillside room which was lovely however didn't get much in the way of breeze as the yoga pavilion blocks it. Would recommend you pay the little extra and get a sea view room. Due to the time of year the beach was not great - High tide was in the evening however I am not a beachy person. I found I had the pool to myself a lot. Everyone is usually coming and going to the wellness centre so even if the pool is busy it clears out quickly. Would come back again in a heartbeat. Just what i needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ambassador Transit Hotel Terminal 2; City: Singapore; Review: Flew in around 1am with a connecting flight the next morning so elected to stay the night. Rooms are basic but the beds are comfortable and rooms are clean. A wakeup call can be booked allowing you time to have a shower before checking out. Rooms had soap/shampoo etc. Have stayed once before years ago and it was just as I remembered. Book in advance though as they are busy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Falcon Manor Hotel; City: Settle Yorkshire Dales National Park North Yorkshire England; Review: An excellent recently renovated Manor House. The room although small was lovely with comfortable beds. The food was delicious and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Recommended for a stay if you are in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton London Paddington; City: London England; Review: Stayed here 3 nights due to an unexpected change in plans. As a HH member who booked online I had free wifi included. Arrived by taxi to be greeted by no one. Had to haul my bags out by myself and carry them inside. Doormen seem to be non existent. Arrived to bedlam as a tour group had just arrived and although the manager was calling out names and handing out room keys they were all still lining up to check in. There was no allocated check in queue for HH members so was required to wait until they all left. I had checked in online and selected my room which was great, had managed to pick the one farthest from the lifts in a dead end so I had no foot traffic or noise. Room was large and comfortable and the bed was very comfortable. I had an executive room which gave me access to the lounge for breakfast and cocktail hour which was great. Had a drink in the Steam bar and wouldn't recommend it. As it is located at Paddington station it was simple to exit through the back entrance into the station for the Heathrow Express. For the convenience I would stay here again however I would expect the hotel to lift its game.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Panwa Boutique Beach Resort; City: Cape Panwa Phuket; Review: I arrived quite late at night however the front desk was waiting for me and had me in my room in a matter of minutes. My first impressions the next morning was the resort was a little dated however the pool and beach were excellent. I had a seaview room which was definitely worth it for the views. However the rooms are the closest to the road so there is some noise. Didn't worry me however I was at the far end which meant I wasn't impacted by the buses coming and going with tour groups who seemed to stay the night and then leave. The resort is isolated so if you are looking to party this is not the place. I would spend my mornings swimming in the sea and then in the afternoon when the tide went out, everyone would just swim in the pool. Sunsets are spectacular and I would usually end the day with dinner and a few drinks at the beach bar which is only a few metres down the beach. Staff were friendly. Special mention to Darwan in the Spa who does wonderful massages. I would stay here again if I was looking for a few days of relaxation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crown Towers Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Stayed recently in a suite which was just stunning. Certainly the best room I have ever had. Room had a lovely view and the facilities where superb with a lovely lounge and huge bathroom. Would stay here again in a heartbeat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outrigger Gold Coast; City: Burleigh Heads Gold Coast Queensland; Review: Stayed here for a weekend in a renovated superior room. Room was clean, had a nice balcony overlooking the back of the property (sea glimpses). Staff were friendly. Bed was very comfortable and so were the pillows. Nice walk down the beach to Burleigh Heads. Would stay here again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Auckland; City: Auckland Central North Island; Review: Only stayed overnight however a lovely hotel. Greeted in the driveway, checkin staff were friendly. Room was spacious, unfortunately I had an inward facing room so no fabulous views. Concierge was helpful booking a dinner reservation for me and giving me directions (and an umbrella in case of rain). Would stay again in Auckland; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aaman Cinta Luxury Guesthouse Villas; City: Byron Bay Byron Shire New South Wales; Review: After a delightful 4 day weekend in Byron, coming home each night to our villa was a treat. Large private rooms with such comfortable beds and the facilities of a private house. Veronica provides a delicious breakfast, go for the muesli and don't miss out on a muffin. A short stroll into town means you can leave your car behind and not have to fight for parking. Close to the beach which was lovely for a morning walk in the sun. Would stay again in a heartbeat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Joy Nostalg Manila Managed by AccorHotels; City: Pasig Metro Manila Luzon; Review: Stayed at the Hotel for a business trip. The rooms were large and spacious with kitchen. The hotel was comfortable however the building construction noise from the site across the road continues all night. Would recommend they don't allocate the front rooms as they get the worst of the noise. Restaurant and Bar were both good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ITC Rajputana Jaipur a Luxury Collection Hotel; City: Jaipur Jaipur District Rajasthan; Review: Lovely hotel for a quick weekend getaway while on a business trip. The foyer is quite grand and lovely art work around the hotel. Room was comfortable. Recommended for a trip to Jaipur and the surrounds; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Black Book (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 2 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Basic Instinct (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tootsie (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taking Lives (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chappelle's Show: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 4 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Major League (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 1 (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Better Off Dead (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nine to Five (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 3 (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Golden Pond (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Control Room (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Planes (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wayne's World (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heathers (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 6 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 2 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days Later (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now Redux (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic Pizza (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Glory (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Simpsons Gone Wild (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Passion of the Jew (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hope Floats (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Girl (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 3 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: One Hour Photo (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: St. Elmo's Fire (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Circle of Friends (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jewel of the Nile (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Chill (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Doors (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Romancing the Stone (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Bring the Pain (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone with the Wind: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Feet Under: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jackie Brown: Collector's Series (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An American Werewolf in London (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 4 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gorillas in the Mist (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 5 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hoosiers (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Extreme Edition (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 12 Angry Men (1957); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: All About Eve (1950); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Score (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Risky Business (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frequency (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friday the 13th: Part 4: The Final Chapter (1984); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 5 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: October Sky (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Mom (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terms of Endearment (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bull Durham (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Fish Called Wanda (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raging Bull (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memphis Belle (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Drive (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Buck (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Gun (1988); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Labyrinth (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: School Ties (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City of Angels (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Three Amigos (1986); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 2 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Insider (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Born on the Fourth of July (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raw (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 8 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Karate Kid (1984); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Drugstore Cowboy (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Birdcage (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet Joe Black (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Exorcist (1973); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Out of Time (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clueless (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Some Like It Hot (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 5 (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Bronx Tale (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 2 (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rebecca (1940); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I Heart Huckabees (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boyz N the Hood (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Superman: The Movie (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sirens (1994); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moonstruck (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lilies of the Field (1963); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 25th Hour (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pollyanna (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ordinary People (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Overboard (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Broadcast News (1987); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Die For (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Right Stuff (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepers (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 7 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saved! (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unfaithful (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Untouchables (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Real Genius (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adventures in Babysitting (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of April (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harvey (1950); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flirting with Disaster (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Four Rooms (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The NeverEnding Story (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Crystal (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: To Sir (1966); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Witness (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Girl (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Slums of Beverly Hills (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Say Anything (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: West Side Story (1961); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maverick (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kingpin (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New York Minute (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: In Good Company (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Never Scared (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alfie (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: XXX: State of the Union (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kissing Jessica Stein (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Brasco (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pollock (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Gift (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hollow Man (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The 6th Day (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rounders (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nip/Tuck: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life or Something Like It (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Pledge (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Two Ninas (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Laurel Canyon (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Frailty (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Empire of the Sun (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eyes Wide Shut (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stir of Echoes (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rainmaker (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy Quest (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Benny and Joon (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Changing Lanes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Return to Paradise (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fifteen Minutes (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Animal Crackers (1930); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sandlot (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Longest Yard (1974); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Half Baked (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Mighty Wind (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Footloose: Special Collector's Edition (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dances With Wolves: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Other Sister (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Fever (1977); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Basketball Diaries (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Walk to Remember (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: It Could Happen to You (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Smoke Signals (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cooler (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion in Winter (1968); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Menace II Society (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Heart Is (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Beast (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky III (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Friday (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Grapes of Wrath (1940); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Weird Science (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Affair to Remember (1957); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: And the Band Played On (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Three Stooges: Cops and Robbers (1936); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Places in the Heart (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Simon Birch (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: White Men Can't Jump (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Country (1958); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Down With Love (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Much Ado About Nothing (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Suicide Kings (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lone Star (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heidi (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coal Miner's Daughter: Collector's Edition (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ruthless People (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brian's Song (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Miracle Worker (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Albino Alligator (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kalifornia (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A River Runs Through It (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Lot Like Love (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Emergency!: Season 1 (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hide and Seek (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Ring Two (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bride and Prejudice (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Duplex (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Game (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wild Things (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Baby Boom (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Private Parts (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guarding Tess (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Affliction (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Heat: Special Edition (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mad Love (1995); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mask: Director's Cut (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Calendar Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Simple Plan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fools Rush In (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Arthur (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: With Honors (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Story (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lantana (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rings (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Honkytonk Man (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wag the Dog (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Can't Buy Me Love (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Apostle (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Little Women (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: State and Main (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Girls (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Play Misty for Me (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Truman Show (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Fine Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: For Love of the Game (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dazed and Confused (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What About Bob? (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Life Without Me (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shine (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Return to Me (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cure (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: When a Man Loves a Woman (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Always (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clue (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spellbound (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iron Jawed Angels (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One True Thing (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Not Without My Daughter (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Vanishing (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Addicted to Love (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Murphy's Romance (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: Special Edition (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don Juan De Marco (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Honeymoon in Vegas (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (1960); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Summer School (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snow Falling on Cedars (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Picture Perfect (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Orange County (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Calm (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gods and Monsters (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Grave (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pleasantville (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Married to the Mob (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 8 Mile (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Blue Heaven (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Only You (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: French Kiss (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Life (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man in the Moon (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Annie: Special Anniversary Edition (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clash of the Titans (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Like Water for Chocolate (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pride and Prejudice (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Opposite of Sex (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Parent Trap (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Little Princess (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saw (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Mike Myers (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crash (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Insomnia (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Willow (1988); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Grudge (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Story (1970); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swiss Family Robinson (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dreamcatcher (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Working Girl (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Three Kings (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Apes (1968); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Love Bug (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Away (1979); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rambo: First Blood: Ultimate Edition (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Parent Trap (1961); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eye for an Eye (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nip/Tuck: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fever Pitch (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Something to Talk About (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride 2 (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Date (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crash (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Advocate (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Longest Yard (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Anger (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mask of Zorro (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radio Flyer (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Supper (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Interpreter (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Birthday Girl (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Betty (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kicking & Screaming (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Amityville Horror (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Human Stain (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Psycho (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bewitched (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dinner with Friends (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Overnight Delivery (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cruel Intentions (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fear (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Laws of Attraction (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wimbledon (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Band of Brothers (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostage (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Firestarter (1984); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hysterical Blindness (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: True Colors (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The High and the Mighty (1954); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rudy (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citizen X (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo '66 (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gidget (1959); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All of Me (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Blues Brothers: Extended Cut (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: April Fool's Day (1986); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Mask: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Biloxi Blues (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stealing Home (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joshua (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pure Country (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bad Seed (1956); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Purple Rain: Special Edition (1984); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Watcher in the Woods (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thrill of It All! (1963); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: That Thing You Do! (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (1969); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Badge (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Running on Empty (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life of David Gale (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stella (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anne of Green Gables (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gloria (1980); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Buddy Holly Story (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mark of Zorro (1940); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mermaids (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Loverboy (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rope (1948); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hello Again (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shattered (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Seven Year Itch (1955); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chances Are (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gridlock'd (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: She's Out of Control (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Affair (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Women of Brewster Place (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sliding Doors (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alive (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: For Love or Money (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mad Hot Ballroom (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prefontaine (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Tell Anyone (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Package (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tin Cup (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The War (1994); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Contender (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amistad (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Perfect Murder (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Racing with the Moon (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sure Thing: Special Edition (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Plump Fiction (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Long Walk Home (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Milagro Beanfield War (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kathy Griffin: Allegedly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Separate But Equal (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Melinda and Melinda (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Deep End of the Ocean (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Cool (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Made (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bed of Roses (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Animal Farm (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Intersection (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gracie's Choice (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Without Limits (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghosts of Mississippi (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pilot's Wife (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Affair (1939); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Losing Isaiah (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death to Smoochy (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Domestic Disturbance (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: For Keeps (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Chips (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 4 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Too (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hook (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Zone (1980); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Til There Was You (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Urban Cowboy (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rebecca (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: America's Sweethearts (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hocus Pocus (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flatliners (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Music of the Heart (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miami Rhapsody (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Chorus Line (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Falls (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pelican Brief (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Life Without Dick (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primary Colors (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trapped in Paradise (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dying Young (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Birth (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Object of My Affection (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Conspiracy Theory (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bridges of Madison County (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: White Man's Burden (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: She's So Lovely (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Time to Kill (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perfect (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Civil Action (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snake Eyes (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hurlyburly (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Satisfaction (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Mexican (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Far and Away (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Staying Alive (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Primal Fear (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Project X (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 48 Hrs. (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Battlefield Earth (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: I Love Trouble (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Arithmetic (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nicholas' Gift (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Practical Magic (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Valley Girl: Special Edition (1983); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Boy in the Plastic Bubble / The Harrad Experiment: Double Feature (1973); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Carrie (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Malice (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mad City (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dream for an Insomniac (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman Forever (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 3 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mary Reilly (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dogville (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Liaisons (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rock Star (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bye Bye Love (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Peacemaker (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 2 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Gigolo (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Thunder (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: If Lucy Fell (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: She's the One (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Now (1993); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Nemesis Game (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dolores Claiborne (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fallen (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Persuasion (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nothing to Lose (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were the Mulvaneys (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Great Expectations (Masterpiece Theatre) (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perfect Body (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moonlight Mile (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Less Than Zero (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The War of the Roses (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Evers' Boys (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flashdance (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsieur Verdoux (1947); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brokedown Palace (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spy Game (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bring It On (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Flies (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Far from Heaven (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arlington Road (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dream a Little Dream (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Firecracker (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Splendor (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casualties of War (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Witches of Eastwick (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crimes of the Heart (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vagina Monologues: Eve Ensler (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Evening Star (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anchors Aweigh (1945); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clay Pigeons (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Tansy's Titan: Cosmos' Gateway Book 3: Cosmos' Gateway Book 3; Author: Visit Amazon's S. E. Smith Page; Review: The book was very enjoyable and I couldn't put it down. I will reread it again in the future. I'll also recommend it to friends and family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Demon Hunters: Whisperings; Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Welch Page; Review: Loved Linda Welch books. I like how the characters flow from one book to another. The two characters are very loyal to each other no matter what is thrown there way. Very god read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Touched (The Marnie Baranuik Files); Author: Visit Amazon's A.J. Aalto Page; Review: Good but sometimes confusing! Read her other books, Sames thing confusing and too much fighting with FBI agent Batten. Ugh; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dragonlings' Easter: Dragonlings of Valdier Book 1.1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's S. E. Smith Page; Review: Loved, Loved, Loved this book. Was lots of fun for the kids and adult male Dragons look and find eggs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Ifs, Ands, or Bears About It: Paranormal BBW Romance (Grayslake) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Celia Kyle Page; Review: Loved the story. Well worth the money that I spent. Had to finish the book in one read. Great character interaction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien Species Intervention; Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Accinni Page; Review: I really like these book. I've already purchased books 4-6. Everything seems to flow and you get caught up with the survival of the characters. I really like this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The One; Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Accinni Page; Review: I stayed up last night until 2:30 to finish this book. What a twister. Love this series. I just bought the last book. Can't wait to start it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Aliens Weep; Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Accinni Page; Review: I will miss this series. I would love to see it go on with everyone on the new planet. Wow; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rafael (Stone Societ) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Faith Gibson Page; Review: Didn't want it to end. I hope we get to find out more about the "human" gargoyles. Next book please.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Given to the Savage; Author: Visit Amazon's Natasha Knight Page; Review: It makes you think of what life might be like in the future a beautiful love story. Need more! Wow; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: It's A Vampire Christmas (The Vampire Lords) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lia Davis Page; Review: It didn't have much to do with Christmas. More about battle between good and evil sisters. Needed more story line.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swan And The Bear: Furry United Coalition; Author: Visit Amazon's Eve Langlais Page; Review: Great story line. Great book. Loved the Series hope that there are more to write to add to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dragon's Appraiser; Author: Visit Amazon's Viola Rivard Page; Review: It's interesting how the love is developing between them. Makes you want to continue the story. Too bad it's short; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dragon's Appraiser; Author: Visit Amazon's Viola Rivard Page; Review: It was a good story that had more to tell. You were left hanging and I dislike those stories. Ugh; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When An Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Eve Langlais Page; Review: I've already ordered the second book of the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Viper's Defiant Mate: Sarafin Warriors Book 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's S. E. Smith Page; Review: I love all of S.E. Smith books. They are entertaining, sexy as hell and hot. I always watch for the next one to come out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dragonlings' Magical Christmas: Dragonlings of Valdier Book 1.3 (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's S. E. Smith Page; Review: I love when the kids go on their quest. The way they talk is absolutely wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Warrior's Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's S.E. Smith Page; Review: I always love S.E. Smiths books. I can't put them down. This was such a beautiful love story and more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Croc And The Fox: Furry United Coalition (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Eve Langlais Page; Review: Read each book in order. I hope that Eve Langlais adds more to these books. Maybe parents and children???; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lion and the Falcon (Furry United Coalition) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Eve Langlais Page; Review: Amazing Stories. I read them all within 3 days. Start with the first and keep going as old characters are added to each new book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien Under Cover; Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Dry Page; Review: What a sexy Alien. Yumm. Hope she continues with the Zyrgin Warrior Books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strictly Taboo; Author: Visit Amazon's Jaid Black Page; Review: I just love the Trek Mi Q'an Series. I hope that Jaid Black has more to add! You find out about Nancy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fusion (SciFi Alien Romance) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Calista Skye Page; Review: Book was good. Too short. Needed more time to develop the story. Then where will they go???; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Claiming Her Alien Warrior: Sci-fi Alien Warrior Invasion Romance (Warriors of the Lathar) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Mina Carter Page; Review: Finally she admired defeat, the adventure and SEX were fun and hot. I hope there are more of these books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Old Dragon of the Mountain's Christmas: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 9 (Volume 9); Author: Visit Amazon's S.E. Smith Page; Review: I have read and loved everyone of S E Smith's books. I look forward to more of her amazing stories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vampire's Shared Bride; Author: Visit Amazon's Bonnie Burrows Page; Review: What a beautiful love story Why do they always have a jealous and ridiculous person in these stories. Alas it enden with a healthy love between three people. Id love to see if Michael could produce a baby. Maybe another book by this author. Great read. I couldn't put the book down untl the end (which was at 2:00 in the morning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Girls Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Stef Ann Holm Page; Review: "I received this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review." This was a sweet romance. It started out pretty slow and built with the characters. There was a lot of description that I felt took away from the story. There was also the other story of the older couple that lets you know that love isn't just for the young. All in all it was a good book. I would recommend this book. Had a great ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Assassin's Kiss (Watcher's Kiss) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Kay Page; Review: "I received this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review." This is the first book I've read from Sharon Key it won't be the last book. There was so much action and adventure. Witches and demons. Scorpion and Tessa, can't say much but WOW. Was a great story and I would highly recommend it. Good vs. Evil. Treachery between friends. This story moved really well and I didn't want it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid for the Rock Star (Romance Island Resort) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Demelza Carlton Page; Review: This book was not my cup of tea. More for a teen than a 60 year old.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alien General's Bride: Alien Invasion Science Fiction Romance (Brion Brides); Author: Visit Amazon's Vi Voxley Page; Review: I really loved this book Makes me want to go and find an Alien General of my own. This book had adventure, intrigue, fighting and lots of steamy love. I can't wait to read the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raining Men and Corpses: A Raina Sun Mystery (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne R. Tan Page; Review: I gave the book a 4 only because of all the twist and turns. It was an enjoyable book and Grandma PoPo was delightful. There was just to much back and forth between Rainy and Matthew that drove me crazy. It was my first book by this author and I will watch out for others from her. It was light, no smut, lots of laughs and quite a few turns. Didn't see it coming. I would recommend this book to other reader that want a light hearted story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragonborn; Author: Visit Amazon's Jade Lee Page; Review: When I first started this story I wasn't sure I would like it. Here is a story of a warrior fighting dragons and humans. Hum. Then as I got into the story I found out when the Emperor and his dragon were killing everyone that opposed the Emperor. Natiya was busy hatching the Queen Dragon and the Warrior Kiril was trying to kill all the dragon from fear and ignorance. Turned out to be a really good story. I would recommend this book to other readers. Thank you Jade Lee for a great story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Toy; Author: Visit Amazon's Claire Thompson Page; Review: The book wasn't as bad as some of the reviews said. Yea, Gordon was a dick but Frank made up for Gordons anger. Each book is different to each reader.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Viking Sensitivity (Night World) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Gretchen S. B. Page; Review: "I received a copy of this book from e-Book Discovery in Exchange for my honest review." This is the first book I've every read by this author and I will have to admit that I really liked the story. There were a lot of twists and turns, lots of magic. I guess there is all ways going to be typos in the books we read and a few errors that you have to add your own words to make since of some things. It seemed as if Viking didn't have any idea on how to handle himself around Mia. I find that part really strange. I thought all men knew how to handle themselves.(HAHA) The story kept moving so you didn't get bored. I'm glad it had a happy ending and things worked out for everyone. I would recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. I will check out other books by this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prisoned; Author: Visit Amazon's Marni Mann Page; Review: I guess I expected something a little different I liked the story but it reminds you of the mob I liked when Kyle finally told the truth but it was gotten by torcher and violence. Someone that had grownup with that all her life. After finally telling the truth to Gavin then he decides not to kill her . Wow, what a guy. I guess I was confused until the end. That when the title of the book makes since. Plus she get a glimpse that her dream wasn't a dream.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amanda's Dominant Daddy; Author: Visit Amazon's Maggie Carpenter Page; Review: I just finished the book "Amanda's Dominate Daddy". I've read age play before but this book was very different. It seems as if Amanda didn't really know that she was a submissive and a Little Girl. It was really fun following her discovery with Braxton. Everything was so new to her and it was so sweet to go with her through the steps It was a very beautiful love story and so very fresh. The book wasn't over the top with all the erotic sex that some Age Play turns out to be. It unfolded in the most innocent way and just emerged. I felt as If I was experiencing everything with Amanda and that in itself was a turn on. I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to other readers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slave; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherri Hayes Page; Review: I have to say that when I started this book I wasn't sure of what it would be like. As the book develops you find out that her step father sold her for money at 17 and the person who bought her was a horrible person. I an so glad that Stephen bought Brianna and started the slow process of bringing her back to normal. (If she could ever be normal after what happened to her) I have no problems with the BDSM lifestyle as the books I've read don't burn and scar their subs. Ian was a sick person. I loved how slowly Stephen and Brianna developed their relationship with trust and understanding. It was very hard for Brianna to talk to Stephen because she wasn't sure if or when he would snap and hurt her. She had been broken by the damage Ian did to her. I will be thinking about this book as it was well written and the story was very gripping. God knows that this kind of thing happens more than we know. This book get you thinking about people like Ian and why they think they can do whatever they want to women because they have money. I loved this book and had to finish reading it to find out what was going to happen. As usual the author has split this into 4 different books so you will have to buy the other three to find out what is going to happen. As much as I liked this book if I had know that I had to buy 3 more books to finish the story. If you like spending money on more books to finish one story then I would recommend buying the the 4 pack (didn't know there was a 4 pack) which probably cost the same thing but you get the whole story at one time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ruthless (Fractured Farrells) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Mallory Crowe Page; Review: I received this book from e-book discovery for an honest review. I have never read any of Mallory Crowe's books before. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to finishing this series. I loved how Jean was so down to earth. Colin really was a prick at the beginning but the more he got to know Jean the more he started to care about her. I disliked her mother Katherine so much and was mad a Jean for putting up with her Mother. People like Jean all way get hurt and get used but it was really great to see Jean get the good news that she was part of the Farrell empire. I loved the ending and I recommend this book to other to grab while it's still free!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vaulcron (Enigma) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Ditter Kellen Page; Review: Received a copy of this book from Candid Book Reviews for an honest and fair review. This was an absolutely wonderful book. It's the first book I've read from Ditter Kellen and I loved it. I guess I started with the 3rd book but it was such a great story that it won't take me long to read the first two books. I loved that Mallory interviewed Vaulcron in the hopes of helping his people. As all ways our government has to be in the middle of a crises that has killed millions with a viral outbreak that is being blamed on the peaceful Bracadyte people. Anyone different than us is a threat. (Always happens) I love how she slipped away to fix the mess that happened with one of her camera crew.(what a creep) She saves the day. I would recommend this book. Great love story. I will definitely read more of Ditter Kellen's books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rise of Vlad (The Seeker) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Ditter Kellen Page; Review: I got a copy from Candid book reviews for an honest and fair review. This was such a great book that I stayed up till 2:00 a.m. to finish it. Vald was the greatest vampire but had become bored with his life. He finds a wolf on his property that has been shot and is in a bear trap and decides to put it out of it's misery. Well low and behold the Wolf changes into a Woman Nita and since Vampires and Wolf Shifters hate each other they start snipping at each other at once. Problem is they are both attracted to each other and Vald discovers that he can find himself growing(know what I mean) I don't like to give too much away but this is the second book of Ditter Kellen's books that I've read. I can't wait to grab another book of hers.. She has become another favorite author of mine. I would strongly recommend this book to all readers. Great Love story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shon (The Seeker) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Ditter Kellen Page; Review: I really love the books that Ditter Keller writes. This is the third book and I can't wait to read another. Shon and Laura remind me of two people who are so afraid of telling each other that they care about each other. Laura got into so much trouble trying to save Shon and her other Vampire Friends. I would recommend this book to all who love a great Vampire Romance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Counsellor (Acquisition Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Celia Aaron Page; Review: This book draws you in right at the begining. You feel so bad for Stella and her father and then when Sinclair gives her the ultimatum and she signs the paperwork you don't think that anytging could over shadow that but it does. The ball is something you will have to read. I hate spoilers. You end up aching for both Stella and Sinclair. How do people do the things they do. I had 4o buy thenext two books in order to finifh this story. Celia Aaron keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great first book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sticks and Stones - The Barn Church Series (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Shellie Arnold Page; Review: I really loved this book I usually don't read stories about God and Jesus. This book really hit home. I see myself in Julie with a mother who is just as critical. I hate to say that I don't step back before I respond to something she says. There was some really great advice that will make me contemplate my answers. I also need to stop being so critical og myself. Thank you so much for this story and the knowledge that everything is possible with God in your life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lust And Revenge; Author: Visit Amazon's Lolita London Page; Review: I'm so glad that I read this book. This is the first book I've read from Lolita London and it won't be my last book. Eleanor is married to Jack Milford who is a complete jerk. Eleanor is so tired of Jack and want to experience a true love not a loveless marriage to a rich man with no emotions. She has been keeping track of all of Jack's indiscretions and hopes that at some time in the future she will be able to get out of this farce of a marriage to an abusive and loveless man. Boy does Eleanor get her revenge against Jack. I don't want to give anymore spoilers but to tell you that you really will love this book. "I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zaureth: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Ditter Kellen Page; Review: I can't tell you how much I love the books by Ditter Kellen. This is the third book I've read and totally enjoyed it. It's a love story between Zaureth (the healer of the Bracadytes) and Amy the human who is Mallory's blind sister. Zaureth had made a vow to only heal and never be with a women to love or Mate. He is confused by his feeling for Amy and tries to fight them. Amy has loved Zaureth since she meet him and is confused by him hiding his feeling. He finally can't fight his feelings (with the help from his Queen) and goes to Amy. I won't spoil this book but I would totally recommend this book to other readers. The love they share is so special and I was so glad that the King of the Bracadytes is being reasonable about the laws. Please don't miss this book. I can't wait to read another of Ditter Kellen's books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heartblaze 2: Vampire Rising (Emma's Saga) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Shay Roberts Page; Review: Thanks to Snowfire Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book of Shay Roberts that I've read. It's really a great read. I am learning the characters better and the rolls they play in each others life. Emma seems to have the most lives of all and her search for Julian continues. Can't wait to start the next book in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something Like This (Secrets); Author: Visit Amazon's Eileen Cruz Coleman Page; Review: I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. This book was pretty good. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it gave me hope. It's really hard to think of how bad your life is when you don't really know about anybody else s. Jadie and Reece were two people who fell in love but had lots of baggage. What I didn't like was Jadie finally told Reece what some of her baggage was but he wouldn't tell her anything about his. The book felt one sided and you wanted to shake Reece by the neck and tell him to lighten up. I did finish the book in one sitting but was sorry that it didn't feel as if the book was really finished. Lots of unanswered questions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bewitch: Vampire Erotic Theatre Romance Series; Author: Visit Amazon's Felicity Heaton Page; Review: This is the first book I've read of Felicity Heaton. It was in with other Books, Dark and Deadly, Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance, do far a great book bundle. I'd like to just post each book separately on their Amazon Page.. This book takes you through so many emotions. I found my self rooting for Payne, crying with him and loving with him. When he finds Elissa and they start their relationship the story can bring you to your knees Payne is trying to help one of his Vampire friends with a ring he must retrieve for her and he is sent to Elissa the Witch who can help him. Elissa is a very strong witch and she has a reason to help Payne but he must also help her retrieve something from his grandfather. The emotions they take you through is unbelievable. They find love where they shouldn't and it's a beautiful experience to go through with them. I've found a new author to follow. Now I need to start the series at the beginning. This is a must read. (by itself or with the bundle); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack (Secret Revenge) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Robin Edwards Page; Review: I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advanced Reader Copy of Jack (Secret Revenge Book 1) by Robin Edwards. I have to say that the book was very confusing. The characters seemed to jump from one thing to another. Amelia was she a good person or did she even know who or what she was doing. She was a pain in the ass and I didn't really like her that much. Jack seemed to be totally confused in her company. The story felt rushed. I didn't really like the story.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alpha Fever: 22 Sizzling Contemporary and Paranormal Romance Stories (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Elianne Adams Page; Review: The first half of this book was really great with full stories. As you got farther into these books the stories got shorter. I guess that's the case when you have so many stories in one book. It was still a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blackwood; Author: Visit Amazon's Celia Aaron Page; Review: This my first book by this Author but it won't be the last. It has enough twists and turns, and that's not the pages, to keep you reading until you have nothing else to read and you still want more. Garrett is so hot but sorta creepy and Elise is stubborn an he'll. Like a dog with a bone. I'll let you get this book and read it. You won't be disappointed. PS: it has a super ending. :)); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Protector; Author: Visit Amazon's Celia Aaron Page; Review: I can't tell you how much I loved this book. Every book I've read of Celia Aaron's has been better than the last. The story flowed and the characters were well developed. If you want a great story with a super HEA you need to read Dark Protector.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Witches of Dark Root: Book One in The Daughters of Dark Root Series; Author: Visit Amazon's April Aasheim Page; Review: Maggie and her three sisters couldn't wait to leave Dark Root. They all leave but when their mother takes ill they all come home . The last sister to come home is Ruth Ann. Maggie had already bought her ticket out of Dark Root but decides to stay and bring more light to a town that was slowly dying. I can't wait to find out what happens next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage (Masters of Menage); Author: Visit Amazon's Shayla Black Page; Review: Three bosses and the admin. One dummy stalker. This was a great book. I would highly recommend this book. Great way to see Alaska.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: His to Protect (Grizzly Ridge) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Elena Aitken Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so well written and the story flowed. There was a lady in distress and a giant of a grizzly bear/man to love and protect her from her big bad ex. First book I've read by Elena Aitken but it won't be the last. I need to find out about the brothers. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Covert Reich; Author: Visit Amazon's A.K. Alexander Page; Review: I got this book on Instagram. For a free book it was really good. There were so many twists and turns they kept you guessing. I did get the hint when one of the bad guys watched a Hitler hate documentary on the T.V. I have found another author to read. You need to read this book. I was not as surprised about the "Brotherhood" as I should have been. It hard to understand how so much HATE is in this world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Critical Intelligence: 2016 Anniversary Edition (Immortal Ops); Author: Visit Amazon's Mandy M. Roth Page; Review: I liked this story. It had lots of action and adventure. When Roi and Missy stopped fighting so much they had a great love story. So far this is the third OPS story I've read and they have all been great. It's fun to make new friends in the stories and have the others show up to play. I've found another great author and I'll continue to catch up with all the OPS books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Immortal Ops: New & Lengthened 2016 Anniversary Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Mandy M. Roth Page; Review: Another great story from Manny M Roth. I have now read three of her OPS stories. They are fantastic. The adventures and the love for thir fates mate is awesome. I have already got the next book lined up to read. If you've not read these books do yourself a favor and start, they are great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kane (Alexander Shifter Brothers) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Selina Coffey Page; Review: I received this ARC of this book for an honest review. Damesha traveled to Kansas to write a book about an African-American Slave that became free and she meet Kane at an outside restaurant. They hit it off and began spending more time together. Kane's family wasn't happy about an outsider in their mists but Kane and Damesha fell in love and family wasn't going to drive her off. They both had secrets that they didn't want to tell the other or couldn't tell the other about. It really was kind of slow in places but all in all a pretty good book. Will watch for other books from this Author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Morebucks (The Daddy's Girl Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Normandie Alleman Page; Review: This is the first book I've read by Normandie Alleman. I really enjoyed this story. The character's were great and the chemistry between Marley and James was really hot. I would recommend this book for others to enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: War of the Heart (Snow Globe Christmas Collection); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenna Victoria Page; Review: I was so happy that I read this book. Louise Martin and George Walker and whisked back to London to help fix a wrong between their two families. This was such a great read and you also got a glimpse of what it might have been like in London when the Germans were bombing in 1940. This is the first book I've read of Jenna Victoria and I really enjoyed it. Very wholesome with a mystery to solve and a love of each other and of Jesus their Lord and Savior. This is not my usual type of story. I read this as an advance ARC and an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Intent (Linked Inc.) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Allenton Page; Review: I wasn't sure that I would like this book, but Kate Allenton writes a great story. It grabs your attention right away. Keeps you reading till the last page. Not only was there a mystery but also a great love story. I can't wait to purchase the next book in this series. I would totally recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Witch Squad (A Witch Squad Cozy Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's M.Z. Andrews Page; Review: I thought this would be pretty boring. Turns out I was wrong. Its more of a teenage story but not to bad for a 61 year old. I couldn't wait to finish the book to see who done it. Was a great book and looking forward to next book in series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arctic Bound (Arctic Wolves) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tigris Eden Page; Review: This is my first read by Tigris Eden. I really liked this book. It started out pretty slow by when Victor finally met Nerina things really started to heat up. This had lots of action and the fighting was down and dirty. I loved that Nerina didn't back down and was a kick a.. person. My kind of girl. Victor had too much going on it his head and really needed to lose something precious to find out that he really loved Nerina. This would have been a 5 but the book left you wondering at the end. I wouldn't call this a stand alone as thing were left unfinished. Thank god the next book is free. I would recommend this book to read but beware that it leaves you wondering.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragon's Capture (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss); Author: Visit Amazon's Miranda Martin Page; Review: I have to tell you that this series get better with each story. I loved that Rosalind and Visidion finally have their story. What a great adventure they had and meeting new Aliens on the way was great. Rosalind and Visidion are both born leaders and they struggle with their desire for each other until they are captured and fight as gladiators. I can't wait to find out what happens next. I won't be giving any spoilers out but this was the best Dragons of Tajss so far. I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon's Taming (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss); Author: Visit Amazon's Miranda Martin Page; Review: This is one of my favorite series. I devour each book and can't wait for the next one to come out. Seems as if each book is better than the one before. I voluntarily read a ARC of this book for an honest opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Megan's Alien; Author: Visit Amazon's Pixie Moon Page; Review: This was the first book I've read by Pixie Moon. It was short but I really liked the story and the characters. I'll be reading more of her stories.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mooseletoe; Author: Visit Amazon's Tiffinie Helmer Page; Review: BW (Bullwinkle) is one smart Moose. He was always where he needed to be to get the two stubborn lovers together. Although the Lovers didn't know they were suppose to be together but leave it to BW to help then out. It was funny and moved along at a great pace. Loved the character of Holly and Reece. This is my first read from Tiffinie Helmer but I will be reading her other stories. Don't miss this funtastic story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Knight (Reclaiming the Fire) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Alicia Wolfe Page; Review: Just finished reading Dragon Knight. Great read. Lots of suspense and adventure. Loved the characters. I can't wait to see what Alicia Wolfe come up with next. Hope it's as exciting as this book was. This is the first book I've read by Alicia Wolfe. Will definitely read some more of her work. I received this book as an ARC to leave an honest opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Ugly Toy; Author: Visit Amazon's K Webster Page; Review: This is my first read by K. Webster. It was really powerful. It has drugs, abuse, sex, and gets downright dirty. It also shows the ugly side of life and I was so taken with the character of Braxton and Jess his "Toy". They were both broken and then somehow they helped put each other back together again. Just an awesome story. I was so glad to see Jess get a backbone and I was ready with her to take out the Senator. (He deserved everything he got) I am so glad that I read this story. I will look for more stories by K. Webster.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Tail (Peculiar Mysteries) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Renee George Page; Review: This book was really interesting. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's the first book I've read by Renee George but I'll be reading more of her stuff. I really liked Sunny and Babe was really hot. If you like a good clean mystery you should check this book out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All He Wants For Christmas: A Limited Edition Paranormal Alpha Shifter Holiday Bundle (All He Wants Romance Collections) (Volume; Author: Visit Amazon's Emma Alisyn Page; Review: I have to say that I enjoyed most of the short stories. They all kept your interest and were exciting in there own way. I would recomend this book to antone who loves shifter stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 30 PACK; Brand: MagicFiber; Review: Great cleaner, I love it and recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Onlier 078 HKHONGDATECH Microphone Earphones Stereo Headphones and Noise Isolating Headset Applicable iPhone 7/7 Plus/8/8 Plus; Brand: Onlier; Review: Fit perfect im my Toyota RAV4, don't have loose parts, my iphone 5s don't shake while I drive; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: amCase 13.3 inch Chromebook Case Sleeve for iPad; Brand: amCase; Review: great case! fits well in my MacBook Pro Retina 13", you can use the product came with him to use to protect more; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Logitech M557 Bluetooth Mouse – Wireless Mouse with 1 Year Battery Life, Side-to-Side; Brand: Logitech; Review: Not good for MAC; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Plantronics BackBeat PRO Wireless Noise Canceling Hi-Fi Headphones with Mic - Compatible with iPhone, iPad,; Brand: Plantronics; Review: AWESOME!!! for this price I really prefer this brand, good bass!! For me it's better the Beats and have much more features; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration: 20 New Designs with Historic Roots (Stc Craft / Melanie Falick Book); Author: Visit Amazon's Denyse Schmidt Page; Review: Ms Schmidt has put a modern edge on traditional patchwork quilts. By enlarging the old quilt blocks and omitting the endless repetition of the old layouts she has transformed "busy" into "graphic". She has done this with all types of traditional styles, including Hawaiian, Broderie Perse, stamped surface embellishment and whole cloth examples. There is a charming little postage stamp doll quilt that almost anybody could make (and most experienced quilters wouldn't perhaps bother with) but what makes it fresh and inviting is her simple juxtaposition of modern and traditional fabrics. The book is full of these simple but effective tricks for making timeless quilted treasures. The more I look at this book, the more I like it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts; Author: Visit Amazon's Jacquie Gering Page; Review: Subjectively, I was extremely disappointed with this book. For my tastes, the designs were tortured, the quilting was overworked. The best word I can think of to describe these quilts is "jumbled". More objectively, these quilts involve intensive piecing and intricate quilting to get the featured "look". If you like the look, be prepared for long sewing sessions.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters: 60 Blocks + a Dozen Quilts and Projects!; Author: Visit Amazon's Katy Jones Page; Review: What I most liked about this book was the fact that the contributing artists' blocks were less dependent on the modern fabrics and more about fresh color juxtaposition, innovative use of white, and clever mixing of prints with solids. A great help for people like me, with large stashes of older fabrics. Now I'm inspired to produce modern cloth out of traditional yardage. There are several really gorgeous projects which I plan to make, and I will definitely use many of the block ideas to make pieced fabrics for handbags, totes and the like.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stitched Safari: 18 Adorable Animals to Make with Felt; Author: Visit Amazon's Tomomi Maeda Page; Review: I would love to make every last one of these incredible cuties, in multiples. I probably won't, at least in felt. My usual medium these days is recycled cloth. But after studying the beautiful illustrations, and the clear diagrams and instructions, I will probably start with the pug (who strongly resembles my own darling little pugster) and some salvaged wool coating; enlarge the pattern just a bit; and jump in. I've been sewing just about everything for most of my seventy plus years, but I think most hand sewers with a little experience, will be able to reproduce better than respectable copies of artist Tomomi Maeda's beautifully constructed felt menagerie. This book is a real gem!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Quilts: 15 step-by-step projects for adorably small quilts; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Fielke Page; Review: This might be a good little book for someone new to quilting. For anyone like me, with shelves full of quilting books, it just more of the same, just on a smaller scale. I would like to have seen more qults like the bird in the frame.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: GREAT GATSBY (REISSUE); Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel; Author: Barbara Kingsolver; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal; Author: Eric Schlosser; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Prey; Author: Michael Crichton; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Your First Financial Steps/Managing Your Money When You're Just Starting Out; Author: Nancy Dunnan; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: The Women of Brewster Place (Penguin Contemporary American Fiction Series); Author: Gloria Naylor; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Ceremony (Contemporary American Fiction Series); Author: Leslie Marmon Silko; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Green Flag: Ourselves Alone (Penguin History S.); Author: Robert Kee; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics); Author: James Weldon Johnson; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The European and the Indian: Essays in the Ethnohistory of Colonial North America; Author: James Axtell; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: African Slavery in Latin America and the Caribbean; Author: Herbert S. Klein; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: America Is in the Heart: A Personal History (Washington Paperbacks, Wp-68); Author: Carlos Bulosan; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fifth Chinese Daughter; Author: Jade Snow Wong; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Long Day's Journey Into Night; Author: Eugene Gladstone O'Neill; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden); Author: Julie Campbell; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Trixie Belden the Red Trailer Mystery (Trixie Belden, No. 2); Author: Julie Campbell; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Trixie Belden and the Gatehouse Mystery (Gatehouse Mystery); Author: Julie Campbell; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Visitor (Mysterious Visitor); Author: Julie Campbell; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Blinking Eye; Author: Kathryn Kenny; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Cool Names: for Babies; Author: Pamela Redmond Satran; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Congo; Author: Michael Crichton; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Rising Sun; Author: MICHAEL CRICHTON; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Call It Sleep; Author: Henry Roth; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Anatomy of Hope : How People Prevail in the Face of Illness; Author: JEROME GROOPMAN; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: Cold Mountain : A Novel; Author: CHARLES FRAZIER; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: I Don't Know How She Does It; Author: ALLISON PEARSON; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave; Author: FREDERICK DOUGLASS; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Skipping Christmas; Author: JOHN GRISHAM; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: The Street; Author: Ann Petry; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Danse Macabre; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Talisman; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: 401 Take Charge of Your Fu Ture; Author: Money Magazine; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Chosen; Author: Chaim Potok; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Dead Zone; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Cujo; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Bachman Books: Rage, the Long Walk, Roadwork, the Running Man; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Carrie; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Tommyknockers; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: The Shining; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: A Raisin in the Sun; Author: Lorraine Hansberry; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: The Dark Half; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Godfather; Author: Mario Puzo; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Firestarter; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Misery; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Needful Things; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dolores Claiborne; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Insomnia; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Two Dead Girls (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Green Mile: The Mouse on the Mile (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Green Mile: Coffey's Hands (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Green Mile: The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Green Mile: Night Journey (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The Green Mile: Coffey on the Mile (Green Mile Series); Author: Stephen King; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: A Case of Need; Author: Michael Crichton; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Author: Mark Twain; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Animal Farm; Author: George Orwell; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Three Classic African-American Novels; Author: William L. Andrews; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: e; Author: Matt Beaumont; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Night; Author: Elie Wiesel; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables Novels (Paperback)); Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables Novels (Paperback)); Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Anne of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables Novels (Paperback)); Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Anne of Windy Poplars (Anne of Green Gables Novels (Paperback)); Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and Other Short Fiction; Author: Stephen Crane; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Emily of New Moon; Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Wild Swan; Author: Celeste Deblasis; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Swan's Chance; Author: Celeste De Blasis; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Suffer a Sea Change (R); Author: Celeste Deblasis; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Emily Climbs; Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Emily's Quest; Author: L.M. MONTGOMERY; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: The Night Child; Author: Celeste De Blasis; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Season of Swans; Author: Celeste De Blasis; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children (Paperback)); Author: JEAN M. AUEL; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Raptor Red; Author: ROBERT T. BAKKER; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter (Paperback)); Author: J. K. Rowling; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: ROMAN NUMERAL TWO! TOP TEN LISTS FROM \"LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN\" : ETTERMAN; Author: David Letterman; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Color Purple; Author: Alice Walker; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: The Third Life of Grange Copeland; Author: Alice Walker; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions; Author: Richard Erdoes; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls; Author: Joan Jacobs Brumberg; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: MUMBO JUMBO; Author: Ishmael Reed; Rating: 3.0/10.0
Title: On Writing; Author: Stephen King; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth; Author: Jenny McCarthy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China; Author: Jung Chang; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman : What Men Know About Success that Women Need to Learn; Author: GAIL EVANS; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: The River Ki; Author: Sawako Ariyoshi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Maud Martha; Author: Gwendolyn Brooks; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Successful Flower Gardening (5603); Author: Rick Bond; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: The House of Sand and Fog (Vintage Contemporaries (Paperback)); Author: ANDRE III DUBUS; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul; Author: Jack Canfield; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: The Wealthy Barber: Everyone's Common-Sense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent; Author: David Chilton; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: If He Hollers Let Him Go; Author: Chester Himes; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy; Author: Candace Havens; Rating: 8.0/10.0 | bookcrossing |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort; City: Jebel Dhanna Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: We stayed for 2 days, the weather was ok, hotel stuff are very friendly, guest relation executive(Natalia) did a great job, the room was spacious, pool was amazing, I tried the main restaurant and the Italian one, both are up to the standard, I had room without balcony but it was ok, still the distance from Abu Dhabi is issue however it is manageable if you are excited to do the trip, The hotel is perfect meaning of Leisure Resort; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ras Al Khaimah Hotel; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: Good value for money, the hotel is old property but still main hotel facilities are working properly, Location is not far from the City Center and few minutes waking to the Corniche area in RAK. Food was great, friendly service, nice sports bar along with sports facilities e.g. Squash, Tennis, etc... Rooms are normal standard comparing to the value of money paid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Plaza Hotel; City: Beirut; Review: Spent 3 nights there in business trip to Beirut, clean and friendly atmosphere, location was magnificent, room amenities were convincing. Good choice for budget travels and for quick business stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Duroy Hotel; City: Beirut; Review: Spent 5 nights there in business trip to Beirut, friendly stuff, location was beautiful. Good choice for budget travels,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Royal Beach Hotel Resort; City: Dibba Al Fujairah Emirate of Fujairah; Review: Stayed there for 5 nights on September 2009, the standard of the rooms are high, I’ve enjoyed the view from my room to the beach and the sea, tried different meals and it was very good experience. Beach was great, during the day you can see turtles swimming in front of you. Different room types for families and couples, Excellent choice for relaxing vacation Top Management of the hotel is taking good care of the guests and everybody is trying to help.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City Hotel; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: The hotel is few minutes away from Manar Mall (the main shopping mall in Ras Al Khaimah), standard of the rooms are fine comparing to the standard of the hotel. The have nice Sushi Bar and excellent Steak House on the roof floor. Their slogan is Feeling Home and this is totally true. Very helpful and friendly service from all the hotel stuff; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Abu Dhabi; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: Stayed for one night on the weekend on May 2011, I was expecting higher standard of service however the stuff were still very friendly. Took long time to do the check in but finally we get the keys, the room is spacious with great amenities, I sleepy peacefully. The yacht club was great, pool area was small but I’ve enjoyed it. Breakfast buffet was rich however the stuff was not every efficient in taking the orders. Negative point: people were smoking inside the restaurant!! Some places next to our table were not clean and this shouldn’t be presented in Intercontinental. Generally the experience was good but the hotel management needs to look for the standard and to monitor any negative comments from the guests. It can be good option if the rates were not high, also different cuisines is a positive option for the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Dubai Green Community; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed for 2 Night on business trip on May 2010. The hotel is excellent choice for business traveler only whom are related to Dubai Industrial Area or the Jebal Ali Area. The hotel has basic facilities and away from the city center which makes it relaxing and quiet hotel. For leisure it is good value hotel outside the city with quiet surroundings. The room was spacious. The hotel stuff was helpful. I did't have the chance to try the F&B outlets. Don’t expect too much and you must read the reviews before you book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Golden Tulip Al Barsha; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: The hotel is clean with close location to Mall of the Emirates and to the Metro Station. The food is normal standard. Hotel stuff is friendly and helpful. The room was small but there are a lot amenities and it was fine. I had no chance to try the pool or the Gym but they looked clean and well maintained. Excellent value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: The hotel is newly opened with a unique design with makes it different from the other properties. The lobby hall with the lamps gives a fantastic experience. The check in was very smooth. The room was on the executive floor on the 10th floor. The room was spacious with great amenities. Each floor has different style of furniture. I tried the breakfast at the main restaurant and dinner at the Italian and the Indian restaurant. The F&B outlets in the hotel are extremely good. They have different cuisines so you won’t get disappointed. The location of the hotel is not close to the city attractions but with the Metro it can reachable. Also it is few minutes walking to the largest Themed Shopping Mall on earth (Ibn Battuta Mall). Free access to the oceanic beach club is main strong positive point about the property. Ocarina Beach Club is different and amazing experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Dubai Festival City; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed for one night with my friend. After tough check in the receptionist upgraded me to One Bedroom Suite which was wonderful surprise. The room is extremely wooooow. No negative comments. I tried the breakfast and dinner at “Anis” the main restaurant at the hotel. This was extra ordinary food and atmosphere. Excellent Pool are and magnificent Spa. The location is not far away from the airport and also 15 minutes max. to Downtown Burj Khlaifa and DIFC. Rates are still expensive but it deserves every penny you pay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed for only 2 nights on September 2009 in 1 Bedroom Apartment. The check in was smooth. The room was fantastic. I never expected it will be like that. The unit is spacious and it includes all our needs. The location of the hotel is not far from the airport and to Dubai Festival City. Even though it can take 15 min max to reach Burj Khalifa Downtown. I tried the dinner and lunch at the main restaurant and it was pleasant experience. I had no chance to try the pool area or the other facilities. The hotel is ideal for families and for long stay. The only negative point is the rates are high. However, it deserves every penny you pay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emirates Stars Hotel Apartments; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed on several occasions (Business and Overnight stay). The Hotel Apartment offers 1 Bedroom and 2 Bedrooms apartment. F&B facilities are still poor. It needs more facilities. As all the Hotel Apartments in Dubai no Alcohol is served. Close to the airport. Location is very good if the work is in Sharjah or Qusasis area. There are several restaurants and supermarkets surrounding the area. Hospitals are also close to the hotel. Al Mamzar Beach is not far away from the hotel. Good value of money. However, we must understand the location and distance first before you book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bin Majid Acacia Hotel and Apartments; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: Stayed for 1 Night for Business meetings, the hotel is so clean, modern and excellent choice for business travelers. Food, bars and service overall was high. Good value for money. Main facilities and amenities are available.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Dubai Jumeirah; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed several times for business meetings. The hotel is 2 stars but service and facilities are for 3 stars. Basically the hotel is the best express hotel out of the 4 express properties in Dubai. Tried several rooms and all of them are spacious. Breakfast was poor. I was expecting more items. However, this is the express standard generally. The bas was simple and we liked it. Gym was clean and they have shuttle service to Jumeriah Beach Park. Great option for business travelers and for quick overnight stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roda Al Murooj; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed for 3 nights at the Classic Room on May 2010. I was satisfied with the room amenities. The room is spacious. It has excellent location for business and leisure travelers. Also it is few minutes walking to Dubai Mall and to Downtown Burj Khalifa. The pool area is magnificent. The whole complex is wonderful. I tried breakfast and dinner at the main restaurant and it was great experience. I tried the lunch at the Indian Restaurant (Zaika) and basically it was excellent. Zaika is the best Indian cuisine in the city. The Double Decker bar is one of the main night spots in the city. The rates are quite high but it deserves because of the many options and facilities. The hotel stuff is friendly and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: It was the fist time for me to experience Fairmont hotels. The Check-In was smooth. We booked the normal Fairmont Room and I was surprised about the room size. It was very spacious with amazing amenities. I loved the toilet! We tried the dinner at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse which was amazing experience. It is a must if you will visit Abu Dhabi or stay at Fairmont. Next day we had breakfast by the pool. The pool area is amazing! The sandy beach was stunning. There was only one issue during our stay. We saw a lot of flights crossing the hotel but it wasn’t harmful but at least I need to mention it. The location isn’t as bad as it is not far from several attractions. Rates are quite ok comparing to the standard and service which is totally fair!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kairaba Mirbat Resort; City: Mirbat Dhofar Governorate; Review: This is was second hotel to stay in Salalah. The hotel located in city called Mirbat which is 75-80 km form Salalah. This is very important so the guest be aware. I stayed also for 2 days. The hotel is very new hotel so all the facilities and amenities are on the first touch. They have different room types. I guess all rooms with balconies. I had to change my room during my stay because my initial room was too small for me. The hotel stuff was very helpful during the room change. The rooms are spacious and cozy. The pool area was amazing. They have wonderful pool bar., they said this is the biggest pool area in Oman. I don’t know if this is correct or not! Long beach divided between sandy and rock sides. So both options are available. Food in the main restaurant was amazing. I had no chance to try the other outlets. If you looking for amazing relaxing experience this hotel is the exact choice. Rates are quit competitive comparing to the standard. Proper value of money! Some rooms are without LCD TV and I don't understand the reason why!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah; City: Salalah Dhofar Governorate; Review: The hotel has the best location in Salalah comparing to the other beach properties in the city. Also they have the best beach in the area. The hotel is quite old but the standard is maintained. Rooms are quite good however not all the rooms with balconies! Breakfast was very good. We tried dinner at the dolphin restaurant by the beach and this was an amazing experience. Rates are competitive and reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ramee Guestline Hotel Qurum Oman; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: Good Hotel. Good value for money! Good location! Don't expect too much! Several F&B outlets! Service was good! Don't stay during the weekend in Oman. (Wednesday to Friday) as the hotel might be noisy!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Muscat; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: I'm big fan of IHG hotels so I specifically chose the hotel. I had very nice Sea View Room. The room was great. The hotel is old but they keep it in good condition. Several outlets for the F&B to choose from! The standard of the food was great! Pool area is nice. I enjoyed the landscape. Rates should be more reasonable as I believe it is very high!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Al Falaj Hotel; City: Ruwi Muscat Governorate; Review: Basic 4 stars city hotel however they have good pool area and gym! Rooms are clean and nice maybe not so big but it is ok! Location is not fantastic but not bad also. They have good F&B options. I stayed only for 2 nights so I can’t complain as I enjoyed it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Safeer International Hotel; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: Don't expect too much. The hotel is located in residential area and still not far from the city attractions. Not a lot of things to do inside the hotel. Simply basic hotel so if you are looking for budget hotel then this is good example. Different room types where you can choose from especially the one with Kitchen.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Seasons Hotel Muscat; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: The location of the hotel is very good. Close to a lot of local restaurants. The hotel is new so you can see it clearly in all areas. The room was really nice and spacious. I was staying during Ramadan so I had no chance to try the restaurants. The hotel is dry hotel so no alcohol served at all. They have massive roof pool where you can see the whole city. Rates were very high so you need to check the best available rates. Internet and service was good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grandeur Hotel; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I was coming for one week business and my company booked the hotel for me. The check-in was smooth., The room is spacious. Later on I realized that the hotel is located close to Mall of the Emirates. The breakfast was very basic so we need to be aware. Other facilities are good. The hotel staff are very active and they always helpful. Proper value for money for sure!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ramada Qurum Beach; City: Muscat Governorate; Review: It was my first time to stay in a Ramada Hotel. The hotel is clean and not very modern. Located in very good area. Close to restaurants and to the beach. I booked executive suite and the hotel upgrade my room to Diplomatic suite. Very spacious. Free Internet all over the hotel. Don’t expect a lot of leisure facility. The food and the service standard are very good. Rates are not very attractive!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tsokkos Paradise Village; City: Ayia Napa Famagusta District; Review: I was traveling with friend and we had to stay there for three nights. The hotel is not very close to the center. We need to walk a lot to reach there. The beach opposite to the hotel is good for families and quite one. Room was good. Well maintained. The receptionist was Cypriot and she was very friendly. She taught me some creek words. The hotel is suitable for families when I see the pool are full of children. Had no chance to try the food there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hahn Hotel; City: Munich Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: It was my first time in Munich and I was looking for something budget with good location. The hotel is excellent Rustic Bavarian hotel. I felt him during my stay. I guess the hotel is family managed. Breakfast was lovely. The bed size was small for me but I had quite sleep! Free Wi-Fi! Proper value for money!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Muscat Holiday; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: I was in Muscat for 2 nights for business. They had special offer and it was value for money. The hotel is not new and doesn’t look attractive however the room was clean. Everything was maintained and I had no issues. Food and service are good. Location is not far from different parts of the city especially the business area and Grand Mall Muscat. I didn’t try most of the leisure facilities so I can’t judge!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I’m big fan of Holiday Inn Express hotels so whenever I have chance to stay in of these hotels I book it immediately.. The hotel has good location as it is not far from Internet City and not far from Dubai Maria area. The standard is same as Holiday Inn Express hotels. Room was clean and the service was very good. They have rooftop bar with stunning view. I had very pleasant stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Dubai Safa Park; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed several times in Holiday Inn Express Hotels but this was the first time to stay at this hotel. So I know the standard and the service expectation very well. The location of the hotel is amazing. Just few minutes walking to the metro station and with taxi you can reach several places. Room is fine. Service as expected by Holiday Inn Express standard. Of course good value for money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel; City: Vienna; Review: It was my first visit to Vienna and I wanted to book nice hotel. My friend found good offer for the hotel where we book it. The hotel lobby is amazing. The check-in was very smooth. Staff very friendly. The room was wonderful. Spacious, clean, modern and bit of luxury. It can be easy 5 stars. Had no time to try andy F&B outlets. The location was close to schonbrunn palace but not to the other parts in the city! Wait for good offer then book it immediately!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz; City: Berlin; Review: It was my first visit to Berlin and my first stay at Park Inn Hotels. The hotel is located in very good area” Alexanderplatz” It is massive building. Never expected it will be huge. The checked in was smooth. Long queue but they were fast. The room was basic standard however I liked the modern touch. I tried the restaurants and bars in the hotel and they very good. Service , quality and price. One negative point is the internet is chargeable! I was surprised that in Park Inn Hotel still they charge for Internet!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Concorde Hotel Doha; City: Doha; Review: I stayed there for my first business trip in Doha. The hotel is located in good business area and close to the airport. The room was spacious and clean. There wasn't enough hangers and no iron airy and iron table however I request from the housekeeping and in 5 minutes they send everything to my room. Breakfast was good. Free Wi-Fi was very good option. I had a small issue with my arrival transfer however the Duty Manager and the Front Office team acted very professionally and fixed everything.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Royal Tower Hotel; City: Kuwait City; Review: I stayed there for business. The room was clean and nice. Very friendly check-in. Tried the breakfast and room service and both were satisfying experience. The location of the hotel is very good and you can access many places in Kuwait easily.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rand by Wandalus; City: Riyadh Riyadh Province; Review: It was my first business visit to Riyadh. The hotel was located close to my meetings so the location was fine for me. The check-in was smooth. The room was good and clean. No view from my room. Breakfast was good and service was fine. Don't expect too much as the hotel is good 3 stars hotel not 4 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legacy Ottoman Hotel; City: Istanbul; Review: The hotel is centrally located in the old city of Istanbul. It was walking distance to many main places in Istanbul. We spent there 3 nights on June 2013 as honeymoon experience. We stayed in corner suite and it was very spacious. They arranged Honeymoon arrangements for us. Check-In was smooth, The hotel staff service was very good and they were helpful. Free Internet everywhere. The only comment is about the food as the experience was normal not very special food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rose Rayhaan by Rotana; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I was in business trip in Dubai. Stayed there for 4 days. The hotel is located close to the metro station and to the main attraction in the city. The check-in was very smooth. The reception team was fast and friendly. They upgrade my room to Deluxe room. The room was spacious with lovely view to the Sheikh Zayed Room. The breakfast was very good even though the restaurant size is not big.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London City Tower Hill Hotel; City: London England; Review: It was my first visit to London. The is located very close to main transportation lines in the city so it is easy accessible. Check-in was smooth. Friendly staff however the room was small. I thought the room size will be bigger a little bit. Room was clean and the bed was good for sleeping. The breakfast was basic nothing special. The internet connection was not very easy to handle but the connection was fine. They still charge for Wi-Fi.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bella Napa Bay Hotel; City: Ayia Napa Famagusta District; Review: It was my first visit to Ayia Napa on July 2012. The hotel is located very close to the beach. Few minutes walking to the beach and to the restaurants. The check-in was smooth. They gave me room with lovely view to the sea. This was the best part actually. The hotel standard and room is normal standard so don't expect so much. Still the room and the hotel are clean This was value for money. The hotel staff was helpful and smiley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Towers Rotana; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed with my wife for 2 nights and was one of the best vacations. The hotel is located in Sheikh Zayed Road the main road in Dubai whereby it connects you to any place in the city. They gave us room on higher floor with Sea View (Back Side) however you can choose the road view (Front Side) so you could see the towers and the Burj Khalifa. Check-In was fast and smooth. We tried meals in several restaurants and all was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Muscat; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: I stayed for 3 nights for business visit during June 2012. It was my first Hyatt experience. The design and architecture of the hotel is amazing. I felt it represents Oman and Muscat theme. My check-In was smooth. I booked Grand Room (Basic Room) It was very spacious and fully equipped. I loved the toilets as it was bath tub and standing shower as well. All rooms are with balcony. I tried lunch & dinner at the Italian restaurant and the main restaurant. What I can say that I had the best dinning experience. You won't regret it. I used the pool for few hours and it was lovely. The hotel is located as well on the beach for beach lovers. The location is very convenient as well. Close to airport and too many city attractions. The internet facility is just negative point. I didn't like the way it has being offered to the clients. I don't know if it has improved or changed. First, it is chargeable very high as it should be free and the even it is chargeable it is very complicated login access. It should be easy accessible!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City; City: Kuwait City; Review: We stayed there for two nights for business. Location of the hotel is excellent as it close to the main business area. The hotel is old but very well maintained and kept in good condition. The room was good with lovely toilet. They have Free Wi-Fi all over the hotel. Only the rates were quite expensive. Rates should be more competitive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London Elizabeth Hotel; City: London England; Review: I had to stay at the hotel for business. Lovely design and location of the hotel is great. The hotel staff are very helpful and friendly. The hotel is old and needs some renovation. I booked it as 4 stars hotel but it is basic 3 stars hotel. You need to be careful when you book. Don't expect a lot of amentias or services. Free Internet connection. Breakfast and lunch meals were good but nothing special.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Towers Rotana; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: This was my second stay at the hotel but this time for business. I had great experience as well. Excellent location. The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. Great value for money. I've tried the breakfast this time only but still was great. Again only one issue they still charge for the internet. This should be for free.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: The hotel has very good location as it is close by the main city attractions. The hotel lobby is great. Rooms are old but in very good condition. Hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. Free Internet everywhere. Good speed and connection. We have tried the breakfast only and it was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Warszawa; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: I had to stay two times during June 2015. Both were with great experience. First time was standard room and the second one was Club Rooms/ Rooms are spacious with full amenities. Hotel staff are very helpful and professional. The hotel location is excellent. Free Wi-Fi everywhere. Very recommended for business and leisure travelers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salalah Gardens Hotel; City: Salalah Dhofar Governorate; Review: The hotel is brand new and located within the city center. Connected to the new shopping mall in Salalah. The rooms are quite spacious and full equipped. Free Wi-Fi as well everywhere. Best option for families as there are a lot of surrounding activities for them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel DeSilva Premium Opole; City: Opole Opole Province Southern Poland; Review: I had to stay for one night in Opole for business meeting. The hotel is very suitable for the short stay. Rooms are good and clean. Breakfast was basic but still good options. Free Wi-Fi Internet service is available everywhere. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salalah Beach Resort Hotel; City: Salalah Dhofar Governorate; Review: This is hidden treasure. New built hotel facing the stunning beach front of the Indian Ocean. I booked a sea view room with balcony and it was just wow. This is not big hotel. It is basic boutique hotel however great for relaxing and still not far from the city center. The hotel staff was friendly and helpful. Free Wi-Fi at the lobby. Don't expect too much. Still great value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Juweira Boutique Hotel; City: Salalah Dhofar Governorate; Review: I visited Salalah in many occasions and I've stayed in this hotel several times but I had no luck writing a review. This is one of my favorite boutique hotels worldwide. The hotel is part of big project in Salalah Beach and it is located on the marina area. The design, style and concept of the hotel is just wonderful. We feel very relaxed and our stay is always enjoyable. The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful. Free Wi-Fi everywhere. The standard rooms are quite big with lovely design however the Marina Suite rooms are just brilliant. Fascinating place to stay and very recommended to book. I tried several restaurant and everyone we had great experience especially the Sea Food restaurant.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel Spa; City: Kuwait City; Review: Wonderful stay with very helpful and great staff. The hotel is directly on the beach and has lovely pool area. I booked airport transfer and it was excellent service. The rooms are little old but generally with very good standard. I had small issue with my check-in but the hotel management was very helpful and upgraded me to suite. Tried several restaurants at the hotel and all was with great experience. Free Wi-Fi everywhere at the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Millennium Resort Mussanah; City: Al Mussanah Muscat Governorate; Review: This is hidden gem. The hotel is located directly on the beach with lovely view to the ocean. The rooms are spacious and modern. The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. I tried several meals in their restaurant and it was great experience. Very recommend for relaxing vacation and beach lovers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JA Ocean View Hotel; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed there for business so I had no time to enjoy the leisure facilities of the hotel. This was my first time to stay in JA hotels. The hotel is located within The Walk so there are lot of entertainment options. I loved the design of the rooms. Very fresh and happy design. I tried only the breakfast and it was lovely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romance Alexandria Corniche Hotel; City: Alexandria Alexandria Governorate; Review: Stayed for 1 night (2 days). The hotel is very good located and easily to reach. All rooms are Sea View. The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. Rooms are good and breakfast was nice. Free Wi-Fi in the lobby area but not in the rooms. Proper value of money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Dubai Jumeirah; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed several times at this hotel. This time I had to stay for 3 nights and it was still good experience, IN fact, this time the breakfast was much better than the other times. Before you book the hotel you must understand Holiday Inn express concept so you don't get confused or disappointed. I still believe strongly that this is good value of money property in this area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Novotel World Trade Centre Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed for one night on September 2015 for business. I had smooth check-in and check-out. The room was clean however i felt it is little small. Free internet everywhere. The hotel is mainly for business clients so it is recommended for guests coming for 1 or 2 nights business. Overall my stay was good but wasn't exceptional; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Bratislava; City: Bratislava Bratislava Region; Review: It was my first stay in Bratislava. The hotel located in nice area very close to different city places and spots. The hotel staff is friendly and helpful. Rooms are in good condition. Breakfast was good. Strong free Wi-Fi connection. The only problem is regarding the laundry as they had to use external company. This is very bad and doesn't reflect IHG standard. It takes long time to do laundry or pressing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Kuwait Al Thuraya City; City: Kuwait City; Review: I stayed for business for one night and i had very good experience. The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful. I tried several restaurants at the hotel and all of them were extremely good. Rooms are modern and nice. Strong free Wi-Fi everywhere.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rosewood Jeddah; City: Jeddah Makkah Province; Review: So this was my first visit to Jeddah and to Rosewood hotels. I wasn't familiar with the brand until i checked in at the hotel. The hotel has very unique personality and I feel very special guest. The room has wonderful view to the Red Sea with a lot of facilities. The hotel staff was very helpful and professional. I tried the breakfast and in-room dinning and both were great. Free Wi-Fi all over the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Rotana Abu Dhabi; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: Stayed only for one night for business meetings so i couldn't see or experience much of the hotel however my stay overall was very good. The hotel staff are helpful and friendly. The room was spacious and good in space. Breakfast buffet was good as well.Good value for money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel World Trade Centre Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed for the second time for business this time for 4 nights. At the check in they gave me very nice room and it was smooth check in. Again this is very good hotel but mainly for business travelers. The standard of the service at the hotel is very good and they are very helpful. Again free WiFi is included. The breakfast was also very pleasant. I had a drink at the bar in the lobby level and he band playing there was very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Tower of London; City: London England; Review: I was staying during the WTM in London last November. The hotel has good location as it is few minutes walking to Tower Hills and DLR stations. The rooms are spacious comparing to the normal size of room in London hotels. The service is good and the staff was helpful. Standard of food is good. Free WiFi as well is available; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Mumbai Garden City; City: Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: The hotel has a real outstanding service and hospitality. This was my second visit to Mumbai and coming for business but i was impressed by the hotel. The hotel staff are extraordinary. Very helpful, very tentative and friendly. I had small incident with my laundry pickup but they manage to fix it in no time. The design of the lobby area is very attractive. Rooms are spacious with stunning view of the city and lovely toilets. Tried several restaurants and they are really great. Small shopping mall next to it and not far from the airport. Free WiFi as well included.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien New Delhi; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: Stayed only for 2 nights for business event and was my first time with Le Meridien Hotels in India. My check in was smooth however when i checked in to the room i wasn't very pleased with the size of the room and standard. I was expecting higher standard with better amenities. The bed size also was small for my sleep comfort. Next day i went for breakfast and the restaurant was small and crowded so they had no place to accommodate everyone and they asked me to share table with other people. I was really surprised to this standard so i refused this and they arrange for me private table in the end Later I met one of the sales director and i explained to him these points and he apologized and they upgraded my room to suite for the second night. So the suite was extremely good and very spacious. I loved so much and it gives me better experience. So finally my stay became worth it as the hotel management shows very professionalism towards my issue and they fixed immediately. The hotel is still in good condition and is very suitable for business traveler and leisure clients as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Prague Old Town; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: This time I decided to stay closer to the center so I choose Hilton Prague old town. The location is good and not far from the main attractions. I had smooth check in and the room is modern and good size. The hotel staff is friendly and helpful. I tried the breakfast and was good. WiFi is chargeable however i get it for free because i'm HHonors membership.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shangri La s China World Hotel; City: Beijing; Review: It was my first stay in Beijing for business. The hotel is old and it is very well maintained. The lobby is very luxurious and just wow. The location is very good as well and is connected to small luxury shopping mall. My check in was excellent and the room was really nice and big with great amenities. Tried the breakfast and other meals in the lobby lounge and was very good experience. Free Wi-Fi is available. I tried their Spa and it was great feeling. I had only small incident during my check out, there was long queue at the reception with less front office staff and it takes time for people to check in and check out so i complained and they immediately bring extra staff to assist then everything went great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Budapest Marriott Hotel; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: This was one of my favorite stays in Marriott hotels. The hotel has wonderful location and with all the rooms facing the river it gives it very special experience. After very friendly check in they upgraded me to executive room with access to the lounge. The lounge it self is just wow as it has spectacular view of the river and the the city. The hotel staff are very friendly and professional. They need to improve their English more in some dept. Free Wi-Fi all over the hotel Overall a very recommended hotel with great services.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Warsaw; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: On my regular visits to Warsaw this time i decided to stay in Westin for few days. The hotel has good location. My check-in was smooth. Room was fine with good space. Breakfast in the hotel was basic nothing special. The hotel staff were good and helpful. Generally, i wasn't impressed and I felt normal comparing my other experiences in Warsaw. Some of the hotel carpet areas needs cleaning as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Warsaw Hotel Convention Centre; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: I just loved the lobby area. I did several meetings in this fascinating lobby area. I had smooth and easy check in. They upgraded me to very beautiful room with stunning view of Warsaw. The room was very spacious as well. I tried the breakfast and other day meals and all was good. The hotel staff generally nice and helpful. I had small incident with my laundry and my CC authorization amount however the Duty Manager on that day managed to fix it in professional way. Excellent choice for business traveler however little far from the city center.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square; City: Shanghai; Review: Stayed for 2 nights for business trip. The hotel is not far from the main center so few minutes walking. I had smooth check-in. The room is normal in size with good views to the city. The standard of the service is quite good and the hotel staff is helpful. I tried the Spa and it was very good experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terrace Boutique Hotel; City: Tbilisi; Review: This was my first visit to Tbilisi. We stayed there for 6 nights as family vacation. The hotel staff was very helpful and friendly in all dept. We stayed in Junior Suite room with terrace and the view was just stunning whereby you can see the whole city. We tried the breakfast and dinner at the main restaurant and both was great experience. Free WiFi everywhere. One of the most recommended hotels in my opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah; City: Salalah Dhofar Governorate; Review: I came back to Crowne Plaza Salalah but with family and friends this time. We have enjoyed our stay once again. The hotel staff are very helpful and friendly. The location is very good since it is in the main city The landscape and the beach at the hotel are extraordinary. One of the best in Salalah. Free WiFi at the hotel and recommended to stay there; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Baku; City: Baku Absheron Region; Review: This was my first time to Baku. We traveled as family for 5 nights. The hotel is very well located and few minutes walking to many city attractions. The hotel staff are very good and helpful. They arrange very nice cake for my wife's birthday. We stayed in Junior Suite Room Sea View facing. We tried the breakfast at the main restaurant and the other two restaurants (The Chinese and the Steak House on the roof) Very recommended hotel. They have free WiFi as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: Stayed for 2 nights to attend conference at the hotel. I was expecting much more higher standard of service especially it is Four Seasons and new hotel but i wasn't very satisfied especially the room standard. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. Tried several F&B outlets and all was good. The pool area was not very cozy with less privacy. In general was very good stay but was expecting much more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: Stayed for 4 nights attending a convention in Abu Dhabi. The hotel was just opened so there were a lot of things to be done however in general the service and the standard of the hotel was great. The room space was big with good amenities. Tried the main restaurant for breakfast which was good. The pool area was fine as well. The location was suitable if you are looking for hotel in the city center so it is not far from many places.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pousada de Lisboa; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: This was my first visit to Lisbon and we selected this authentic and unique hotel. The location is just great as it is in the heart of Lisbon. The hotel was an old governmental building and they converted it to elegant and stylish hotel. The service is exceptional and the hotel staff are very professional and helpful. I felt very special staying there. The price was little expensive but it deserve it. I tried different meals at several restaurants and all was great experience. The touch of art is everywhere at the hotel. Very recommended for the visitors looking for something exceptional.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Abu Dhabi; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: This was my second stay at the hotel after 5 years from the first time. This time i stayed for one night with family and friends. The experience was much better as we get better room with lovely view. The hotel management was very tentative and helpful. We tried several F&B outlets and all went very well. The pool area is lovely especially for the children. The beach is not really great but this is normal in majority of Abu Dhabi Hotels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Centraal Station; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: I had mixed feelings about my stay at this hotel. Overall it was good stay but not my favorite. The location was good and they had the best Sky Lounge Rooftop in Amsterdam which was great experience. The room was fine with lovely view. The hotel staff was normal and not exceptional.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Al Faisaliah Hotel; City: Riyadh Riyadh Province; Review: I had the pleasure to stay for one night at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Sadly it was only for one night. I wished it was more. The service is outstanding and very efficient. The hotel staff were tentative. I was upgraded to deluxe executive room and this was just stunning. The room is very spacious and had a lot of amenities. Very elegant interior inside the room and within the hotel. Very recommended for luxury seekers in Riyadh.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Hyatt Jeddah Marina Club Spa; City: Jeddah Makkah Province; Review: Stayed for one night for an event organized at the hotel. The hotel is quite with beautufil sea view eveywhere. The basic room type was very spaious and nice. The breakfast was great with a lot of varities. I enjoyed my stay so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Tower of London; City: London England; Review: Stayed for the second time at the hotel after my first stay was extremely pleasant. Same great standard of service and food. The room was great as usual. One pending thing annoyed me from the two stays i had that they don’t have express laundry service on Sunday’s especially in the days with big exhibitions in the city. Location was good and good value for money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arcadia Boutique Hotel; City: Bratislava Bratislava Region; Review: Back to the lovely city of Bratislava. This time I stayed for 2 nights for business whereby we had an event at the hotel. This is a unique boutique hotel in a historical building located within the centre of the city. Few minutes walking to the main city attraction. We had VIP check-in and upgraded to the best rooms in the whole hotel. The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. Free Wi-Fi is included. I’ve tried the breakfast and dinner at the hotel and it was lovely. I’ve manged to find time to try the pool area and the spa and it was lovely experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Indigo Duesseldorf Victoriaplatz; City: Dusseldorf North Rhine Westphalia; Review: This was my first visit to Düsseldorf also first time to stay in Indigo Hotel. This hotel was exceptional since this is fashion based hotel. Every single wall and corner in the hotel and even inside the rooms has different taste. I had smooth check-in and they gave me very nice room. In fact very cozy and trendy. The location of the hotel is not really far from the centre and quite close to the tube and also easy drive to the airport. Great value for money. Free Wi-Fi is included as well. Tried the breakfast and in-room dinning and both were great experience. Tried the gym and was fine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DAMAC Maison Cour Jardin; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: This time I stayed with my family for 4 nights. We have booked Two Bedroom Apartment and the hotel gave us beautiful and spacious unit with Burj Khalifa view. The hotel staff was helpful and friendly. Free Wi-Fi available as well. Also good location within Downtown Dubai.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greulich Design Lifestyle Hotel; City: Zurich; Review: First time for me to stay in lifestyle hotel. The hotel is different than other hotels I’ve stayed worldwide. It has different taste and atmosphere. I feel more home and more staying with friends. I stayed there for 3 nights for business and my stay was fantastic. The hotel staff are extremely helpful, friendly and real ambassadors. I had easy check-in then the room I got was unusual in a way I had to take a lot of photos. I tried dinner, breakfast and drinks at the hotel and I’ve enjoyed all of them. The location was not bad but with nice walk you could easy reach the lake and old town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metro Boutique Hotel; City: Frankfurt Hesse; Review: I never expected this type of hotels still exists in Germany. The hotel has different style, taste and atmosphere. Really cozy and lovely oriental feeling in every corner. I stayed there for two nights to attend on event organized at the hotel as well. I had smooth check-in and they gave me wonderful room. I tried the dinner and breakfast at the hotel and both were amazing experience. Also the hotel is few minutes from the main train station and next to several restaurants around the area. Free Wi-Fi is available. Very recommend if you are looking for different hotel stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arcona LIVING BATSCHARI 8; City: Baden Baden Baden Wurttemberg; Review: Stayed only for one night for business so I couldn’t experience much. The hotel has lovely apartment and very spacious. It was clean and quite hotel. The check-in was smooth. Wi-Fi was available for free. Location was not bad. The breakfast was quite good. They don’t have bell boy service so I had to carry all my luggage by myself. They have small size ofthe blanket. I wished they have bigger ones. Good value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Oslo By Scandic; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: This was my first visit to Oslo. Many friends recommended the hotel for several reasons. I stayed for 2 nights for business + leisure. Had beautiful stay. My check in was smooth. The room i get was basic room. i was hoping the hotel can upgrade my room to city view for free but no luck. The hotel staff are very professional and tentative. The hotel has mix of modern taste, luxury and historical building. The location was just great as it was close to all the city attractions. Free Wi-Fi was included. The breakfast was really nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DAMAC Maison Canal Views; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed for 2 nights with family. Lovely location within Downtown Dubai. We have booked One Bedroom unit and it was really spacious. The check-in was smooth. They have lovely kid’s area in the reception area. Service is great and very friendly hotel staff. Free Wi-Fi is available. Recommended for guests looking for deluxe hotel apartment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elite Hotel Stockholm Plaza; City: Stockholm; Review: This was my first stay in Stockholm. I stayed for 2 nights for business. The hotel has lovely location but I was shocked with the size of the room. Very small comparing to the price you pay. My check in was smooth. The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. I wanted to go to the gym but since they don’t have they send me to their sister hotel 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Breakfast was good but the service was very ordinary nothing special. The staff was not very tentative.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stella Di Mare Sea Club Hotel Ain Sukhna; City: Ain Sukhna Red Sea and Sinai; Review: We stayed for 4 days with family for vacation. The hotel has beautiful landscape. We have booked Pool View rooms. The check-in was smooth and they gave us rooms next to each other. Good housekeeping staff as well. The pool areas was lovely. We tried the breakfast and dinner and both was good with a lot of varieties. Beach area also great with nice children outdoor area. Only Three Issues: 1. Wi-Fi is still chargeable and not even accessible in the rooms. So after buying the tokens i couldn’t connect to the network. 2. The hotel staff are helpful but they must smile a little bit. I felt they are not happy and not friendly enough to welcome or assist the guests. Mainly at the reception. 3. Very hard to get hotel limo or proper taxis. They don’t have the service and if i need it urgently they check the other hotel and the rates are extremely expensive. I hope this could be improved.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz Carlton Riyadh; City: Riyadh Riyadh Province; Review: Sadly i stayed for one night only for business. I wished i could stay longer. I'm enjoyed the feeling living as royal while staying at the hotel due to the luxurious details of the hotel. Had smooth check in and get very spacious room. I've tried lunch, breakfast at the main restaurant. The buffet is lavish and huge. Had few drinks at the lobby lounge as well Hotel staff is very professional and tentative. The leisure area as well and the executive lounges are superb. Free and strong Wi-Fi is available as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island; City: Sir Bani Yas Island Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: Stayed for one night for leisure with friends and was totally worth it. My check-in was smooth but it took some time because of shortage of staff. We booked Sea View Room and it was nice one with balcony. I tried the In Room dinning and breakfast at the hotel and both was great. The breakfast was very busy with many clients so little noisy. The pool and leisure area is wonderful and we had lovely time there. Free Wi-Fi was available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Century Old Town Prague MGallery by Sofitel; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: I stayed for 3 nights for business and leisure. I had wonderful stay. The check-in was smooth. They gave me lovely room. The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful especially the housekeeping. I tried breakfast and some drinks at the restaurant and it was fine. Very good location as well. Free Wi-Fi was available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: Back to my lovely city Budapest. This time for short business visit and I wanted to stay in different hotel so I choose Sofitel because of the great location in the centre and to try Accor hospitality. The room was not ready so we had to wait for a while until we get the rooms but then we got lovely river view room. It was spacious but little old so I guess they need soft renovation. I tried the breakfast and it was lovely one. Free Wi-Fi was included as well. Unfortunately I didn’t see much from the hotel since I stayed for less than 24 hours.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lowry Hotel; City: Salford Greater Manchester England; Review: This was my first visit to Manchester. Sadly for only one night as I wished it will be for more. I’ve enjoyed my stay at the hotel and i wishes I could stay for longer. I had super-fast check-in. The room was modern, spacious, beautifully designed and arranged. I just loved it. The hotel staff were very helpful and friendly. I tried only the breakfast at the hotel and it was really good. Only thing i felt the staff at the restaurant little slow. Free Wi-Fi was available as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: I was staying for 2 nights for business and was my first time to visit Copenhagen. The hotel has very special design and style whereby you feel you are staying inside a historical building. I had easy check-in and gave me bigger room. They gave me room two beds even my booking was for single room so I requested King Size bed but it was not possible. The hotel looks old and very well maintained. The location of the hotel is not bad so you have lovely walk to main city visits. The lobby area is always busy. Free Wi-Fi was available as well. One small problem that the in room dinning and the La Carte restaurant menu was very poor. I wanted to east something but nothing easy to select from so i had to walk out to the city to eat in any restaurant. I hope the menu could have some international items. The hotel staff was good but not as great as expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hamburg City Centre; City: Hamburg; Review: I had to visit Hamburg for one night to meet friends. I wanted to choose good value hotel and in the same time not far from the centre. I've checked the comments in Trip Advisor and the hotel has pretty good reviews so i booked it accordingly. Smooth check-in, nice and clean room. Tried the breakfast and was fine. Free Wi-Fi was available as well. Recommended for people looking for good value hotels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citymax Hotels Bur Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I had to stay for one night in Dubai and the hotel was located close to my meetings so was great choice. I had lovely and smooth check in. They gave nice room on the highest floor in the hotel. The hotel is huge and always busy. The room was good in size and the toilet as well. The breakfast was good. Free Wi-Fi was available. Good value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: London Hilton on Park Lane; City: London England; Review: Stayed for 2 nights for business. The location of the hotel is very good. My check-in was smooth and I got a lovely corner room. The hotel staff were helpful and friendly. Tried the breakfast at the hotel and was lovely experience. Possibility of free Wi-Fi.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glasgow Marriott Hotel; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: This was my first visit to Glasgow for business and leisure purposes. The hotel was not so far from the central station. We had smooth check-in however when I got the room I was surprised with the old standard of the room. It feels so old and outdated. I thought with Marriott standard the room product will be better than this. The hotel needs heavy room renovation. The hotel staff are helpful and friendly. Breakfast as well was great. We had an event at the hotel and it went well. Free Wi-Fi was available as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Charles Hotel; City: Munich Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: Back to my lovely city Munich but only for one night for business. This is one my favourite hotels stay ever and I wishes I could stay for longer. Very exceptional service. The hotel staff are very professional and helpful. I had a lovely and spacious corner room with beautiful amenities. I tried the breakfast and was great as well. We had an event at the hotel and the service was exceptional. Free Wi-Fi was available as well. This is very recommend hotel for people looking for luxurious taste in Munich.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steigenberger Parkhotel Duesseldorf; City: Dusseldorf North Rhine Westphalia; Review: This was my second visit to Dusseldorf and for business as well. Styed for 2 nights and we had an event as well at the hotel. Had lovely check-in and the room was good and stylish. The hotel staff was helpful. I tried the breakfast and drinks at the lobby and both was great. Great location and very close to the main city attractions. Free Wi-Fi is available as well. The hotel is old by the management maintained it in very good condition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort Spa; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: We had one of the best weekends stay with family. The hotel is located in very quiet and relaxing spot. We were not far from the city and in the same time quiet location. Good things it is away from the busy city with beautiful mountain views. They are close to the natural hot springs. One of the great naturel activities in Ras Al Khaimah. We had smooth check-in and the hotel upgraded us to Corner Suite which was spacious. We tried the food in different outlets and it was very tasty and delicious. The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful. Free Wi-Fi is available. Very recommended hotel especially if you have good deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Indigo Helsinki Boulevard; City: Helsinki Uusimaa; Review: This was my first time to visit Helsinki. The hotel is new, good location, nice rooms, lovely breakfast and free Wi-Fi. I'm big fan of IHG hotels and Indigo is one my favourite brands. Very recommended hotel either coming for business or leisure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Copenhagen; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: Was travelling to Copenhagen for one night for business and I wanted to book a close by hotel. I thought the name reflects the standard however this was not the case as the hotel is quite old and not very well maintained. The room was very bad standard and the toilet was out dated. Luckily I was staying for one night. One main positive thing about the hotel is the location and might be the price value as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel et de Milan; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: No words can describe my wonderful stay at this hotel. This was my first time to visit Milan on business however the hotel captured me from the very first moment I entered. I had great check-in with wonderful room. The design and the personality of the hotel was great. Not to forget the professional hotel staff in every single action. The location is great point. Breakfast was lovely as well. Only the gym is small in size but this was fine for me. If you liked this type of historical hotels then this should be your top favourite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DAMAC Maison Canal Views; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: This was my second stay at the hotel but this time for only one night. Same positive experience like the last time i stayed. The room or the suite is really spacious. Free Wi-Fi is available. Service again was very good and the hotel staff is helpful and friendly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: We wanted to celebrate my wife's birthdays so I wanted to book something special. The brand talks about itself. This is considered one of the most elite hotels in UAE and in the Middle East. A truly stunning hotel. After smooth check-in the hotel upgraded us to Junior Suite with balcony and Sea View because of the celebration. They arranged very nice cake. The suite is just fascinating. Very spacious and stylish. The luxury speaks in each corner. We have tried several outlets at the hotel and all were great. The leisure area are very good along with the kids area. Free Wi-Fi is included. An excellent choice for honeymooners and anniversary celebration.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Amigo; City: Brussels; Review: One of the best hotels I’ve stayed the last few years. Excellent location. Extraordinary hospitality and service. The hotel staff without exception are extremely helpful and friendly. I've stayed in basic room but i got beautiful view to the city. Very good size for the room and the toilet. Tried the food at several restuarant and all were beautiful experience. Super internet and free as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I've stayed in several Grand Hyatt hotels worldwide and no questions about their top hospitality standard. I had a business event at the hotel so I booked for one night. The excellent standard of the hotel was far from my expectation in terms of service, hospitality, room size and standard. Tried the breakfast and one outlet only and I wished I could stay for more days to enjoy the hotel leisure facilities. The check-in was great. Hotel staff are very professional. Still close to the airport and not far from the main city attractions. I had very bad experience with the Wi-Fi in the room as I couldn’t connect with my laptop so I don’t know is this was my only bad luck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Paris Vendome; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Beautiful hotel, great location, very professional and helpful hotel staff. I had smooth check-in. The room was good. I thought it will be little bigger but this was ok. I tried the breakfast only at the hotel and it was totally fine. Free Wi-Fi was included. Might be the only challenge is the price was little high.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: This was one of my best stayaction trips the last few months. I went with my family for 2 nights stay during one of the public holidays. Great hospitality and reflects in everything we have experienced. Great food and beautiful leisure and pool area. We were upgraded to high floor corner room which has stunning view. The room itself is very elite and beautifully designed. Very recommended hotel if you have good deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gothia Towers; City: Gothenburg Vastra Gotaland County West Coast; Review: This was my first time to visit Gothenburg and for leisure. Everyone recommended the hotel since it close to many places and also for its dining options. I had smooth check in. The room I booked was good one. I was expecting something better but generally good space and lovely design. They have huge lobby area with several dining options. I tried several restaurants in the three towers and all was pleasant experience. The hotel staff was friendly and helpful. Free Wi-Fi is available. Very recommended hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Rose Suite Hotel; City: Rimini Province of Rimini Emilia Romagna; Review: This was one of my most beautiful hotels stays I’ve ever experienced the last few years. I was staying for few days for business but then I extended for leisure. My check-in was great and they gave me a wonderful ground level room. The hotel staff is such great. Wonderful breakfast. very good location. Free strong Wi-Fi so basically you have it all. Very recommended hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taj Mahal Hotel; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: Stayed for 4 days for business. This is an old hotel but well maintained. The room was good in space. The hotel staff is friendly and helpful especially the housekeeping and at the restaurants. Free Wi-Fi is available as well. I had two small issues during my stay but the management showed extremely professional attitude in handling and fixing these issues on spot. Very well done. My only problem is they fixed shower as I prefer movable one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pelican 0940 Compact Flash Memory Card Protective Case; Brand: Pelican; Review: I bought the Pelican 940 Compact Flash Memory Card Case to replace a plastic compact flash case that is similar to another one sold on Amazon. That one had lasted me for 3 or 4 years but was being held together by duct tape until I finally tripped and crushed it to splinters. So I went searching for a replacement and stumbled upon the Pelican brand. I've known of the Pelican brand for years, but I didn't realize they made a CF card case. Pelican is trusted by many professional photographers to protect their cameras,lenses and accessories when traveling or shipping items across the country and across international borders. If a professional photographer is going to trust their tens of thousands of dollars of equipment, I'm willing to trust my compact flash cards to them as well. The case I wanted to replace my old card carrier needed to be sturdy, fairly light weight and hold at least 4 cards. The pelican is a little heavier than I want, but I know it is sturdier than what I was using. It is intended to hold 4 CF cards but you can easily fit in 6 stacked 3 in 2 rows. I've put 5 cards in the holder so far without a problem. The clasp to hold the case shut is outstanding. It overlaps the lip of the opposing side and seals tight to tight. I believe it is rated to withstand being submerged under water. All though I don't intend to do this, i feel secure that the case won't allow my cards to be damaged. The only thing on my wishlist for this item would be a window to see the cards inside the case. I often rotate cards based on whether they are filled or not and it would save me from opening the case if I knew all of the cards were filled or if there was an open slot. This is minor though, and I could always figure out another way of knowing this information. The case came with an insert to replace one of the side CF card carriers in case you had a pcmcia card you wanted the case to hold. I've used this product for the past 3 weeks, 5 days a week, and love it. I can even slip a few business cards in it to help in case I lose it or need to pass them out. When I'm in need of another compact flash case, I'm going to buy another Pelican Compact Flash Memory Card Case. Heck I'd buy 2 more just because I love it so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 8GB/30MB Ultra CF Card ( SDCFH-008G-A11, US Retail Package ); Brand: SanDisk; Review: I have pretty much always purchased SanDisk compact flash cards for my digital camera. As a professional photographer I want what is reliable and have used this SanDisk 8gb card several times since my purchase. It has reliably worked every time. I trust SanDisk to produce quality memory cards. I'm using it primarily in a Canon 7d camera and the only negative is that when I shoot video I tend to run out of space too fast. That's fine though as the price for these cards is cheap compared to the cost of losing a job. Follow-up: I had to RMA the card due to it constantly giving me errors when I was getting 3/4 to almost full. I would lose photos because of this. Dealing with SanDisk support wasn't fun. They sent me an older card twice, but when I brought it up the second time they overnighted me the correct replacement card. It has worked flawlessly since. It was something that I shouldn't have had to deal with and I knocked off a star for their customer support. If they hadn't overnighted the new card I would have dropped them to 2 stars. I understand CF cards will get through with defects. That is the purpose of RMA, but it was not an easy or enjoyable experience to go through the SanDisk support. In the end they did the right thing though and made up for their own inability to communicate effectively.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: StarTech.com MU6MM 6 feet 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable - M/M; Brand: StarTech; Review: They get the job done, but they also seem to be susceptible to interference. I bought 4. 3 to connect radio slaves (radio poppers) to Canon flashes and one to connect my phone to my car radio. The audio got to the stereo just fine, but for some reason my phone kept acting like it was being told to pause or start music every now and then, but enough to be annoying. I moved to a different cord that was a bit thicker and that problem has pretty much gone away. The flashes would fire intermittently when using these which is something that didn't happen with other cords I've used. So I'm guessing the shielding isn't up to snuff. Or maybe it's something else that I don't know about. I knocked 1 star off for what seems to be a shielding issue, but otherwise these do as intended. If the items you are connecting wouldn't be effected by extraneous signals then I'd recommend them, but otherwise I'd look for something with a bit more shielding.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness For Toyota 87-Up Power 4 Speaker; Brand: Metra; Review: worked like it was suppose to. it was easy to wire up once I found the directions. I'm enjoying the hardness with the new stereo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Opteka OSG18 1/8-Inch Universal Honeycomb Grid for External Camera Flashes; Brand: Opteka; Review: This speed grid works great. I've used it a couple times for different photos. It is easy to attach and does a nice job shaping the light. It is sturdy and should last a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness For Toyota 87-Up Power 4 Speaker; Brand: Metra; Review: worked like it was suppose to. it was easy to wire up once I found the directions. I'm enjoying the hardness with the new stereo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Large White Cardboard CD Mailer 6" X 6-3/8" with Adhesive Flap - 50 Pack; Brand: Information Packaging; Review: Good. Does what they are suppose to and seem well constructed. The glue seems to be good too. I wish they were a bit tougher, but they work well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingston Ultimate 16 GB 266x CompactFlash Memory Card CF/16GB-U2; Brand: Kingston; Review: The card does what it is suppose to do. I use it in a Canon 7D camera. It has worked without issue so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WKA12-12F2 12V 12Ah UPS Battery - This is an AJC Brand Replacement; Brand: AJC Battery; Review: I have an old UPS and this battery was the exact replacement I needed. So far it is working exactly as it needs to. I'd order this battery again from this seller, as long as it lasts a year or two. Hopefully i'll get a little more out of it than that though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kitchen Tablet Mount Stand iKross 2-in-1 Kitchen Wall/CounterTop Desktop Mount Recipe Holder Stand for 7 to 13 Inch Tablet fits; Brand: iKross; Review: I bought it and it got to my place in less than 7 days. That's awesome. To top it off it is well made and does exactly what I wanted. It holds my phone at an angle. It has several angles to choose from. It folds flat for easy storage. Works as it should. Does what it is suppose to. Worth the money I paid.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motorola Vehicle Power Adapter micro-USB Rapid Rate Charger; Brand: hotfuleco; Review: It worked for a while... about a year and then it died. That's why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Canon Lens Rear Cap for Canon EF SLR Lenses; Brand: Canon; Review: It's a cap for a canon lens. It works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Boston Cambridge; City: Cambridge Massachusetts; Review: Priced out many hotels in Boston and found them to be very very expensive. Found this in Cambridge, a 15-20 minute drive from Boston University. Has free parking, great a/c, walking distance to rail service into Boston. Rooms clean and nice continental breakfast. staff very helpful. Paid 159 plus tax for 2 queen size beds; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Williamsburg Square; City: State College Pennsylvania; Review: Recently visited Penn State and stayed one night. The hotel is minutes from Beaver Stadium and the Penn State campus. The lobby and rooms were very clean, the staff very friendly and the price was reasonable. It is in walking distance to 2 restaurants (Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden) and the front desk has menus from many other places , many of which deliver. The hotel provides a continental beakfast. Will definitely stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Philadelphia King of Prussia; City: King of Prussia Pennsylvania; Review: Recently stayed one night at the Hyatt Place Philadelphia/King of Prussia. The staff could not be more polite and knowledgeable. The room was clean and spacey. 2 queen beds and a sofa that could be pulled out to sleep an additional 2 people. A flat screen TV that swivels 180 degrees so you could watch it from the living area or the beds. Room included a fridge. Plenty of parking and free internet. Roon included a limited continental breakfast. Nice but small indoor pool and hot tub. Close to shopping and places to eat. 20 minutes to Philadelphia and right of Interstate 76. Would definitely recommend and would stay there again. Price was reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson Carlisle PA; City: Carlisle Pennsylvania; Review: We visited Dickinson college and stayed at the Country inn&Suites in Carlisle because it was only minutes away. Pool was out of order but the staff and cleanliness.of the place made up for it. The staff was great. Continental breakfast was definitely above average. Would definitely stay there again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Philadelphia Airport South at Widener University; City: Chester Pennsylvania; Review: Was visiting a couple of colleges in Philly and found this best Western had a reasonable rate compared to others in and around Philadelphia so we booked it for two nights. What a mistake. Asked front desk about getting something yo eat and she told us definitely not to walk in a particular direction. Parking was included but lot was small ans shared by a TD Bank and a building. Walking from parking lot to hotel lobby at night was creepy so we decided to park on the street both nights. Continental breakfast was nothing to speak jof and very limited. Staff was pleasant. When asked about food places that would deliver all we were provided with wasa menu from Dominos. Suggestion if looking for an inexpensive place to stay near Philly,stay away from Chester; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Franklin Square Inn Troy Albany; City: Troy New York; Review: The hotel was very clean and comfortable and had a beautiful lobby. The staff could not be more polite. The free continental breakfast was very good and had a large selection. There were bars and restaurants all in walking distance. A magazine (518) called it the next "Brooklyn" Seems like alot going on in the area. Not sure if I would want to walk around late at night. The room was nice however TV reception was not the best. The price seemed high for a Best Western Plus however other hotels in the area were even more. Its two minutes from RTI. Would definitely stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Binghamton Johnson City; City: Johnson City New York; Review: Hotel older looking, nothing special, breakfast was lacking. Plenty of restaurants in area and Duncun Donuts in same parking lot. Staff was courteous and knowledgeable. Will probably try to stay elsewhere next time in the Binghamton area.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Rochester Henrietta; City: Henrietta Finger Lakes New York; Review: Stayed there 3 nights in order to take care of some college business because my daughter will be starting Rochester Institutte of Technology in August. Was able to handly aquiring a storage facillity , banking and there is plenty of shopping and any kind of food/restaurant you are looking for within a couple of miles Very friendly stall Continental breakfast nothing special. A Denny's across parking lot and again all the shopping and eation you want close by. Would definitely stay there again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites by Hilton Rochester Henrietta; City: Henrietta Finger Lakes New York; Review: Upon arrival, we were greeted by Emma who checked us in (a few hours early). She was great, knowledgeable, polite, answered all our questions. When she heard us talking about getting our daughter a haircut because she is in her freshman year at RIT and did not hear great things about the hair salon on campus Emma jumped in and told us about her stylist and gave us her telephone number and even offered to try to help us get an appointment if she was booked. Each time we entered or left the hotel and Emma was working she always gave a warm reception. Management I hope you are reading this Give Emma a raise. When we got up to the suite, it was great. Clean, spacey, full size fridge and freezer microwave toaster plates and cutlery and much much more. All the staff was very nice throughout our stay. The pool was large and well kept. In the gym they had laundry facilities and the hotel is right in the middle of any store or restaurant you could ask for. Plenty of parking and even charging station for hybred vehicles. Free internet too. The only thing I found to be lacking was their continental breakfast. There were no real hot foods except waffles. Didn't even see eggs, or sausages or home fries which you see at many of the places we stayed at. Since my daughter is just a freshman this year, we definitely will stay at the Homes2Suites when we visit. Again the hospitality was great especially Emma.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Link Depot HDMI to HDMI Cable 25 feet; Brand: Link Depot; Review: It just works. Quick delivery. Excellent value.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand - Flexible Universal Smartphone Stand for Small Smartphones including iPhone; Brand: Joby; Review: Clever design. Good price. Though it has a standard 1/4" threaded attachment (standard for cameras), the tripod can only steady VERY light cameras such as an iphone. Anything heavier is very unsteady.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anker Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Wireless Aluminum Keyboard & Cover for iPad mini 3 / mini 2 / iPad mini; Brand: Anker; Review: Cute and useful addition to an ipad mini. Maybe a little too easy to open (the magnetic latch doesn't stay closed). When this is of concern, I added an elastic strap to keep the keyboard firmly closed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bluetooth Wireless Remote Control Camera Shutter Release Self Timer for IOS Android Smartphone Tablet Iphone 5 5s 5c 4s; Brand: Abco Tech; Review: Clever accessory. Works well with iphone. Easy to lose.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: (2018; Brand: iRonsnow; Review: Good value. Works as advertised. It isn't hi-fi, but I didn't expect that, either.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Anna Karenin; Author: Visit Amazon's Leo Tolstoy Page; Review: It saddened me a little to see Anna Karenina end, like Crime and Punishment with an ill-advised and heinous fallacious treatise on belief. Levin's epiphany is the kind of rhetoric a grade school debate club could utterly demolish. It's not that I mind author's engaging the subject of religion, but it felt so jarringly out of place. What an emotionally resonant ending Tolstoy could have had, but he chose to proselytize instead.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Illustrated "A Brief History of Time" and "The Universe in a Nutshell"; Author: Stephen W. Hawking; Review: Hawking writes with a voice anyone can understand, even as they unsuccessfully attempt the daunting task of visualizing objects (or even particles...or is that waves?) moving through four dimensional space-time. The chapter on string theory is unfortunately beyond me, but what I could, vaguely, understand was interesting, even entertaining, as was the book as a whole.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Universe in a Nutshell; Author: Stephen Hawking; Review: Hawking writes with a voice anyone can understand, even as they unsuccessfully attempt the daunting task of visualizing objects (or even particles...or is that waves?) moving through four dimensional space-time. The chapter on string theory is unfortunately beyond me, but what I could, vaguely, understand was interesting, even entertaining, as was the book as a whole.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Tale of Two Cities (Collins Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Dickens Page; Review: Turns out that it is a far far better book than I have ever known. it is a far far better thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oliver Twist (Penguin Clothbound Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Dickens Page; Review: Turns out that it is a far far better book than I have ever known. it is a far far better thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oryx and Crake (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Atwood Page; Review: what an astounding writer. I'm going to read all her books now. it is a privilege to read her sentences.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: VIGOSS Big Girls' Yummy Stretch Skinny Jeans; Brand: ; Review: Love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VIGOSS Big Girls' Yummy Classic V-Skinny Jeans; Brand: ; Review: Love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meaneor Women's Plus Leopard Coat Long Jacket Zip Sweatshirt Outwear Hoodie TOP; Brand: Meaneor; Review: My wife loves it..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SIGGI 50%/100% Wool Newsboy Cap Winter Hat Visor Beret Cold Weather Knitted; Brand: SIGGI; Review: This fits perfectly, love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Julian Taylor Women's Short-Sleeve Floral Dress; Brand: Julian Taylor; Review: did a exchange still too small bust.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Men's Silver Ridge Cargo Short; Brand: Columbia; Review: The fit good do like the material; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alex and Ani Rafaelian Mother Mary Expandable Wire Bangle Bracelet; Brand: Alex and Ani; Review: My wife Love this so much; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sovietsky Historical Hotel; City: Moscow Central Russia; Review: Booked via Russian City Breaks who although made a pricing mistake to their cost honoured their quote. They also provided excellent information re-visa application and general info. Transfers to and from the hotel were on time as quoted. We did not require any trips off them as we were there for a famaliy wedding so had new relations to act as guides. The Hotel is excellent spotlessly clean friendly with helpful staff . Room service, breakfast and the lunch and dinner was good. The prices were reasonable for the class of the hotel. Red Square is about 3 miles away, either cross the road and get a No12 trolly bus or a 10 min walk down to the metro. The metro though no english signs is quite easy with a metro map and the route guides in the stations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Orangers Beach Resort Bungalows; City: Hammamet Nabeul Governorate; Review: on arrival at the hotel it looks nothing. do not be put off. the hotel is a gem rooms clean and well maintained, good choice of food, great staff friendl,y attentive, polite and helpfull. beach clean. this is our 9th time in tunisia all different hotels and this is our 2nd best. when you walk out of the hotel there is not much around but this could have been due to going in november. however it is only 5 dinar into hammamet (£2). go to this hotel and enjoy it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Tikida Garden; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: First imperssion on travelling off the main road to the hotel is a bit of a rough area. reception staff are very good, my wife uses a wheel chair for distances and as soon as they saw the chair they were looking to give us a room on ground floor but this did not matter as there was a lift for us to use but still considerate of them, as they were during the whole week. Rooms and whole hotel very clean but only the top floors of the blocks will see much sun due to postioning. Bar staff in zanzibar are very good could not tell you about bar salon as it was down stairs and this was a no smoking area. Evening dining in main resturant staff ok(ish not just our opinion a few people mentioned this) except for the older waiter at the end furthest from entrance he was the best by far. Breakfast good plenty of choice. Evening meal ok we have had better and worse but you will always find somthing you will enjoy, but it is a bit repetitive. Lunch at the pool bar/resturant ok but again repetitive. Nice gardens surround the hotel only fault few sitting areas if you want to avoid the pool area. Outside walkink to main road as said looks a rough area but i had no problems walking there people friendly without much " come into my shop"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bliss Hotel Southport A Trademark Collection by Wyndham; City: Southport Merseyside England; Review: we stayed 3 nights and were very pleased with location. room and all areas very clean however our bed was a bit tired with a dip in the middle. Breakfast choice and quality very good, we only stayed B & B and dined out in the evenings. Just one point for anybody with limited mobility you should request a shower only room as the bath's are very high sided.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Imperial Hotel; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: stayed for 4 nights at the imperial and we were impressed with the staff, service and location. breakfast quite good but no full english if that is what you want. resturant was good but expensive as are a lot of places in copenhagen. to resturants to try nearby are china palace (out the door turn right and keep stright on about 5 mins) also the sultan ( out thr door turn right then first right again about 5 mins) both good food and reasionable prices. hotel is an ideal location for sightseeing and shopping. go and enjoy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disney s Hotel New York; City: Chessy Marne la Vallee Seine et Marne Ile de France; Review: On arrival our bags had to be security scanned due to previous events which helps you to feel safe. the reception staff were very welcoming and had our room sorted in no time at all. This is a very large hotel and our room was about 100 metres from the lifts and it was not the most distant. Rooms are clean with plenty of towels provided. ( towels also provided if you use the pool) The staff are all smiles and very helpful and our grandson enjoyed the attention. Breakfast is buffet style and there is something for everyone. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from Disney village and a further 5 to the parks so don't bother with any shuttle service. this hotel is an ideal location.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame; City: Nice French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Az; Review: we stayed here for a week at the start of may. the hotel is ideally located in the centre of the city about a 10 minute stroll to the front and a few minutes from the train station. we had a junior suite on the 6th floor and overlooked the church.( bells do not start until 8am) very nice rooms clean and well set out but disappointed with the plastic glasses in the bathroom and paper cups for the nespresso machine. continental breakfast not our favourite but ok. bar on 8th floor very pleasant with an excellent bartender. There are many places to dine in the evening within 5 or 6 minutes walk. (crazy wok, royal kashmer, mad in viet). ALL OF NICE IS VERY WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Mitland; City: Utrecht; Review: We travelled to Utrecht to meet our granddaughter who has moved there. We picked the Mitland and were delighted with our choice. welcoming and helpful staff greeted us on arrival. The hotel is located a distance from the centre but it only took 25 minutes walk to get there and that's pushing a wheelchair. I would recommend a lake view as the other side of the hotel overlooks the Utrecht ring road and there is some traffic noise. Everything in the hotel is very clean although the older section of the hotel could do with a facelift on the outside but inside is of as high standard as the new sections. Breakfast is extra but there is everything you could want to set you up for the day. the onsite restaurant is very good and not over expensive. The hotel has bikes to hire if you choose. overall an excellent hotel good food and excellent staff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Culture Hotel Villa Capodimonte; City: Naples Province of Naples Campania; Review: just had a week at this hotel and to be honest 3 days would have been better, The hotel is located out of the way but has lovely views over the bay of naples provided your room is not in the basement or behind a tree. the staff are good and work hard. Rooms are clean and bedding changed every couple of days however for a 4 star hotel in Europe it was a surprise that there was no tea and coffee facilities in the room. breakfast was not to our taste with no hot food presented unless you wanted to warm the egg and sausage mix that was presented in a cold food warmer. we booked half board as we knew it was out of the way but there was only 3 choices on the menu so staying there for a week it repeated itself except when one of the waiters offered a change, THANKS. on the plus side a daily shuttle into naples is a life saver if your mobility is restricted in any way but it only drops you off at a sister hotel but only about 5-10 minutes from the centre. naples is very busy with about 2 cruse ships docking every day. Thanks to the receptionist ( did not get her name) with the blonde wavy hair who knowing we had booked a trip took it upon herself to check with the tour operator if it was okay for wheelchairs which it was not so thanks for your customer care; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Occidental Margaritas; City: Playa del Ingles Maspalomas Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: this is a good hotel but there are a couple of issues to be aware of. we saw the pictures of the hotel with the glass and crome balconies and were happy with our room but there is an older part of this hotel which we had not seen happily we were in the pictured section. The hotel is well away from the front but it is a pleasant walk. staff are good and as in most hotels have to work very hard. Our main issue was with the dining room which was too small for the number of people staying there. quite a few times we had to queue up to wait for somewhere to sit, when you do get a table it is quite possible that your chair will be bumped a lot as people get passed to reach the buffet. nearest the door there is more room between the seats. the Christmas gala was a bit of a disappointment, the food was very good but only the drinks were served to you and then it took a while to get a top up. overhaul the hotel is very good but the dining is a bit like school diners queuing to get to most of the food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: booked on line via the nh website which was very easy. however when we arrived to check in I was told " it says you have paid but can not find it" not inspiring but soon sorted out. we had a room on the 6th floor with a terrace. The ROOM did not have any very little space between the bed and walls or furniture. on the plus side a good view from the terrace over Amsterdam. Everything clean and spotless tea and coffee provided but no real tea only fancy and fruit ones. Breakfast is very good and the staff could not be faulted with a smile for everyone. Location is ideal across the road and round the corner a good choice of bars, restaurants and coffee shops!. tram stops near by. but it is only a 15 minute stroll to Dam Square and you are in the heart of everything. overall a good hotel but not a great one. would stay again with a bigger room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Marquise Luxury Resort Complex; City: Kallithea Rhodes Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: we stayed here for our son's wedding. as my wife is a wheelchair user I e-mailed the hotel to request a ground floor room or access to a lift. on arrival the staff said we will have to swap your room as they had allocated a first floor room in one of the blocks. this was quickly sorted and they placed us in a room in the main building, which was very nice except for our grandson finding an apple core under one of the cabinets however this was the only fault we found with the hotel.. we were a group of various ages from 14months to 66. The staff are excellent always helpful and always with a smile and a word for everyone. Food is very good throughout the day about the 2nd best all inclusive we have been to. pool areas are very good but be careful about diving in as most are only about 1 metre deep. golf type buggies driven by staff will ferry your luggage or take you down to the beach. having travelled widely I realise that star ratings are different depending on the country we would rate this as 4/5 not 5star some little things missing. but there would be no hesitation in going back. thank you for a great stay; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sandos Benidorm Suites; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: just back from a great week at Benidorm suites we also got lucky with the weather. the rooms are very good with a separate seating area, all rooms have a pool view but rooms with a low number on each floor have best view right down to the sea. Breakfast is excellent, lunch and dinner are ok not the best not the worst. Chips (they are good) every day but most days only the same other option for potato. Dennis in the restaurant is very good and helpful informing you where everything is on your first visit. Staff are very good and fun loving they contribute to your enjoyment. The hotel is great for wheelchairs but the is a long walk to the beach down a slight incline I found it ok but that's me. overall a good place to go entertainment is very good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Grand Teguise Playa; City: Costa Teguise Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: very pleased with this hotel. the views and location are ideal. the hotel is very wheelchair friendly as is the area. the restaurant is very good only small amounts left out but replenished just before they run out so always fresh. Food is good staff are brilliant. rooms are good and very clean. check in was quick, this is a large hotel and some of the rooms require a little walk but all inside unless you want a short cut by going outside. would be happy to stay again and recommend this hotel; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Plaza; City: Nice French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Not too bad a hotel but not very good for wheelchairs even though it comes up as wheelchair friendly. Looks impressive from the outside but the ramp inside is too steep and not enough room at the top. Staff helpful and the room was clean and comfortable, best nights sleep in a hotel for a long time except the music noise when there was an event on. The dining room is down stairs, there are 2 lifts one into the toilet area this lift could do with a litre of air freshener. the other is a service lift and then a bit of a tour through the hotel basement area but not that bad. breakfast was quite good with mix of hot and cold. mini bar prices are very high, if you have young children with you watch them 5euros for M & M's and pringles. also if you put anything into the mini bar ( water and Wine to cool in our case ) you get charged for this so greed rules. next time in Nice we will go elsewhere; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sandos Benidorm Suites; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: just come back from our 2nd visit to the Benidorm suites. just like our last stay great staff and entertainment. the rooms( suites ) are well furnished and decorated kept very clean as is all the hotel both inside and out. food is quite good and make sure you try the onsite indian restaurant. we will return again as we met many people that have been there 10 times or more which tells how good a hotel ( and staff ) it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: 2nd time at the NH Carlton. we went back because the location is ideal in the heart of everything and all main attractions a short walk away. there are also plenty of resturants nearby. booked via booking.com and either missed or could not book bed and breakfast. had 1 breakfast at the hotel but considered it overpriced for what there was. went to a local café and had a good breakfast for a 1/3 of the cost at hotel. the room are very clean and staff polite and friendly. would stop again anytime. refurb is going on at moment but not affecting our stay; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: simplehuman Wide-Step Rectangular Step Trash Can, Stainless Steel, 50 L / 13.2 Gal; Brand: simplehuman; Review: best kitchen garbage pail ive owned. Get the liners to match; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KitchenAid KCM0402OB Personal Coffee Maker - Onyx Black; Brand: KitchenAid; Review: easy to use for one cup; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salt and Pepper Shaker Set with Rack; Brand: Tablecraft; Review: replacement sets. The same as the ones I am replacing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Signature Sleep Memoir 8 Inch Memory Foam Mattress with CertiPUR-US certified foam, Twin; Brand: Signature Sleep; Review: Very comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zinus Memory Foam 8 Inch Green Tea Mattress, Queen; Brand: Zinus; Review: Really comfy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder, Stainless Steel; Brand: simplehuman; Review: Best towel holder I've ever purchased. Have three.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
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