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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bauer Senior Vapor X300R Roller Hockey Skate; Brand: Bauer; Review: Decent wheels and bearings, but the boot is unbearable around the ankles. I've played hockey for over 35 yrs and this is the most uncomfortable boot I've ever experienced. Not sure if I need to "bake" these to get them to fit... just plain painful to wear after 2-3 minutes of lacing up.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunfire Colorful Replacement Clip Holder Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker; Brand: Dunfire; Review: I bought this combo pack with the waistband clip and the silicone wrist bracelet holder for the Fitbit One. My previous waistband clips were OEM from Fitbit, and like so many of us have experienced, the plastic cap of the rear holder broke off after about a year of use. Plus, the sleep wristband was flimsy and after a few weeks use, the Fitbit would fall out during the evening. My package arrived yesterday from China... not happy about that, but it is what it is... Initial observation is that the silicone is MUCH thicker than the OEM version. Thus far, I have only used the wrist bracelet. It's comfortable, and I didn't notice it while sleeping. Best advantage is that since it holds the One firmly against the wrist, I felt it vibrate when the alarm went off this morning. My wife is a sensitive sleeper and gets out of bed much later than me, so having a silent alarm that doesn't disturb her is my primary motivation for the purchase. I may start using the waistband clip holder, but I'm not so sure. If I can tolerate the wristband during the day, I may stick with that. I used to wear the clip on my pocket, but I have noticed that it is taking a toll on the fabric of my dress pants over time. We shall see. I'll update if my opinion changes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Beauty Sponge - Latex Free Premium Beauty Sponge - The Most Flawless Makeup Sponge For; Author: ; Review: A little too wide and fat for my taste. It's a little hard to blend with the sponge is this large.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen R. Covey Page; Review: Gives me a whole new perspective on life and people . I hope to carry these teachings throughout my journey.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen R. Covey Page; Review: Gives me a whole new perspective on life and people . I hope to carry these teachings throughout my journey.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rich Dad Poor Dad (What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert T Kiyosaki Page; Review: As a rookie investor, I really enjoyed the insight provided in this book. I'm glad I'm still at an age to grow before I'm stuck working for money!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Think and Grow Rich; Author: Visit Amazon's Napoleon Hill Page; Review: I'm adding this to my yearly reread to stay motivated for ever! Definitely a must read for those in need for self re evaluation; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Achim 054006101681 1-2-3 Shade Vinyl Room Darkening Temporary Pleated Shades; Brand: Achim; Review: I like these room darkening shades pretty well. They are durable, but a little hard to cut to fit. They stick very well, and on a standard window, they still fit on the inside of window in front of blinds.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carnation Home Fashions EZ On Fabric Shower Curtain, Beacon Hill; Brand: Carnation Home Fashions; Review: this shower curtain works great. its washable. no hooks required. water doesn't spray through the fabric. my kids love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tie-Dyed Orange Pop-Up Camp Shower Caddy 8x12 quot;; Brand: Innovative Home Creations; Review: for just a few dollars this was a great deal. very big and roomy. i would suggest a clip or a hook so the tote can be hung in shower or in bathroom for storage. comes with a the handle you see, but no way to hang it up; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carnation Home Fashions EZ On Fabric Shower Curtain, Beacon Hill; Brand: Carnation Home Fashions; Review: this shower curtain works great. its washable. no hooks required. water doesn't spray through the fabric. my kids love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GB Eye World Map Poster; Brand: GB Eye; Review: Map arrived quickly. Glossy and easy to read. I chose this one over other options because the maps at the bottom are great for homework and learning in general. Came in very thick cardboard so it wasn't bent or wrinkled when it arrived; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PragmaBed Simple Base Bi-fold Foundation, Queen; Brand: PragmaBed; Review: This was so easy to assemble. Full set up took less than 5 minutes. I definitely recommend this to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RTIC 30 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler Cup w/ Splash Proof Lid; Brand: RTIC; Review: This is just as good, if not better than the "yetti", but half the price. The lid is included with the purchase. Ice was still in the cup after 24 hours in a hot car!! We purchased a handle for under 5$, that fits perfectly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Mouse Ears 18 Velour Christmas Stocking with Plush Cuff (Mickey Mouse - Red); Brand: Disney; Review: Soft and such a cute color. The ears are a floppy felt material so they don't really stand up like in the picture. The size is good for a toddler. Not to big or small. Don't buy this if you plan on putting a name on, unless you want to sew on a monogram. Too much fur and too fuzzy for any vinyl lettering to fit or stick. I don't think this could be washable because of material. Over all, I was satisfied with product..; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Quest Wagga Wagga; City: Wagga Wagga New South Wales; Review: I have stayed twice and been happy on both occassions. The only thing Quest Wagga Wagga lacks is in house meals, but there are plenty of options in Wagga Wagga within walking distance. I also had an issue with the cleanliness of the Iron provided, but that is a minor issue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quest Wagga Wagga; City: Wagga Wagga New South Wales; Review: I have stayed here a few times, but have always been satisfied with the service and facilities on offer. On this occassion the staff kept the office open in order to wait for my arrival......................I was late!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quest Tamworth; City: Tamworth New South Wales; Review: Excellent place to stay in Tamworth. I have stayed here a couple of times now, and have always found it a great place to stay. Staff at reception are always more than helpful, and welcome a weary driver with enthusiasm.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quest Dubbo; City: Dubbo New South Wales; Review: Great place to stay. Great helpful staff. Well located in city centre. Both times I've stayed I have had excellent levels of service. Didn't try the attached restaurant but it looked good. Great food options around anyway.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quest Echuca; City: Echuca Victoria; Review: Stayed with my family at Quest Echuca whilst I was on Business. Accommodation was great and the family chose this as the best accommodation of the four places we stayed for the week. Will use Quest Echuca again on our next visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Manitou Springs Resort Mineral Spa; City: Manitou Beach Saskatchewan; Review: I did not stay at the resort, but one of my colleagues stated that her room was very nice with a great pillow-top bed. Also, the mineral spa had been closed for "annual maintenance" for almost a month. November/December must be their slow time. About the meeting, there were muffins and coffee when I arrived, but no butter/margarine, jams or jellies to go with them...not even a knife to cut them was visible, so I passed and remained hungry 'till lunch. It was a good thing I was really hungry, or I would have passed on that as well. the dinner rolls (the two I left on the table) were stale, the beef was horribly overcooked and the gravy had to have been made by a chain smoker...it was that salty. The facility was a little crowded for the 100 plus of us, and it was hard to get around the room at times. The carpets while clean, have seen better days, with loose threads appearing at seams. There was not hot running water in the messy bathroom until after lunch...the hot water heater must be at the far end of the building.The staff were nice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grant Hall Hotel; City: Moose Jaw Saskatchewan; Review: A spectacular renovation of this property has brought it from desolation to the forefront in Moose Jaw. Upon our arrival, Arden escorted us to the room, and gave us some highlights of the very well appointed and attractive room, and the hotel. He refused a tip which was nice. The dining room (separate review) was wonderful. After dinner, we toured the facility, which again is beautifully restored, and went for a walk in the adjacent park (a beautiful feature in downtown Moose Jaw). It was getting dark when we returned, which is when we discovered the first problem. The three huge arched windows in the room have privacy only accordion blinds, across the street from a bright streetlight, producing almost daylight conditions in the room, with no light blocking curtains installed...not good for us. In addition, when we went for supper, the room was a little warm, so I turned on the HVAC and set the temperature to 65 (it was 72 on the thermometer). When we got back, it was 74 in the room. As the hotel is small, I was not really surprised to get voicemail when I called the front desk. I was however very disappointed to not get a call back regarding my concern. We got up and left at 05:00, as it was just too bright and hot to stay any longer. Fortunately, we live in Moose Jaw, so went home and back to bed. We encountered an employee in the lobby on our way out. My wife stated it was too bright in the room and his reply was: oh. I added, and it was too hot, and his reply was: uh huh. We were also disappointed by no in room coffee. After getting some more sleep at home, I went back for my free breakfast and found it to be similar to Days Inn, except no waffles.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Tree Lodge; City: Fernie Kootenay Rockies British Columbia; Review: The room we were assigned had a significant incense aroma, so we were moved to another room, which was clean and tidy. The carpet (in the room and in general) was stained, and nearing the end of its life. We noted that many improvements have been made, and the carpet is likely next. The beds and pillows were excellent. There was some noise from the #3 highway, in fact a bit more than was expected; it slowed at 10PM and started again at 5:15AM. While the Red tree used to have a restaurant, it is closed, and nearby restaurants were not appealing. In fact, stay away from the Cedar Garden Grill and Wok (not listed), so we had an A&W burger. Breakfast in the hotel is (Tim Horton's) muffins and coffee, just enough to get you on the road. It would be nice if they had some spreads to go on the muffins. We thought the price was a little high for off season, especially when compared to our stay in Kamloops, but not outrageous.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Villa at Hester Creek; City: Oliver Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: Honestly, I teared up a bit when we were shown our room. You just can't visualize the view without actually seeing it. This is the nicest place we've ever rested our heads. Mellisa looked after everything, and simply wanted us to enjoy our stay. She was so happy to get to work here, she was contagious. The price may seem a little dear, but factor in the bottle of wine and the awesome breakfast delivered to our room, it is quite reasonable. Make sure to tour the vinyard and the winery. We opted for the tutored tasting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maple Leaf Motel and RV Campground Resort; City: Oliver Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: We stayed in this small, quaint accommodation for 2 nights while visiting wine country. Our room was very small but clean and right beside highway 97, near the Golden Mile Bench. Our host Nate was terrific, and even recommended a good meal in town. Be aware that there are 2 "Maple Leaf Motels". One is "inn towne", right in town, and this one on the highway which has a pool. We would stay here again. My sister stayed at the "other one" and stated she would not return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Kelowna BC; City: Kelowna Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: On 97 highway in Kelowna, which is under construction both ways making traffic difficult. The room was small but clean and the road noise not too bad. Breakfast is on the simple side with no hot food, but enough to get you going. We would stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 25 Cars No One Wanted to Buy; Abstract: Along with cars so bad they become icons and the models that should have worked but never caught on come a slew of vehicles that'll have you scratching your head. Remind yourself of the disasters that were the Cadillac Catera, Buick Reatta, Volkswagen Phaeton, Lincoln Blackwood, Chrysler Executive Limousine, and more.; Category: autos
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: Scarlett Johansson Says 'Black Widow' Will Give Fans 'Closure'; Abstract: The actress opened up to ET at the premiere of her new film 'Jojo Rabbit' in LA on Tuesday.; Category: movies
Title: Gorgeous buildings we wish were still standing; Abstract: These beautiful historic buildings are no longer standing, but the impact of their architecture and importance remains.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dallas NBC station apologizes for delaying tornado warning during Cowboys' game vs. Eagles; Abstract: Dallas' local NBC affiliate waited six minutes to interrupt the Cowboys' game against the Eagles to provide a tornado warning.; Category: sports
Title: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer is out, tickets already on sale; Abstract: The trailer debuted during Monday Night Football halftime, on Carrie Fisher's birthday.; Category: movies
Title: Maggie Rogers Condemns Sexual Harassment After Catcalling Incident During Her Concert; Abstract: Maggie Rogers Condemns Catcalling Incident During Her Concert; Category: music
Title: Bag Explodes While Being Loaded On Volaris Flight At Midway Airport; Abstract: A bag being loaded onto an airplane at Midway Aiport exploded on Monday and the Chicago bomb unit has responded.; Category: travel
Title: Bartenders share 13 things they'd love to tell customers but can't; Abstract: There are some things that bartenders just won't tell you, even if it's to everyone's benefit.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Movies Critics Hate but Audiences Love; Abstract: With thousands of new movies released each year, professional critics are relied on by audiences to identify the best the industry has to offer.; Category: movies
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: NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Old-school football rules the day; Abstract: NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Old-school football rules the day; Category: sports
Title: Frustrated with season so far, Melvin Gordon appears to regret his holdout; Abstract: The Los Angeles Chargers rusher seems to have wished he attended training camp after all.; Category: sports
Title: 2019 Tokyo Motor Show in Photos: A Visual Tour; Abstract: The top Tokyo reveals from Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and more.; Category: autos
Title: NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: More ammo for Belichick as greatest coach ever; Abstract: Doug Farrar offers up myriad surprises in Touchdown Wire's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.; Category: sports
Title: Top takeaways from first half of the NFL season; Abstract: Two months through the season, the 49ers and Patriots look like the cream of the crop while the Dolphins are historically awful.; Category: sports
Title: This 2800-HP Turbocharged Hemi-Powered Supra Is the King of Flames; Abstract: When too much is not enough.; Category: autos
Title: Watch Bloodhound LSR Literally Blast To 334 MPH In Under 20 Seconds; Abstract: High-speed tests of the Eurofighter-powered land speed record car have begun.; Category: autos
Title: The 50 Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time; Abstract: Not every successful artist stays successful. Here are the best one-hit wonders from the 1950s all the way through the 2000s.; Category: music
Title: Kevin Spacey Won't Be Charged in Sexual Assault Case After Accuser Dies; Abstract: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has formally dropped a case against actor Kevin Spacey, after the accuser died.; Category: movies
Title: 17 Hard Math Problems That'll Make Your Head Spin; Abstract: These brain-teasing hard math problems are tricky, but they'll give your brain a workout and they're really rewarding when you figure one out! The post 17 Hard Math Problems That'll Make Your Head Spin appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 8 Peugeot, Citroen Vehicles We Want In The U.S.; Abstract: France's Groupe PSA is merging with the Italian-American (but technically Dutch) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. There are a number of things we don't know (what the new company's name will be, for example) and things we think we know (that PSA is paying a premium for the partnership). What we know for certain, though, is that we're excited over the idea of French vehicles once again returning to North America. Groupe FCA? PSA And FCA Merger Plan Officially Announced Analyst Says PSA Is Paying A 32% Premium To Take Control Of FCA It's been decades since Peugeot and Citroen, Groupe PSA's two biggest brands, were sold in North America, and back then… the cars weren't great. Today, these two brands, as well as the premium DS marque, are in a far different place with competitive, stylish vehicles across a number of those segments. And while we doubt the entire PSA catalog will come to the U.S. market, here are a few we'd like to see.; Category: autos
Title: Here Are the Biggest Deals We're Anticipating for Black Friday; Abstract: The Black Friday deals for 2019 have already begun leaking out. Get a sneak peek at what to expect from popular retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy. Browse our guide and use it to plan your attack for the biggest shopping event of the year.; Category: lifestyle
Title: New Mexico game vs. Air Force rescheduled after lineman Nahje Flowers' death; Abstract: One day after unexpected death of defensive lineman Nahje Flowers, New Mexico's scheduled Saturday game against Air Force has been moved to Nov. 23.; Category: sports
Title: 32 Best Good-Mood Foods; Abstract: There are plenty of foods with proven mood-boosting benefits that can help you get happier and healthier with every bite.; Category: health
Title: LA firefighter banked $360,010 in overtime pay in one year, city audit finds; Abstract: Eighteen employees of the Los Angeles Fire Department earned more than $200,000 in overtime pay last fiscal year, with one firefighter making $360,010 in overtime alone, according to an audit released Wednesday by City Controller Ron Galperin.; Category: news
Title: College gymnast dies following training accident in Connecticut; Abstract: Melanie Coleman, 20, of Milford, was practicing on the bars when she suffered a spinal cord injury.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Trudge: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Shawn Chesser Page; Review: By injecting unnecessary political criticisms and political viewpoints, the author ruins the flow of the story. This is a story regarding the zombie apocalypse. I expect zombies and related End of the World matters. If I wanted a book on politics, I would buy a book from the "Politics" section.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cities of the Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's William Young Page; Review: A very well-written collection of stories from the viewpoint of survivors all over the world. The author shows us the events leading up to the apocalypse with the encounter of the possible origin of the Zombie infection (very rare in the zombie apocalypse genre) & Patient Zero all the way up to surviving years after things fall apart. Zombies! Moments of Suspense! Zombies! Detailed storylines! Did i mention Zombies? If you are a Zombie story fan, this is worth your money!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stand; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: The Stand is one of my favorites books. Stephen King delivers his vision of the apocalypse in the form of a deadly genetically-altered flu virus that has been accidently released on the world, stripping it of 99% of it's population. Then, he gives us it's aftermath, as survivors in the United States must choose a side: Good or Evil. A must-read for sure!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Survival Instinct: A Zombie Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristal Stittle Page; Review: This was a well thought out Zombie story. -The characters are well developed. Having one of them slowly go nuts due to the situation was a good slight plot curve. -There are plenty of moments of good suspense. -The different types of zombies (abilities, such as climbing) is a cool angle. -How the zombie disease works is well specified. -The viewpoints of the outbreak outside of the main characters (such as how the disease was progressing outside of Leighton) is good. All in all, this is a must read for zombie genre enthusiasts!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 'Salem's Lot; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: In Salem's Lot, Stephen King brings vampires to small town America. First, it's only a couple of people at a time who fall victim and then dozens begin to turn. A few residents fight back, but it's like holding back the ocean with a broom. Who will die? Who, if any, will survive? It's Stephen King's world, so who knows! Read the book to find out!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Needful Things; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: ..enjoy the peace and quite while it lasts. This is, after all, Stephen King's world! A new store is opening in town. In small towns, the level of excitement is like the Super Bowl or the Rose Bowl Parade. But this shop is different. Sure, it sells knick knacks like any other small town shop! Sure, it has something everyone wants! The owner is a charming fellow (but then, so was Ted Bundy). The prices, however, are high....too high. Over the course of a few weeks, Mr. Leland Gaunt, supposivly from Arkon, Ohio, will sell his wares at this new store called Needful Things. And in those few weeks, he will set in motion a chain of events that will lead to the destruction of this peaceful small little cornor of Maine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Zombie Chronicles: Outbreak - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Clodi Page; Review: First of all, the grammar, spelling and punctuation use (or lack thereof) are all terrible. I think this needs a serious going over by a professional editor. Second, the characters are bland. They have no substance to them at all....nothing that makes them special. Also, the swearing is excessive and mostly unnecessary. Third, zombies are de-evolved creatures. When infected humans die and then get up again as zombies, the brain has been wiped clean except for a few basic skills such as walking/running/other basic motor functions and the instinct to kill. Therefore, instantly having zombies with problem-solving skills, cunning and such right off the bat is a bit of a mistake. If you want to have evolved zombies, build up to it as the series goes on. In conclusion, I do not recommend this book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Night Shift; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Night Shift is the first book of short stories of Stephen King. This one has many good stories in it Some of my favorites: Quitters Inc: A smoker wants to quit smoking, and goes to a company called Quitters Inc, which cures smoking through threats of violence. Battleground: After returning home from a "job", a professional hitman receives a package containing sentient toy soldiers who proceed to attack him. Children of the Corn: One of Stephen King's more well known stories. A vacationing couple encounters a small town full of homicidal children who worship a deity that resides in a cornfireld. I certainly enjoyed this book and i'm sure you will too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skeleton Crew; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: This is Stephen King's second collection of short stories, except for The Mist, which seems to be more of a novella. Unlike SK's first collection, titled "Night Shift", this one has fewer good stories. My favorites: The Mist: After a very severe storm hits a Maine town, a fog begins to form around the town. While one of the main characters is in town to get food supplies, the fog envelops the store. The several dozen people trapped in the store fight monsters coming from the fog and also battling insanity. Word Processor of the Gods: A struggling author receives a jury-rigged computer built by his recently-deceased, highly intelligent nephew, but the word processor on the computer possesses unimaginable abilities. Despite the fewer number of good stories in this collection, i still recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightmares and Dreamscapes; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Another excellent collection of short stories by Stephen King! Some of my favorites: Home Delivery: A zombie tale that takes place on a Maine island community. The Ten O'Clock People: A handful of smokers seeing creatures who have taken over the bodies of people in high places of commerce and government. Crouch End: An American couple get lost in a London suburb and encounter creatures and other mysterious things.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Long Walk; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: This is an interesting and captivating story set in an alternate universe America. The military seems to hold a lot of power, the economic health of the country is poor and crowds of people find a sick pleasure in watching (and betting money on) 100 teenage boys walk for hundreds of miles under the threat of death. Very well done book as always by Stephen King.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adaptive Instinct (Survival Instinct) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Kristal Stittle Page; Review: Kristal Stittle does it again with this sequel to Survival Instinct: A Zombie Novel -The characters (both old and new) are well-developed, as well as growing personality conflicts and dangers from other characters. -The subplot involving the growing intelligence of some zombies was awesome. -The action and suspense was just as high as the last book. Overall a great read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zombie Apocalypse Diaries; Author: Visit Amazon's J. Scott Edwards Page; Review: For me, this book was a bit iffy. The descriptions of what was happening were good, however the characters were a little underdeveloped and the book ended without a real cliffhanger.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Z-Risen: Outbreak; Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy W Long Page; Review: -Good development between the 2 main characters. The interactions between both of them are funny, lightening the mood in between zombie encounters. -The way the story is told, from Creeds journalistic point of view, is well done. -Good moments of suspense. -A couple of spelling errors, but minor enough to barely be noticeable. A very good book. Well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Z-Risen: Outcasts (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy W Long Page; Review: -The continued development of the characters was adequate. However, the immature banter, such as the innuendos, couldve been left out. -Adding 2 new threats to the characters, both human and zombie, was a good angle for the book. -Its good that the author revealed the possible point of origin of the disease, however it wouldve been nice to know whats going on in other parts of the world. Hopefully well see that in the third book. -Good moments of suspense, just like the first book. Overall, this book was well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When the Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Kilmer Page; Review: This story is so disappointing that i couldn't even finish it. The characters are bland, some things that the characters do make no sense (SPOILER!! One character refuses to kill a zombie in a wheelchair, all in the name of "staying human" during the outbreak. Then the entire cast leave a pregnant woman to stay trapped in a car surrounded by zombies overnight) and the "sections" of the book bounce all over the place.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Spread: A Zombie Short Story Collection; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Kilmer Page; Review: I love how the perspective is different from other zombie novels. Instead of a story about survivors, we get to see a story on the person-to-person spread of the zombie infection. Well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metal Detecting: A Beginner's Guide: to Mastering the Greatest Hobby In the World; Author: Mark Smith; Review: A very informative book for people who are wanting to get into the hobby of Metal Detecting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Steyn Page; Review: Mark Steyn brings us bad news: Europe is dying. It's allowing itself to die slowly demographically while allowing the welfare state to grow in size and pander to immigrants (Muslims) while America sits on the sidelines watching it's slow death.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cell (Spanish language) (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: With Cell, Stephen King once again does a great job in destroying the world. This time, with cellphones. This book is well-developed. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, King throws a curveball at the readers (and the book's characters). One aspect i like: The "Phoners"...are they messed-up Humans or Zombies? King let's you, the reader, decide. This is a book i'd recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 999: Twenty-nine Original Tales of Horror and Suspense; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Sarrantonio Page; Review: Although there are a couple of stories that are dull or confusing, this book contains a pretty good collection of stories. I'd sure recommend it to anyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last World War; Author: Visit Amazon's Dayton Ward Page; Review: Dayton Ward turns the scenario of an alien invasion of Earth in a different direction by making the "invasion" accidential and causing Earth to become embroiled in an alien civil war in the process. A good book. I recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Counterstrike: The Last World War, Book 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Dayton Ward Page; Review: Dayton Ward continues with Earth still fighting in the alien war, this time taking the fight directly to the aliens' home planet ot Jontashreena.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Half; Author: Stephen King Stephen King; Review: Stephen King delivers a great story filled with suspense and paranormal craziness The Dark Half. However, if it weren't for the large number of spelling/punctuation errors, this would be a great buy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thinner [UNABRIDGED]; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I would describe this story as okay, however it does have a bit of dullness to it. For example, (SPOILER!!) when the main character goes searching for the Gypsies, the story starts to drag. After that, it did manage to re-acquire my interest, but not fully. Not one of Kings bestthats for sure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: They Thirst; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert R. McCammon Page; Review: In Salems Lot, Stephen King brought vampires to small-town America. In They Thirst, Robert McCammon brings them to the big city of Los Angeles. This book has: -A solid plot: Vampires slowly gaining a foothold while people would shrug off any disappearances/deaths as normal for a major US city infested with crime. -Well-created characters: the backgrounds and other characteristics of the major characters make them realistic. -A good ending: How the vampires and the city are dealt with. Very biblical. I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals; Author: Saul David Alinsky; Review: With Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky managed to create a book of rantings about political discourse, but offered no real solutions on how to make things better. He did however make suggestions on how to make things worse. I would have to say the worst part is at the very beginning with his praise for Lucifers rebellion against God. Talk about a credibility killerthis makes it hard to take Alinsky seriously. After reading this book, I can see how Saul Alinsky and Barack Obama could almost be considered the same person.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Apocalypse Crusade War of the Undead Day One: A Zombie Tale by Peter Meredit (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Meredith Page; Review: Im a big fan of the Zombie genre, but this book was very disappointing. The plot had good potential, but it fell flat on its face as the story progressed, mostly because the zombies didn't really seem zombie-like. That and the story didn't expand much from the main location where the story was taking place. I would not recommend this book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Zombie War: An account of the zombie apocalypse that swept across America; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Ryan Page; Review: Reviews say it's as good as Mel Brooks' World War Z. I've read World War Z many times and liked it, and thought i'd try this out too. In some areas, it's a little weaker then WWZ, but in others it's stronger. But overall, i enjoyed it and actually had to sit back and think which one, Zombie War or World War Z, was better. And my answer is this: I can't decide! They are both pretty good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Briefs: Quick Bits of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Trivia (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: A book full of interesting facts and funny too. Overall, a good book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westing Game; Author: Visit Amazon's Ellen Raskin Page; Review: I read this a looooong time ago when i was in Jr High School. For some reason, a few months ago, it crept back into my mind. So i looked for it, found it, bought it and read it. It is just as good now as it was back in JHS when i read it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Extraordinary Book of Facts and Bizarre Information (Bathroom Readers); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: The first "Uncle John Bathroom Readers" book i read was "Uncle John's Briefs: Quick Bits of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Trivia". Since then, i've been roaming through Amazon.com looking for other "Uncle John Bathroom Readers" books to read. It's almost an addiction (but a good one...nothing wrong with being addicted to learning new things!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Another awesome collection of short stories from Stephen King! This one has a few good stories like "Mile 81", "Under The Weather" (this one a bit on the creepy side) and "Obits". Highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Fully Loaded 25th Anniversary Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's FACTASTIC Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader (Running Press Miniature Editions); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Reader's Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Ahh-Inspiring Bathroom Reader (Running Press Miniature Editions); Author: Bathroom Reader's Institu; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader: The Minature Edition (Miniature Editions); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Reader's Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's 24-Karat Gold Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's Heavy Duty Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love Uncle John's Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on various subjects. A conglomerate of information! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon Shapes and Censors the Movies; Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robb Page; Review: After reading this book, you will never watch a military-related film the same way again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's UNCANNY Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love these Uncle John Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on a large variety of subjects! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Kirkman Page; Review: It's great to be able to read at the point when it all began!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Detective Comics (1937-2011) #0 eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Chuck Dixon Page; Review: A very AWESOME little Batman comic. Sure it was short, but it still honored the Caped Crusader well with his reminisces of his past while kicking butt!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle John's OLD FAITHFUL 30th Anniversary Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader); Author: Visit Amazon's Bathroom Readers' Institute Page; Review: I love these Uncle John Bathroom Readers! I can't seem to get enough of them! A diverse helping of informative facts, short articles, quotes and even humorous stories on a large variety of subjects! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Con-Tact Brand Grip Premium Non-Adhesive Non-Slip Shelf and Drawer Liner, 12-Inches by 4-Feet, Gunmetal; Brand: Con-Tact Brand; Review: Excellent product and doesn't slide.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Precision Kitchenware - Ultra Sharp Stainless Steel Dual Julienne & Vegetable Peeler with Cleaning Brush & Blade Guard; Brand: Precision Kitchenware; Review: Excellent quality. Even comes with a cover for the heads.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norpro 99 My Favorite Spatula, Red; Brand: Norpro; Review: I really like these. Would be nice if just a tad wider but i use them a lot and still strong with little wear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SUMO Stainless Steel Ice Cream; Brand: SUMO; Review: What a great scoop. Well constructed and can see this lasting for years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1 X New Professional Commercial Grade 8 QT (Quart) Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Stock Pot, 3-Ply Clad Base, Induction; Brand: Onesource; Review: Well made product. Impressed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KLOUD City anti-slip microfiber Rug Camel Color(31 by 20-Inch); Brand: KLOUD City; Review: If i would have known it would be such a cheap mat i would have spent more for a better one. It feels like a $2 mat and the ends are curled. It weighs like 2 oz. I guess i will chalk that up to bad on me.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: REAL HOME Innovations 14 by 17.5 by 5.25-Inch Dish Drainer, Large, Chrome; Brand: REAL HOME Innovations; Review: Holds everything i want it too and so far working great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: INSTANT READ THERMOMETER by Lucia's Cookware. Best Digital Thermometer for any Food,; Brand: Lucia's Cookware; Review: As described. Haven't used yet but looks fantastic. Arrived promptly also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KitchenAid BCG111OB Blade Coffee Grinder - Onyx Black; Brand: KitchenAid; Review: Does an awesome job, yea you got to knock it around to loosen up the grounds but it grinding works great with very few of any un chopped coffee beans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Balichun Luxury 330 GSM Fleece Blanket Super Soft Warm Fuzzy Lightweight Bed or Couch Blanket Twin/Queen/King Size(King,Green); Brand: Balichun; Review: What an awesome blanket. I am a truck driver and this is a solid blanket IMO. It is soft and a great light blanket.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Celestron 44320 Microscope Digital Kit MDK; Brand: Celestron; Review: We already have one, so we know how it is supposed to work. The lights don't even turn on. It sat on my closet shelf for a month (it was a Birthday present). Finally took it down and gave it to my daughter only to find out that it was already broken. Tried to return it, but the return period had expired. I should know better than to buy electronics through Amazon. Money wasted!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: niceEshop(TM) USB Type A Male to 3.5mm Barrel Jack 5V DC Power Cable (Black,0.8m); Brand: Toogoo; Review: I am so glad that you had this, and in stock. It was truly a life saver for our road trips with our 5 year old. Thank you very much; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Titan Replacement--NEW!! Garmin Battery for Nuvi 200 200W 205 205W 250 250W 255 255W 260; Brand: Olympia Battery; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XBXI Fitness Belt,Waist Pack Belt Very Comfortable Great for Carrying Phones, Keys or Cards Whilst Exercising Black/XL; Brand: Generic; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fujifilm Superia 800 Speed 24 Exposure 35mm Film - 4 Pack; Brand: Fujifilm; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Large DSLR Shoulder Bag Evecase Digital SLR Camera Case with Rain Cover, Durable Eva Bottom Protection, Tablet Compartment for; Brand: Evecase; Review: It is a bit heavy to begin with, but really heavy when you add your equipment. The shoulder strap is akward.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: USA GEAR Digital SLR Camera Backpack w/15.6" Laptop Compartment featuring Padded Custom Dividers, Tripod Holder, Rain Cover. Long-Lasting Durability; Brand: USA Gear; Review: Too big and awkward for me; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Laughing In the Dark: A Bible Study on the Book of Job; Author: Chonda Pierce; Review: So funny; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice (The Art of Spiritual Living); Author: Visit Amazon's Rami M. Shapiro Page; Review: Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love You Forever; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Munsch Page; Review: sweet book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bronner: A Journey to Understand; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherri Burgess Page; Review: Great book!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love That Dog: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Creech Page; Review: Had to have this for the upcoming school year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Lamott Page; Review: Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely; Author: Visit Amazon's Lysa TerKeurst Page; Review: Great study! I would recommend it to all of my friends; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing, 8th Edition; Author: Patricia A. Potter RN MSN PhD FAAN; Review: Great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clinical Companion for Medical-Surgical Nursing: Patient-Centered Collaborative Care; Author: Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN CNE ANEF; Review: Great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health (All In One Care Planning Resource); Author: Visit Amazon's Pamela L. Swearingen Page; Review: Great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rnotes: Nurse's Clinical Pocket Guide; Author: Visit Amazon's Ehren Myers Page; Review: Great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2016 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses; Author: Amy M. Karch RN MS; Review: Great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Voyage of the Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Soraya M. Lane Page; Review: As above a beautifully written sensitive and really informative story. The characters are so believable. I look forwad to mayabe a follow up story a few years hence. Would make a great series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cottage by the Sea; Author: Visit Amazon's Ciji Ware Page; Review: A jolly good read though slightly predictable. Would have enjoyed a more dramatic ending. Hopefully there is more to come.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mariana; Author: Visit Amazon's Susanna Kearsley Page; Review: Enjoyed this read, but it became just a little predictable towards the end. Would have loved a dramatic ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans: The heartbreaking Richard and Judy bestseller; Author: Visit Amazon's M L Stedman Page; Review: A beauticul story with interesting twists. Emotional ending brought tears.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mattie; Author: Visit Amazon's Judy Alter Page; Review: A moving and well written story. Most enjoyable reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yellow Crocus: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Laila Ibrahim Page; Review: A wonderful emotional story that provokes some deep inward thoughts. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Am Pilgrim; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Hayes Page; Review: One of my best reads for a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl with Seven Names; Author: Visit Amazon's Hyeonseo Lee Page; Review: Eye watering account of amazing personal journey. Better than a spy novel any day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: Such a neat plot. Had to keep reading almost non stop, such fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Gill Paul Page; Review: Thoroughly good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Laid Plans; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Lette Page; Review: Great twisted story. Laughed a lot during this read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Columbia Women's Back Beauty Straight Leg Pant; Brand: ; Review: A little more formal than yoga pants. Love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outdoor Research Expressa Skort; Brand: Outdoor Research; Review: odd fit, but cute; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Women's Mighty Lite III Jacket; Brand: Columbia; Review: It's light and warm...but if you wear lip gloss or rub something on it by mistake.. it doesn't come out!!! Very upset about it. Why bother making the white jackets if it's so porous?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suanna Phone Charger 3Pack 10FT Nylon Braided Charging Cables USB Charger; Brand: Suanna; Review: It constantly slips out of place.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: prAna Women's Prism 2 Capri Pant; Brand: prAna; Review: I always think I'm bigger than I am. I ordered a Large and wished I ordered a M. I'm 5'5 140ish and the waist is too big but tolerable. If I were to use them to hike or hit an active moment like I did today. I'm constantly pulling them up. Grr. Oh. They are a bit itchy. And they have been washed and hang dried.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: adidas Women's Cushioned Retro Crew Socks (3-Pack), White/White, One Size; Brand: adidas; Review: I have a small foot. 7.5 .. theses are meant for size 5; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: One Came Home (Newbery Medal - Honors Title(s)); Author: Visit Amazon's Amy Timberlake Page; Review: Amy Timberlake's latest book, One Came Home, is the story of 13 year old Georgie Burkhart who doesn't believe that the body the Sheriff brought home was that of her missing older sister. Set in rural Wisconsin in 1871, Georgie runs away from home to find the sister that everyone else believes is dead. She finds an unexpected ally and more adventure than she'd anticipated. Part historical novel, part mystery, this is a YA book that adults will find enjoyable, too. Well-drawn, believable characters, wonderfully visual language - like Agatha, Georgie's older sister, dancing and twirling with joy as a "flood" of passenger pigeons swarm around and over her in the middle of the street, protected only by a parasol - and enough tension and suspense to keep me reading until 12:30 this morning in order to finish the book. I highly recommend One Came Home, not only to the YA audience, but to anyone who loves a good story and great writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anathem; Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Stephenson Page; Review: Clever, complex, well thought out back story with enough action to keep the plot moving forward. Philosophy, physics, "aliens" and "monastaries" full of theoretical scientists. What's not to like?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Master Evernote: The Unofficial Guide to Organizing Your Life with Evernote (Plus 75 Ideas for Getting Started); Author: Visit Amazon's S.J. Scott Page; Review: Good for the novice and experienced Evernote user.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Martian; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy Weir Page; Review: Best hard SF I've read in a couple of years! Science, adventure, humor and thrills. What more can you ask from a book?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St Mary's); Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Taylor Page; Review: Historians researching in contemporary time (or, time travel). The adventures of Madeline Maxwell (PhD), historian, who is given the opportunity to study history up close and personal. Taylor has a wicked sense of humor and knows how to wield it with her pen, as her well-written characters lead us on a merry chase through time. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives; Author: Visit Amazon's Shankar Vedantam Page; Review: Digs deeper into the effects of our biases and heuristics in our lives and in society in general. We have less control than we think we do, and are influenced by our "hidden brain." Hidden because the biases and heuristics rise from our subconscious, without our consciousness awareness. Recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Field Guide to Lies and Statistics; Author: Daniel Levitin; Review: A timely book in this day of alternate facts. From the many ways the we misinterpret statistics (or outright lie with them), to the dearth of accurate information on the internet, Dr. Levitin shows us how to think more critically in everyday life. Recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Jacobs Page; Review: Going beyond biases and heuristics to underlying social influences and desires that keep us from really thinking. The importance of emotion in rational thought. Most importantly, in these days of extreme political and social polarity, Dr Jacobs addresses the causes for how we got here, and solutions. Not easy solutions, but helpful for those of us tired of the continual hysteria over real and imagined dangers in the world today. I found it hard to put down, and marked many passages I will want to review and chew on again. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Felicity Huffman Is Scheduled to Be Released from Prison on October 27 After Serving 13 Days; Abstract: Felicity Huffman's Release from Prison Set for Oct. 27; Category: news
Title: Meteorologist calls out body-shamer: 'I will not be strapping myself into a girdle'; Abstract: Tracy Hinson won't be giving up bread or pasta any time soon.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Elijah Cummings to 'lie in state' in Capitol's Statuary Hall in new arrangement; Abstract: The late Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., will "lie in state" this Thursday in Statuary Hall of the Capitol ahead of his funeral in Baltimore on Friday, officials announced.; Category: news
Title: Diane Kruger Calls Baby Girl Her 'Everything' in Rare Mother-Daughter Pic; Abstract: Diane Kruger Calls Baby Girl Her 'Everything' in Rare Mother-Daughter Pic; Category: movies
Title: Eric Tse, 24, just became a billionaire overnight; Abstract: A 24-year-old business school graduate has just become an overnight billionaire.; Category: finance
Title: Rainbow Baby! Shawn Johnson, Andrew East Welcome 1st Child After Miscarriage; Abstract: Rainbow Baby! Shawn Johnson, Andrew East Welcome 1st Child After Miscarriage; Category: tv
Title: Anthony Mackie and wife quietly divorced last year: Report; Abstract: The actor filed for divorce in 2017, but the filing went under the radar.; Category: movies
Title: Thousands of people have problems accessing Disney+, and they're not happy; Abstract: The company says it's working 'quickly to resolve the current user issue.'; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: American Apparel Winter Legging; Brand: ; Review: Perfect.....arrived on time, as described and no surprises. Great transaction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Not Rated Women's B Dad Winter Boot; Brand: Not Rated; Review: My daughter loved them! They are as cute as the picture and everything was as expected. On time, packaged well and a delightful gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pursfection EXPANDABLE Purse Organizer - Tan/Leopard; Brand: Pursfection; Review: Great gift, arrived on time and as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ABC(TM) Women Crochet Lace Trim Cotton Knit Footed Leg Boot Knee High Stocking (Black); Brand: abcsell; Review: Very nice, good fit and exactly as described, packaged well and came on time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans; Brand: ; Review: Perfect fit, perfect gift!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DJT Women's Plaid Pattern Wrap Shawl Poncho Cape; Brand: ; Review: As beautiful on as it is in the photos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 10k Diamond 3- Stone Cross Pendant Necklace (1/10cttw, I-J Color, I2-I3 Clarity); Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: Rec'd earrings the first time I ordered, when the necklace arrived the chain was in so many knots it couldn't be saved and broke trying to get it straightened. Will have to purchase a chain now before gifting it to my daughter. The actual cross is as expected.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Morningstar Prostar PS-30M Solar Charge Controller / Regulator; Brand: Morning Star; Review: Good controller, simple to install and operate; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uni-Solar PVL-136 Power Bond PVL 136 Watt 24 Volt 216" x 15.5" inches. Flexible Solar; Brand: Unisolar; Review: Perfect for toy haulers, you can't beat them for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weber 46310001 Spirit E220 Liquid Propane Gas Grill, Black; Brand: Weber; Review: We have two of these and use them summer and winter (at different houses) with excellent results. I have red reviews that state the side burner doesn't work well. With no wind, I have to hold the pan about 3" above the burner (set on its lowest setting) to simmer. With wind, especially cold wind you will need to use the burner on high. The easy solution is to block the wind. You will have all the heat you want. I believe it is the best barbecue on the market, that is why I bought the second one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower; Brand: DEWALT; Review: I love it, it is so portable and has enough power to keep the dust and sand off my patio, I use it nearly every day. Not having to get the extension cord out makes it so much easier to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Husqvarna 639005106 Titanium Force String Trimmer Line .095-Inch by 3-Pound Spool; Brand: Husqvarna; Review: Good string, it is heavy duty. My trimmer doesn't feed this heavy string very well. That's not the string's fault.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PUMA Men's GV Special Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: The sneakers were a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Men's GV Special Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: The sneakers were a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Men's GV Special Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: The sneakers were a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Men's GV Special Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: The sneakers were a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camellias Women Neoprene Hot Sweat Sauna Suit Waist Trainer Vest Adjustable Waist Trimmer Belt Weight Loss Tank Top; Brand: Camellias Corsets; Review: It did not work good; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pilot Dr. Grip Limited Retractable Rolling Ball Gel Pen, Fine Point, Ice Blue Metallic Barrel, Black Ink (36271); Brand: Pilot; Review: i get compliments on this pen - people ask me about this pen - i tell em its a great pen a real gem of a pen; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bostitch Ergonomic 20 Sheet Desktop Stapler; Brand: Bostitch Office; Review: a fine stapler a prince among staplers a black stapler all as expected staples with the best of em yes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scotch Desktop Tape Dispenser Silvertech, Two-Tone (C60-ST); Brand: Scotch; Review: excellent no problem what can you say about a scotch tape dispense - it is the greatest dispenser the world has ever known; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epson T125420 DURABrite Ultra Yellow Standard Capacity Cartridge Ink; Brand: Epson; Review: its just what my printer was hoping for - dreaming of night and day - a 125 standard capacity - you should have seen the joy on its face when i brought it in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pilot G2 Gel Ink Refill, 2-Pack for Rolling Ball Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink (77240); Brand: Pilot; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pen, Gel, Retractable, Black Ink/Electric Blue Barrel, Sold as 1 each; Brand: Pilot; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Royal White Basmati Rice, 20 Pound; Brand: Kusha; Review: My boyfriend and I love this rice. We can't seem to mess it up. We had a smaller sized bag from the local grocery store -- I saw a review about the burlap flavor from the 15 lb bag -not sure if its in an inner plastic bag like the smaller one but no burlap flavor with the smaller bag. The directions recommend rinsing the rice. We rinse at least 3 times and work the grains between fingers. If not, it has a very grainy texture from the extra starch apparently. I have started making Thai and Indian food and this rice really helps make the dishes. This rice is very aromatic and could easily be eaten plain -- almost dessert like. Tonight I had another brand which wasn't as aromatic and it did not turn out as perfectly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Vegan Black Bean & Lime Soup, 3.4 Ounce Cups (Pack of 6) Gluten-Free,; Brand: Dr. McDougall's Right Foods; Review: Better price on-line than at my local stores. Good to dip tortilla chips in after it sets a bit. Healthy high fiber soup for thoses that are into that sort of thing. Some of the packaging was banged up and I had to toss two containers of the soup.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grocery & Gourmet Food" />; Brand: St. Dalfour; Review: Found this product line at Meijer (grocery store chain in the MI, IN area) in the international section. This was one of my favorite varieties from the line. I love that there are no preservatives and the ingredients are healthy veggies and fish. This variety comes with a honey packet (yummy on top) salt and pepper and a mini-spork. I have these in my desk drawer for when I don't get a chance to take a lunch break. It keeps me feeling full and the honey gets the sweet tooth part of a meal so you don't feel too short changed when you don't get a lunch break. I teasingly call this variety my 'gourmet cat food' but you can feel good knowing your ingredients are all things that are real and not the hideous processed crud that most of your co-workers are eating. The only complaint is the salmon can be a bit over cooked at the bottom of the can which makes it dry and hard to mix with the other ingredients. Found the best price for these on Amazon so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: French Grey Sea Salt 5 lb. Bag Fine Grain, Sel Gris pure & natural sea salt from France; Brand: San Francisco Salt Company; Review: Love free shipping on this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: French Grey Sea Salt 2 lb. Bag Coarse Grain, Sel Gris pure & natural sea salt from France; Brand: San Francisco Salt Company; Review: Love free shipping on this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Scandal With a Prince (Royal Scandals Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nicole Burnham Page; Review: Loved this book; I can't wait to read all the books within this series to find out about all the royal family's stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bachelor's Cottontail Bundle (an Easter novella) (Holiday Babies Series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tabitha Robbins Page; Review: The story was short and cute. The characters didn't seem to make sense, but it was still an enjoyable, short read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Montana Reunion (Big Sky Centennial) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Valerie Hansen Page; Review: Clean and sweet story. It was just too short. I would have liked to see the story develop a little more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Date (The Royals of Monterra Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sariah Wilson Page; Review: I loved this sweet fairy tale story. Everyone loves a Cinderella story....and I just love that it was a clean story. So refreshing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Highland Beast; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lecia Cornwall Page; Review: This was a very beautiful story with a good plot with twists and turns to keep it interesting. Being Scots-Irish, I always love a good Scottish tale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Little Wedding Shop; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jane Linfoot Page; Review: Okay, I have to admit I was a little lost with some of the dialect, but I still understood the"jist". I really liked the storyline.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Spectrum Diversified Euro Round Napkin Holder, Satin Nickel; Brand: Spectrum Diversified; Review: We found that our fan was making our napkins fly all over the table and to the floor, so we decided on this napkin holder for our table. We were very pleased with it. It keeps the napkins secure and adds a little class to our table. At first we put the napkins in as shown in the diagram. Then after some experimentation we found that putting the napkins in through the circle opening on the side kept the napkins secure and seemed to say "here, take one!" Different moods different napkin presentations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superior Hotel & Spa Robe, 100% Premium Long-Staple Combed Cotton Unisex Bath Robe for Women and Men -; Brand: Superior; Review: Was looking for a robe for my husband to replace the old terrycloth robe he has that has worn out. We checked out stores but they were all the fleece material and he prefers the terry. Found this one on Amazon and surprised him with it. He loves it. It is longer than the picture shows (must be a tall guy), but not so long it gets in the way. Perfect to throw on in the mornings to take the chill off.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carol Wright Gifts Vinyl Tablecloths - 48" Round, Multi; Brand: ; Review: My husband and I actually laughed out loud when we opened the package and saw what an ugly color this was. The picture shows it as more gold than it is. It is more of an ugly yellow color (and generally yellow is my favorite color)! I had a feeling it might not fit the table, (which it did not) but it actually fit over my wicker rocker to protect it from the elements. But after two days of walking by it I actually took it off and stashed it away in my laundry room. I would not recommend it, especially not in this color!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Microwave Cover & Cooking Splatter Guards - Silicone Lids & Food Covers - Bonus Gift Free Hot Pad; Brand: ZestPod; Review: I was looking for glass lids to use in my microwave to replace some that had broken. Since the only glass lids I could find were not microwave safe, I "settled" for these not really sure what they were. Wow! These are really cool. They work great in the microwave and refrigerator and I don't have to spend a lot of time looking for the perfect size. They are easier to store and find than the glass lids. They also don't hurt as badly when I drop them on my foot. (Yes, with me that is more common than I like to admit!) My husband and sister loved "playing" with them and testing the suction and then pulling them off from the edge so easily. I may be buying more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novell Collection Stainless Steel 24 Piece Elegant Sturdy Top Grade Flatware Place Settings Set (White/Silver); Brand: Novell Collection; Review: Now that I have had these utensils for several months, I have to tell you, they really are poor quality. We have had several pieces just break in our hands as we use them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TOMS Women's Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: Bought these shoes in my normal size and they were way to small. They also seemed of very poor quality. I know they are for a charity but the rough seaming would have caused numerous blisters.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Bought these shoes in my normal size and they were way to small. They also seemed of very poor quality. I know they are for a charity but the rough seaming would have caused numerous blisters.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: Bought these shoes in my normal size and they were way to small. They also seemed of very poor quality. I know they are for a charity but the rough seaming would have caused numerous blisters.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Glamorise Women's Double-Layer Custom-Control Sport Bra; Brand: ; Review: Band too tight and is not elastic, but fabric cubs is too loose. This leads to an overall uncomfortable experience. But most sports bras are uncomfortable for those with large breasts.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Olga Women's Luxury Lift Underwire Bra; Brand: Olga; Review: I'm 5'2 and ordered a 36DD. The under wire is too wide and thus is way into my armpit and makes my breasts point out to the side making me look wider than I am. If i was taller and thus likely had a wider rib cage, perhaps these would be perfect. The cups are slightly small such that I have a bit of over boob seeping out the top. So the fit is not great for me. The materials are what I had hoped for: good elastic, firm band support, and the shoulder straps are wide and able to support.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Yearling (1946); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Magdalene Sisters (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Born Free (1966); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment: Season 1 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fog of War (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fly Away Home (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Labyrinth (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Dead (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park III (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of April (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Gun (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thing (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Exorcist (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tootsie (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Third Man (1949); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Fistful of Dollars (1964); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Westworld (1973); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Plains Drifter (1973); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Streets (1973); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Road Warrior (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pale Rider (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: For a Few Dollars More (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fly / The Fly 2 (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starship Troopers (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hang 'Em High (1968); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Apes (1968); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unforgiven (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Special Edition (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poltergeist (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friday Night Lights (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Mighty Wind (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Escape from New York (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trading Places (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Predator: Collector's Edition (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Turner and Hooch (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Dead (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Carrie (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waiting for Guffman (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spellbound (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Pelican Brief (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien vs. Predator (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Away (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Garfield: The Movie (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Halloween (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being There (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stand and Deliver (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jumanji (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Station Agent (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dog Day Afternoon (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Of Mice And Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 3 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seinfeld: Season 4 (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holes (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glengarry Glen Ross (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fox and the Hound (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: But I'm a Cheerleader (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amadeus (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Attraction (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Word Wars (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days Later (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eight Legged Freaks (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Support Your Local Sheriff! (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Corporation (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barton Fink (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Weather Underground (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Da Ali G Show: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sandlot (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man on the Train (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Honey (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Parent Trap (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swimming Pool (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Flight of the Phoenix (1965); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cat from Outer Space (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Playground (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bush's Brain (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slums of Beverly Hills (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Motorola H800 Slider Bluetooth Headset, Black; Brand: Motorola; Review: This product is great! Good sound and great noise reduction. I would recommend this product to others.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2600mAh Portable Purple External Power Bank Battery Charger For iPhone5 4S 4 3GS i9300; Brand: EliveBuy; Review: This product disappointed me. I thought it was suppose charge my battery not drain it. I will never buy anything like it again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: MPERO FUSION AL Series Protective Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100 / I605 / L900 / I317; Brand: EMPIRE; Review: Nice case but I thought it would protect my screen. Definitely not what I expected but very stylish. If you are going for style and not product protection it's fine.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ULAK Note 3 Case, Galaxy Note 3 Case; Brand: ULAK; Review: Extremely nice case for a good price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S7 Screen Protector, Maxboost [Liquid Skin] Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector [Ultra Soft] Thin Film Set; Brand: Maxboost; Review: My screen has been saved from so many sctraches; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Six people are dead after a mass shooting in Puerto Rico; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Kate Middleton Wears Same Hat Diana Wore as She and Prince William Head to Pakistan Mountains; Abstract: Kate Middleton and Prince William Visit Melting Glacier Pakistan; Category: lifestyle
Title: Felicity Huffman Is Scheduled to Be Released from Prison on October 27 After Serving 13 Days; Abstract: Felicity Huffman's Release from Prison Set for Oct. 27; Category: news
Title: Christina Anstead Reveals Son 'Will Sometimes Cry for Hours Straight': 'Newborn Life Is Hard'; Abstract: Christina Anstead Says Newborn Son Hudson Is a 'Tough Baby'; Category: tv
Title: Jennifer Aniston on whether Ross and Rachel are still together; Abstract: Ross and Rachel were "on a break" a lot, but are they now?; Category: tv
Title: Duchess Meghan Describes 'Really Challenging' Life as New Royal: I'm Not OK; Abstract: Duchess Meghan Describes 'Really Challenging' Life as New Royal: I'm Not OK; Category: lifestyle
Title: Amy Schumer's Adorable 5-Month-Old Son Gene Gets 'a Million Kisses' During Set Visit; Abstract: Amy Schumer's Son Gets 'a Million Kisses' During Set Visit; Category: movies
Title: Prince Harry acknowledges tensions with William in ITV interview; Abstract: Britain's Prince Harry has acknowledged tensions with his older brother Prince William for the first time, saying they are on "different paths."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd Had the Most Awkward Run-in on the Set of Friends; Abstract: Rudd had a rocky first few days on set.; Category: tv
Title: Kate Middleton Shares a Personal Message for the First Time on Instagram for a Special Cause; Abstract: Kate Middleton Shares Personal Message for First Time on Instagram; Category: lifestyle
Title: Kate Middleton Takes Prince George and Princess Charlotte Halloween Shopping at Local Supermarket; Abstract: Kate Middleton Takes George and Charlotte Halloween Shopping; Category: lifestyle
Title: James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly on Expecting Baby No. 6: It Often Requires an 'Explanation'; Abstract: James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly on Expecting Baby No. 6; Category: tv
Title: Black cat visits field during Cowboys-Giants game on 'Monday Night Football'; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Here Are the Biggest Deals We're Anticipating for Black Friday; Abstract: The Black Friday deals for 2019 have already begun leaking out. Get a sneak peek at what to expect from popular retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy. Browse our guide and use it to plan your attack for the biggest shopping event of the year.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Air Force airman missing after fall into Gulf of Mexico from C-130 aircraft; Abstract: A U.S. Air Force airman went missing Tuesday after falling from a C-130 aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: A master suite with an 'open-concept' bathroom that has no doors or privacy is asking for $1,200/month in rent; Abstract: People took to Twitter to share confusion about an "open-concept" bathroom featured in a Facebook rental listing.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tidings of Joy Fabric Advent Calendar (Countdown to Christmas); Brand: Vermont Christmas Company; Review: This product was well made. I am very pleased with it and happy I purchased it; especially when I watched how much my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter loved putting the pieces on each day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LUCID 2 Inch 5 Zone Lavender Memory Foam Mattress Topper - King; Brand: LUCID; Review: I love how the foam helped make my bed more comfortable. I would have given this a 5 star rating but the smell was definitely overwhelming when it first came. I had to put it outside for a couple days to try and air out. Although that helped, it still carries a slight odor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Safavieh California Premium Shag Collection SG151-7575 Silver Area Rug (4' x 6'); Brand: Safavieh; Review: Plush, soft, and very comfy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NICETOWN Groovy Fun Sarkle Sequins Tab Top Sheer Window Curtains (Zigzag, One Panel, W50 x L84, Vanilla); Brand: NICETOWN; Review: Just as it is described. Nice quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: USTIDE Velvet Modern Living Room Carpet Turquoise High Pile Bedroom Rug Fuzzy Soft Area Rug Anti-Slip Floor Runner Rugs Yoga/Sofa; Brand: USTIDE; Review: I bought 2 of them for my daughter's room. I gave 4 stars because she loves them, but I'm somewhat disappointed in the quality of the rugs. The picture looks like it is plush and thick, but it isn't as shown. It is more sparse and it is hard to get all the dirt that gets in it. It is soft to the feel, but if my daughter didn't like it soo much, I would have returned it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Camco RV Stabilizing Jack Pads, Helps Prevent Jacks From Sinking, 6.5 Inch x 9 Inch Pad - 4 pack; Brand: Camco; Review: good product and I like that I can keep them together with the provided strap; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco T Level- Assists You in Leveling Your RV (25543); Brand: Camco; Review: so far it seems to work great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tri-Lynx 00019 Lynx Cap - 4 Pack; Brand: Tri-Lynx; Review: beats sinking in the mud; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tri-Lynx 00018 Wheel Stop/Chock, (Pack of 2); Brand: Tri-Lynx; Review: looking forward to using - seems like it will fit in with the rest of the lynx levelers just fine; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers - 10 Pack; Brand: Tri-Lynx; Review: haven't had a chance to try them yet but they look like they'll do the job; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS Surge & Electrical Protection- 50 Amps; Brand: PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRIES; Review: great investment to protect the electonics on the travel trailer; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco 44432 Wheel Chock Without Rope, Helps Keep Your Trailer or RV In Place (Pack of 1); Brand: Camco; Review: wheel chucks are always welcome and these work just fine; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco RV Leveling Scissor Jack Socket Drill Adapter, Fits 3/8" and 1/2" Power Drills, Works With All; Brand: Camco; Review: this is great. Allows me to lower the stabalizers with automation instead of manually. Just needs a cordless drill and works great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco No Insect Bumper Cap Small- Vent Holes and Squeeze Grip for Easy Installation and Removal (2 Pack) (40325); Brand: Camco; Review: works well. I connected the 2 pieces with a cable so I won't lose any more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wesbar 407515 Submersible Tail Light Kit with Side Marker/Clearance Lights, Over 80-Inch; Brand: Wesbar; Review: needed more wire for a 25' trailer but with extra wire it worked just fine; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TruXedo Truck Luggage - TonneauMate Toolbox | 1117416; Brand: Truxedo; Review: installation instructions could have been better but I love the box and it looks great in my F350.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Permatex 81343 Anti-Seize Lubricant, 1 oz. Tube; Brand: Spray Nine Corporation/Knight; Review: I'm using this on the fifth wheel hitch in my truck bed. The ball comes out and flips over so it's not sticking up if I need to get ply wood or something else bigger. When I put this on the ball it slid in and out of the receiver easily and it appears as though it will be around on the ball for quite awhile. Great product and came in a timely fashion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Permatex 81150 Dielectric Tune-Up Grease, 0.33 oz. Tube; Brand: Spray Nine Corporation/Knight; Review: I'm using this on all of my trailer connections on both the truck and the trailers. It appears to work great. I'm hopeful that this will keep any of the connections from corroding. So far - so good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Permatex 09975 Counterman's Choice Anti-Seize Lubricant, 4g Pouch; Brand: Permatex; Review: I'm using this on the fifth wheel hitch in my truck bed. The ball comes out and flips over so it's not sticking up if I need to get ply wood or something else bigger. When I put this on the ball it slid in and out of the receiver easily and it appears as though it will be around on the ball for quite awhile. Great product and came in a timely fashion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Engaging the Boss (Heirs of Damon Book 3) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Noelle Adams Page; Review: loved it.. must read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boxed Set: The Billionaire's Desires Vol 1-4 (The Billionaire's Desires-Boxed Set Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Emma M. Green Page; Review: love these books..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boxed Set: Under The Billionaire's Command- Vol. 1-4 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nora Stone Page; Review: love it.. couldn't put it down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire's Marriage Contract (Scandal, Inc Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Avery James Page; Review: loved it..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tempted; Brand: Visit Amazon's Hazel Kelly Page; Review: i was hooked when i firs started this series.. read it all.. loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boxed Set: Under The Billionaire's Command- Vol. 5-7 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nora Stone Page; Review: loves it...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire Bargain 2 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lila Monroe Page; Review: i so love this series.. will defiantly read more from this author; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire's Revenge - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nadia Lee Page; Review: this was a great story..loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as told; Brand: Visit Amazon's E L James Page; Review: can't wait for the other 2 books come out from christian point of view; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nailed - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lucia Jordan Page; Review: love it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: His Princess (A Royal Romance) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Abigail Graham Page; Review: Loved it. Couldn't out it down after I started reading it..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Owned; Brand: Visit Amazon's L.N. Pearl Page; Review: loved the book..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blake's Pursuit (Scanguards Vampires Book 11) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tina Folsom Page; Review: i love all of the scan guard series.. can't get enough of them...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Own Me - Complete Series - Kindle edition; Brand: Katelyn Skye; Review: Love these book.. Couldn't put it down till I was done with the book.. Very hot.. I wish their was more though...; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rösle Stainless Steel Medium Grater, Wire Handle, 16.1-inch; Brand: Rosle; Review: used this in England, so convenient and quick to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray 10ml Glitzy Spritz Refillable Sprayer; Brand: Poo-Pourri; Review: great to have in your purse! my daughters including myself IBM, so when your in a place that shares one bathroom, be assure that having this spray bottle gives you comfort. I also give them as a silent gift to my friends and relatives who have the same problems I have. Also, make sure your glass bottle is tight, my daughters leaked in her purse. It would also be great if they could make a very tiny bottle to be able to tuck into a pocket if you do not want to carry your purse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oneida Flatware - PF Easton Iced Tea Spoons, Set of 4; Brand: Oneida; Review: love the expansion; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silverware Kitchen Drawer Organizer; Brand: Home-Complete; Review: love the expansion; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nano Towels - Amazing Eco Fabric That Cleans Virtually Any Surface With Only; Brand: Life Miracle; Review: Love this towel! My 4 adult kids have been trying to stop me from using harsh chemicals throughout the house especially the kitchen. I have stainless steel and constantly cleaning with a stainless steel cleaner wipes. It is costly! Wiping counter tops, my commercial stove, kitchen glass table and glass door where my two large dogs leave nose smears , all were used with paper towels, Costly! Works great on computer and tv screens. No problem wiping dust off furniture and fantastic at our bar when having parties, spills are easy wipe up, no paper towels needed! I have stop using harsh chemicals and use my NANO towel by itself or with an organic spray to sanitize my kitchen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Puppia Dog Harnesses; Brand: Puppia; Review: Love this harness, the color and the fit. Will buy others in different colors. The orange is for the Cleveland Browns football team that CeeBee is named after@!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puppia Dog Harnesses; Brand: Puppia; Review: Love this harness, the color and the fit. Will buy others in different colors. The orange is for the Cleveland Browns football team that CeeBee is named after@!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puppia Dog Harnesses; Brand: Puppia; Review: Love this harness, the color and the fit. Will buy others in different colors. The orange is for the Cleveland Browns football team that CeeBee is named after@!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smokehouse 100% Natural Chicken Chips Dog Treats; Brand: SMOKEHOUSE TREATS; Review: Our vet said that their was a potential of poisioning our dog by giving them this type of treat. I had for a while as I was finishing up another jar full. Therefore I didn't think I could return. They are still sitting on a shelf in the basement and need to put in the garbage. I might by other things but not this particular product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Milo'S Kitchen Steak Grillers Home-Style Dog Treats With Angus Steak, 30 Oz; Brand: Milo's Kitchen; Review: Fresh therefore long lasting. Delivered on time. Still using as this is a "special" treat for our pet. Would purchase again. Price reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milo'S Kitchen Beef Sausage Slices With Rice Dog Treats, 18 Ounce (Each); Brand: Milo's Kitchen; Review: Good quality, fresh (not hard or dried out). Worth the price, would purchase again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milo'S Kitchen Steak Grillers Beef Recipe With Angus Steak Dog Treats, 3-Ounce, 12-Pack; Brand: Milo's Kitchen; Review: Good quality, fresh (not hard or dried out). Worth the price, would purchase again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with food recipes as follows:
Title: taco bell quesadillas; Review: The family loved this recipe! I do wish i had made the sauce ahead of time to allow the flavors to settle but we found this all in all to be way better than Taco Bells item. Very easy to customize with adding other ingredients in with or in lieu of the chicken. Will definately be making again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: pulled pork crock pot; Review: I did not have any ginger ale so I subbed with apple juice. I also didn't invest the many hours called for and just cooked it on high at first for about 6 hours, then after shredding (which was amazingly a breeze) and after adding some Mauls bar b cue sauce cooked on low for about 2-3 more hours. Delicious and easy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: steak shake chili; Review: Granted I wasnt able to follow the recipe EXACTLY but it wasn't too far off from the base. I only had an envelope of onion soup mix so I threw that in there with a can of water. I used 2 cans of dark kidney beans and the immediate reaction from the man of the house taster was "didn't you put any chili powder in?" so I added another tablespoon or two.... as per suggestions of steak and shake chili I did not drain the grease, there wasn't too much anyway.I only gave it 3 stars because I can only say it slightly resembles steak and shake chili, but its close and we piled it on spaghetti noodles with cheese and onions and the kids liked it as well.The flavor was sweet without being overly so and the spice level was a good base to start with for people that don't like 'kick'. I will be making this again but I will likely stew it in the crock pot with some browned beef chunks next time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: denny s style french toast; Review: I've never had Denny' s french toast but this was rockin! I blended the ingredients in the blender, as that is usually how I like to do my pancake batters as well. I did the recipe by 1 and 1/2 because I have 4 hungry kids and two adults to feed and that was perfect for us. Next time I am going to add some almond flavoring as well but this is a keeper!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s moist cheddar garlic oven fried chicken breast; Review: I really liked this recipe a lot. It was fast and i had most of the ingredients on hand, i did have to sub a couple things though. My chicken breasts were a bit on the thicker side so i had to cook them longer but this didn't affect the breading at all. I had to sub garlic salt for garlic powder and had only kraft parmesan cheese so it seemed a bit too salty for me so next time I will watch the amount of salt that goes into this. The leftovers heated up were just as incredible. I could have easily seen those sliced those up and put on a big salad!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: creamy burrito casserole; Review: In a house with 4 kids who don't like anything, this was a big hit! It was easy to prepare, cheap to make and made enough for 6 plus leftovers a plenty for the big guy to take to lunch the next day. When kids go back for seconds, you know you have a winner! i'm a little excited to try some variations and additions to this one and it will become a regular in our house! Thank you for an awesome recipe!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: slow cooker bottom round beef roast; Review: I did really enjoy this recipe and I too thought it might come out a bit salty/peppery but I wanted to give it a whirl since it was going to be in the slow cooker all day. The flavors blended together super great and I went with a vidalia onion bar b cue sauce. I omitted the carrots however and it was odd that I felt I tasted carrots anyway. lol I will be using this recipe again, however I will definately make a point to sear the roast first as it did turn out very tender, I found it to be dry at the same time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: pork tenderloin with balsamic cranberry sauce; Review: This was a big hit for the boyfriend and I. I loved how the flavors blended together. It was a refreshing change that just made sense! Next time I cook this though I will instead grill or smoke the pork loin. I also am considering some orange zest or perhaps marinating the pork loin first in some sort of orange or lemon based marinade. I did not have fresh rosemary on hand but the dried worked really well and come this summer, I will definatly be using that from the garden for this recipe!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: fantastic taco casserole; Review: big hit for us! All 4 kids and the adults loved it too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: blender quiche or whatever you have in your kitchen leftover; Review: Made this for dinner one night for me and my guy while we were kidless for the evening. There were no leftovers as he ate what was left the next morning. I love the no crust aspect of it and i really did throw a lot of things in it. I did bacon crumbles and then in the grease I sauteed some onion, ham, green and red peppers and at the last bit some fresh spinach. I did not have a pie pan so I used a small square casserole dish and I did have to bake extra long but also i did have a lot of fillings in it. It was easy and oh so tasty! The boyfriend has been asking for it every week since we had it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: updated chicken pot pie; Review: I have tried this same recipe before i found it on this site via one of my supermarket checkout recipe books ala impulsive buy. I found it on here and have to save to my permanent recipe book on here because it is super great! With a family of 6 and everyone picky this was a crowd pleaser. I usually double the recipe for leftovers are usually wanted. I use a bag of florentine style veggies and made sure after subsequent tries to not use the whole roll of phylo as I did the first time....*chuckle*. This makes a great weeknight meal as it was fast and easy to prepare and not a lot to cleanup. Served with a salad this is a filling, tasty meal!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: pizza cobbler; Review: This was a good weeknight, house full of kids, easy dinner to prepare. I did add some italian seasoning as some others have suggested, i could imagine the blandness of it without however, i think I shall use pizza sauce myself next time. I did however find it lacking in substance. I added olives, mushrooms and pepperoni but next time for sure i will add some ground sausage or beef. The can of biscuits I had in the fridge had somehow popped open and was no good but I did have a can of pizza dough so I just chunked that up and put that on the top, turned out better I think. I will be using this one again for when you want that pizza dinner but without the cost of take out or the time consuming deal of making my own!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: taco macaroni; Review: The kids and boyfriend really REALLY liked this one! Keeper recipe for sure! I also had about 5 oz of velveeta sitting in the fridge I needed to use up so I melted that in there the last 5 minutes of cooking. Made it creamier and more cheesy flavored. I think also if I were planning on pot luck style service I might throw in some roasted corn kernels as well, the boyfriend mentioned without the macaroni it would make a great nacho topping! Feed all 6 of us and no complaints!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: mimi s sour cream twists; Review: I dont know why I have such a love/hate relationship with yeast doughs. I seem to really want to try to master them but I usually fail. This time I did A-OK with not killing the yeast and rising ability/patience in the dough. I had to add A LOT more flour, like at least a cup more, my dough was just ridiculously sticky and gooey. I don't know if this affected the flavor, as I am sure it did, but the flavor just wasn't there for me. I felt it was a lot of work for something I felt I could have gotten from frozen bread dough. The kids enjoyed them and they kept well on a recent camping trip I had made them for to bring for breakfast addition. I WILL attempt to make again however because when it comes to yeast doughs, I am a masochist ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: pumpkin cream cheese muffins like starbucks; Review: I made these up for a recent camping trip and they went over well. Everyone liked the flavor and I was impressed with the density and depth of flavor even though I was lacking in the cloves. I ended up making 24 muffins with this one batch and still had enough batter left over that could have easily made at LEAST 6 more. The only thing I will do different next time is sweeten up the cream cheese dollops. I used the low fat version and I just didnt like biting into that plain flavor of cream cheese in such an otherwise flavorful muffin.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: crunchy baked tilapia; Review: The whole family loved this one! Great flavor, great texture, fast and easy to make! We love to eat fish and this is a great alternative to frying. I did cut back of the excessive use of butter and it was still wonderful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: beer batter for fish shrimp onion rings; Review: I adore this recipe! I wanted beer battered chicken and I was liking what I was reading about this recipe and how well it holds up and sticks to your food. Spot on! It took a few trial and errors though as to concerning using chicken strips, I found I had to cook slower and lower because the batter fried up so much faster. I did have an issue somewhat with sogginess after frying but I believe it was because I had them covered. I have a lot of plans for this recipe!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: easiest black forest cake; Review: I made this for my man for his birthday last year and it was a huge hit. I had forgotten all about it when I decided this will be the perfect thing to bring to our church picnic. I will also be making one for the Mr. as he does not share well ;)This is one super great recipe!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: marvelous broccoli salad; Review: I had wanted to make a side dish for a teacher potluck at my son's school and picked this recipe. I guinea pigged myself and fiance the night before though and while at first he wasn't totally in love with it, and I was, the next day he was asking if there was still some left. One thing that I did make sure to do when I made it for the potluck was I chopped the onion into small bits and chopped the broccoli down as well so it wasn't as bulky. This was a great salad and I will definitely be adding this to my rotation!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: easy pickles in a blanket appetizers; Review: These are so tasty! We use salami or ham deli meats and top off with a garlic stuffed green olive! Fabulous for camp out appetizers and football season! Goes great with beer and several wines as well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: bretzel rolls bavarian pretzel sandwich rolls; Review: My son always asks me to make these. I normally just make them for camping trips now. I fill them with ham and cheese with mustard or pepperoni, mozzarella and a bit of pizza sauce.They are awesome to take on hikes or have a quick lunch on a float. I will be doing some with breakfast fillings this year as well like hashbrowns, eggs and cheese. This recipe is one that requires some work but as with everything, it is totally worth it! Double up and freeze some!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | food |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: All the Bright Places; Author: Jennifer Niven; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: definitely a new favourite book. Finch is such an original character and reading both his and violets story makes it seem real; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eleanor and Park; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read in my whole entire life. Words can't describe how good it is. I'm so sad I've finished it :(; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Drowning of Arthur Braxton; Author: Caroline Smailes; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I read this book in a couple of days I couldn't put it down. It's a very different concept to anything that I've read before but I fell in love with all the characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playlist for the Dead; Author: Michelle Falkoff; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This book is totally different to what it says it's about on the back. The plot wasn't for me, I wouldn't say it's a terrible book but it wasn't great and I wouldn't recommend it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paperweight; Author: Meg Haston; Genres: young-adult, fiction; Review: I only gave this book 4 stars because I found it hard to relate to stevie at the beginning and found her a little cynical. Plus I think that at the beginning of the book It should have a warning as it features triggering themes throughout the book for some people. But overall I loved this book and It was interesting to learn about stevies thought process throughout her treatment. Definitely recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Art of Being Normal; Author: Lisa Williamson; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** It was a good book and It didn't take long to read. I was shocked when Leo said that he was born a girl to Alicia. I just found it a bit boring and it didn't really have any major events to keep you hooked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Girl Online On Tour (Girl Online, #2); Author: Zoe Sugg; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: This book isn't well written, I hate how it's trying so hard to be 'relatable' (frozen, Pinterest,tumblr etc references) and the overuse of 'is like' 'as' 'like a' is annoying. But somehow... I could put it down and I read it in a day? It isn't a brilliant storyline but I'd read another in the series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour; Author: Morgan Matson; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: didnt expect to like thiskind of book but i loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: If I Stay (If I Stay, #1); Author: Gayle Forman; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just simply found this book really boring and it was quite hard to get into. I also hated the ending; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Room; Author: Emma Donoghue; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Such an interesting concept I haven't read a book with a storyline anything like this before 10/10; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Dune (1984); Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Craft, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: World Is Not Enough, The (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quick and the Dead, The (1995); Genres: Action, Thriller, Western; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Panic Room (2002); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Gosford Park (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moonraker (1979); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: View to a Kill, A (1985); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manchurian Candidate, The (2004); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Mirror Has Two Faces, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Blade: Trinity (2004); Genres: Action, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 30 Days of Night (2007); Genres: Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings, The (1978); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part II, The (1974); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sunset Blvd. (a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard) (1950); Genres: Drama, Film-Noir, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Knight, The (2008); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Inception (2010); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Matrix, The (1999); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lion in Winter, The (1968); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ACDelco 15-117 Air Conditioning System Mineral Oil - 1 qt; Brand: ACDelco; Review: If you need mineral based oil for an older R12 system, this is what you need. Good stuff!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Depo 335-5420L3CL Glossy Black Driver Side Manual Mirror; Brand: Depo; Review: Can't beat the price, quality acceptable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GOOACC Nylon Bumper Fastener Rivet Clips Automotive Furniture Assembly Expansion Screws Kit Auto Body Clips 8mm - 40PCS; Brand: GOOACC; Review: For the price they are OK. But if you ever need to remove these, they are difficult to remove and break nearly every time, even with the proper tools to remove them.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Grizzly H8089 1250-Pound Low Profile Transmission Jack; Brand: Grizzly; Review: Garbage. Damaged, bent and broken pieces. I would not buy this again. If you can wait for 3 weeks for a damaged transmission jack, I would order it, but I have better things to do with my time then to repair poor quality products.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Camco 57521 Olympian Adjustable Sway Bar Control; Brand: Camco; Review: I purchased this item in Nov 2011, but didn't install it until August of 2017. Long story, but was still new in box. Installation was pretty straight forward requiring basic tools any do it your selfer would have. There is a bit of a learning curve determining how how tight the adjustment needs to be to Controll trailer sway, but after 4th stop, it was dialed in and worked perfect. The failure occurred on the return leg of the second trip. After hooking up trailer to tow rig, and reinstalling sway bar, the tension setting lever threads failed, and stripped the threads off of the tension setting lever. Fortunately, the winds were light and truck traffic minimal, so not too many white knuckle moments on return home! Poor quality, unreliable hardware on unit makes this an unacceptable sway control bar that I can not recommend.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Serdar i Ekrem 59; City: Istanbul; Review: When I entered to the hotel, it felt like home. Real hospitality, special interior, nice neighbourhood. If you are in Istanbul, it makes a difference to wake up in the turistic centre, where most of the hotels are, or in a bohemian district where artists live. And before you cross Galata Bridge, you can sit at the sea in a cafe and watch in the morning sun Topcapi and Hagia Sofia at the other side. And if you finish your day, you can cross again Galata Bridge and stop at a nice and small restaurant before you arrive to this beautiful hotel and feel yourself like at home,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Das Tyrol; City: Vienna; Review: Located next to the Museum Quartier, walking distance the city center. Breakfast excellent, rooms are very nice and comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Agriturismo La Lucciolaia; City: San Gimignano Tuscany; Review: Charming farmhouse with a great pool in a beautiful environment. If you go to Tuscany, it's a very good place to stay, since it's close to the main sites, but nestled in the beautiful vineyards. And more over they are very kind and helpful, Christina at the reception, Franceska who bakes the best cakes for the delicious breakfast, and she's very charming when serving the dinner, also Gilberto, who cooks an amazing menu for dinner. It worth to try!! Don't miss it! You also have to try their own vines underTenuta Nicolai brand and their own olive oil.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Continental; City: Bucharest; Review: The hotel is located just in the center of Bucharest in on of the old, but compeltelly rnovated buildings. The enterior is very nice, the furniture is not just if it was old, but it's really old, but also renovated. Although there is a lot of traffic outside, the windows don't let the noise in, which let you relax during the night. The only problem is the breakfast, which is served downstairs in a narrow place, which doesn't have the same style as the rest of the hotel. it's simple and has no style. Anyway the breakfast itself is pretty much ok. If you really want to drink a coffe, than ask an espresso, or else you'll get some brown water.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 25hours Hotel at MuseumsQuartier; City: Vienna; Review: It was not the first time we stayed at 25 hours hotel, but this time it was special, because we celebrated my son's 18th birthday. So we booked a very fancy room on the 5th floor with a balkony, and a bath on the balkony. We were lucky with the weather so we could take a bath and meanwhile enjoy the view of the city.The room was big and comfortable. I specially like the bed, because it's big and high. The location is very good, 10 minutes walk from the city center, and just in the neighbourhood of the Museum Qartier.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jean Moet; City: Epernay Marne Grand Est; Review: We liked the cosiness of the hotel, which has a very good location in the beautiful and small Epernay. Walking distance to the city center and also to the avenue the Champagne, which is really worth a visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lapa 82 Boutique Bed Breakfast; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We loved the place, because it was nicely decorated in a very pleasant neighbourhood of Lisbon and had a nice little garden where they served breakfast. The staff was very friendly, they really took care of their guests. The room was spacious and relaxing, the bathroom is stylish and we could enjoy a honesty bar at the reception, which looked like a friend’s livingroom. The location of the hotel is a bit far form the center, but easy to reach by tram, which is the main public transport in Lisbon, and fun to ride these old trams. So I suggest the place to visitors of Lisbon, who want to have some home feeling there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winniehill Bed Breakfast; City: Faro Faro District Algarve; Review: What could be a warmer welcome than 2 freindly dogs, a huge black cat and a nice couple with a big smile? We got a deatiled description how to reach the house which is nestled on the hills facing Faro coast, not far from the sea, so it was easy to find them. There is a nice pool, and common room for guests, where wifi is working. The place is beautifully decorated with white and blue, and with huge puprle bugenvillias. They serve breakfast at 9 for all the guests (maximum 6) at the terrace, which is a nice opportunity to meet nice people from all over the world. Fiona prepares breakfast freshly with a large selection of muffins, seasonal fruits, her home baked bread, pankakes, omletts and orange juice. She and her husband are very friendly and helpful, they selected a number of restaurants from the neighbourhood, they arrange the booking and give a deatailed itiner to make it easy to find them. We tried two of their picks, and both were very nice and special. So if you want to have a kind of family feeling and to be takcen a good care of in a beautiful place, I strongly recommend to visit Winniehill.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tivoli Evora Ecoresort; City: Evora Evora District Alentejo; Review: We arrived on a hot sunny day to the neighbourhood of Evora, and easily found Ecorkhotel. The main building is modern and has the eco feeling. On the top of the main building there is a huge pool, with a nice view. There’s also a nice restaurant with a regional high quality menu. I loved the breakfasts as well, becaude it’s so rare in Europe when you get freshly picked delicious pine apple, mango and maraquia. Around the main building there are suites, which contain a living area, a comfortable bathroom, and a spacious bedroom, with a terrace. Since the houses are covered with cork and it preserves the optimal temperature itt he room, we didn’t really need the airco, although the 35 degrees during daytime. Since the hot weather we couldn’t really do much sightseeing, so we spent nearly the whole 2 days at the hotel next to the pool. Iit was very nice and relaxing. Sitting at the pool with a gintonic under the stars and talking to my son was probably the best program during the whole holiday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: H10 Duque de Loule; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We had to wait a bit for the room when we arrived to the Duque de Loule early afternoon, but at least we could look around in the lobby with a glass of fresh champagne they offered to us. The hall is beautiully decorated with blue and white, it was a pleasure to rest there for a couple of minutes there. Our room was spacious, wiith a nice and modern bathroom. The bed was a bit soft, but we got 2 different pillows, so we could choose the one which was fitting. They have a choice of international TV channels. The location is perfect, not in the noisy city center, but only 15 minutes walke from there, and easy to reach with tram as well. It’s a beautiful place to stay, I can suggest to even picky travellers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Globales Palmanova; City: Palmanova Calvia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: We have just returned from Majorca we thought the Palma Nova Hotel was great,the staff were very friendly and helpful couldn't fault them.Read alot of reviews before i went was not looking forward to going but to be quite honest i couldn't find anything wrong with the hotel or the place,i will definately be going again.I have been all over the world and have seen some bad hotels but the Palma Nova Hotel is not one of them.It was clean meals were good pool area and pools were clean entertainment was good the young children loved it Emily Will and Per were great with them.I did think that the rooms were rather warm due to the lack of fans or a.c.but this is to be sorted before next summer,so no problem.My advice to anybody going go and enjoy youself its great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Majan Continental Hotel; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: We stayed in this hotel for 2nights on our way home from Sri Lanka.The hotel was very nice the rooms were very comfortable, very clean and quiet.The meals were OK,I have had better breakfasts, but on the whole not too bad.The pool was lovely, lovely and clean and well laid out. We went out and about sightseeing,our taxi driver,was really nice and so helpful.We flew with Oman Air both to Sri Lanka and back to UK,we were really pleased with the airline, and the staff were wonderful. Muscat airport is really good, all in all it was a great experience, and would love to do it again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Globales Palmanova; City: Palmanova Calvia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: We returned from Majorca on the 11 Oct after a 2 week stay.We were very pleased with the hotel, the food was very good the restaurant staff were lovely especially Pili,the bar staff were excellent especially Rafa and Antonio, and the reception was excellent.The rooms were cleaned every day and they were very polite, all in all it made for a very good holiday. We could not fault anything, and will definately go back hopefully with more of our family members next time.Top marks to the Palma Nova hotel for making our holiday a very satisfactory one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Globales Palmanova; City: Palmanova Calvia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: We have just returned from Majorca after spending a super week there, once again we stayed at the Palma Nova hotel this being our 3rd time.What can i say it gets better and better.It was great to see our old friends Rafa and Antonio behind the bar, and the lovely Pili in the dining room.All of the staff are lovely so helpful polite and very friendly the rooms are kept so clean the whole of the hotel is immaculate its brilliant.We asked for a high floor and we were given the 4th floor with a sea view so we were very pleased.The food was very good, plenty of choice and once again champagne was served at breakfast, luxury or what!!!!The entertainments team were brilliant really friendly and good fun Demi Jazzy Rob and Alvaro really worked hard to give the guests a good time many thanks to you all.We had good fun at the Golf Fantasia its great and very colourful at night.This time while we were there a new Indian restaurant opened up close by to the hotel,we tried it out and certainly were not disappointed,the food and service were excellent,give it a go if you like indian food you will enjoy it.The restaurant is called The Curry Lounge, the restaurant just down from it called A Taste of India is also brilliant.We had a brilliant holiday thank you to the hotel staff, hope to see you again soon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pasha s Princess Hotel; City: Kemer Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: Have just returned from Pasha's Princess Hotel and can honestly say it is one of the best hotels I have visited the hotel is spotlessly clean and the staff are wonderful really can't do enough for you.The food was good plenty of choice and always well presented especially the beautiful puddings.There was certainly no problem with the sunbeds always spare ones available both by the pool and at the beach.We had a mountain view which was lovely a wonderful sight to greet you first thing in the mornings when the mountains looked pink.The evening entertainment was good especially the Turkish night the dancers were fantastic.We did a boat trip on the Mega Star it was brilliant plenty of entertainment on board and a free lunch also swimming off the boat in three different coves a trip well worth doing, book it across the road at Pipo travel agents.We made some lovely friends while there which made the holiday so good wish we could do it all again.Thank you all at Pasha's hopefully see you all again next year; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salamis Bay Conti Hotel; City: Famagusta Famagusta District; Review: We returned a few days ago after spending a fantastic week at this hotel, everything was perfect, the staff were great Adem in the dining room at lunch times couldn't do enough for us, in the evenings Aytekin was very helpful infact they were all brilliant especially lovely Selda in the bar.I must mention the rep he was great a really good laugh and very helpful as was the guest relations person,sorry didn't get your name.The room was beautiful kept very clean and we had a great view, we were in the annex which is really good especially as you could have your breakfast and evening meal in the dining room there rather than in the main hotel which did tend to get rather busy at times.We were very lucky with the weather sunny everyday except one, so were able to sit in the sunshine and relax and meet new friends.We did take the shuttle to Famagusta one day it is very nice there, we had a very nice meal of fish and chips cooked to perfection in the HistoriA bar and restaurant, staff were so friendly and it was nice to sit in the square and people watch.There are quite a few shops in Famagusta selling mostly genuine fake designer gear ??We would recommend this short break to anyone wanting to relax in a great hotel with great people and if the offer is on again next year we will be back.Thankyou to everyone in the hotel for making our stay so great sorry I can't name you all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pasha s Princess Hotel; City: Kemer Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: We have just returned from our second holiday at Pashas princess and once again I can quite honestly say it was fantastic. The staff are so friendly and helpful they make you feel really at home. The food was good more of a choice this time and plenty of it. The entertainment was okay although it had been scaled down due to the hotel soon closing down for the winter, Ennis works really hard to please everyone and is a great favourite with one and all. The waiters and bar staff to name a few Apo,Ismail,Safak,Mehmet and Kadir are great thank you guys for looking after us so well, I must not forget lovely Hulya who cooked our omelettes and pancakes for breakfast everyone was great sorry I can't name you all. We met some lovely people there and became good friends also met up with friends who were there with us last year.The hotel is really popular people go back year after year which says it all.We will definitely be returning next year that's for sure. While we were there this time we tried the new restaurant Kings it was great food was excellent well presented and very friendly staff. We went to Kemer on the bus a few times lovely ride and a nice shopping place plenty of 'designer ' gear etc.The shops in Camuvya are handy for souvenirs and nice to have a walk around in the evening after dinner.We will be back next year and can highly recommend it for a brilliant holiday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salamis Bay Conti Hotel; City: Famagusta Famagusta District; Review: Once again we have had a great holiday at this hotel. The staff "all of them" are great, always up for a laugh and a joke. Customer relations were excellent as we're reception and the mercury direct rep, most helpful. Our room was great cleaned everyday, and many thanks for the wine and fruit which was awaiting us on our arrival. We had a couple of trips on the shuttle to Famagusta and once again the boys at the Historia bar and restaurant were great and we have become good friends with them. We visited the famous Peteks cake and coffee shop in Famagusta where we the Peteks special coffee it was gorgeous anyone going there really must try it. We hired a car for 3 days along with another couple we met at the hotel, and managed to see quite a bit of the island both the north and the south.It was very easy to go through the border post and I must say the shops on the southern side are much more modern. We went to a fish restaurant very close to the hotel called Kiyi restaurant the meals and service were fantastic. Our two friends had a grey mullet between them it was huge my husband had sea bass and I had steak, the presentation was good the food excellent and thank you ilyas for looking after us so well. All in all our holiday was most enjoyable and would recommend the hotel to one and all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salamis Bay Conti Hotel; City: Famagusta Famagusta District; Review: We returned on Dec 11 after spending a week there this was our 3rd visit and again I must say a most enjoyable one.The staff from the reception to dining room and bar staff were excellent very polite and friendly. The rooms were cleaned daily and bedding and towels were also changed daily many thanks to our cleaning lady who did an excellent job. Plenty of food available maybe could have done with a wider choice of hot food but the salads and puddings were excellent. The bar staff were brilliant although very busy were always up for a laugh and joke well done to you all. The weather was good while we were there able to sun bathe most days and enjoy walking along the beach. We did visit Famagusta just to visit Peteks for our lovely coffee and cakes. On the whole it was a very enjoyable break maybe we will return again next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Navarria Hotel; City: Limassol Limassol District; Review: We stayed at this hotel for the school half term week, that is my husband myself and our grandson.We have been to Cyprus many times this was our 17th trip and we wanted to bring our grandson here to meet the many friends we have made over the years.This was our first time at the Navarria hotel we have stayed at many hotels in this area and we found this hotel was very good.The bedroom was very spacious and the beds were very comfortable.The room was cleaned daily and clean towels were provided every day. The food was very good a bit repetitive but we expected that as we were all inclusive. The hotel staff all of them were very good very friendly and helpful.The pool area was kept very clean although it was too cold to use the pool.There only 2 complaints I have one was the amount of cats roaming in the hotel complex the other was that to our grandsons great disappointment the pool table was unfit to use but I guess that could be because it was out of season. There is a fantastic bar on the main road 100 yards from the hotel called The Hamlet Bar they serve good food the staff are very friendly and they have a pool table. Our grandson had a fantastic holiday he enjoyed Nicosia Paphos Limassol and we took him to Troodos where the people were skiing then on to Kykos Monastery he met all of our friends and now they are his friend too.He hopes to go back one day as we do.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Navarria Hotel; City: Limassol Limassol District; Review: We, that is myself husband and grandson have just returned from a really good week at this hotel. We had a lovely welcome back from the staff who remembered us from our last year's break. We met some lovely new guests plus some of the people who were here last year. We cannot fault anything really. The room was kept spotless we requested the same room as we had last year and we're very pleased to get it. The food was plentiful and good ample choice,and the dining room staff were very polite, even when sometimes they were rushed off their feet. The check in was done really quickly and the reception staff were very friendly and helpful if we needed to know anything. The pool area was kept very clean and I was pleased to see there were not so many cats this time. I have only one complaint really and it's nothing to do with the hotel,the weather while we were there wasn't very good quite windy most of the time and temperatures were lower than expected, but pleased to say it didn't spoil our holiday. Our grandson had a great time and has already hinted at going again next year fine by me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Globales Palmanova; City: Palmanova Calvia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: We have just returned from a weeks stay at at this hotel. What can I say since our last visit it has had a complete makeover and boy what a great job. The rooms are so light and airy well furnished and the beds are so comfortable. The bathroom is great lovely walk in shower really couldn't fault anything. The dining room has been vastly improved as have all the areas around the pool. The food was good and the snack bar by the pool was brilliant. Some of the staff were still there from when we last visited 4 years ago and they gave us a lovely welcome back. The entertainments team were great not a bit pushy but lots of fun. We really had a great time in fact we came home and immediately booked to go again next year I think that that says it all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Commodore Elite Suites Spa; City: Side Manavgat Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: My husband and I have just returned from this brilliant hotel, we had a fantastic time made to feel very special ,it really made our holiday that much more. First of all I must say a big thank you to all concerned who made our 55th wedding anniversary so memorable for us. Our room lady who decorated our room wow it was lovely, thank you also for the fruit and wine which were left for us a really lovely touch.Thank you also for the lovely table laid on for us at The Gusto restaurant in the evening it really must have taken ages to decorate the table with all those flowers it was so beautiful,finished off our day perfect ly. Everyone at the hotel is so polite and friendly it was a real treat to be treated with such courtesy. I want to mention Ali the young barman at the Elite Bistro bar, he was so good watching him mix the drinks with such speed was amazing he will go far, thanks for looking after us Ali.The food at the hotel was to die for such choice needless to say our waistlines expanded while we were there.We did not see any of the other rooms so cannot comment but we were quite content with ours,the beds were so comfortable I wish I could have brought mine home with me.The beach was good with a lovely bar and restaurant to save you having to come back to the hotel to eat if you so wish.The evening entertainment was excellent a different show ever other night and the standard of the performances was brilliant. There are some very good shops in the hotel with reasonable prices for most things also the hairdressers is reasonably priced and apparently do an excellent job.There are plenty of shops very near by you have to haggle to get a good price for what you want.I could go on forever but I think that I've made my point the Commodore Elite hotel is somthing very special and I very much hope to go back next year to be pampered again.A big thank you to every one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Timberland PRO Men's Direct Attach Six-Inch Soft-Toe Boot; Brand: ; Review: very comfortable reliable boots; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 527 Slim Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: Haiti. Color: Overhaul made in Haiti. nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 527 Slim Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: Haiti. Color: Overhaul made in Haiti. nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JD Apparel Men's Regular Fit Short-Sleeve Dress Shirts; Brand: JD Apparel; Review: I received ASIN: B019LV7XEO(OmegaTux Mens Short Sleeve Solid Color Dress Shirts) instead of ASIN: B01DB9WT4Q(JD Apparel Men's Regular Fit Short-Sleeve Dress Shirts).; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: JD Apparel Men's Regular Fit Short-Sleeve Dress Shirts; Brand: JD Apparel; Review: I received ASIN: B019LV7XEO(OmegaTux Mens Short Sleeve Solid Color Dress Shirts) instead of ASIN: B01DB9WT4Q(JD Apparel Men's Regular Fit Short-Sleeve Dress Shirts).; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Perry Ellis Men's Wool-Blend Coat with Scarf; Brand: Perry Ellis; Review: coat is beautiful, old-fashioned and intelligent. (scarf - garbage))); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterkowski Genuine Leather 6 Panel Classic Duckbill Flat Cap; Brand: Sterkowski; Review: a comfortable hat and looks good. but I did not like the "Italian leather" Sterkowski and the synthetic lining (viscose). I bought another Sterkowski hat from a much better leather material (probably Polish production))) and with a natural cotton lining. the quality of performance and design is very good. minus one star for "Italian leather". it would be better if it cost more than 20 bucks. it makes sense to pay more for the material)); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LEE Men's Regular Fit Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: good old-fashioned jeans. is good cloth. patch in the back pocket, yellow, (not like in the picture), unfortunately the pockets are not round. why Le do not produce old models ...?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Van Heusen Mens Dress Shirts Regular Fit Oxford Solid Button Down Collar; Brand: ; Review: a little big shirt, but it is justified by the style. bought the second. good quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seiko Men's SNKM98 Gold-Tone Stainless Steel Automatic Watch; Brand: Seiko; Review: too large. design is beautiful, successfully imitates the end of the 70-beginning of 80 .. but then did not make such large buildings. The exact mechanism in a slim, elegant body was then appreciated. in my opinion it is reasonable. bracelet is frankly cheap.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: perhaps these are the best jeans I have ever worn. reliable as a panzer tank and at the same time elegant as a grand piano.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's Casual Jean Belt with Roller Buckle; Brand: ; Review: actually the skin of the belt looks very good, but the buckle is rustic and rude. all the time you want to change it. once again I am convinced that the levis is doing very good jeans, but he does not know how to do anything else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eastland Men's Seville Oxford; Brand: Eastland; Review: it seems to me that these shoes are better than the timbers. more convenient and attractive. I ordered a second pair, now in black. I hope I was not mistaken.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UltraClub Men's Classic Wrinkle-Free Short-Sleeve Oxford 8972; Brand: UltraClub; Review: excellent. a little big, but it's justified by the style. apparently I will buy more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 517 Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: 517 in the color rigid. Despite the fact that the model gives a shrinkage of about 5% when washing, order the size in the belt one less than usual. for example, if you wear W36, order W35 or W34; if you wear 34, order 33. The length of the "raw" product is also larger, about an inch-half inch. Consider the high heel of a cowboy boot. If washed in hot water, over time, the length is planted about half an inch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 517 Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: 517 in the color rigid. Despite the fact that the model gives a shrinkage of about 5% when washing, order the size in the belt one less than usual. for example, if you wear W36, order W35 or W34; if you wear 34, order 33. The length of the "raw" product is also larger, about an inch-half inch. Consider the high heel of a cowboy boot. If washed in hot water, over time, the length is planted about half an inch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 517 Bootcut Jean; Brand: ; Review: 517 in the color rigid. Despite the fact that the model gives a shrinkage of about 5% when washing, order the size in the belt one less than usual. for example, if you wear W36, order W35 or W34; if you wear 34, order 33. The length of the "raw" product is also larger, about an inch-half inch. Consider the high heel of a cowboy boot. If washed in hot water, over time, the length is planted about half an inch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Men's Bootcut Jeans; Brand: ; Review: somewhat similar to Levis 527. Leg opening: 19", in the thigh a little freer. comfortable.classic jeans of the 70's. I recommend to buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DRI Duck Men's 5069 Flint Jacket; Brand: DRI Duck; Review: sleeves are short. in the shoulders narrow. the edge is long. abdomen large. a bad tailor worked.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Men's Bootcut Jeans; Brand: ; Review: in this color categorically did not like. and the quality is poor. previously bought this model in a different color and was pleased. unpleasantly surprised.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SteelSeries Merc Stealth Gaming Keyboard; Brand: SteelSeries; Review: Bought it for my brother. He seems to use it everyday, so I'll call it a win!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knack (PlayStation 4); Brand: by
Sony; Review: Pretty lame. Don't bother until it's a free Playstation Plus game some day.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: PlayStation 4 Camera (Old Model); Brand: by
Sony; Review: Kind of pointless, but oh well. Maybe it'll be good for something some day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: PlayStation 4 500GB Console [Old Model][Discontinued]; Brand: by
Sony; Review: Better than the Xbox One in all aspects but online multiplayer, although Playstation is catching up quickly. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Destiny - Standard Edition - Xbox One; Brand: by
Activision; Review: Huge game, but not my style of RPG components.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Call of Duty: Ghosts - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Activision; Review: Worst Call of Duty. I hate the big maps that allow everyone to just camp and snipe all day long. If you like huge maps or you are one of those campers, go ahead.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Super Mario 3D World - Nintendo Wii U; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: Awesome game! Gets super hard to complete everything after you beat the game. Anything Mario will probably get an automatic 5 stars from me though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mario Kart 8 - Nintendo Wii U; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: A lot of fun, and much harder than the previous Mario Kart games one you get up to 150-200cc. I like actually having a challenge for once in these games!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Bethesda; Review: Great game. Lots of content. Will probably play forever and ever until I finally get bored, and will only be 8% completed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bravely Default - Nintendo 3DS; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: Great game. The combat gets a little repetitive, but it is a lot of fun if you enjoy the old days of Final Fantasy style JRPG's.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Xbox One Console - Titanfall + Kinect; Brand: Microsoft; Review: Xbox works great. I like the PS4 more, but I like the Xbox for the online multiplayer games. Titanfall is also amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD - PlayStation 4; Brand: by
Square Enix; Review: Gives me a horrible headache trying to play it due to the shotty camera. The win here is the demo of Final Fantasy XV.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: KELUX Kinect Sensor 2 TV Mounting Clip (Xbox one); Brand: by
Pansonite; Review: Holds the Kinect in place great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dell Inspiron i660s-769BK Desktop (1.9 GHz Intel Celeron G465 Processor, 2GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, Windows 8) Black (Discontinued by; Brand: Dell; Review: i purchased this for my parents who really needed an upgrade. keep in mind this is a budget computer and not a powerhouse. it has a 1.9ghz celeron cpu which has a 2nd virtual core. it comes with 2gb ram, which i upgraded to 4gb. the memory upgrade really helped. it has onboard video and uses 64mb of available ram. i have it hooked up to a 17 inch flat screen and the video quality from the intel graphics are fantastic. windows 8 looks nice but it is a NIGHTMARE and my parents would never get the hang of it. after turning off the secure boot option in the bios i upgraded to windows 7 home premium 64bit. installed sp1 and all available updates. ie10 is still buggy so i upgraded the browser to ie9, which works very well. the computer is snappy and windows open very quickly. i was blown away at how fast it is for a budget computer. the hard drive is 500gb and for my parents, is like a bottemless pit. it has a built in wifi adapter and connected to my network without an issue. i really like the built in wifi. very convenient. ive been in the computer IT field for many years and i would not hesitate to purchase this again, perhaps for myself. very good pc for the budget minded consumer / non gamer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C2G/Cables to Go 28721 RJ11 High-Speed Internet Modem Cable (7 Feet); Brand: C2G; Review: its a cable. it works great. the cable feels of very good quality. i would buy this again if need be. I'm one of the few that have a good quality dsl line. very few issues. this cable works, but it made no difference in speed or line quality. testing/stats with this cable vs. att provided green cable ended up with same results.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR N600 Dual Band Wi-Fi ADSL (Non-Cable) Modem Router ADSL2+ Gigabit Ethernet (DGND3700); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: i used this with att dsl 6.0. it did connect but dropped connections at random. as much as 4-5 times an hour. i checked and double checked the network passwords, made sure all the settings were correct. numerous reboots got it connected but to only drop again. however when it did work, the speeds were good and on par with what they should be. the wifi i have to say is deplorable at best. wifi connections like my laptop and xbox which are about 65ft away, drops connections and only get 1 bar of wifi strength. i have to be no more than 15ft from the device before i get fast wifi speeds. that said, other routers ive tried are not this weak. the actiontec wireless gateway gives full signal anywhere in my home. which is medium size, 3br home. from the research ive done netgear is notorious for weak wifi signals. i returned this item. honestly, the att 7550 works better than the n600 as far as reliability and wifi speed. perhaps i got a defective item, but i do highly suggest the Actiontec 300 Mbps Wireless-N DSL Modem Router GT784WN. the n600 does have nice features and is dual band. i really tried everything to get it to work, too bad it just didn't work for me.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: C2G/Cables to Go 28721 RJ11 High-Speed Internet Modem Cable (7 Feet); Brand: C2G; Review: it connects to your dsl modem from your wall jack. i cant tell it provides any better connections than that green data cable provided to me by at&t. however it is of much higher quality than the average cable. i figure it couldn't hurt to use a high quality cable like this. ive had mine hooked up now for several months, never had a disconnect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (1x8 GB Module) 1600MHz 240-pin DDR3 Non-ECC CL10 Desktop Memory KHX1600C10D3B1/8G; Brand: Kingston Technology; Review: works good, just doesnt run at stated speeds. tested with cpuz and it runs slower than advertised. other than that, it works.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: EVGA 500 B1, 80+ BRONZE 500W Power Supply, 3 Year Warranty, Includes FREE Power On Self Tester 100-B1-0500-KR; Brand: EVGA; Review: had this going now for about a month. not a single problem. i used this to ugrade my hp 500-223w 300w psu so i could run a more powerful pci express video card. this comes with pci-e 6 pin connectors so you can use a wide variety of cards. just make sure they fit a mid size or smaller case. the gtx 650 and the gtx 750 fit perfectly. anything over 7 inches is a very tight fit as is the gtx 560 which i replaced with the more power saving gtx 750. this has the cpu connection more than enough sata connectors. 20+4 motherboard connections. highly suggest this psu. so far its very reliable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router; Brand: Asus; Review: i tried to make this work. i went through exhaustive maeasures to troubleshoot this thing. upon first powering on i was able to use my ethernet connected computer. things seemed great till i got to the wireless settings. going by the reviews on here i was overly optimistic about this router. i was looking forward to filling my mid size home with wifi. i tried the firmware update, tried adjusting every setting that could possilby help but nothing worked. increasing the power output made no difference. i could barely get 2 bars of signal in the next room, in direct view of the router, 12ft away. i tried multiple reboots, unplugging the darn thing, moving antennas around, anything that might work. however after a few hours of testing and wishing, i boxed it up and sent it back to amazon. perhaps i got a bad unit. but i just don't see how this thing got all the glorious reviews it has. its junk. its wifi range is horrible.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and play No drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA); Brand: Sabrent; Review: didnt work.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: StarTech.com 1 Port Low Profile PCI 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Network Adapter Card; Brand: StarTech; Review: constant disconnects; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Acer S220HQL Abd 21.5-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor; Brand: Acer; Review: speakers were horrible. would not keep color settings.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR N300 WiFi Range Extender (EX2700); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: this thing puts out more wifi than my main router. with the help of this, my entire property is saturated with strong wifi. I can be over 150ft away, through walls, from this extender and still get usable signal. 2 out of 3 bars. simply awesome!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C2G 01108 Cat6 Cable - Snagless Unshielded Slim Ethernet Network Patch Cable, Black (9 Feet, 2.74 Meters); Brand: C2G; Review: being a thinner wire I had my doubts. I have two 7ft wires and one 1.5ft wire. I have tested and re tested these wires comparing them to cables of the same length, such as cat6 monster, cat6 Belkin, and cat 7 vandesail flat Ethernet cables, and a variety of cat5e cables. I cant find any speed issues with these at all. they outperform all the ones I have. these slim cables are 28awg and perform as good as, and in some cases better than the thicker 24-26awg wires i have. they are easy to bend and don't take up space. you cant go wrong with these cat6 cables. I would buy them again in a heartbeat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: USB 3.0 Data Charger Cable for EeePad TF101 TF201 SL201; Brand: Generic; Review: This did exactly what I wanted it to do. I wanted to get a replacement cord to work with the charger and it worked. It also works as a data trasfer cable when you don't have wifi or bluetooth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RHA MA150 Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphone - 12 Month Warranty; Brand: RHA; Review: I wa going to Cancun Mexico and wanted to bring some more than decent headphones for the trip. Especially with a bus tour and several planes in my future. These were absolutely excellent. I am buying another pair as soon as possible in case these meet an untimely demise as with all things that are small that I come in contact with. As I sat on the plane I the engines started and I put these things in and I barely heard anything but my music and movies the whole trip. The only problem was I had to take them out to hear my wife. Of course I think I just wanted to keep watching my movie. Great price for earphones of this quality. Worth every penny to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CITIE Obliq Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Cable Note III N9000 USB Cable Ultra Fast Charging USB 3.0 Data Cable; Brand: Loopilops; Review: If you want Samsung quality cables this is not it. I was happy at first but they quickly started to go down from there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: VONOTO Dc 2.5mm Plug/jack USB Charger Lead Charging Cable Cord Power for Chinese Tablet Pcs and All 7" /8/; Brand: Loopilops; Review: If you want Samsung quality cables this is not it. I was happy at first but they quickly started to go down from there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: COM-PAD 6x Premium USB to Micro USB Sync- and Charging Cable Pack for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Bluetooth Speaker, Samsung; Brand: Loopilops; Review: If you want Samsung quality cables this is not it. I was happy at first but they quickly started to go down from there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: UCEC Flat USB 3.0 Cable - Micro B To A Male - 1 Foot (0.3m Meter); Brand: Loopilops; Review: If you want Samsung quality cables this is not it. I was happy at first but they quickly started to go down from there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OKRAY 3ft High Speed Micro USB 2.0 Sync and Charge Data Cable Charging Cord Charger for Android, Samsung Galaxy,; Brand: Loopilops; Review: If you want Samsung quality cables this is not it. I was happy at first but they quickly started to go down from there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: PWR+; Review: This cable does not charge at the proper rate. Neither does it sync. The first cable I got wouldn't even charge or be recognized by the computer or the pad. The second got a ding by the computer but still no go on sync or viewing the pad. extremely low voltage charge of T201 and T101. I will return this one as I did the first and try another seller.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dripstone CAT6 Solid UTP Cable 23AWG 1000ft LAN Network Ethernet RJ45 Wire, Blue; Brand: Dripstone; Review: This is what I received instead of what was pictured. No box. No spool. Just cable. Unacceptable! If I could put less than 1 star I would!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: UTP balun hd Ventech cat5 to bnc video baluns transceiver passive with power connector compatible with all CCTV; Brand: VENTECH; Review: These have been installed for our cameras and are continuing to work well with high quality video.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Meike MK-14EXT Macro TTL ring flash for Canon E-TTL TTL with LED AF assist lamp; Brand: Meike; Review: I tried a different off-brand ring flash with my T4i and it did not work very well. With the Meike brand flash, I have had great results. I am a beginner and am reluctant to spend the $500 for the canon ring flash and this one meets my needs and surpassed my expectations. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seagate Backup Plus 2TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for Mac (STCB2000900); Brand: Seagate; Review: I bought this drive because it offers high capacity, has good reviews and it was priced well. I noticed here and elsewhere that most people who have had issues with this drive did not re-format it prior to use. On a late 2013 iMac, I used disk utility to re-format this drive to "Mac OS Extended (journaled)" and GUID prior to loading any data onto it. This drive is quiet when operational and sleeps when not in use for more than a few minutes while connected to the Mac. In addition, it sleeps and wakes in sync with the iMac's sleep and wake cycle. I have connected it using USB 3.0. I have posted a photo of BlackMagic Disk Speed Test showing 203.8 MB/s write and 196.3 MB/s read for a 1 GB file. I recommend this drive highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mobee Technology Magic Bar - Inductive Charger for Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Trackpad (MO3212); Brand: Mobee Technology; Review: The idea of a rechargeable battery for the iMac bluetooth keyboard & magic trackpad is very appealing, but in practice, this kit requires more frequent charges than I would hope for. I usually charge the keyboard overnight approximately every 7-10 days with light-to-moderate use of the computer & peripherals; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Antec Bias Lighting for HDTV with 51.1-Inch Cable (Reduce eye fatigue and increase image clarity); Brand: Antec; Review: I placed two of these behind a 27" iMac and couldn't be happier. The bias lighting makes it so the large screen does not bother my eyes when it gets dark outside and my office becomes more dimly lit. I highly recommend this bias lighting kit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crucial 4GB Kit (2GBx2) DDR3/DDR3L 1066 MT/s (PC3-8500) SODIMM 204-Pin Memory For Mac - CT2K2G3S1067M; Brand: Crucial; Review: I installed these in a late 2013 iMac 27" with i7 3.5MHz and the RAM kit works great. I highly recommend this kit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plugable Storage System 2.5" SATA III Hard Drive Docking Station with Built-in 3-Port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Hub; Brand: Plugable; Review: I have a Samsung 840 EVO 500GB SSD in the case for this dock and it is ridiculously fast. I get 415MB/sec write and 430MB/sec read on BlackMagic benchmarking software. Highly Recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kuzy - Plastic Case for Older MacBook Pro 13.3" (Model: A1278) Aluminum Unibody Ultra Slim Rubberized Matte Cover; Brand: Kuzy; Review: I wanted a subtle case for my 13" MacBook Pro and went with this one because of good ratings and bargain price. It is a very good-looking cover and fits the MBP very tightly. I was a little surprised at how snug the fit is; this made it slightly difficult to put the cover on the computer. This was a minor issue and I still give it four stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Transcend 8 GB High Speed Class 10 UHS Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC10U1 85/22 MB/s; Brand: Transcend; Review: These Transcend SD cards are exceptional. They write fast enough to use for shooting HD video and upload to my iMac (using built-in SDHC card reader) very quickly. On top of these features, it is a bargain at ~ $30 for 32GB of storage space.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens(White box, New); Brand: Canon; Review: This lens focuses with impressive speed and it does so nearly silently. It is great for taking photographs and it really shows off when recording video on a Canon T4i. The focusing is neither audible nor distracting & slow during videos recorded with this lens. The range of focal lengths makes this a very useful walk around lens for taking photos, as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and LEDs (HB-UMLS); Brand: Sabrent; Review: This USB 2.0 hub works well and I have not had any complaints, thus far. I use it to power USB LED bias lighting strips behind my computer monitor and it is well-suited to this purpose. I have the hub plugged in to a USB extension cable that is plugged in to an AC adapter. I have the light strips plugged in to individual USB ports on the hub and I really like the blue lights that shine after pushing the button to power the port up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: [DISCONTINUED] Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7TE500BW); Brand: Samsung; Review: I bought two of these: one for a mid-2010 MacBookPro and the other for a late 2009 iMac 27" desktop computer. I have installed both of them without any issue. This drive gave new life to both of these computers. The difference is unbelievable. Startup takes less than 20 seconds on both. I have since sold the iMac and the SSD was removed prior to sale. I placed it in a USB 3.0 external hard drive enclosure and this drive reads and writes > 400MB/s in the external enclosure connected with USB 3.0. If find yourself wanting your Apple computer to start up & run more quickly, this is the drive to consider. I cannot speak for any windows computers, as I have no experience with them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EastVita® SATA 2.5" / 9.5mm 2nd Hard Disk Drive Caddy Adapter Special Designed For Apple macbook pro; Brand: ATIVI; Review: This hard drive tray is functional enough, but I was disappointed that it mounts with the open side of the hard drive facing inward when mounted in to a MacBook Pro 13 inch laptop. I have posted a photo demonstrating this. Of course, this is unlikely to have an impact on function, but it was a small disappointment when I mounted it and found this out. It functions very well and I have no complaints regarding this aspect of this product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wifi Sd Memory Card 8GB Class 10 New New Inc® 2nd Generation Ez Share; Brand: New New Inc; Review: This SD card is a nice idea, but it doesn't write fast enough to take rapid sequence photos on a Canon T4i, so the functionality of this in the camera is limited to one shot at a time. The wireless function works nicely with an iPad or a computer and if you plan to mainly take one pic at a time, this will work beautifully.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lowepro Fastpack 350 DSLR Camera Backpack; Brand: Lowepro; Review: I purchased this for a Canon T4i DSLR camera that I usually carry around with an 18-135mm IS STM lens. The way this bag is set up places the lens in a position to support the weight of the camera unless you place a piece of foam, cloth or some other filler underneath the side of the camera body in the left-hand side of the camera compartment beside the fast-access zipper flap. I did not like the way this was for my camera, but other models and lenses may not fit in this bag in the same manner.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cable Matters Mini DisplayPort Cable (Mini DP Cable) in White 6 Feet - 4K Resolution Ready; Brand: Cable Matters; Review: This cable works very well for connecting a mid 2010 MacBook Pro to a late 2009 iMac 27" to use the iMac in target display mode. This allows you to have a second external monitor for the laptop. This does not work in reverse. In my set up, audio is conveyed through the Mini DisplayPort cable, but a separate USB cable is necessary for audio to be transmitted if the MacBook Pro was built prior to mid 2010. Great cable at a lower cost than other brands!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SILVERSTONE SDP08 3.5 to 2 X 2.5-Inch Bay Converter; Brand: SilverStone Technology; Review: I mounted a Samsung 840 EVO 500GB SSD in this carrier to install the SSD into a late 2009 27" iMac. It worked fine, but the metal face of the mount faced in to the computer upon installation. While this is all hidden and covered once you place the screen back on to the computer, I would prefer the drive to face out. This is a cosmetic consideration mainly, but brought my rating to 4 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System; Brand: Nikon; Review: This brush cleans dust from my camera lens easily and stores in my bag with the bristles protected. This should be a standard item in every camera bag.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pelican 0915 SD Memory Card Case (Black); Brand: Pelican; Review: I store my SD cards in this case within a thin pocket in my camera bag. It has a very slim profile, but is exceedingly protective of my irreplaceable SD cards. There is no gap between the top & bottom when closed and this case is very robust feeling. I recommend this case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C2G 13787 3.5mm M/F Shielded Stereo Audio Extension Cable, Black (6 Feet, 1.82 Meters); Brand: C2G; Review: This extension cable works as advertised. I expected a no-frills extension cable for a 3.5mm headphone cable and I was pleased with my purchase!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belkin 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector with 6-Foot Power Cord and Telephone Protection, BE108200-06; Brand: Belkin; Review: I really like this surge protector. It mounted on the back of my desk easily & securely with two screws and a small piece of 3M mounting foam tape. It is nice to have the outlets on the sides facing at different angles from the middle row, as you can fit the awkward power supply AC adapters on these side outlets without taking up the space of other plugs. Additionally, the 90 degree wall plug allows this surge protector to be plugged in behind my bookshelf without having to pull the shelf away from the wall to accommodate the plug. Good purchase!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Your Cable Store 6 Foot 2.5mm Stereo IR Remote / Camera Cable Male / Female; Brand: Your Cable Store; Review: I bought this to use as an extension cable for the wired shutter release remote for my Canon T4i DSLR camera. This cable was a great choice for this job and I am happy with my purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lowepro Event Messenger 150 DSLR Camera Shoulder Bag; Brand: Lowepro; Review: I have had this bag for a while now and I still really like it. I can fit my Canon T4i with 18-135 lens attached, an extra flash, an extra 55-250 lens and an assortment of extra batteries in this bag. This is all in addition to a 13" MacBook Pro or iPad, which fits in the dedicated pocket in this bag. The closure mechanism is pretty nifty: you can set it up for velcro closure or plastic locking latch closure without velcro. It is very easy to change between these two and I like to use the plastic latch for a more secure closure, while the velcro is more useful for quick access to the camera (assuming you don't mind the noise of the velcro). Excellent purchase!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB 3.0 Extension Cable - A-Male to A-Female - 3 Feet (2 Pack); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: I am pleased with the quality of these cables. Very nice connectors and sturdy, yet flexible cable jackets. I would buy from this line of cables again in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cable Matters 2 Pack, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Type A to B Cable in Blue 3 Feet; Brand: Cable Matters; Review: These are very high quality cables. For the cost, they far exceed my expectations. They are made high quality connectors and sturdy cable jackets. I will buy other cables in this line.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB 3.0 Cable - A-Male to Micro-B - 9 Feet (2.7 Meters); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: I have purchased several AmazonBasics cables of different types and I have been repeatedly satisfied with the products. This USB 3.0 cable is no exception. The plugs fit in to devices with a sturdy connection and they are built from high-quality connectors & jackets. No complaints!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belkin 8-Outlet AV Power Strip Surge Protector with 6-Foot Power Cord and 2 USB Charging Ports, 3000 Joules, Black; Brand: Belkin; Review: This surge protector is well-built and offers plenty of space between outlets to allow easier use of oversized adapters and plugs. Two rows of outlets also helps to accommodate more devices. This unit has 4 holes on the back to allow more flexibility in mounting options, which is a plus in my opinion. Very happy with this purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Photive Original LP-E8 Ultra High Capacity Li-ion Battery for Canon T2i and T3i (Canon LP-E8 Replacement); Brand: Vilso; Review: I use this battery in my Canon T4i and it holds a charge comparably well to the Canon battery. I felt that I was taking a risk by purchasing the generic brand battery instead of the Canon unit, but I am happy with this decision, so far. Good product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WD My Passport Slim 1TB Portable Metal External Hard Drive USB 3.0 with Auto Backup; Brand: Western Digital; Review: This external hard drive has an attractive aluminum-faced case and a very small footprint. It comes with a soft case and a USB 3.0 cable. Benchmark showed 93 MB/s write / 117 MB/s write on an iMac 27" late 2013. For the price, I am very happy with this drive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 37mm Filter Adapter for GOPRO Hero3 HD3+ Threaded Lens Converter; Brand: Moonshuttle; Review: I use this with a GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition and it is a great accessory. The ability to add a UV filter makes for excellent videos using this little camera. I have not had any problems with this adapter falling off of the camera, despite the fact that it attaches using only a snug fit around the camera's lens. Recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcend USB 3.0 Super Speed Multi-Card Reader for SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/CF Cards (TS-RDF8K); Brand: Transcend; Review: This compact card reader works very well for me...I use an iMac, which has an SD reader (but not a micro SD reader) on the back of the unit, but it is annoying to get behind the computer every time I download from an SD card. I have mounted this to my desk for easy access and wired it to the computer's USB 3.0 port.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony 50mm f/1.8 Mid-Range Lens for Sony E Mount Nex Cameras; Brand: Sony; Review: This is a great prime lens for the Sony a6000. It is not too heavy, though it is much larger than the 16-50 kit lens that comes with the camera. This lens is quite fast at f/1.8 and produces a beautiful bokeh effect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB A to Lightning Compatible Cable (3 Feet/0.9 Meter); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: This cable works well and has outlasted many of the other off-brand lightning cables I have tried. I have been using it for approx. 3 months, which is far longer than many knock off cables have lasted, in my experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ZAGG Folio Case with Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air - Black; Brand: ZAGG; Review: The ZAGG Folio Keyboard Case holds my iPad Air securely at any angle and allows me to use this device much more effectively for word processing, emails and iMessage. If you want to use the iPad as a tablet, it is easily removed from the keyboard folio. The keyboard battery charges quickly and lasts an incredible amount of time. I have had to charge the keyboard once every 3-4 weeks, and I use it daily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Incase CL58079 Accessory Organizer for GoPro Hero3 and Hero 4 (Black/Lumen); Brand: Incase Designs; Review: Flexible case; fits well in my medium-sized messenger bag. I use it to carry chargers, cables, and adapters for my phone and laptop instead of using it for GoPro accessories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Evenia Zoraida Park; City: Roquetas de Mar Province of Almeria Andalucia; Review: Me and my girlfriend went all inclusive at Zoraida between 21st-28th of June and below is my review of what is a fantastic hotel! Got to the airport and was automatically shown to the coach which was very modern, clean and comfortable with plenty of room. Zoraida Park Hotel was about 40/45mins from the airport. Once we arrived at the hotel from the outside it looked very big and looked attractive. We checked in after a little bit of a wait. ROOM 8/10 A very neat, well presented and spacious double bedroom, with nice interior. The bed was quite low but extremely comfortable. There was a wardrobe where you could hang up your clothes along with little draws for underwear and socks. Inside the wardrobe there is a safe where you can put your valuables if you ask reception for a key (deposit needed it think). There was also a fridge which was very handy to keep water due to the hot weather and staying hydrated. The bathroom was lovely and came well presented with all the essentials and the shower was very easy to adjust. In the room was also a balcony with a view over the front of the hotel which was cosy and had a clothes rack to dry your clothes. FOOD 9/10 I was extremely impressed with the food to be completely honest. They catered for all types of countries and choices for everyone. There was a lot to pick from and there was fresh food constantly being made which was good although it did get a little repetitive but that is understandable and there was plenty of choice to mix it up anyways. Breakfast Normally between 8.30am-11am for breakfast, you had a lot of choice from full English breakfast, pancakes, omelettes, croissants, cereal, yogurt, fruit and more which catered for everyone and the pancakes were a favourite of mine. Lunch Normally between 1-4pm lunch there was plenty of choice from salads, pizza, chips, burger, fresh chicken, paella, fish, hotdogs, vegetables and much more to be named including a Chocolate fountain. Dinner Normally between 7.30-10.30pm dinner was similar to lunch but there was always a few new things which they would add to the menu to mix it up. The majority of things was repetitive but no complaints there as the food was amazing and they always attempting to add new things which was good. Snacks Throughout the day if you was part of the all inclusive you could get snacks from the bar which included hotdogs, chips, toasties, ice cream, slush puppies and drinks. This was great as whenever you was hungry you had something you could have. Restaurants Along with the main Buffett dinning hall you had 3 restaurants inside the hotel which you could book once each for the week. These restaurants were amazing and you would have to book in advance during the day to eat there. You will be served a 3 course meal with great choices and amazing food, definitely recommended to do try all 3. (Carlos, El'Olivio, Mediterranean) order of my; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Estrella de Mar Apartments; City: Roquetas de Mar Province of Almeria Andalucia; Review: Me and my girlfriend stayed at Estrella de Mar for 3 days as we needed somewhere to stay until her grandad come to Spain and we would stay with him so it was a quick and cheap alternative. Arrival/reception When we got there the pool looked nice but everything was quite quiet. There was no on at reception and had to wait a little bit (5/10mins). Once someone come they couldn't speak a word of English which made things very difficult. Eventually we got things sorted and we went up to our room. Had to put a €10 deposit for the remote for the air con. Living room/kitchen The apartment was okay and quite spacious. It had a kitchen with all the essential which was good (Fridge, oven, microwave). The livening area had a sofa, dining table, chairs and a telly which was good. However the telly only played Spanish TV so unlucky if you're English and can't understand haha. There was also air con in the corner which was very good to be honest and was defo stele really useful. Balcony There was also a balcony view of the pool which was nice but not much sun was caught there due to the trees and building covering it. Room/bathroom The room was okay and had two beds which wasn't the comfiest but you could get by with. It had a big wardrobe for your clothes but no air con in the room so very hot in there so had to leave the door open to get the air con from the living room. The bathroom was okay and come with some of the essentials (towels, tissue) but no soap. Breakfast We booked breakfast too and we was unfortunately not very impressed at all. We went down at 9 (breakfast between 9-11am) when we got there we asked if they had a menu of some sort guy they could not understand us at all. Luckily there was a woman there who spoke very minimal English and we managed to get some orange juice. Eventually we also got a half a toasted baguette with either butter or tomato. Not much choice especially after having a week across the road at Zoraida who's breakfast buffet was amazing!! They certainly have to get a menu and add more options to their breakfast. Facilities It had two lifts and it also had a swimming pool which I didn't actually go into so couldn't say if it was nice or not lol went to other swimming pools. Places There is a little supermarket across the road which is convenient for little things that are needed which me and the mrs used to get some snacks, bread, ham, cheese etc. There are a few shops which are on the road of the hotel if you was looking to buy gifts or a few essentials. However there is a shopping centre which is about a 10/15minute bus drive away. It is easy to get to as it's just one bus taken outside the hotel and only costs you €2.60; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency Long Beach; City: Long Beach California; Review: Went to this hotel between June 11th and 21st of June with my girlfriend as we wanted to visit LA and this was a very nice looking hotel but didn't actually realise it was mainly a business hotel due to e convention centre being next to it. However this was not a problem for us as we absolutely loved the hotel and LA! Our best holiday to date for sure!! Was Amazing! Hotel Facilities: The hotels facilities were fantastic! They have a nice pool outside along with a hot tub which at times was busy but we always found the pool quite empty. By the pool was plenty of sun beds which was always available along with fresh towels every day. Also chairs and tables to sit by the pool. Found myself in the gym a lot because of the food consumed in America coming from London 😂 the gym has basically everything you needed cardio stations, Dumbbells and a few weight machines. They also provided you with small gym towels too. The lounge is very comfy with loads of sofas and chairs and there's always something on the telly to watch (euros and colas America for me whilst I was out there) Food: We only had breakfast once there which was the Buffett breakfast which cost $20 each. Not the cheapest but the quality and quantity of food was good. Plenty of options from egg, bacon, sausages, cinnamon bread, pastry etc We didn't get anything else from the hotel as we went out to eat everyday. Nearby restaurants that I would recommend is chillis which has a variety of food choices from burgers, burritos, salads and more. Went here a few times. Yard house was a great place to and they had happy hour between 3pm-6pm so could get things ,cheaper. (Onion tower ring is a must) Another great place was a dessert place called cold stone which had amazing desserts and is a great place to go and have an ice cream at night. Things to do: Close by within walking distance there is the pike outlets which have stores like Nike, h&m, Gap and cotton on which are really cheap with sales all the time which is always good but not much more shops. There is also a cinema which is great and not too expensive considering we went on the weekend and it had lounge seats. There is quite a few restaurants with different choices (chillis, yard house, burger island, California pizza kitchen, famous saves and a few others). There's also the queen Mary and aquarium very close by but we didn't go to these. There is a fantastic outlet (citadel outlet) which is about 25mins away and definitely worth going if coming from England and looking for good deals. Closest supermarket is within about a 15 minute walk along with other small restaurants etc Me and my girlfriend purchased a LA go card so ended up going universal studio, Hollywood home tours, Madame Tussaud's, knots berry farm and knots berry soak city. All which were minimum 30mins.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Malmaison Manchester; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Stayed here for 1 night whilst in Manchester due to work. Room: room was nice and spacious. Big TV, comfy bed and pillows. Shower was great and the room had all the essentials needed (hair dryer, shower gel, shampoo, tea, coffee etc) Hotel facilities: the hotel was nice inside and had a good interior. They have a gym downstairs which is open 24hrs which is great. Although it is a very small with a stack of dumb bells and just cardio machines. One negative was that water cabinet was empty and when I told reception I think they forgot so had to go up again and they brought down a couple bottles. They also have a spa area however I did not use this. Dining: I had breakfast which was amazing! I paid the extra for the hot breakfast. You can get a continental breakfast which has pastries, cereal, yogurt and fruits. With the hot breakfast you can select from the menu a selection of choices. I was cheeky and got 2. The waffle with bacon is definitely recommended. Worth the extra £2 and make the most of it and get 2 if you can hack it haha. Location: the location is perfect as it is close by to Piccadilly station and within walking distance to Armadale centre and all of the different shops so perfect. Overall a great stay with very welcoming, kind staff and an amazing hotel. Well worth the stay simply for the breakfast and the location.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London Kings Cross Hotel; City: London England; Review: Me and the Mrs had a lovely spa day (from Groupon ;) at the Holiday Inn/Crowne Plaza. We was greeted by then receptionist who kindly gave us £1 to use the locker. We then had a massage booked. The massage was 25mins long and was very relaxing. We got a back and legs massage which was perfect 👌 We then got to use the spa facilities which included the Pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The pool was a nice temperature and it was pretty empty the whole time so had a good swim. The jacuzzi was on the whole time so was lovely there. Both steam room & sauna were great too. The changing rooms were neat and tidy and we were both given 2 towels on arrivals which was good. Overall a lovely afternoon spent for a decent price too for a massage and use of the spa facilities. (The place was getting done up so still things were a bit tight in the hallway.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hellaby Hall Hotel BW Signature Collection; City: Hellaby Rotherham South Yorkshire England; Review: Stayed here one night on a Friday. Rooms: The room was well presented and had plenty of room. The room had everything needed (kettle, toiletries, tv with plenty of channels) Fitness centre: the gym was good and had everything needed. There was a pool, steam room, sauna and hot tub. The pool was a good and a good size. One negative was that the jacuzzi wasn't actually hot. The pool was actually warmer. The steam room was also not very hot. Location: the location is a good place to just relax. The closest shop if need be is probably the Morrisons which is a good 20-25minute walk away if you want to do that. Food: breakfast was good with everything you needed. A full English breakfast, pastries, cereals, yogurt, fruit etc. Did get quite busy but was fine. The hotel in general was very tidy, well presented and would recommend as a little relaxing getaway possibly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Calais Coquelles; City: Calais Pas de Calais Hauts de France; Review: Stayed here for 4 nights whilst on a trip to Calais with a sports team. The hotel is nice and hotel staff were kind and helpful at every opportunity. The rooms were very nice with a good amount of room, very modern and with all the essentials needed. The beds were comfy and had some good sleeps. The facilities which were included in the hotel were pretty good. They had a gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room plus they also had a quite a bit grass area at that back which is good when the weather is good. They also had a pool table if need be and a bar. We had both breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Breakfast was okay with a few choices from your continental stuff, cereals, fruit, yogurt and also hot stuff (egg, beans, bacon, sausages). Of course the breakfast was repetitive but was okay. Dinner we had 3 course meals which they varied. The meals were good but not amazing in all honesty but satisfying enough. In terms of things around there's not too much and the main Calais area with all the shops/bars etc is about a 10/15min drive. There is however outlet stores about a 5min drive away too. Overall a very satisfying stay in a relaxed place, with good staff and great hotel facilities.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel; City: Hounslow Greater London England; Review: Me and my partner stayed here for 1 nights as we had a business conference at the Sofitel Heathrow at Terminal 5. The travel was quite easy between the hotel and the airport as there was a free bus service (so you don't actually have to pay for the hopps bus) although they aren't very regular maybe every 20-30mins or so. At check In Ashley who was the receptionist was extremely kind and helpful and assisted us great with our stay and even gave us 2 complimentary drinks due to a little mix up when booking which was a great gesture. The room was very nicely presented and had everything we needed (iron, hairdryer, toiletries, fridge etc) The beds and pillows were very comfy! In terms of facilities we wasn't in the hotel too much but I did end up using the gym which was great as it was 24hours so perfect if your flight is early or late. The gym had the essential equipments needed e.g cardio machines, dumbbells, barbell, cables and smith machine. We got breakfast here and it was amazing which I enjoyed :) best bit was the fresh waffles they made. You could also get a freshly made omelette along with the normal stuff you would find e.g. Full English, cereals, fruit, pastry etc. I do feel they could of done with pain de chocolate but that's me being picky & greedy 😂 Within walking distance there is a McDonald's and also a co-operative petrol station if you needed to grab anything. In summary I would probably stay here again as it was a great hotel. Very modern with lovely staff and a great breakfast. In terms of getting to the airport, a free bus ride away (not walking distance) so not too bad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport; City: Hounslow Greater London England; Review: Stayed here for a night together with the other half and a lovely presented hotel. The room was well presented with the essentials needed provided such as safe, toiletries, fridge, iron etc. There is literally not much around but Hatton station is a 2 minute walk away. There is also a shuttle bus which takes you to Heathrow if need be. Parking at the hotel overnight is £12. The hotel has a gym if you feel the need to use it. It's small but has most things you need (few cardio machines, cable machine & dumbbells). The breakfast was really nice and had the usual hot full English breakfast selection, cold cuts, continental and you could make your own waffles which was great. You could also get fresh omelettes too. In summary the hotel was a lovely hotel and ideal for an overnight stay when going to Heathrow airport and away from most of the other hotels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Adele Jules; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Lovely hotel in a popular part of Paris. The hotel is down a side road and looks quite small from the outside. It has a good feel about it when you come in. Check in was smooth with receptionist being very kind & warning. Complimentary water, sweets & apple by reception which is good :) The room was very well presented and cosy. Not the biggest but definitely big enough and had all the essentials needed (tv, toiletries, safe, slippers, hairdryer). No kettle in the room which could be an improvement if picky. The bed itself was very comfortable and a great sleep. There’s a complimentary tea from 4-6pm if you’re able to go which is nice of them (didn’t get to go). Got to chance to use the gym which was good and had most things needed. A few cardio machines, dumbbells & a multi functional weight machine. Overall a nice cosy small hotel located in a quiet area not far from all the busy streets and a lot of shops around. Great warming staff too! Would also like to give a special mention ILIA at reception as I had to leave the hotel at 6:30am and he was kind enough to offer me some croissants as breakfast wasn’t until 7am. Great gesture and his service was great in general.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annex Hostel Copenhagen; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: Must say amazing value for money. Stayed here for 1 night and was pleasantly surprised with how good this was for a hostel. It’s is obviously connected with a hotel which is one of the reason that makes it so well run but can’t really fault much in terms of the price we paid for the value we received. The location was perfect down a quiet street with a couple minutes walk from central station and Tivoli Gardens (which is a MUST) Our check in was super quick and we actually got there earlier (12pm) and they allowed us to still check in as the room was ready. We stayed in double room with shared bathroom and it was what we expected but even slightly better. The room was good in terms of space, had a tv, desk and even had a sink with a tap (considering it was shared bathroom). The bed was comfortable enough, ONLY complain was the pillows wasn’t the best. That is ALL, that’s me being harsh 😂 The actual shared showers & toilets were actually kept very clean and was pleasantly surprised with this as this was my only real concern considering how cheap it was. The breakfast for us was included and was definitely worth it considering all the pricy options around. They had a good variation which included cold cuts, cereal, pastries, spreads, fruit, yogurt, cereal, pancakes, omelette, sausages, tea, coffee & drinks. Normally 170DK so glad it came included so make the most of this :) The staff were very friendly throughout our stay. An amazing gesture as we told them it was our anniversary and they left a lovely note on the desk which I felt for was something they didn’t have to do and goes a long way in service. Also complimentary iced lemon water downstairs in the lobby as you come in which is good. They also allowed us to use the luggage room as our flight was late too along with a relaxing lobby area. Overall an AMAZING Value for money so if you’re looking for a cheap stay & local to the centre then this is definitely for you. Not a bad word for this place and in terms of value for money I would say 5*; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Atlantide; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Stayed here for 1 night whilst In Venice and had no problems really. Got there in the morning so couldn’t yet check in but they let us keep our luggage there. Our room was in the actual hotel but down another side street about a minute away. Staff - staff spoke fine English and helped us with whatever we needed. Location - location was very good, 5minute walk from ‘Pizzale Roma station’. Further away from ‘Marco Pollo’ but Venice is easy to walk around so no problem there. Room - room was what we expected, just somewhere to stay really. Not very modern and a little run down (but you get that a lot in Venice so no complaints) Hotel - the hotel itself is different to where we stayed but where we stayed had a little garden section but unfortunately it was closed so disappointed as could of been nice. All in all if your looking for a cheap place to stay in a good location by restaurants, in the city centre then this is the place for you. For value this is good. Probably say 3.5* but location 4.5*; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residenza degli Angeli; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Well all I can say is good things about my stay in Residenza degli Angeli for the 1 night me and my partner stayed here. It is a place which the lovely couple of Mario & Esmeralda rent out the rooms so not a hotel but this makes it what it is. The service that Mario provided was incredible throughout and gave it that personal touch. We got there early so we was generous enough to give us some breakfast and drop our bags which we would not get elsewhere. He gave us a little map of local places around the apartment. Breakfast was good as he provided coffee, juice, croissants, bread rolls, yogurt & spreads (including Nutella) especially considering the price you pay for your stay. The property is located in a central area and good to get around and it’s down quiet streets as well which is good. The room itself is very nice, with plenty of room and everything we needed. We had the shared bathroom but this wasn’t a problem at all as we was only sharing with one other couple which we didn’t even come across so not a problem at all. The bathroom was very clean and shampoo & shower gel was also provided and a hair dryer if need be. He also allowed us to keep our luggage there on the last day as our flight was at night. I literally do not have a bad thing to say about this place as Mario created the best possible stay for us here in Venice. Very nice man. If we was to come Venice again there is no doubt we would stay here again as the value Mario & his partner provided was 5* for an apartment of this type.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Club Med Turkoise Turks Caicos; City: Grace Bay Providenciales Turks and Caicos; Review: What a place!!!! Come here twice for both a day pass (10am-6pm) and also and all day pass (day & night)! It was amazing both times. The hotel facilities were amazing!! Great pool with plenty of sun beds plus even sun beds in the water. There was pool, table tennis, gym and much more!! All drinks & food was included and the quality of food was very very good. There’s a buffet restaurant 12:15-2:15pm which had a great variety of different choices of food with plenty of fresh food. During the day there is also a snack bar ‘sharkies’ which do great food too along with a juice bar where you can make fresh juices & smoothies right there. There’s a bar right by the pool which is ideal too! There was water sports part of it too which was incredible! Snorkelling, kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, sailing and there was also some trapezius swings in the hotel. The white Party on Friday night was very lively too and definitely worth going if you are here on a Friday. Great entertainment with some circus acts, drinks all night & some good music. Honestly could not recommend this place enough especially what you pay for the day pass it’s more then worth it for all the facilities, food & drink!! Would definitely come again no doubt!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Britannia Hotel Birmingham; City: Birmingham West Midlands England; Review: Pretty bad hotel. The hotel itself isn’t too bad and in a great location considering it is literally in the heart of Birmingham and on the doorstep of all the stops which is ideal. The room itself was quite small but okay . It was a bit dated but would do. Every time you flushed the toilet it made a massive noise after. There was no air con in the room which made it a struggle to sleep too. A lot of the plug sockets didn’t end up working too unfortunately. There is discounted parking in a car park close by £12.50 for 24 hours I think it was instead of £25. The hotels location was perfect as it was literally in they city centre but this is probably the only positive thing. Hardly got any sleep as it was sooo loud outside not only that but our neighbours were at it all night which didn’t help and you can hear through the walls. I’m an honest reviewer so if you’re looking for a cheap place right in the heart then this is the place but don’t expect a cosy sleep.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Best Western The Ship Hotel; City: Weybridge Surrey England; Review: Stayed here for 1 night and had a pleasant stay. The room was very spacious and had all the essentials too (iron/iron board/hairdryer/kettle/toiletries etc) The bed was very big and comfy which allowed for a great nights sleep. Parking was free as it has its own parking on the side. The location is right on the highway street which is ideal too with a big Morrison’s across the road along with plenty little stores on the high street (Waitrose right next door) The staff were friendly during non check in & check out especially JULIAN who went out of his way to make sure his kindness was beyond. He was very polite and enthusiastic which always makes the stay more pleasant. Would recommend this place if you need somewhere to stay around this area for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prince Regent Hotel Excel London; City: London England; Review: Stayed here for 1 night and it was a cosy stay for the night. The hotel is located about a 20minute bus ride from Stratford Westfield and a 5 minute walk from Prince Regent DLR station so good transport links all round. It is also a 5min walk from the excel if you’re needing to go there. There’s a local shop across the road needed if needing any bits along with a chippy for a bite but not too much more else other then few corner shops. The room itself was nice and cosy. With all the amenities you need for a 1 night stay. Iron, hair dryer, wardrobe, tv, kettle, shower stuff too. The hotel is small with 3 floors. Breakfast was served between 7am-9am. They come round with a small menu of toast/egg/beans/sausage/cereal to choose from along with coffee/tea/juice which is good for something included in the price but not the most choices. A great stay at The hotel as it is very tidy & cosy. If you’re looking for something for great value close to the excel/London city airport or bus ride from Stratford then this is a great place to stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dell XPS 15 L502X Intel Core i5-2410, 2.3GHz | 6GB DDR3 | 750GB | NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB; Brand: Dell; Review: My specs: Dell XPS l502x (Purchased May 2011) Processor: i5 2410M RAM: 6GB HDD: 640 gb 7200 hard drive Resolution: 1366 x 768 Video card: GeForce 540M 2GB First off: the audio on this model is truly incredible for the price range. The JBL speakers with subwoofer make it unnecessary to have to plug your laptop in to external speakers for almost any situation (except of course... parties and what have you). In fact, you'd truly be hard pressed to find better audio quality in a laptop even now. The new Lenovo y410 and y510 models do come with JBL speakers, however they are not of the same quality. The keyboard is comfortable for my usage, since I have fairly large hands. I have heard that some people complain about the spacing between keys, but honestly... unless you have tiny fingers I don't really understand how it's an issue. The screen quality is pretty good for the price and resolution. Now for the bad.. well, horrible. The battery quality is horribly sub par; the 9cell battery I purchased with the unit barely kept about one hour charge after a year and at current lasts about 35-40 minutes with wireless enabled. Considering that the laptop is plugged in almost 85% of the time, this is fairly terrible. And most importantly (or annoyingly), the video card. The Nvidia GeForce 540M comes with either 1GB or 2GB of dedicated video memory. I opted for the 2GB over the 1GB merely because it was only about a $20 upgrade at the time of purchase. The card has pretty solid reviews on notebookcheck in terms of performance and can play modern games at decent quality. However (and this is a HUGE however), the thing crashes. It crashes a whole ton. Like a ridiculously ludicrous amount. And by crash, I do mean that the entire computer freezes along with a looping stuttering audio sound (which is incredibly loud and annoying) and must be powered down via the button. There are several theories as to why the video card crashes (be it overheating, which obviously can occur in laptops, or more commonly, with this video card, that there is an issue with the clock speed). While it is possible to lower the amount of crashes by a great deal by switching to the integrated graphics card, I eventually found that this card would freeze during certain games, such as Starcraft 2. You can also go the "underclock the core speed of your 540M main card" which will also lower the frequency of crashes, but they still do inevitably occur under medium to heavy load. This could be an issue with the motherboard, 540M speed, etc. and that would be fine if Dell acknowledged the issue and voluntarily replaced or provided solutions to fix the crashing errors. But they haven't. In fact, they have gone a highly petty route by forcing users to extend warranties and continually replace the motherboard and video card. Oh, I said petty because on their forums, they also mute people and delete comments on their; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router; Brand: Asus; Review: Bought and installed this router for my parents to give them an update from their crummy old D-Link WBR-2310. Took less than five minutes to set it up (i'm fairly comfortable with technology so it would probably take a bit longer with the average person, but it's still extremely easy to set up). Tested the speed in the room with the router and then about 50 feet (this is a guesstimate) away both up one level and down one level and the speed only dropped about ~20%, which I'm fairly happy with. Speed is great so I have no issues with it, and I give it extra props for the LED status lights on the unit for being blue... since it's my favorite color (note: I obviously didn't factor that into the rating).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vilros Arduino Uno 3 Ultimate Starter Kit Includes 12 Circuit Learning Guide; Brand: Vilros; Review: Wanted something that I could tie my electronics tinkering and my software development background together. Great fun and educational. Have no issues with the components, and even though I'm sure I could have bought it all separately for less, it was nice to not have to read around different sites to find out what I would "need" to get started with this stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VONOTO Dc 2.5mm Plug/jack USB Charger Lead Charging Cable Cord Power for Chinese Tablet Pcs and All 7" /8/; Brand: Loopilops; Review: Got the blue/pink/orange/green pack about a year ago. They look nice and have a good length, but they don't last. Had one of them die a few months after purchase, then another, and another. Down to only one left (which was one I haven't really used much, probably why it still works). I've seen in a few responses by the seller to reviews saying garbage like "cables can die from faulty charging methods" and whatnot. Well... I used these cables exactly the same as I've used every other USB cable I've ever owned. Hell, I have some from like 2010 that still work. Don't blame the user for the crappy construction/components of the product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: COM-PAD 6x Premium USB to Micro USB Sync- and Charging Cable Pack for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Bluetooth Speaker, Samsung; Brand: Loopilops; Review: Got the blue/pink/orange/green pack about a year ago. They look nice and have a good length, but they don't last. Had one of them die a few months after purchase, then another, and another. Down to only one left (which was one I haven't really used much, probably why it still works). I've seen in a few responses by the seller to reviews saying garbage like "cables can die from faulty charging methods" and whatnot. Well... I used these cables exactly the same as I've used every other USB cable I've ever owned. Hell, I have some from like 2010 that still work. Don't blame the user for the crappy construction/components of the product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: UCEC Flat USB 3.0 Cable - Micro B To A Male - 1 Foot (0.3m Meter); Brand: Loopilops; Review: Got the blue/pink/orange/green pack about a year ago. They look nice and have a good length, but they don't last. Had one of them die a few months after purchase, then another, and another. Down to only one left (which was one I haven't really used much, probably why it still works). I've seen in a few responses by the seller to reviews saying garbage like "cables can die from faulty charging methods" and whatnot. Well... I used these cables exactly the same as I've used every other USB cable I've ever owned. Hell, I have some from like 2010 that still work. Don't blame the user for the crappy construction/components of the product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: OKRAY 3ft High Speed Micro USB 2.0 Sync and Charge Data Cable Charging Cord Charger for Android, Samsung Galaxy,; Brand: Loopilops; Review: Got the blue/pink/orange/green pack about a year ago. They look nice and have a good length, but they don't last. Had one of them die a few months after purchase, then another, and another. Down to only one left (which was one I haven't really used much, probably why it still works). I've seen in a few responses by the seller to reviews saying garbage like "cables can die from faulty charging methods" and whatnot. Well... I used these cables exactly the same as I've used every other USB cable I've ever owned. Hell, I have some from like 2010 that still work. Don't blame the user for the crappy construction/components of the product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Generic Compressed Air Duster 10oz 3-packs (With a Bonus Cellular Phone Stand of 3.99 Value); Brand: Generic; Review: IT'S LIKE I'M WALKING ON SUNSHINE; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Premier Inn Chester City Centre Hotel; City: Chester Cheshire England; Review: Well located in city centre near the station, restaurants, cafes and shops - all within a few minutes walk. Excellent, friendly and efficient service, Good comfortable rooms spotlessly clean. Parking is an issue as it cannot be pre-booked and few spaces available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Tocarema; City: Girardot Cundinamarca Department; Review: We stopped here to relax for a couple of days on our way driving from Bogota to Pereira - it was just the right place. Staff were efficient, professional and friendly - just wonderful. We had an excellent corner suite which was large, nicely furnished and had a good sized balcony. Good bathroom. Everywhere was beautifully clean. The pool is large, and lovely to sit by and have a swim. The restaurant was excellent for breakfast and other meals were good -portions quite large!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eco Habs; City: Tayrona National Park Santa Marta District Magdalena Department; Review: The eco-habs are lovely with stunning views of the beaches and jungle. Just sitting on the veranda / sitting area was a treat. Worth getting a guide for some walking. Service was excellent, breakfasts were good but otherwise food was very variable in quality and not up to the standard expected . Staff were all lovely, very helpful and efficient. Definitely worth a visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de la Opera; City: Bogota; Review: Beautifully located in the centre in the old city which means you can walk to museums, squares, and generally wander around the old city. The colonial building is just beautiful and restored to an excellent standard - rooms are lovely, bathrooms excellent. There is also heating in the rooms for chilly nights! Staff are delightful - very professional, helpful and friendly. Breakfasts are excellent - but dinner was somewhat disappointingly variable in quality given the reputation of the restaurant.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Boutique la Espanola; City: Villa de Leyva Boyaca Department; Review: A lovely boutique hotel in the centre of Villa de Leyva - so easy to walk everywhere. A lovely old colonial building, beautifully restored and furnished - very stylish. Rooms are very comfortable, stylish, ultra clean and bathrooms excellent. Breakfast is simple and of good quality. Staff are just delightful - friendly and helpful. Hope we get the opportunity to stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hacienda Anacaona; City: San Agustin Huila Department; Review: The hacienda is in a stunning location but not all rooms have a veranda with a view - our room was in what may be their overflow block without a view. Room had 3/4 beds (had a mezzanine floor with beds) we only needed one. No hot water for first night / morning - they did fix it but didn't provide a missing shower head - so just had a pipe. The room and bathroom were not particularly clean. Breakfast was fine but evening meal is a hit and miss affair depending on what they have in the fridge - and whether or not you can negotiate what you'd like / what is possible. Management appear not to care about much - other staff lovely. Luckily only there for 3 nights.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Villea Village; City: Analipsi Lasithi Prefecture Crete; Review: A lovely laid back resort tucked in front of the hills and a short distance to walk in to the centre and all its restaurants. Very peaceful location and resort. Beautifully maintained resort with a large swimming pool. Staff are just superb. Lunch time snacks are excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Plazuela Hotel; City: Popayan Cauca Department; Review: Lovely hotel in the centre of Popayan within walking distance of the main attractions. The hotel is in a colonial building with rooms around a courtyard. Good sized comfortable and modern bedrooms with superb modern bathrooms. Reasonable breakfasts and restaurant food was good. Staff very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Casa de Francois; City: San Agustin Huila Department; Review: My husband and I had lunch at La Casa de Francois a couple of years ago and decided we must stay there on our next visit to San Agustin this February along with a friend. François met us in Neiva and acted as a fantastic guide for four days in and around San Agustin as well as putting us up in two of his stunning ecofriendly cabanas . Brilliant carpentry using naturally bent tree branches for furniture, door handles etc. - rustic charm at its best. Super bathroom and great shower and lovely terrace to relax on. Breakfast was excellent and wonderful food in the restaurant in the evening. Filet of beef is to die for. Staff are just lovely. Our stay couldn't have been better - just wonderful and having François as a guide was the icing on the cake! Guests are mostly backpackers and there is a variety of accommodation to choose from to suit all budgets and a kitchen for guests to cook in too. The cabana we had would be ideal for a family too. A stunning place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de la Opera; City: Bogota; Review: My husband and I stayed in this hotel two years ago and were really pleased to return this year with a friend. Centrally located in the old city, it is beautifully located so all main attractions in the old city are walkable. It is a beautiful building with covered courtyards - one being used for breakfasts and lunches. The rooms are a delight with great bathrooms. Lovely areas for sitting and reading and just relaxing. Buffet breakfasts are excellent and lunches and dinners are very good. Staff are superb with many speaking good English.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Boutique la Espanola; City: Villa de Leyva Boyaca Department; Review: My husband and I stayed here two years ago and decided it was more than worth staying here again this year when we were revisiting Villa de Leyva with a friend. We were not disappointed. It is centrally located but sufficiently down a side road to be peaceful It is a lovely small hotel, with a beautiful small courtyard garden. The bedrooms are tastefully furnished with modern bathrooms. Breakfasts are very good. The staff are very friendly, helpful and efficient.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hacienda Castilla Casa de Huespedes; City: Pereira Risaralda Department; Review: Stayed here two years ago and enjoyed it so much that we returned with a friend this February. The hotel has been extended since then and we had rooms across the grounds from the main building - still styed appropriately with antique furniture, with a veranda and good bathrooms. Lovely peaceful location outside Pereira - need transport to get there. Beautiful grounds with an abundance of birds including hummingbirds. Lovely swimming pool and spa facilities are available. A restaurant has been added since our last stay - which is superb. Non-staying guests come for lunches and dinners. Not sure that loud music is appropriate - spoils the tranquility of the location and drowns out the birds! Staff are wonderful - very welcoming, friendly and efficient.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hosteria Senderos; City: El Chalten Province of Santa Cruz Patagonia; Review: Very attractive hotel built in Patagonian style with lots of wood. Staff are really friendly and helpful and very efficient. Fitzroy peak could be seen from our bedroom window - glorious. Excellent breakfast and dinner - unfortunately the restaurant wasn't open for our second night. Highly recommend this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate; City: El Calafate Province of Santa Cruz Patagonia; Review: Hotel is a 10 minute uphill walk above the main street so has lovely views of Lago Argentina. Elegantly furnished and bedrooms are large and well appointed. Restaurant is excellent, although not cheap. Staff mostly helpful, although it was sometimes difficult find bar staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winery Boutique Hotel; City: Algarrobo Valparaiso Region; Review: This lovely stylish hotel is located at the quiet end of Algarrobo, just above the promenade and with lovely views from rooms facing the sea. Staff are just wonderful - so helpful and friendly. Breakfasts and restaurant food are excellent - high quality. Rooms are small but elegantly furnished. We had a lovely sea facing terrace. Small swimming pool and lovely planting in the garden / terrace areas.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Concepcion; City: Concepcion Greater Concepcion Biobio Region; Review: Well run hotel with excellent, friendly and helpful staff. Good location near to the airport - hotel will arrange taxis. Breakfast is very good. No restaurant, but there are meals and snacks to buy in the bar. Bedrooms are spacious and well appointed - good bathrooms. .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weskar Patagonian Lodge; City: Puerto Natales Magallanes Region; Review: Hotel is tastefully built and furnished in local woods, stone and fabrics. It's an easy 20 minute walk into town along the shore. Most rooms, if not all, overlook the Last Hope Sound. Good central heating and small but tasteful bathrooms. Staff are lovely and the food in the restaurant is great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Santiago Airport; City: Santiago Santiago Metropolitan Region; Review: The hotel is located directly in front of arrivals (and departures) so just cross the road. Bedrooms are spacious and well appointed. Good bathrooms. Restaurant is very good although somewhat on the expensive side. Bar meals very good value and tasty. Staff friendly, helpful and efficient.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patriot Games (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Scent of a Woman (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terms of Endearment (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Money Train (1995); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tango & Cash (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City by the Sea (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Basic (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Analyze That (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holes (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Away (1979); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I Capture the Castle (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rare Birds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Open Range (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Comfort Farm (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prelude to a Kiss (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Somewhere in Time (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dances With Wolves: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fighting Temptations (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unforgiven (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to Mooseport (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Truly (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Persuasion (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (1964); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mansfield Park (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Benny and Joon (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Picture (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Importance of Being Earnest (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera: Special Edition (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Regarding Henry (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lady Jane (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Practical Magic (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's Official MPG Numbers Are Impressive; Abstract: In one configuration, the new 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 is as efficient as a 2.0T manual Honda Accord.; Category: autos
Title: How Can This Be? The Mid-Engine Corvette's Forward Visibility is Actually Worse Than the Front-Engine C7's; Abstract: And our test data proves that it's not just a perception.; Category: autos
Title: This enormous 262-foot 'hybrid' superyacht will have an onboard spa and whiskey lounge; Abstract: The huge concept boat includes the best of both yacht worlds and includes amenities such as an onboard gym and spa.; Category: travel
Title: The 100 Best Snacks You're Not Making; Abstract: This extensive collection of snacks ranges from savory to sweet to everything in between.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Finally, An Electric Crate Motor You Can Drop Into Your Old Car; Abstract: ; Category: autos
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Are Democrats Willing to Pay More in Taxes for Medicare for All?; Abstract: Senator Elizabeth Warren has surged to the front of the Democratic pack by promising "big, structural change" including a "Medicare for all" program that would bring health insurance to all Americans and eliminate private coverage. But at Tuesday's presidential debate, she again refused to say...; Category: news
Title: White House to cancel Times, Post subscriptions after Trump's 'Hannity' comments; Abstract: The White House said Tuesday that it will not be renewing subscriptions to the New York Times and The Washington Post.; Category: news
Title: Emily Ratajkowski Is Being Sued for $150,000 Over an Instagram Photo; Abstract: What's more? The photographer is also asking for all of the profits the model made off of his work.; Category: movies
Title: Homeowner says a mystery object damaged his house. It didn't fall from a plane, FAA says; Abstract: Authorities including the Federal Aviation Administration have not been able to identify a canister-type object that damaged a Kentucky man's home.; Category: news
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: The 1000-Horsepower Club; Abstract: These road-going rockets are a feast for the senses.… The post The 1000-Horsepower Club appeared first on autoNXT.net.; Category: autos
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: Porsche-Designed Superyacht Is a 135-Foot-Long Spaceship on Water; Abstract: Royal Falcon One looks like old money: stuffed with luxury, yet understated. My Other Porsche Is a Superyacht bumper sticker not included.; Category: autos
Title: Formula One's High-Profile Tires Will Soon Be Dead; Abstract: As Formula One's new regulation changes go into effect for 2021 and mandate wider, lower-profile tires, I can't help but feel my heart break just a little for the series' current thirteen-inchers. Let's pour one out for the little wheels. We'll never forget you.; Category: autos
Title: Every New Car With 500 HP for Under $100,000; Abstract: A new 500-hp car is more attainable than you might have thought.; Category: autos
Title: Next week's Arctic blast will be so cold, forecasters expect it to break 170 records across US; Abstract: Get ready for a taste of January. The incoming Arctic blast will bring cold temperatures to the Midwest, Plains, East Coast and Deep South.; Category: weather
Title: Porsche launches into second story of New Jersey building, killing 2; Abstract: The Porsche went airborne off a median in Toms River, causing it to crash into a red brick building.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kavos Plaza; City: Kavos Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: Hotel is lovley. Rooms are really nice and cleaned every other day. Situated at the end of main strip so it's easy to sleep at night but only 10 min walk if u wanna party. Staff are brilliant and make you feel very welcome...can't wait to go back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay; City: Negril Westmoreland Parish Jamaica; Review: Me and my girlfriend stayed here in May. Age 27 & 24. We had a fantastic time. The staff here are brilliant they cannot do enough for you! The friendliest people. Great food especially jerk hut. Stunning beach. Best place we've stayed in Caribbean. Can't wait to go back!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chessington Azteca Hotel; City: Chessington Surrey England; Review: Brilliant hotel. Stayed with wife and 3 kids. Children loved it. Lots of entrainment for the children. The theme park is right on the hotel doorstep which is brilliant. The hotel its self is amazingly themed will definitely be coming back to stay again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Central Hotel; City: Bournemouth Dorset England; Review: Very good hotel situated directly opposite the BIC so it's an ideal location and surprisingly not noisy when in room given how close to the BIC you are. Staff were very friendly and helpful and there was no problems at all when we asked to check out a little later as it would of meant that we would of been waiting around at the train station before our train arrived. Would definitely recommend and will use again when we next have a trip to Bournemouth; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Poseidon Beach Hotel; City: Laganas Zakynthos Ionian Islands; Review: We had a fantastic time here at Poseidon Beach Hotel. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We didn't like our room on arrival as our balcony was directly opposite the lift area and had no privacy, the hotel staff had no problems changing our room for us later on that day. Ideal location as it's not right on the strip so not too noisy when/if you wanted a quiet night. That being said this is DEFINITELY NOT an 18-30's Hotel so if your coming here to party with groups of boys/girls I would probably look elsewhere. Food was great lots of different varieties; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Beaumonde The Fern An Ecotel Hotel; City: Ernakulam Kochi Cochin Ernakulam District Kerala; Review: The hospitality and the food was amazing when I visited The Fern on August 15th and I felt completely comfortable.The ambience was superb.It made one feel at home.It's definitely worth trying out once.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lakeview; City: Ooty Udhagamandalam The Nilgiris District Tamil Nadu; Review: It was a comfortable stay with good breakfast and dinner. The room had a nice view. And the staff was warm and friendly.We stayed for two days and on the last day,we got freshly plucked carrots to take home with us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bawa Regency; City: Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: Although we had been a little apprehensive at the first feel of the room, we soon got to know the real hospitality and comfort of the hotel staff. It was also a great point to get a taxi and make plans to tour the city. We were extremely happy with the experience; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Parakkat Nature Hotels Resorts; City: Pallivasal Munnar Idukki District Kerala; Review: The first experience of ours was thoroughly enjoyable and memorable. Service and food was equally good. The staff was friendly. Got great discounts and amenities. Although we stayed only for a day, we got the experience of a whole year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Cabana Beach Spa; City: Ashvem Beach North Goa District Goa; Review: The stay is full of excitement and fun. The room was quite a surprise. Restaurant had decent breakfast. Roaming and walking around the beach and playing in the sea was therapeutic. Vedic Tatva Spa was a terrific experience. It was my first experience in spa. I am very happy and satisfied. Look forward to another day and night of fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kakato Pet Cave Pet Sleeping Bag for Cat /Small Dogs Rabbits Pet Bedding for; Brand: Kakato; Review: What a great little snuggly for my Chihuahua! She absolutely luvs it! Well worth the small price. Thick and plush and my girl's new favorite place!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tiki Dog Gourmet Whole Food 12-Pack Lomi Lomi Luau Wild Salmon And Succulent Chicken On Brown Rice With Sweet; Brand: Tiki Dog; Review: Best dog food out there, hands down!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Furhaven Pet Cat Bed | Cat Cave Pet Bed, 18-inch Base; Brand: Furhaven Pet; Review: As cute as it looks!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tiki Dog Gourmet Whole Food 12-Pack Kauai Luau Succulent Chicken On Brown Rice With Sweet Potato, Tiger Prawns, Egg,; Brand: Tiki Dog; Review: My Chihuahua LOVES this food, all of them! Although I find there should be more choices (like the cat food has), I'm still very impressed with the quality. You can plainly see the cuts of meat (all shredded), veggies, fish and loads of bouillon in it too. Perfect portions! Worth the price too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weruva Grain Free Canned Dog Food Variety Pack - 12 Flavors (Grandma's Chicken Soup, Wok the Dog, Peking; Brand: Weruva; Review: By far, the best dog food around. Expensive, but well worth it for my Chichi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weruva Dogs in the Kitchen Grain Free Wet Dog Food Variety Pack - 6 Flavors - 2.8 Ounces Each; Brand: Weruva; Review: A bit mushy, but my dog loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premium Pork Chomps Rollz Chicken 8", 2Ct; Brand: Premium Pork Chomps; Review: These are not as described. Plastic looking, both dogs don't care for it; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: City Secrets: Rome; Author: Robert Kahn; Review: I was so excited to discover this book that I couldn't wait to get home to read it. But I found the book uneven at best -- and it's now gathering dust on my bookshelf. The problem is that the so-called "secrets" the book uncovers are dominated by sites and histories that anyone who has been to Rome more than once or twice would have already heard about or stumbled upon. In many cases, they are so obvious -- Ever heard of the Imperial Forum? Does St. Peter's ring a bell? -- that it was hardly worth wading through it to find the few really worthwhile suggestions. That said, none of the recommendations are unworthy of attention. It's only that the title "city secrets" seems to imply something for the more advanced visitor or resident. Instead, a large minority of the secrets are available from any general guidebook. The recommendations reflect that eclectic group of contributors who collaborated to produce the volume. But it would have benefited enormously from a finer filter that could weed out the most obvious places. Of course, that would have left enough for a good airline magazine story and not a book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bel Canto: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Ann Patchett Page; Review: As a book seriously trying to sell itself as a piece of literature rather than a potboiler you can munch through on holiday while most of your mental energy is being taken up listening to the sound of waves, this is a first-grade attempt. Why, why, why base a book on a piece of history which, in itself was fascinating and gripping, and then strip it of factual integrity and relevance and make a romantic slush of it all? From the very beginning the nasty term "the host country" tried to put us off the scent that Patchett was basing her story in Peru 1996-97. Fine if she was going to create her own set where these relationships blossom against all odds. But then she seemed determined to conjure tropical appeal into the text (I won't call it prose) with stereotypical descriptions of Peruvian jungle life, and the garua fogs that are inextricably linked to Lima and no other city. The obvious reason for the desire to distance herself from the nail-biting siege at the Japanese embassy is to clear the way to delve into siege mentality. But linking the surroundings so obviously to Peru distracts from that. Sprinkle in the factually wrong details that jolt you out of what little suspension of disbelief you'd managed to achieve and the whole structure of this book is self-defeating. Which brings us to the characters. The fact that Gen is supposed to be able to speak quite so many languages is remarkable but once the tally nudges over five distinct language groups, it frankly erodes the verisimilitude one can only presume patchett was aiming for. He is the lynchpin of this book without which there would be no communication but he was stretched too far. That said, he comes across as a sympathetic character in the widest sense of the word and has a certain emotional appeal until the last few pages. If this sharp mind is so blunted because of the siege's end then that is potentially fascinating psychology and needs to be examined. Not to do so just jars. There were some nice touches in this book and the middle section ran with some ease but those positives were outweighed by irritations and silly stereotypes. This was a book idea that had potential but having read to the end on a long train journey, I was left wondering if patchett had ever been to Peru. Had she read a wide range of accounts of the embassy siege? Had she talked to any survivors of a hostage crisis? Had she spoken to any psychologists? Or was this just a romantic dream she found a home for? (Post Scriptum -- fellow critics of this book, Bel Canto does NOT fit into magical realism. Magical realism is a serious literary genre where your suspension of disbelief is wooed into a higher realm of irreality where people can float into the sky at a moment's notice without it seeming strange, where libraries can stretch to eternity, where modern lives can be subsumed into myth. Bel Canto; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Feast of the Goat: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mario Vargas Llosa Page; Review: This is a highly personal book for me: I am half Dominican and a relative of one of the minor characters portrayed in the book, and I grew up hearing first-hand stories about the Trujillo regime. Additionally, I have been an avid reader of Vargas Llosa's books for several years starting during a span of several years when I lived in Peru, the author's home country. Because of that, I put off reading the book for several months, fearing that it might not live up to the possibly unreasonable expectations I had built up. But those fears melted away within a few pages of starting the book, with the compelling story of Urania, the protagonist in one of the three major story lines that fill the pages of the novel. In retrospect, the story of Urania seems to be the weakest of the three lines (it is also the only one that is mostly fiction, though it can be seen as a amalgam of several real events with some artistic license thrown in), but that is more a statement about the strength of the story about the dictator's eventual murderers and (most notably) the one about Trujillo than it is a weakness about Urania's tale. The story is gritty and intense, riveting and important -- an examination into a 31-year dictatorship that much of the world is unaware of, as well as a fascinating probe into the minds of people who lived under extraordinary circumstances. Without a doubt, The Feast of the Goat will solidify Vargas Llosa's place among Latin America's literary giants like Garcia Marquez, Neruda, Borges, Paz and Allende.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin); Author: Visit Amazon's Kurt Vonnegut Page; Review: Cat's Cradle may be Kurt Vonnegut's best book, and John -- the main character who is not mentioned by name beyond the first page of the book -- may be a bit like Vonnegut himself, a man swept up by events, an involuntary protagonist. Vonnegut's characters, as always, are eclectic, unusual and extremely funny. The general subject matter is at once irreverent and relevant to the world we are in today, and the insight into human nature is timeless. Without giving away the story, the end of the book is biblical, one way or another. I see it as apocalyptic, which is an easy interpretation, but a friend sees similarities with the Great Flood, a cleansing event. Now I wonder if the first and last books of the Bible have more in common than I first thought. Thanks, Kurt, John, Ice-9. For those who don't know much about Vonnegut himself, the man never meant to become one of the leading writers of his generation. He was a short story writer in the 1940s and 1950s, when that was still a viable profession, and he turned to novels reluctantly. According to his biographies and interviews he's given, he saw himself as a simple story teller, a catalyst for readers to live in a different reality for a few pages, to chuckle a little on the bus home. But his longevity, the importance of the then-contemporary issues he has written about and the impact he had on generations of young people (who later became middle aged and then old people while remaining influenced by the writer from Indianapolis) have solidified Vonnegut's place in the American literary canon, and Cat's Cradle is the best example of his work. Enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Box of Matches: A Novel (Baker, Nicholson); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholson Baker Page; Review: Every time I read a Nicholson Baker book I find myself wondering things he might wonder: Why was this particular typeface selected? What kind of writing reads best with sans serif type? Why do editors tell you the name of the font at the end of some books? What is the rationale of putting the page numbers on the top versus the bottom of the page? Is there a maximum weight for a book? Or, in this case, a minimum? Why so many blank pages at the end? But halfway through A Box of Matches I began to wonder about larger questions, almost none of them good: Is this literature? Is it even fiction? Can a story exist without conflict? Without antagonists? With no plot? Only one multi-dimensional character? I have always applauded Baker for pushing the boundaries a little more each time out, but he went too far in A Box of Matches. As a writer, he has a world-class gift for describing minor events perfectly and crisply. But isn't there a limit to how minor minor can get? Couldn't he have found something more worthwhile to use his talents on? I kept waiting for some kind of O Henry ending or the sudden realization that Emmit, the self-absorbed main character, had somehow evolved. Anticipating what might happen made the book pass faster, but those sorts of developments aren't Baker's style. In retrospect, the book seems like the literary equivalent to recording an Opera star singing scales before a show. No, no, no. Go back and read The Fermata, The Mezzanine, U &I, even Double Fold (his wonderful non-fiction debut) and save yourself from this Book of Matches. If Baker wants to publish his writing exercises, nothing says we have to read them.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward De Bono Page; Review: I have read several of Edward de Bono's books in recent years and I enjoy his theories. Which is why I recently dished out a lot of monet for the Why So Stupid book that is supposedly his magnum opus and is available only by direct mail. And after reading it, I will report that most of what is there for a very high price is also in this book and in de Bono's Thinking Course, which can be had for around 4% of that cost -- if that isn't worth a 5-star rating, what is? The more expensive book does illustrate a more evolved form of de Bono's theories, and they are applied in more situations (including many that are relevant to the world today). But my advice is to by this book or the Thinking Course -- both are excellent primers on de Bono's excellent ideas.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Italian Without Words; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Cangelosi Page; Review: This is a light-hearted subject, but an important one, too. I first became interested in Italian hand gestures after I read that a key soccer game was once lost because the coach explained (complete with hand gestures) what he wanted an incoming player to do. Once the player was in the game, the opposing coach (who saw but did not hear the plan) was able to stop it. What's not to love? This is the best of several books on the subject, and it can be treated as pure entertainment or something to study before a trip to the 'bel paese' -- it works well in both contexts. The gestures are clearly explained, and the subject matter skillfully stays clear of the ridicule or overly comic elements that plague some similar efforts. My take: there's hardly a more interesting way to prepare for a trip to Italy than to open a bottle of dolcetto and practice these gestures with your travel partner. A side note: Italians get a big friendly laugh from forigners who accurately use their hand gestures!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Monkey House Unabridged CD; Author: Jr. Vonnegut Kurt; Review: If you don't already know Kurt Vonnegut's work, this may be the best introduction to it -- especially considering that short stories are the art form that Vonnegut started out with, where he developed his craft. And if you already know Vonnegut but don't know this book, then think of this as the author in delicious bit-sized chunks. But read the book! I would not say that Welcome to the Monkey House is Vonnegut's best book -- in fact, it may not even be in the top five by my calculations -- but it is the one book of his I would keep if I had to give all the other away, simply because of the diversity of the stories he tells and the simple writing skill they illustrate. And I might argue that the best single STORY Vonnegut ever wrote is "Harrison Bergeron" the riveting and still-relevant tale about human nature that effects me as much today as it did when I first read it 20 years ago. Vonnegut without a doubt proves with this story that all writers are not created equal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-45; Author: Visit Amazon's Wladyslaw Szpilman Page; Review: I rarely read a book after I have seen the movie it was based on because it seems almost akin to reading the final pages of the book first. Why start reading a book when you already know how it ends? When the movie already gives you a mental picture of what the characters are like? When it would be impossible to read the description of a scene, a conversation, an expression, or a mood without thinking first of the director's and screenwriter's interpretation of those things? I stand by that view, but I also suggest throwing it out the window when it comes to The Pianist. I was so moved by the film that when I saw this book in a store, I could not help but pick it up. Once in my hands, I could not help but read the first few lines. Once I read them, I could not help but buy the book. And once I bought it, the next day and a half of my life was dominated by the chilling, horrible, graphic and compelling story. I won't go into an overview of the plot, since my fellow reviewers have covered that territory very accurately. But I will say that this is a rare case where the value of a book is not compromised by the movie -- the story is so well told and the details (most of which the movie screenwriter was forced to leave out) are so evocative and potent that they flow over and around any preconceived notions. The film is well done, and by all means it should be seen. But don't let seeing the movie deprive you of the pleasure of this powerful book, which illustrates once again what we have known all along -- that great literature succeeds where other art forms fall short.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Kagan Page; Review: As an American citizen who writes about European affairs and is based in Europe, I have always felt able to understand the cultures that dominate either side of the Atlantic better than most, which is one reason why I was so eager to read Of Paradise and Power. It's a thin volume and presented in a straightforward way that is easy to read (i.e., it's not just for policy wonks and Ph. D. candidates) and which packs a powerful punch. For anyone looking to understand the increasingly obvious differences between the two parts of the world, this book is obligatory. Kagan's basic premise is that the two power bases have long been more different than either was willing to admit (mostly in terms of the relative reliance on force vs. diplomacy), and that the differences were masked by the Cold War rather than a product of the conclusion of it, and that is a point he backs up well. In fact, if one remembers that these words were based on a Policy Review essay written in the middle of last year -- before the current crisis between the U.S. and Germany/France -- the author's insight seems even greater. My criticisms of the book come from part of the conclusion Kagan makes. He says, for example, that the difficulties between the U.S. and Europe would have shown themselves no matter who was in charge and no matter what else happened in the world, yet I cannot believe that is true. Would a more cosmopolitan and diplomatic team in the White House have so easily galvanized European anti-Americanism? If Sept. 11 not happened, would the situation have boiled over so quickly? Would Schroeder have been so vocally anti-American if he had not faced re-election as the Iraq problems started to develop? Would Chirac have taken such a strong stance if he did not feel France's power slipping in other areas? At times, the conclusion Kagan draws seems to show some of the eagerness for simple explanations to complex problems that he criticizes elsewhere. Also, I find the cover price for such a slim volume more than a bit high, and the opportune release of the book at a moment when the Atlantic divide dominates the world's editorial pages is a testament to Alfred A. Knopf's business acumen. But none of that is a reason to skip this important book. The tome is full of meaty ideas to chew on, and in speaking with friends involved in politics on both sides of the Atlantic, I can attest to the powerful impact that Kagan's ideas are having. It is a must read for anyone looking to understand the events shaping the western world ... or even those simply looking to participate in cocktail party conversation with those who are.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Story of My Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Jay McInerney Page; Review: Jay McInerney made a name for himself with his 1987 blockbuster Bright Lights Big City. He should have called this book, the 1989 followup, Big Print Thick Paper. Instead, he called it Story of My Life, which is just as well, since the protagonist, Alison, must utter that phrase 500 times. That in itself is a major factor in helping the fluff stretch out over 180 or 190 pages or so, but it doesn't help the narrative avoid sounding as if most of it appeared in word balloons over the heads of the main characters, like in a 1950s-style Real Life comic book. It's easy to write this book off as a product of the tail end of the most decadent decade in the U.S. since the Jazz Age (though the 1920s did at least give us some extraordinary literature), and there may be something to that point of view. But I choose to see it as the swan song of a self-indulgent literary style whose time had come before it really began and a writer whose success would have been impossible at any other point in history. In that respect, Story of My Life has some value as a sort of literary time capsule, a curious reminder of a time we'd rather forget. But is it worth reading now? Ask yourself this: what did Jay McInerney write next? Where did his career rise to after this exercise? If you know the answer, you get my point.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Lance Armstrong Page; Review: This is not a profound book, and it is not great literature. It's not even an objective account of Lance Armstrong's life and career. But what it is is more important than all that: the book is an inspiration with few peers. I have read it more than once, and each time I read the last page I close the cover, put the volume aside and think: I can do anything I set my mind to doing. As the title says, the story is not (only) about the bike, as its lessons of hope and perseverance are relevant to anyone facing adversity. But it is probably best enjoyed by those familiar with cycling, since it also offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of someone who does what he does better than anyone else. If there is anyone who doesn't already know the general outline of Lance Armstrong's history, he overcame a deadly battle with cancer to win the Tour de France, considered by some the most grueling and difficult endurance test in the world. And it's a story that is still current: Lance won the tour twice more after the book was published and will be vying for a record-tying fifth title this summer. As I wrote at the beginning, don't buy this book if you want a philosophical tome about overcoming a life-threatening illness, or a spin-free look at the complex life of an athlete who is probably still under appreciated in his home country and at once admired and resented in Europe, where he spends most of his time. But if you want an easy-to-read real-life story to inspire you and illustrate what is possible -- and what could be more important than that? -- this is the book you want.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stupid White Men ...And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Moore Page; Review: Don't miss the point here. Sure, Michael Moore is guilty of certain factual misinterpretations combined with a healthy dose of hyperbole, but anyone who has seen his film Roger and Me or glanced at anything he's done since then knows that is the man's job. He is not trying to be objective, he is not trying to pass himself off as an intellectual, and he did not submit this book in article form to Foreign Affairs. He is simply trying make readers ask themselves some questions, forcing them to either cheer or shout. And if you glance down this page at the list at the emotion praise or criticisms he sparked, he has done just that. This book is more important than it is great. Moore's insight, his talent if you will, is framing complicated problems in a way that is understandable and which forces a response in readers and viewers. Good for him. As far as the complexity of his arguments go, this is the drinkable house wine, your favorite tee-shirt and jeans, a catchy song you've heard a hundred times. But even if it is simple, familiar and even predictable, it is also important. As Moore points out, issues in the world today are not divided cleanly between good and evil, and in that context a well-stated voice of dissention is often more patriotic than wild cheers and applause. So kudos to Moore for speaking out at a time when we have heard too much of the latter and not enough of the former. As any patriot will say, I may not agree with many of the points the man writes in this easy-to-read book, but I'll defend his right to write them. So liberals, conservatives, libertarians, hawks, doves, anarchists, monarchists, oligarchists, numerologists, astrologists, everyone ... read the book, give yourself a moment to think about it and then come back to this page and tell us what you think.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mario Vargas Llosa Page; Review: Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter is without a doubt Mario Vargas-Llosa's most entertaining book, intelligent without being difficult and hilarious without being patronizing. Some of the most subtle points are lost in translation -- "escribidor" in the original title, for example, has a sense of someone simply taking dictation or producing a text by rote compared to the word "scriptwriter" used in the English language version -- but that is the only significant weak point and is not enough to withhold a five-star rating for this wonderful book. The book's account is semi-autobiographical, with two story lines alternating chapters -- a style employed in several other Vargas Llosa novels -- until they begin to link together like cogs in the gears of the narrative. But it is the way they mesh together that is part of the magic in this book. Without giving away the story line here, let it suffice to say that at certain points you'll find yourself smiling and flipping back through the pages uttering "but didn't he..." or "I thought that..." The story itself offers a fascinating look at several aspects of life in Peru, one of the most complex and interesting countries in the world. But it does it effortlessly; using a love-torn teenage protagonist, a sexy older woman, an enraged father, an eccentric serial writer, and a compelling cast of misfit radio artists. Though certain parts (especially the story of Julia) are well documented, the exact extent to which some of the rest of the book is based on real life is still being debated. Every once in a while in Lima, for example, an obituary will mention that its subject was one of the people the unforgettable Pedro Camacho might have been based on, and many old Peruvians have theories about the exact bar or town where certain scenes were set. Like any writer, Vargas Llosa takes certain artistic license and some people have grumbled about inaccuracies in the text. But I shrug off those complaints: a novel is never meant to be an accurate historical document. Nonetheless, if you are intrigued enough by the story in Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter to read more and you understand Spanish, the most important and entertaining of the complaints is by Aunt Julia (Julia Urquidi) herself, called Lo Que Varguitas No Dijo (What Little Vargas Didn't Say). She also authored a more academic version of the story in English, My Life With Mario Vargas Llosa.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports And Why We're Afraid To Talk About It; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Entine Page; Review: I find no fault in this book's premise that there are differences between ethnic groups in terms of pure athletic performance and it is a mystery to me how some people find fault in this idea and why it is so politically charged. But I do find fault in the way Mr. Entine makes his point, and makes it, and makes it, and makes it. This books weighs in at a hefty 400 pages, and it would have benefited from a filter of some kind that would have cut out half of the text by eliminating many of the second, third and fourth examples that illustrate the same points and dull the impact of Mr. Entine's relevant and valuable research and conclusions. I am not a physiologist, but as a middle distance runner at the university level, a sports journalist for nearly a decade and a keen observer for longer than that, I have seen nothing to make me disagree with Mr. Entine's main points. I do agree with the arguments of those who say there are also cultural factors at play, but to deny the genetic part of the equation does not stand to reason. The opposing view would assume that all types of talent were somehow evenly distributed among the genetic groups. If that were the case, why are so many great runners from Kenya and Ethiopia but not from, say, Uganda or Zimbabwe (or Mongolia or Bolivia), where conditions are similar but the genetic makeup is different? In the U.S., why do inner city white kids succeed in basketball less often than inner city black kids? From another angle, why, for example, is it rare to see great black swimmers or gymnists, even in proportion to their participation? That said -- and Mr. Entine makes this point as well, albeit in passing and with some conditions -- none of that gives support to the simple-minded people who write off the accomplishments of successful athletes by pointing to their genetic head start. In global sports competitions that are usually decided by fractions of seconds and millimeters, nobody can succeed without dedication, hard work and discipline at a level that is unfathomable to most of the rest of us. The point here is that among those who gather the strength and will to work that hard, a few will stand out because of their genetic advantages, and they are the ones who usually go home with the gold medals. Of course, this does not mean that great champions cannot come from other genetic groups, only that this will happen less often. And these great champions should not be looked down upon for who they are, but celebrated -- they represent the best of what humankind can muster in a specific area, just the same as Mozart, or Einstein, or Shakespeare.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: For many readers fortunate enough to have read the Lord of the Rings books before the recent string of well-done movies, J.R.R. Tolkein's timeless masterworks are what defined fantasy, dreams, possibility. The books will always be one of the cornerstones of my literary foundation. I saw the first of the movies when it came out in 2001 and I can find only one criticism with it. The casting was good, the acting crisp, the cinematography inspired. But it was not as good as the book, and it could never be as good as the book. This, of course, speaks more to Mr. Tolkein's gifts than it does to any shortcomings of the motion picture, but it couldn't be more relevant. I'll step up on the soapbox for a moment and say that while good films like the Lord of the Rings succeed and showing viewers the limits of the directors' and screenwriters' substantial imaginations, they by definition fail at helping to stretch the limits of the viewer's. And that's what Mr. Tolkein's books did so well for me and generations of other readers. This is not a problem invented by the Lord of the Rings, and it probably would exist in substantially the same form if neither the books nor the movies had been produced. But the phenomenon -- which appears to be producing a generation that thinks in clichs and spurns originality -- seems especially acute in this case simply because the Lord of the Rings is such an important work. Mr. Tolkein's unforgettable Middle Earth can only exist in the mind: the complexities of the histories, traditions, panoramas and inhabitants go far beyond anything possible anywhere else. Yet instead of being abstract, it is full of the type of allegory that is relevant to our lives in a highly personal way. What all this means is that you should read these books. Or re-read them. Or re-re-read them. Or introduce them to someone else. And if you manage to do so before you or the reader has seen the films, then you will have succeeded in opening up a new world that could not exist without the books, and you will have done so before the Big Screen can dictate how it's all supposed to look, feel, sound and behave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: For many readers fortunate enough to have read the Lord of the Rings books before the recent string of well-done movies, J.R.R. Tolkein's timeless masterworks are what defined fantasy, dreams, possibility. The books will always be one of the cornerstones of my literary foundation. I saw the first of the movies when it came out in 2001 and I can find only one criticism with it. The casting was good, the acting crisp, the cinematography inspired. But it was not as good as the book, and it could never be as good as the book. This, of course, speaks more to Mr. Tolkein's gifts than it does to any shortcomings of the motion picture, but it couldn't be more relevant. I'll step up on the soapbox for a moment and say that while good films like the Lord of the Rings succeed and showing viewers the limits of the directors' and screenwriters' substantial imaginations, they by definition fail at helping to stretch the limits of the viewer's. And that's what Mr. Tolkein's books did so well for me and generations of other readers. This is not a problem invented by the Lord of the Rings, and it probably would exist in substantially the same form if neither the books nor the movies had been produced. But the phenomenon -- which appears to be producing a generation that thinks in clichs and spurns originality -- seems especially acute in this case simply because the Lord of the Rings is such an important work. Mr. Tolkein's unforgettable Middle Earth can only exist in the mind: the complexities of the histories, traditions, panoramas and inhabitants go far beyond anything possible anywhere else. Yet instead of being abstract, it is full of the type of allegory that is relevant to our lives in a highly personal way. What all this means is that you should read these books. Or re-read them. Or re-re-read them. Or introduce them to someone else. And if you manage to do so before you or the reader has seen the films, then you will have succeeded in opening up a new world that could not exist without the books, and you will have done so before the Big Screen can dictate how it's all supposed to look, feel, sound and behave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy - (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the Ring, The Two; Author: Visit Amazon's J.R.R Tolkien Page; Review: For many readers fortunate enough to have read the Lord of the Rings books before the recent string of well-done movies, J.R.R. Tolkein's timeless masterworks are what defined fantasy, dreams, possibility. The books will always be one of the cornerstones of my literary foundation. I saw the first of the movies when it came out in 2001 and I can find only one criticism with it. The casting was good, the acting crisp, the cinematography inspired. But it was not as good as the book, and it could never be as good as the book. This, of course, speaks more to Mr. Tolkein's gifts than it does to any shortcomings of the motion picture, but it couldn't be more relevant. I'll step up on the soapbox for a moment and say that while good films like the Lord of the Rings succeed and showing viewers the limits of the directors' and screenwriters' substantial imaginations, they by definition fail at helping to stretch the limits of the viewer's. And that's what Mr. Tolkein's books did so well for me and generations of other readers. This is not a problem invented by the Lord of the Rings, and it probably would exist in substantially the same form if neither the books nor the movies had been produced. But the phenomenon -- which appears to be producing a generation that thinks in clichs and spurns originality -- seems especially acute in this case simply because the Lord of the Rings is such an important work. Mr. Tolkein's unforgettable Middle Earth can only exist in the mind: the complexities of the histories, traditions, panoramas and inhabitants go far beyond anything possible anywhere else. Yet instead of being abstract, it is full of the type of allegory that is relevant to our lives in a highly personal way. What all this means is that you should read these books. Or re-read them. Or re-re-read them. Or introduce them to someone else. And if you manage to do so before you or the reader has seen the films, then you will have succeeded in opening up a new world that could not exist without the books, and you will have done so before the Big Screen can dictate how it's all supposed to look, feel, sound and behave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Boxed Set of 4 Books; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: For many readers fortunate enough to have read the Lord of the Rings books before the recent string of well-done movies, J.R.R. Tolkein's timeless masterworks are what defined fantasy, dreams, possibility. The books will always be one of the cornerstones of my literary foundation. I saw the first of the movies when it came out in 2001 and I can find only one criticism with it. The casting was good, the acting crisp, the cinematography inspired. But it was not as good as the book, and it could never be as good as the book. This, of course, speaks more to Mr. Tolkein's gifts than it does to any shortcomings of the motion picture, but it couldn't be more relevant. I'll step up on the soapbox for a moment and say that while good films like the Lord of the Rings succeed and showing viewers the limits of the directors' and screenwriters' substantial imaginations, they by definition fail at helping to stretch the limits of the viewer's. And that's what Mr. Tolkein's books did so well for me and generations of other readers. This is not a problem invented by the Lord of the Rings, and it probably would exist in substantially the same form if neither the books nor the movies had been produced. But the phenomenon -- which appears to be producing a generation that thinks in clichs and spurns originality -- seems especially acute in this case simply because the Lord of the Rings is such an important work. Mr. Tolkein's unforgettable Middle Earth can only exist in the mind: the complexities of the histories, traditions, panoramas and inhabitants go far beyond anything possible anywhere else. Yet instead of being abstract, it is full of the type of allegory that is relevant to our lives in a highly personal way. What all this means is that you should read these books. Or re-read them. Or re-re-read them. Or introduce them to someone else. And if you manage to do so before you or the reader has seen the films, then you will have succeeded in opening up a new world that could not exist without the books, and you will have done so before the Big Screen can dictate how it's all supposed to look, feel, sound and behave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings Part 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: For many readers fortunate enough to have read the Lord of the Rings books before the recent string of well-done movies, J.R.R. Tolkein's timeless masterworks are what defined fantasy, dreams, possibility. The books will always be one of the cornerstones of my literary foundation. I saw the first of the movies when it came out in 2001 and I can find only one criticism with it. The casting was good, the acting crisp, the cinematography inspired. But it was not as good as the book, and it could never be as good as the book. This, of course, speaks more to Mr. Tolkein's gifts than it does to any shortcomings of the motion picture, but it couldn't be more relevant. I'll step up on the soapbox for a moment and say that while good films like the Lord of the Rings succeed and showing viewers the limits of the directors' and screenwriters' substantial imaginations, they by definition fail at helping to stretch the limits of the viewer's. And that's what Mr. Tolkein's books did so well for me and generations of other readers. This is not a problem invented by the Lord of the Rings, and it probably would exist in substantially the same form if neither the books nor the movies had been produced. But the phenomenon -- which appears to be producing a generation that thinks in clichs and spurns originality -- seems especially acute in this case simply because the Lord of the Rings is such an important work. Mr. Tolkein's unforgettable Middle Earth can only exist in the mind: the complexities of the histories, traditions, panoramas and inhabitants go far beyond anything possible anywhere else. Yet instead of being abstract, it is full of the type of allegory that is relevant to our lives in a highly personal way. What all this means is that you should read these books. Or re-read them. Or re-re-read them. Or introduce them to someone else. And if you manage to do so before you or the reader has seen the films, then you will have succeeded in opening up a new world that could not exist without the books, and you will have done so before the Big Screen can dictate how it's all supposed to look, feel, sound and behave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bacchus and Me: Adventures in the Wine Cellar; Author: Visit Amazon's Jay McInerney Page; Review: Jay McInerney was one of the voices of the 1980s, the era known for its conspicuous consumption, self-absorption and decadence. With this book, he seems intent on singing the same song years after the curtain was drawn. Ostensibly, this is a book about wines -- one of my passions -- and for the first few dozen pages it appears to be just that. There are some interesting and unusual observations about wine on the pages of Bacchus & Me, and Mr. McInerney deserves credit (hence the three stars) for breaking many of the crusty and useless conventions that limit most wine literature. But the more one reads the book, the more one realizes that the chapters are less about wine than about Mr. McInerney himself. He reveals himself as a shameless name dropper, and someone most interested in repeating a half dozen humorous and entertaining observations in a variety of contexts while boasting about his fat expense account and privileged access to bottles of wine that most of us will never even see. The problem is not that these lines are uninteresting or irrelevant -- as an occasional aside they would add to the intriguing take on one of the world's most written-about subjects. But in the frequency in which they appear here they can leave a throbbing in the head like an old bottle of jug wine does, when what we really wanted was one of those fine bottles of Bordeaux Mr. McInerney seems to be in love with.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Elements of Style, Third Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's William Strunk Jr. Page; Review: If you are someone who writes -- not only if you write for a living, but if you are someone who writes in general -- this book should be on your shelf, and it's lessons should be on your mind as you put pen to paper. The book is not perfect: it can be dry at times, and a few of the "elements" it discusses will seem obvious to anyone who stayed awake during English class. But the book will illustrate the most basic and most important rules of grammar in a way that has given generations of writers the foundation and the tools they needed to develop their individual styles. It has become a classic of English grammar, something that must seem an unlikely niche. When you see those back cover shots of authors with massive bookshelves behind them, you'll be surprised how many will include this thin volume. Even the compact and no-nonsense title has become part of the modern world's literary lexicon: look on Amazon to see how many books are called "The Elements of Style of" Something, whether it's Java script or e-mail lingo or architecture or the Unified Modeling Language. I am still using the third edition to this book, which was first published nearly 25 years ago. I glanced through the new fourth edition a few days ago and noticed the glossary of obscure grammar terms added to the back. I thought about getting it, but the glossary wasn't enough to persuade me to retire my old dog-eared copy with its underlined passages and comments in the margins that date back to my high school days. If you have an older edition, it's likely you already know the value of these elements of style, and so it's your call whether it's worth upgrading to the new book with its glossary. But if you don't have this book, then that is a problem with only one solution.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World; Author: Visit Amazon's Niall Ferguson Page; Review: What the heck has happened to Niall Ferguson? Before reading Empire, I had him placed in my mind as an eccentric and enjoyable young historian and the author of sometimes inaccessible historical tomes that -- if you could make it through them -- often gave innovative takes to what had been tired subjects. I cannot say that I agree with everything in previous efforts from Mr. Ferguson: in The Pity of War, for example, one of his main points was that Germany was not militaristic before the first world war. And in The House of Rothschild (his best book), I believe Mr. Ferguson's take on the French family judges them to harshly by using today's standards on a 19th century history. But with Empire, the author appears to have completely lost his hold on reality. Mr. Ferguson spends most of the book's 352 glossy pages glossing over some of the atrocities of Britain's colonial period (he does not claim it was faultless, only that the spilled blood was necessary). He argues for the virtues of colonial rule in India, and spends far too little time and effort on the policies that set the stage for apartheid in South Africa. He says that the money and technology the empire spread balanced out the evils committed in colonial Africa and parts of Asia and the Caribbean. But this is all just setting the stage for his argument about the current American empire, and the lessons it can learn from Britain's former position as the world's lone superpower. The issue of America's role in the world using history as a guide is an important and interesting subject -- and I enjoyed reading Mr. Ferguson's argument that, as a former British colony, the U.S. is a kind of heir to Britain's empire. But his appalling conclusion is that the U.S. should tighten its grip of influence on the world and make its self into an empire in more ways than the simple economic, social and military dominance it has now. What? Isn't America's might and unilateral policies what sparked anti-Americanism across the globe? If the U.S. followed the British example, wouldn't the kind of uprisings and insurgencies that crippled it at its peak be many times worse now, when combined with modern technology? This book is not designed to be read on its own, but as a companion to a BBC television series. I have not seen the series, but I must imagine that certain topics were selected and highlighted because they made good television. I don't know how that explains Mr. Ferguson's dangerous conclusions, but I am gripping at straws here. I guess I don't want to believe that a writer I have admired in the past has really become so distasteful.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character (Counterpoint); Author: RALPH LEIGHTON' 'RICHARD P. FEYNMAN; Review: I just pulled Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman off my bookshelf for the first time in more than a year, and was immediately reminded of what an unusual, hilarious, compelling and intelligent book it is. I took it down for a friend to borrow, but before I would let it out of the house, I found time to re-re-read odd pages and passages, followed, of course, by a fair share of laughing out loud and shaking my head in wonder. The book isn't a biography as much as it is a simple collection of anecdotes. But when the anecdotes come from somebody with the story telling ability, the smarts and the optimism of Mr. Feynman, then that is plenty. To be fair, each time I re-read the book, it seems a little more dated -- not in the charming sense of old-fashioned values like wearing your best suit for a Sunday afternoon stroll and saving love letters in a box tied together by twine, but in the sense of context. We have to remember, for example, that the price Mr. Feynman paid for a bottle of champagne at one point would be a small fortune if it were stated in today's dollars, and that traveling from New York to Los Angeles was not something one could do on a moment's notice, as it is today. More seriously, Mr. Feynman's treatment of women -- as objects to be conquered and as the gender that "owes" men something in return for a couple of drinks or a dinner -- will today seem politically incorrect to people who dwell on those things. But there is too much great stuff between the book's covers to let those kinds of minor problems stand in the way. Of all the qualities Mr. Feynman shares about himself on the book's pages, the one that I like the most is his child-like curiosity: he seems to want to know everything how every thing works. Friends tell me I'm a bit like that myself and when I first made that connection I wondered if it was one of the reasons I was so enthralled by Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman -- and its follow-up, What Do You Care What Other People Think? -- starting from the moment I first picked it up and clear through many re-readings and many more years. But as I write it occurs to me that perhaps my personality developed that way in part because of my admiration for the characteristic in Mr. Feynman.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bush at War; Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Woodward Page; Review: Bush at War offers an often fascinating glimpse into what was happening in the White House ahead of the war in Afghanistan that followed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. But it necessarily suffers from the problems that any writer addressing current events and people still in power suffers from: the knowledge that what is written will have an impact on the way the writer is treated and the access he is given in the future. That is especially true of Bob Woodward. Dating back nearly 30 years to when he and partner Carl Bernstein famously made names for themselves by uncovering much of the Watergate scandal, Mr. Woodward's strength has always been his ability to track down information rather than a talent for putting events into perspective. With Bush at War, I could almost feel certain editorial decisions being made to protect that access to information above all else. In fact, some of that access seems to have been limited despite the care he took. In painting a picture of the president's decision-making, the book is notably light on first-hand information from Vice President Dick Cheney or Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, for example, and much heavier on the views of Secretary of State Colin Powell. That imbalance is not ideal, but it does present one of its unlikely strong points: while the views of the hawkish Cheney/Rumsfeld faction of the White House's advisory team are well known (because they were turned into action on the battlefield and on the diplomatic front) Mr. Woodward's efforts here give us an interesting perspective on what might have been had the more multilateralist and tactful Secretary Powell had his way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wine; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Johnson Page; Review: If you subscribe to the notion that information is the key to a deep understanding of a subject, then this is where anyone who has ever enjoyed a glass of wine should be. I've got a large collection on wine-related books and I find that the World Atlas of Wine is the one I turn to the most. I won't go so far as to say it renders the other's irrelevant -- the Wine Bible is also quite good, and several books on have that are more narrowly focused on specific countries or regions are essential to me -- but this is the one that explains the most about more subjects. It should not be surprising: Hugh Johnson has produced four editions of the book before this one, and the addition of the wonderful Jancis Robinson just solidifies the Atlas' place atop of the heap of wine literature. This great looking and easy-to-read book is pleasing in so many ways: its delightful photos and large format make it a great coffee table book; the detailed maps and region-by-region explanations make it a good travel companion; and the text's lively anecdotes and density of information virtually make the volume a thrilling page-turner. It is at once accessible enough for beginners and informative enough for experts. No, it is not perfect. As with any comprehensive wine book, some will complain that certain remote (and perhaps up-and-coming) wine producing regions have been left out or glossed over. And despite improvements from previous editions (thanks to Ms. Robinson, I believe), there is still some of the crusty and old-fashioned wine lingo that often intimidates the uninitiated. So with what amount to only minor caveats, I wholeheartedly recommend the World Atlas of Wine. Get it and you will never feel the same about the wine you drink again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Me Talk Pretty One Day; Author: Visit Amazon's David Sedaris Page; Review: Me Talk Pretty One Day was my initiation into the quirky and warped world of David Sedaris, and after the first few pages I knew I would like it there. This was a guy who tried to construct a vocabulary without using the letter "s" so that he could mask his lisp. As a child, he hilariously tells us, his midget guitar teacher had a voice like a recording played back too fast and he taught his students to love their guitars by suggesting they imagine them as a "stacked" woman. And that's just in the first two (short) chapters. But suddenly, the same sharp commentary that had me laughing out loud in public a few chapters earlier started to seem predictable, and the sarcastic wit I identified with early on had somehow eroded into a grating kind of pessimism. Fortunately, I put the book aside and read something else for a few days. When I picked it up again, it again seemed fresh and bitingly comical. And then I realized what I now think is essential to enjoying Mr. Sedaris' work: it needs to small bites in order to be digested correctly. So I end up with three stars -- an average between the two stars I would give it had I read the book straight through and the four I think it deserves when it comes in drips and drabs. I can't agree with my fellow reviewers who consider Mr. Sedaris a modern day Mark Twain or P.G. Wodehouse, but he is pretty damn funny. Just remember, like most things, the key is moderation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes from a Marriage; Author: Visit Amazon's Dorothy J. Gaiter Page; Review: When I got my copy of Love by the Glass, I think I was expecting a little less about love and a little more about what was in the glass. But just because I didn't anticipate this charming and inspiring love story doesn't mean I didn't thoroughly enjoy it. Though I have been a fan of Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher's Wall Street Journal wine column for the last couple of years, I only knew the bits and pieces about their personal lives that I had gathered from reading their Friday installments. But while the column is about wine and it includes small asides about the couple's lives, this book turns the formula around and we find out much more about the writers in a lovely story where wine is an important but junior partner. Each chapter is named after a bottle of wine that they enjoyed at that point in their lives, and a reader knowledgeable about wine will recognize that as their taste in wine became more sophisticated their bond to each other was becoming more profound. The book is a light read -- please don't expect a meaty, intellectual tome -- but that's a big part of its charm. Fans of Ms. Gaiter and Mr. Brecher's column with immediately feel at home with the book's unpretentious and elegant prose, and anyone who picks it up should find him or herself immediately immersed in a story as simple and well made as some of the surprising wines they discover early in the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wine Bible by Karen McNeil; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen MacNeil Page; Review: The spine on my worn copy of the Wine Bible is cracked and its pages are dog-eared, even though I think the book has several notable shortcomings. As I write this, I find myself in the unusual position of criticizing the thick volume even though I turn to it for information on a regular basis. My biggest complaint is that I feel the book doesn't really know what it wants to be. On the one hand, it is a comprehensive reference book that in many areas goes into more depth than other general wine books. But it falls short as a reference book because it lacks the scope of books like The World Atlas of Wine or The Global Encyclopedia of Wine, which cover more up-and-coming wine producing countries, more specific producers and, especially in the case of The World Atlas of Wine, are enhanced by beautiful photographs and maps. Though the Wine Bible is substantial (it weighs in at a hefty 910 pages) its design is more compact than the other books I mentioned, and so might make a better travel companion for someone visiting multiple wine producing regions in a single trip. But the lack of good maps makes a supplemental book necessary. Additionally, the book can feel like a disjointed collection of articles that ought to have been better integrated before publication. Often, the same information (referring to multiple or confusing names for grape varieties or regions, or quality standards in specific countries) is referred to parenthetically several times, often in quick succession -- something unnecessary, especially given the book's excellent glossary. But despite these criticisms, I find myself referring to the book repeatedly. Part of the reason for that is author Karen MacNeil's pleasing and unpretentious writing style, which somehow manages to please wine lovers of many different levels of knowledge. Ms. MacNeil's passion for wine comes through in the text and her knowledge of the subject is extremely impressive, with her descriptions often compensating for a lack of quality photos. And though I would like to see more wine producing areas covered by the book, the regions she does address are covered extremely comprehensively. The quality of information is also very even: before travels to these areas I have read the book's sections on South Africa, the Mosel, Loire, Ribera del Duero, Languedoc, as well as everything on my adopted home country, and could not detect any ebb in Ms. Mac Neil's enthusiasm or knowledge. After some thought, I settled on four stars for this review, despite the complaints I have. The book is just too useful and too skillfully written for fewer stars. The next addition, I feel sure, will earn five on my improvised scale. Once you have moved beyond the most basic level in wine knowledge, this is an important book to have. If you can buy only one book on the subject, this is not the one I would suggest -- The World Atlas of Wine gets my vote for that honor -- but if you were to limit your collection to two; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No End to War: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Walter Laqueur Page; Review: I have long been uncomfortable with the word "terrorist" -- it just seems too subjective and slippery. In a strict sense, of course, a terrorist is simply someone who uses terror to achieve his aims. But isn't that what armies do? Is someone on the ground during a bombing raid any less terrified than the people running around Manhattan on Sept. 11? Most likely, the real definition is that a terrorist is someone who uses terror to achieve his aims *and* who has an opposing personal or political philosophy. But doesn't that depend on who is doing the talking? In this book, Walter Laqueur takes a view on defining terrorism that the U.S. Supreme Court took a few years ago when trying to define pornography: a strict definition is impossible, he writes, but most of us recognize it when we see it. Unlike most people, I am not convinced by that view. In fact, I think it is use of this imperfect word that makes understanding some of the complex issues in the world extremely difficult: Hamas, the PLO, and Israel, for example, all label their bloody clashes as a battle against terrorism. Ditto for the two sides involved in "the troubles" in Northern Ireland, and for the bitter standoffs between oppressive governments and student movements in Iran and China. Haven't U.S. and Western European militaries in recent years been labeled terrorists by local populations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sudan, and Sierra Leone? If the word existed then, would 18th century revolutionaries in North America and France have been called terrorists as well? A less central criticism: Mr. Laqueur is clearly more of a scholar than a stylist. Though that is what you'd want for a study of this kind, his writing style can seem plodding, unnecessarily dense and very often difficult to interpret, especially when putting issues into a historical context. Be prepared to read some passages more than once to get their meaning. But while I cannot agree with Mr. Laqueur's popularly held view as to the definition of terrorism and I do not admire his writing skills, I cannot fault his in-depth and often counter-intuitive analysis as to the origins of what most of the western world sees as terrorism. While most commentators see most guerilla movements as a product of poverty and the absence of democracy, Mr. Laqueur points out that the 20th century's most repressive regimes -- Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany -- did not suffer from significant grassroot insurgencies. In South America, he informs us, the first post-colonial guerilla organization bloomed in democratic Uruguay rather than under Pinochet in Chile or Peron in Argentina. In more recent years, he notes that all of them men involved in the Sept. 11 attacks -- including Osama bin Laden himself -- all came from the relative freedom of comfortable middle class upbringings and most were quite wealthy. Mr. Laqueur's background as a historian is most evident in the way he dissects the differences between anarchists and radicals who flourished among European intellectuals in the 19th century, the freedom and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No End to War: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Walter Laqueur Page; Review: I have long been uncomfortable with the word "terrorist" -- it just seems too subjective and slippery. In a strict sense, of course, a terrorist is simply someone who uses terror to achieve his aims. But isn't that what armies do? Is someone on the ground during a bombing raid any less terrified than the people running around Manhattan on Sept. 11? Most likely, the real definition is that a terrorist is someone who uses terror to achieve his aims *and* who has an opposing personal or political philosophy. But doesn't that depend on who is doing the talking? In this book, Walter Laqueur takes a view on defining terrorism that the U.S. Supreme Court took a few years ago when trying to define pornography: a strict definition is impossible, he writes, but most of us recognize it when we see it. Unlike most people, I am not convinced by that view. In fact, I think it is use of this imperfect word that makes understanding some of the complex issues in the world extremely difficult: Hamas, the PLO, and Israel, for example, all label their bloody clashes as a battle against terrorism. Ditto for the two sides involved in "the troubles" in Northern Ireland, and for the bitter standoffs between oppressive governments and student movements in Iran and China. Haven't U.S. and Western European militaries in recent years been labeled terrorists by local populations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sudan, and Sierra Leone? If the word existed then, would 18th century revolutionaries in North America and France have been called terrorists as well? A less central criticism: Mr. Laqueur is clearly more of a scholar than a stylist. Though that is what you'd want for a study of this kind, his writing style can seem plodding, unnecessarily dense and very often difficult to interpret, especially when putting issues into a historical context. Be prepared to read some passages more than once to get their meaning. But while I cannot agree with Mr. Laqueur's popularly held view as to the definition of terrorism and I do not admire his writing skills, I cannot fault his in-depth and often counter-intuitive analysis as to the origins of what most of the western world sees as terrorism. While most commentators see most guerilla movements as a product of poverty and the absence of democracy, Mr. Laqueur points out that the 20th century's most repressive regimes -- Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany -- did not suffer from significant grassroot insurgencies. In South America, he informs us, the first post-colonial guerilla organization bloomed in democratic Uruguay rather than under Pinochet in Chile or Peron in Argentina. In more recent years, he notes that all of them men involved in the Sept. 11 attacks -- including Osama bin Laden himself -- all came from the relative freedom of comfortable middle class upbringings and most were quite wealthy. Mr. Laqueur's background as a historian is most evident in the way he dissects the differences between anarchists and radicals who flourished among European intellectuals in the 19th century, the freedom and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Mathematician Plays The Stock Market; Author: Visit Amazon's John Allen Paulos Page; Review: Anyone familiar with mathematician John Allen Paulos wonderful Innumeracy book from the 1980s will be sorely disappointed with his latest effort. Innumeracy set a standard for clear and relevant explanations related to math literacy. Even the title Mr. Paulos selected became part of the country's every day lexicon, a simple way to refer to the challenge of understanding the way the world is influenced by probabilities, variables, and equations. A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market, to use a metaphor Mr. Paulos might use, falls short of that level by a degree of magnitude. Part of the problem, I will admit, is the high standards set by Innumeracy. If it weren't for that effort, the author's humorous and candid accounts of his own investment failures here (no, math geniuses aren't any better at it than the rest of us) and his clear and easy-to-understand explanations of what the stock market numbers actually reflect would result in a better reception for A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market. Then again, it may have been Innumeracy's success and critical acclaim that allowed A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market to even be published. The actual text checks in at just over 200 pages, and yet the book spends a great deal of time beating around the bush, promising to come back to certain points in the future in several instances, making the slim volume feel more unwieldy than it should. And it is repetitive, using the same story about a stock scam based on mass mailings on three separate occasions. It even shows poor editing: the author can't seem to settle on a single spelling for the bankrupt consulting firm Arthur Andersen, or is it Arthur Anderson? Yes, there are lessons to be learned in A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market: investing is complicated, for example, and a strategy of diversification and investment in simple index funds can yield strong results. But a reader doesn't have to delve into A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market to glean these nuggets of wisdom -- they are just as available in the Sunday newspaper's investment columns and from any number more complete investment guides. In this book, Mr. Paulos warns again and again that he made an error by not judging the financial results of WorldCom, the company whose failure forms the centerpiece of this book, objectively enough. It's an important point; he wanted the company to succeed and so he failed to recognize evidence to the contrary. And it's a lesson that people who buy this book because of the esteem they have for Mr. Paulos after reading Innumeracy and other efforts will wish they applied to their decisions on book buying as well as stock buying.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Merda!: The Real Italian You Were Never Taught in School; Author: Visit Amazon's Roland Delicio Page; Review: I'll stop short of writing that Merda is a piece of merda, but it is a wasted opportunity. Italian slang -- especially the kind of colorful slang this book focuses on -- has its roots in history and tradition, and it gives insight into the psychology of a people. It can be very vulgar, but it is also symbolic, metaphoric, and at times even poetic (albeit in a crude way). But instead of focusing on that, Merda is content to be little more than a list of ways to accuse someone of practicing the world's oldest profession, and new methods to refer to defecation in every day conversation. Instead of using insight, it relies on shock value. Sadly, it also confuses some regional phrases with true Italian, and there are more than a handful of translation errors. It is true that much of the information contained on the book's pages is difficult to come across without hanging out with i ragazzi after dusk on a street corner in Naples, but it could have been so much more. Combine those fatal shortcomings with poor quality given its price (it's produced using newsprint between two flimsy covers), and you end up with a product with little to recommend it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Boys from Brazil; Author: Visit Amazon's Ira Levin Page; Review: The Boys From Brazil does seem a little dated well more than a quarter century after it s publication. But the book remains a tightly constructed and fast-paced story, interesting without being complicated. Basically, classic pulp fiction. Admittedly, advances in cloning in recent years make the characters who never heard of the subject seem a bit dim by modern standards. And the old-fashioned communications methods (e.g., having an operator call you back in order to place an international call, or misunderstanding things because connections are so bad) seem almost contrived. Even the Cold War-type mentality can at first seem cartoonish. But remember that this is taking place in 1974-75 ... that's the way it was. I first read the book around 20 years ago and I remembered enjoying it well enough. Recently, I picked it up again when I wanted something easy to read on train journey, and it was just what I needed: absorbing without the thought that would require me to resent the porter when he came by to check my ticket. In the end, I read it in two long reading sessions. If you are looking for something along those lines, then I'll say you can do a lot worse than The Boys From Brazil.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sacred Hunger; Author: Visit Amazon's Barry Unsworth Page; Review: Make no mistake about it, reading Sacred Hunger is a significant undertaking -- both in terms of the impact this complex and epic story will have on you and because of the time and concentration it will take to navigate the book's more than 600 pages. That significance is something to savor. I will avoid the clich of saying that the story "has it all," but Sacred Hunger does come close to that. There's the adventure of a band of men moving between three continents and pushed until they snapped and yet optimistically deciding to create what they saw as a kind of utopia, there is an examination of the cruelty that humans are capable of inflicting on each other, the story includes an accurate lesson in a period of history and its economics and geography, a touching love story, a metaphor for modern times. Curiously, the pages also include the story of a small brass button. I still haven't decided what the button represents, but I did note that it is the only thing in the story that manages to survive all the kinds of hell the length of the story includes, changing hands at least six times between the beginning of the book and its final pages and yet it ends up no worse off. The title of this volume refers to its grandest theme, the desire that drives men to extreme action. It is in this aspect that the book shines brightest, as the term is defined differently but compellingly for each of the main characters, especially the two main characters, cousins Erasmus Kemp and Matthew Paris. There is a sacred hunger in almost all of the less central characters as well, in Michael Sullivan (the fiddle player who longed to be treated like a man ... and only person to own the brass button twice), in Billy Blair (who was robbed of his money and who ended up a judge), in Saul Thurso (the captain who never failed his owners), even in many of the slaves and the other seamen forced into service, and in the soldiers camped in Florida and Africa. Therein lies one of the potential stumbling blocks for readers of Sacred Hunger: it includes a great many characters and to really understand the book it is imperative to remember who came from where and which character has a problem with or a debt to whom. Most of the crew is introduced starting with chapter 12, and I found myself referring back to that part of the book often to remember the particulars of certain figures. Later, it is also important to remember the characteristics of different African tribes involved in the story. There are few female characters in the book, and those who do appear can seem unconvincing compared to the complex representations of many of the men. Similarly, I found myself wishing I knew much more about the artist and philosopher Delblanc, who comes into the story late but who plays an absolutely key role. If I have a criticism of the book it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption; Author: Visit Amazon's Paulo Coelho Page; Review: The first part of Veronika Decides to Die is a bleak journey into the head of the fatalistic young woman who gives the book its name. Author Paulo Coelho does a good job here of describing the mindset that would lead someone to suicide, and in setting the stage for Veronika's rebirth in the later parts of the book. Really understanding the book, I think, requires understanding this part. But understanding Mr. Coelho requires understanding the rest of the story. There is a simple beauty to Mr. Coelho's style, in evidence as he describes Veronika's ascent from the depths of her private purgatory to her return to her place among the living. This evolution in Veronika is the crux of the book and it illustrates Mr. Coelho's strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller: his ideas are fresh and original and his sense of plot of solid. But his techniques as a writer, his dialogues, his pacing, are weak. To be sure, Mr. Coelho's ideas are the cornerstones of his legion fan base. The ideas are not only visible in this book when it comes to Veronika's rebirth but also in interesting but minor parts of the story. One of my favorites was when Mari -- an antagonist to Veronika, a lawyer, and a fellow patient at the Villete hospital where most of the story takes place -- muses about how she would defend Adam in the eyes of God for the role he played in the Fall of Man. I also enjoyed the metaphor from Zedka -- another patient -- about the king and queen who rules a kingdom of mad people and how they reacted. But I quarrel with Mr. Coelho's development of characters, and especially with his choice of dialogue. Veronika, notwithstanding her epic journey from being suicidal to becoming essentially optimistic, can seem almost two-dimensional in the sense that she seems to evolve on her own, like a self-contained universe. And events are too pat: witness Eduard, who may have been pretending to be a schizophrenic waiting for the off chance that someone like Veronika would come along. The dialogue is similarly contrived. Open the book to any page and read out loud what is between quotation marks and it will probably seem artificial. People do not talk that way -- especially when they are talking to themselves, which is often the case here. I also wonder why Mr. Coelho chose to put certain dialogue -- things like "yes, I will" or "sometimes I do," which would normally be added to the narration in the form of paraphrase -- in quotations when they add almost nothing to the characters' development. I have friends who are big fans of Mr. Coelho's work and they tell me that these unconventional characteristics add to the other-worldliness of the author's stories. I can see how that might work, but I cannot help but feel that they simply make the story less effective, that they dull the edge of what could be sharply original and important story rather than one that is merely good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Picador Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Gabriel Garcia Marquez Page; Review: The popular notion is that Love in the Time of Cholera may be Gabriel Garcia-Marquez's best book, and that One Hundred Years of Solitude is the one that made him famous. But what many people don't know is that Chronicle of a Death Foretold is the book that won Mr. Garcia-Marquez the Nobel Prize. Sure, that's mostly a quirk of the calendar. But the book was Mr. Garcia-Marquez's most recent publication when the Nobel committee sat down to discuss who deserved the award for literature in 1982. And though it's hard to imagine anyone on the committee nominating the venerable Colombian as a result of this slim volume, it is easy to conclude that nothing here would make them second guess their votes either. Chronicle of a Death Foretold has everything that makes the work of Mr. Garcia-Marquez such a joy, albeit in abbreviated form. Its pages contain great characters and names, unusual events made believable by the storyteller's skill, a mysterious storyline, a surprising complexity. And because of its diminutive size and straightforward style, it's a great way to sample the Mr. Garcia-Marquez's work for the first time. If you do that and enjoy the story, try News of a Kidnapping in addition to the two great novels mentioned above. The two -- News of a Kidnapping and Chronicle of a Death Foretold -- are the two novels that employ a style that harkens back to Mr. Garcia-Marquez's early days as a journalist, using interviews and investigation as a base for a fictionalized reconstruction of real events recounted with the same style that earned the author his reputation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Great Unraveling CD: Losing Our Way in the New Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Krugman Page; Review: This is the book we've been waiting for! Unlike most other books in the genre, The Great Unraveling is smart and informed, it avoids selectively choosing facts that artificially make the author's points seem clearer than they are, and it does not rely on comedy as a substitute for insight and intelligence. Bravo to author, columnist and economist Paul Krugman for creating the first political book I've seen this season that is at once honest enough, well researched enough, and also well written enough that it can target an audience that stretches far beyond the usual policy wonks and think tankers. Mr. Krugman somehow manages to be angry and sensible at the same time, no easy trick. Yes, of course, the author has an agenda. But anyone who thinks it is a simple "get-Bush" agenda is looking at it too simply. In this book Mr. Krugman looks at policy with an extremely critical but fair eye -- exactly what the fourth estate is supposed to be doing. Thank goodness someone is still doing his job. I have been a reader of Mr. Krugman's columns in the International Herald-Tribune for some time, and so I had read many of the "chapters" before they appeared in The Great Unraveling. But there is a great value to having all of these pieces in one place. And those who do not read Mr. Krugman's thoughts on a regular basis will find it hard to believe these writings were not written with the intention of forming a logical and cogent argument as they do on the book's 300-plus pages. I have always thought that Mr. Krugman's strength is his ability as a writer to make complex arguments understandable without cheapening them, but what I like best about his work is that he uses his writing skill in a supporting role, letting the facts tell the true tale. My complaint? I would have liked to see more new and longer commentary here. There is some, but one of the shortcomings to Mr. Krugman's normal forum in the New York Times is that he is limited to 500 or 750 words to make important points regarding issues as complex as the nation's budgetary problems, the justification for the war in Iraq, and corporate blunders. But I see no reason for such a limit here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sheltering Sky, 50th Anniversary Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Bowles Page; Review: The Sheltering Sky may be the best book I ever read that nearly failed my 50-page rule. That's the rule I made up that allots a book that many pages to convince me to continue. If it fails to do so, it's back to the shelf or into a box -- sometimes to never be heard from again. The Sheltering Sky is a good book, but it starts slow and never manages to evolve into any kind of a page-turner. But something I can't put my finger on wouldn't let me push it aside after those 50 pages, something I'm now very glad for. The general premise of the story is simple: three Americans travel to Morocco in the wake of the Second World War to escape civilization and to find themselves. But the story is really an exploration into the way people react in a crisis and especially the way Americans interact with unfamiliar cultures. It makes for a memorable if not effortless read, one of the popular 20th century books that deserve the label "classic" and that will compel you to confront your own morality, ethics, arrogance and pathos. Though the book is dense and serious, it is not without a few subtle jokes: the two rival French army commanders, one of whom drinks only cognac and the other named d'Armagnac; the pathetic and entertaining Lyles; the unintentionally comic diplomat who tries to help Kit over the book's final pages. I'll conclude with a tip: once you've finished The Sheltering Sky, go back and re-read the first chapter. It's beautifully written, but some of its insights are clear only in retrospect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Fadiman Page; Review: What a captivating and fun little book! I don't attach to it the same deep meanings that some of my fellow reviewers did, but there is plenty here that any true book lover will identify with and enjoy. I found the book a bit uneven -- we've all read enough bad poetry to want to avoid reading about flawed verse in the chapter called Scorn Not the Sonnet, and while the point is well made in Nothing New Under the Sun, I felt I was going to suffocate under the weight of all those footnotes. But where Ex Libris is good it is very good. On this book's pages, you'll find charming anecdotes about messages written inside book covers, funny stories about people compelled to proofread at all time, an essay on the joy of reading a book in the place it is about, and a little stab at the annoying practice of removing the gender from popular sayings. Every one a gem. This is also a handsome edition of the book, making it a great gift for any book lovers you know. It's an even better gift to yourself.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Five Decades: Poems 1925-1970; Author: Visit Amazon's Pablo Neruda Page; Review: I just sat down for a quiet night of reading some wonderful Pablo Neruda poems while sipping from a soothing cup of warm tea, and I was rudely shocked at the ham-handed translations I found on the pages of this book! I am not particularly a fan of poetry, but Mr. Neruda's transcendent and passionate work has always held a special place in my heart. I discovered Mr. Neruda's poems in the original Spanish some time ago, but I bought this edition more recently because I feared that the last few years in Italy had eroded by Spanish skills to the point that I'd benefit from having my native English to refer to for help. Instead, the translations left me appalled. Anyone reading Mr. Neruda's poems for the first time with this book could only assume that this great poet was a mediocre talent trying to impress beyond his abilities. The rhythm is gone, the intelligence is altered, and the word choice sometimes sounds as if it was produced by one of those annoying Internet translation programs. At points, I was seriously left wondering if Mr. Belitt is even a native English speaker. It's a terrible shame, too, because it's so nice to have both languages in the same edition. And while I am strongly critical of Mr. Belitt's translations, I cannot at all fault his selection of poems: all of the Neruda poems I like best are here, whether they are well known or obscure. As I am about to file this review, I see that all but a couple of my fellow reviewers came to the same conclusion I did. Take our advice, please! Seek out another, better translation of Mr. Neruda's work. I'm not sure which to suggest, but rest assured that you could hardly find an inferior one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meditations (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Marcus Aurelius Page; Review: Meditations is the kind of book you can just open up to any page and learn from, a still-relevant lesson about how to set priorities in what Socrates called the examined life. It is also a fascinating tour of the mind of Marcus Aurelius, the military leader, emperor, educator, philanthropist, and philosopher who remains one of history's most noble protagonists, and whose writings reveal the loneliness of his soul without being bitter. This is a must-have book for the nightstand of anyone living a contemplative life, a profound precursor to modern self-help books written by a Renaissance man who lived centuries before the Renaissance. There is no plot to summarize here, no accurate generalizations to be made. One gets the idea that these are thoughts the author jotted down, sometimes between appointments and sometimes after months of contemplation. Often they are obvious, sometimes they are obscure. They can seem rooted in history, and at times based on today's current events. They can be funny, surprising, or sad. But they are almost always worthwhile. A final note: I have two editions of this book, and while I think both this one and the Hicks' translation are very good, I prefer this by a small degree.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish: The Making of a New American Language; Author: Ilan Stavans; Review: The author compares Spanglish -- the hybrid "language" part way between Spanish and English -- with Yiddish, a mixture of Hebrew and German that evolved into the mother language for Jews in Eastern Europe. But I see it closer to Ebonics, an effort to put an acceptable face on something that should not be acceptable, an excuse for speaking badly. Now, that is not a criticism of the book as much as it is of the concept (or the phenomenon) the book is based on. But to the extent that author Ilan Stavans promotes this lowering of the language bar, I cannot help but take issue with this slim volume. Spanglish (the book, not the "language") is much more a reference resource than it is something one would read from cover to cover, with most of the pages taken up by a 4500-word Spanglish dictionary (just writing that phrase made my heart sink). But the introductory essay -- called the "Jerga Loca," or Crazy Slang -- gives Mr. Stavans' take on the issue of Spanglish, which he seems to see as a fully mature idiom. This is something that may or may not be true, but which gives me heartburn just to think about. Take, for example, the wonderful opening line of Don Quixote: "En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme...." (In English: "In a certain corner of la Mancha, the name of which I do not choose to remember ...."). Mr. Stavans cheapens it to: "In un placete de la Mancha, of which the nombre no quiero remembrearme...." It makes my skin crawl. I cannot deny Mr. Stavans' point that language is dynamic and evolving. Simply comparing the writings of William Shakespeare with those of Charles Dickens with those of John Updike is enough to prove that. Glance even at Miguel Cervantes, who spelled the same of his protagonist "Don Quijote" in the original. But this is a process that happens naturally and without encouragement, and it is certainly not served by lowering expectations to the lowest common denominator. I do not give the book a lower rating simply because it must be judged -- at least for the most part -- for what it is, and on those terms I find it well researched and effectively written. It might even serve as an effective primer for "gringos" unfamiliar with Latin American culture and who want to learn to understand certain unfortunate Hispanic Americans. But I select three stars while holding my nose, because while the spread of Spanglish cannot be denied, I think that anything that promotes it just stinks.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zazie in the Metro (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Raymond Queneau Page; Review: If you decide to read Zazie in the Metro, don't be surprised to find yourself thinking a bit like the story's quirky cast of characters: speaking with charmingly wordy phrases (e.g., "Picking up a syphon he purposed to cause its mass to reverberate against Gabriel's skull," rather than, "he hit Gabriel in the head with a bottle."), and forming words using unusual spellings (e.g., "Tsnot true, unkoo" instead of, "It's not true, uncle."). You may even find yourself looking at the world through Zazie's wide eyes, seeing things with the innocence of a child narrated with a vocabulary like Charles Bukowski's. I pity poor translator Barbara Wright -- author Raymond Queneau's preferred translator, from what I understand -- for what must have been buckets of perspiration shed in what could have only worked as a labor of love. After all, this is a book is more about language and dialogue than it is about anything that could be mistaken for a plot. The other main source of Zazie in the Metro's charm comes from its unusual roll call of characters. Aside from the always-interesting Zazie, the book offers the quixotic and curious "Unkoo" Gabriel, his dour sometimes foil Gridoux, and even a parrot called Laverdure, whose solitary line -- "Talk, talk, that's all you can do" -- seems to get blurted out only with exceptional timing. It's easy to understand how this colorful tale inspired a generation of French readers and writers. It is even said to have had a hold on Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director of the wonderful and similarly playful film, Amelie. Compared to all this, the plot of this story hardly seems worth mentioning: young Zazie comes to Paris to visit her uncle, but what she really wants to do is ride on the metro for the first time. Because of a strike, she can't, and she compensates with a string of other adventures. Up until this point, I know, this does not sound like a three-star review (or three and a half, if that had been possible). I have given Zazie in the Metro what amounts to a so-so rating for reasons I am not too sure how to describe. The best explanation I can come up with is that despite all of the positive points made here, the book just failed to capture me; I never felt like I was part of the story. Somehow, its 157 pages seemed quite a bit longer, and sometimes the action became confused or obscured because of the clever word play. It was like a meal based on ingredients I adore, but which don't quite seem to work well together. Yes, of course, buy and read Zazie in the Metro. Its place in Europe's literary cannon and the unusual mix of characters and language is enough to make that case. Besides, it's a book that an at least mildly adventurous literate person should know. I'll just hope it will be a bit more of a treat for you than it was for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thank You for Smoking; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Buckley Page; Review: I would have never guessed that I would even consider reading a book about a PR man for the tobacco industry ... and I certainly could have never imagined that if I did, I'd enjoy it so much! I picked up Thank You For Smoking at the suggestion of a friend, and was pulled into the narrative immediately. The story is so tightly and entertainingly written that I practically inhaled it (pun intended), taking less than a day to finish the book's nearly 300 pages even though for the most part I had to read it a few pages at a time while working at a conference. Author Christopher Buckley pulled off the seemingly impossible here: making a despicable protagonist like Nick Naylor seem sympathetic. I won't go into the way Mr. Buckley does it, but it is definitely worth finding out for yourself. My only complaint is that the ending to the story wraps up a little too neatly, a little too much like Hollywood. It's a weakness, but not a serious enough of a weakness to cloud the value of this original and clever book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Far Side: 1980-1994; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Larson Page; Review: I used to half wonder if the hilarious cartoonist Gary Larson should be locked away in a padded room. After all, how can someone with such a tilted and iconoclastic view of the world be sane? The Far Side is long gone from newspaper funny pages, but I'll admit that the thought crossed my mind again as I flipped through the pages of this massive collection. Yes, "massive" is the right word. A few days ago in a bookstore in Milan, I saw what was reported to be the first copy of the book in Italy. It took both hands to transfer the collection to the viewing table, and I almost had to remind myself to lift with my knees and not my back. The literature that came with it said it tipped the scales at around 9 kilos or nearly 20 pounds. That's almost as much as the spare tire for a car, or more than a case of wine. Obviously, Mr. Larson would be more likely to compare the weight to a family of talking chickens or that troublemaker Rex, the dog-philosopher -- but the uninitiated wouldn't figure that out until the books are actually open. When open, of course, the warped humor of the Far Side takes over. I loved the strip from the first time I saw it: this time around I felt very nostalgic about re-experiencing the brief instant between when I finish looking at the panel and when I "get" it, and the personal recognition at feel when I see the puzzled look or knowing smirk that the child-like drawings manage to convey. Looking at this new book, another quality to Mr. Larson's work came into focus: I think it speaks directly to the creative and self-deprecating side of American culture we have seen too little of lately. It's not universal ... few non-Americans understand it. In a busy bookstore in the center of Milan, with customers poking around the latest releases on subjects as mundane as writing HTML code and gossip about the Formula 1 race car circuit, I got lost in the pages of this collection for more than 45 minutes without anyone looking over my shoulder or asking me when I'd be finished. It had been on display for 10 days or two weeks, and yet the pages looked almost untouched. There's more here than just Far Side cartoons -- its pages incorporate angry reader responses to cartoons, and some of the clever responses. They include essays (including one from Steve Martin!), explanations, and anecdotes, all of it with top quality binding. All in all, it's not surprising that it's such a hefty production. I didn't buy it (there was a weight limit for my baggage), but I will. It's a perfect gift for any Far Side lover you know, or, better yet, for the Far Side lover you are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drop City; Author: T.C. Boyle; Review: Drop City is a good book. I'm going to ask to be trusted on that, because -- try as I might -- I can't find a way to describe it and make it sound as good as it is. Of course, that may be part of the attraction of this soulful, entertaining, and rewarding novel, the fact that its value cannot be easily identified and named. Certainly it wasn't the subject matter that captured me. Born in the mid-1960s, I'm of the generation old enough to remember the Summer of Love, tie-die tee-shirts, and flower-painted VW vans, but not old enough to have been part of the era they are identified with. And even since then, when some aspect of those days rides into vogue on a wave of nostalgia, the period has seemed interesting to me only in the most general terms. But T. Coraghessan Boyle's important new novel is about the details: a 1970s California commune burning out a step or two faster than the hippie movement as a whole. The story has the obligatory bad LSD trip, and the predictable complaints about free love. But instead of becoming a clich, it manages to reveal the ugly (and smelly) realities of commune life while drawing the reader in with something other than the kind of curiosity that makes people stare at car accidents. The prose is fast-paced, easy to read, and at times very funny, while also exposing a surprising level of human complexity and societal insight. I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise. As anyone who has read World's End knows, Mr. Boyle is one of contemporary literature's best pure storytellers, and he's returned to his former heights here. Trust me on that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Early Stories, 1953-1975; Author: Visit Amazon's John Updike Page; Review: I think that in many important ways, John Updike is America's best living writer, with a long history of unmatched insights and integrity, complex and believable characters, and a range that stretches (with great success) from criticism to essays and from poetry to prose. The Early Stories is a testament to and a forum examining the fiction side of Mr. Updike's talents, including every short story (every one!) he ever published up until 1975, when he was 43 years old. This book is more than 800 pages long, and so I assume that the post-1975 stories were held out both in order to make sure the book could be lifted without strain or (more likely) as the stuff for a second mammoth volume of this great writer's work. Most of us already know at least a few of the 102 stories in this thick book (I read one, "A & P," when I was in high school, long before I became a fan of Mr. Updike's work, and I didn't even realize he had been the author of it until I saw it again here), and many of the ones we don't know will reveal themselves as gems. But also -- fortunately or unfortunately -- many of the stories here simply don't work: the plots are either dated, or the characters or their motivations are too thin. Curiously, I am unsure about whether this is positive or negative. I dismiss the possibility that the uneven quality here is natural when examining the work of a young writer not yet fully in control of his powers. After all, Mr. Updike had already created his two most memorable characters -- Rabbit Angstrom and Henry Bech (who appears in this book) -- before most of these stories came to life. Instead, I see this as welcome proof that Mr. Updike is human, that he doesn't produce something awe inspiring every time his pen touches paper. That's the same realization I had when I saw my boyhood sports hero, quarterback Bob Greise, in a live game for the first time and all he seemed to do was get sacked and throw interceptions and incomplete passes all afternoon. In both cases, it's not the way I would have written the script, but perhaps it makes the truly great performances (and they are here, too) seem even better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Is Gnosticism?; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen L. King Page; Review: Oh, I know how the dictionary defines Gnosticism, and I have a general idea about the philosophy (for lack of a better word) from having briefly studied the famous Gnostic gospels at one point. But I have always been interested in learning more about these early might-be Christians, and so I bought this book with the hope of reaching a deeper understanding of the subject. Sadly, after difficult-to-read 350 pages I'm still left wondering. One of the problem with the Gnostics is that until 1945, knowledge of their beliefs and influences has been second or third hand, based on what early church historians and orthodox polemicists had to say about them. But 1945 was when a library of what are thought to be Gnostic writings -- the gospels -- was discovered in Nag Hammadi in Egypt. This book examines those writings. So far so good, but the point author Karen King seems trying to make here -- apparent contradictions in the writings discovered in 1945, speculation about the origins of Gnosticism (she thinks its roots are in Judaism, but she failed to persuade me) -- seem muddled. Ms. King apparently seeks to explain the Gnostics as a group that can be understood, with a common evolution and a set range of beliefs. But I came away thinking just the opposite: that what as been traditionally attributed to Gnosticism may actually be a catch-all phrase for religious thinkers contemporary to early Christianity that don't fit into any other category, like the choice of "other" that appears at the end of a census form or opinion questionnaire. The book is too poorly organized, dense, and tough to navigate to be compensated for by the interesting and thought-proviking points Ms. King raises from time to time. There must be something better on this subject.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Schultz Page; Review: I was prepared to really dislike this book, if for no other reason than because it takes one of my passions -- travel -- and reduces it to a kind of grocery list. Travel, I have always thought, is about experiencing a different culture and its history and not about checking the most important cathedral or museum in a city off a to-do list. But I must admit this small-but-thick book intrigued me. Most of the criticisms of something like this will be of specific choices the author makes: How could she overlook X? Or what was she thinking when she included Y? And while I admit that I scratched my head at a few curious omissions and chuckled at some of the choices that did make the cut, I must say that overall, the selection is very good. Every traveler or would-be traveler will find selections of interest on its pages, whether they are looking for luxury or natural beauty or history or art or culinary masterpieces or thought-provoking journeys. But I think the real strength of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die is author Patricia Schultz' lively writing. Ms. Schultz has a real gift for description, and her love and enthusiasm for the places she writes about at once manage to excite the reader about the place being described and to give him or her a small taste of it before even diverting the eyes from the page. All that said, I would be disappointed to scan someone else's copy of this book and see places that have been already visited crossed off in red ink or to discover that future trips were being planned to maximize the number of the 1,000 places that can be visited in a short time. I don't think the book should be used like that, but rather as a means to provoke thought and conversation regarding the best of what the world has to offer us by giving us the views held by one person (albeit someone who is extremely well traveled and with unusual writing talent). We'll all come up with our own lists in our heads, lists that may or may not overlap with the contents of this book. And that's something worth being passionate about.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Bastianich Page; Review: Vino Italiano is not the best book if what you need is an introduction to Italian wine. But if you already know there is a big difference between a Vino Rosso di Montepulciano and a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, then you'll no doubt appreciate this informative and easy-to-read book as much as I do. This book gives the lover of Italian wine, food, and culture a lot to be excited about. It is divided into chapters that cover an Italian region (or in one case, two minor regions) and each chapter contains more information than some lesser books contain in their entirety. Included are regional recipes, maps and other essential information (e.g. significant producers, grapes grown, etc.) related to its wines, and stunning black-and-white photos that make it tempting to regard this as a coffee-table book. But I think the best part of each chapter is a well-written and entertaining essay that includes anecdotes that frame the character of the people, history, and culture of the region being described. Of course, the centerpiece of it all is wine. But authors David Lynch and Joseph Bastianich understand that even in Italy, that subject cannot stand alone, and so they bring in discussions of hunting, and football, and fashion, and Mussolini, and cars, and artisan vinegars, oils, and cheeses. Reading over what I have written here, I feel that I have not done this book justice. There is such a range of well-researched information here presented in such an accessible way that a different reader might pick it up and enjoy the book just as much as I do but for an entirely different set of reasons. Perhaps the best way to conclude, then, is with my own brief anecdote: Italy is a country very understandably proud of its culture of food and wine, and the domestic Italian best-seller lists always have a few new books on those subjects listed on them. And yet every time - without fail - that I show this book to my Italian friends, their comment is, "Why can't we have a book like this in Italian?"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thanatos Syndrome: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Walker Percy Page; Review: This is my first book by Walker Percy, but it won't be my last.* The asterisk? I give this story only a luke-warm review, a B minus. Yes, the plot does have a thought-provoking dystopian element to it, and it does include the kind of important and bold examination of good and evil that I have heard Mr. Percy is known for. But it can be blunt at times, and also I wonder if some of the sex-related discourse and the protagonist's navel gazing were necessary parts of the story. What saved the day here was the talented Mr. Percy's crisp and compelling writing style. By the time I was finished with The Thanatos Syndrome, I had the impression that Mr. Percy could make a computer instruction manual seem gripping. His turns of phrase, characterizations, efficient dialogue, and ability to move the narrative forward with apparent effortlessness are rare qualities indeed. What makes the writing work so well is its subtlety -- it all seems to mesh so naturally. And that is something that in some ways works against a story line that is at least on some level obvious and predictable. But that doesn't dissuade me from wanting to seek out another of Mr. Percy's books. I think that his enjoyable writing style combined with a more balanced story could yield stunning results. I can hardly wait.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thanatos Syndrome: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Walker Percy Page; Review: This is my first book by Walker Percy, but it won't be my last.* The asterisk? I give this story only a luke-warm review. Yes, the plot does have a thought-provoking dystopian element to it, and it does include the kind of important and bold examination of good and evil that I have heard Mr. Percy is known for. But it can also be blunt at times, and also I wonder if some of the sex-related discourse and the protagonist's navel gazing were necessary parts of the story. What saved the day here was the talented Mr. Percy's crisp and compelling writing style. By the time I was finished with The Thanatos Syndrome, I had the impression that Mr. Percy could make a computer instruction manual seem gripping. His turns of phrase, characterizations, efficient dialogue, and ability to move the narrative forward with apparent effortlessness are rare qualities indeed. What makes the writing work so well is its subtlety -- it all seems to mesh so naturally. And that is something that in some ways works against a story line that is at least on some level obvious and predictable. But that doesn't dissuade me from wanting to seek out another of Mr. Percy's books. I think that his enjoyable writing style combined with a more balanced story could yield stunning results. I can hardly wait.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Franken Page; Review: As long as nobody expects a sophisticated discourse from the man best known for his scathing 1996 attack on the right called Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot, then most of the disappointment from this book will be avoided. Unfortunately, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them is probably the first salvo in what will likely be an unusually intense and sadly counterproductive season of mudslinging from both sides of the political spectrum. But even if the worst is yet to come, this collection of slapstick humor and wisecracks is tilted enough to assure that its subtitle -- A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right -- should only be said between snickers or with tongue planted firmly in cheek. I don't differ with most aspects of author Al Franken's political agenda. He makes important points regarding the GOP's reliance on "Clinton bashing" as a fallback explanation for almost anything that goes awry. And I have always enjoyed seeing political figures with the spotlight placed on their job-related lies and misrepresentations, something that Mr. Franken's eager team of Harvard researchers seems adept at uncovering. In my opinion, the basic ideas behind his views on the Bush tax cuts, the war in Iraq, and election strategies come close to the mark. But I wonder why it is so hard to produce some kind of thoughtful and intelligent partisan discussion these days, something biting and serious but written well enough to capture the public's imagination. By that standard, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them falls flat on its face. The book instead settles for being Mr. Franken's latest self-centered treatise with another title that sounds as if it was written by an R-rated Dr. Seuss and filled with arguments pat enough that they could fit into word balloons over the heads of teenage comic book characters. We deserve better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Brown Page; Review: Some of my fellow reviewers wrote that this was a book they couldn't put down. But once I started it and I did put it down, I found the book hard to pick up again -- my mind just filled with so many other things I'd rather be doing. About half way through I gave up the fight and didn't even try to start reading again. It isn't that the book is dense or difficult to read. To the contrary: I'd say that at first glance, author Dan Brown is a compelling storyteller, adept at seamlessly leading the reader from one scene to another. Sure, his constant foreshadowing is more often than not heavy handed, and some of the peripheral characters seem a little two-dimensional. But those are (unfortunately) common flaws and not the reason I was so displeased by the book. What really bothered me was how much Mr. Brown got wrong. The first example is the book's title: "da Vinci" isn't Leonardo's family name, it is a reference to his illegitimate father, which is a reference to the father's home town of Vinci, just west of Florence. In Italian, "da Vinci" just means "from Vinci." No, Leonardo, like his contemporaries Raffaello and Giulio Romano, like Giotto, like Caravaggio, like Rembrandt ... like modern day Cher or Madonna, is correctly referred to by his given name. The book should have been called "The Leonardo Code" or "The Leonardo da Vinci Code." Inside, there is more of the same. The author refers to some invented speculation that the "Mona Lisa" is really a portrait of Leonardo himself in drag. Proof? Mr. Brown narrative says that computers show that key facial features are the same as those in contemporary portraits of Leonardo and that without this explanation the identity of the model is a mystery. The truth? No contemporary portraits of Leonardo exist, while the identity of the model in the famous painting is extremely well documented. There is more: Leonardo's "Last Supper" is not a fresco, as the book says. And the idea that Mary Magdalene somehow dressed up as a man and appears in the painting in lieu of one of the apostles is more than a little far fetched. I know that a novel cannot be taken as a historical document and that by definition, events are fictionalized in any work of fiction. But they have to be fictionalized in a context that is real or at least believable. If that doesn't happen, the structure of the story crumbles because we no longer know what means something and what doesn't. A more specific example: the "Mona Lisa" carries with it certain information, who the subject was, what the painting means, who painted it, and its place in the West's cultural canon. Those factors are part of the package that simply cannot be jettisoned. If the author wanted a painting (or an artist) that didn't carry those exact meanings, then he would be better off selecting different subjects, or just making them up from scratch. If a novel set in modern; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gertrude and Claudius; Author: Visit Amazon's John Updike Page; Review: Gertrude and Claudius is focused on a necessarily small market niche: anyone who has not read and loved Hamlet will not see the need for this story, which is a prequel in three acts to what might be Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. And that's a shame. This is a wonderfully written story that convincingly challenges the traditional sympathies we all developed in reading Hamlet, especially regarding Hamlet's cold and calculating mother. Mr. Updike forcefully and dramatically paints a picture of Gertrude as a sweet and decent woman fatally flawed by her attraction to Claudius, her husband's brother. And Claudius plays more than a supporting role here, giving more insight into Hamlet, who at once seems more confused and easier to understand. It all works because of Mr. Updike's wit, insight, and often perfect timing. Gertrude and Claudius is also a scholarly study, based on the same source materials Shakespeare used. In fact, as the plot draws closer to Hamlet's 30th birthday and the start of the play that carries his name, Mr. Updike changes to progressively newer sources. That creates a story is "historically" accurate (well, as much as a story based on ancient legends can be). Incidentally, there is an interesting and slightly confusing aspect to that as well: Claudius starts out as Feng, and then becomes Fengon before finally being called Claudius; for his part, Hamlet starts out as Amleth. Each section starts with the words "The king was irate," but in each case there is a different king -- Horwendil (Amleth's father), then Fengon, then Hamlet. But one of the most compelling aspects to the story is the fact that it was written at all. Mr. Updike is a writer near the end of his career and with nothing left to prove. He has excelled writing several genres of fiction, criticism, poetry, and commentary. And yet this story shows that he is still experimenting, still challenging his abilities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timequake; Author: Visit Amazon's Kurt Vonnegut Page; Review: Timequake is not one of Kurt Vonnegut's better books. For serious fans of Mr. Vonnegut's work, the book's publication in 1997 felt like discovering a bit more of a great meal left in the kitchen after you thought it was all gone, a final taste of something wonderful. But upon a recent re-reading Timequake, I have realized that, objectively speaking, this is the product of a great writer in possession of declining powers, a volume that is predictable while puzzlingly swinging between memoir and fiction. On the surface, the storyline is classic Vonnegut: there's a "time quake" that means that everyone in the world is forced to relive every second of every day between 1991 and 2001, but they are unable to change a moment of that unfortunate decade. Of course, he introduces himself and his alter ego Kilgore Trout into the story, and unusual situations abound. There is nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it doesn't come off nearly as cleanly as similarly unusual storylines in Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five, and The Sirens of Titan do. In the end, when Timequake doesn't feel forced -- not a word I would use for any of Mr. Vonnegut's other novels -- it feels like the author is simply going through the motions. There are bits and pieces of the story that revive the nostalgia that readers of Mr. Vonnegut's better books may be looking for. But for the uninitiated, there are better places to start.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition; Author: David Pogue; Review: The premise that this is the book that should come with every new Mac is right on the money. I would never dream of upgrading to the latest OS without reading author David Pogue's insights about how to make the most of the new system. From the start, the beauty of the Mac OS had been that users never had to memorize a lot of random codes and commands to become adequately familiar with the way the system worked. But the way I look at it, it's not always enough to be adequate: why spend so much buying the latest platform software without spending a little more to learn about the two-thirds of it that isn't easy to figure out intuitively? But it's not just the information in the book that makes Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition - like its predecessors - is so good. It's also Mr. Pogue's breezy writing style: he somehow manages to be easy to understand to beginners without sounding patronizing to those with a stronger background. Mr. Pogue's essential guides to and articles about the Mac OS have become nearly as central a component to the Mac experience as a user's favorite web browser or that latest version of iTunes. If you use the Panther OS, you can't afford not to have this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Classics Outsider (Penguin Modern Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Albert Camus Page; Review: Without a doubt one of the most important books of the 20th century, The Stranger is a classic piece of literature and one of the literary pillars of existentialism, a movement that continues to color the way we see the world. The storyline is very simple: a young and aimless Algerian immigrant to France, Meursault, unmoved by his mother's death, becomes involved in petty events beyond his control and ends up killing someone. The trial is a ridiculous farce, and the real art comes from the way Meursault dispassionately describes the events overtaking him: the funeral, the trial, the sentencing. The story is at once beautiful and unsettling. Of course, none of this is anything that hasn't already been said among the other reviews here. What prompted me to write a review about this now (after all, I had first read this story more than 20 years ago and have only re-read parts of it recently) is the new and much-heralded translation from Matthew Ward. Mr. Ward's work has been almost universally praised by critics, who have called it an essential update and a production that will make the book more accessible to American audiences. That may be so, but I can't escape the feeling that it also cheapens this great book. I realize that some traditionalists will always accuse a modern translator of a classic piece of literature of tampering with art. But even if I keep that in mind as I read The Stranger in its newest form, I still get that sinking feeling. Take the opening paragraph, for example. I have always considered the opening lines in The Stranger among the best in the western literary cannon, and they seem to lose firepower in Mr. Ward's version of the story: "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe. I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: `Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday." Compare that to the classic Stuart Gilbert translation that is familiar to most English speakers to have read this book: "Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure. The telegram from the Home says: `Your mother passed away. Funeral tomorrow. Deep sympathy.' Which leaves the matter doubtful; it could have been yesterday." Don't the short and choppy sentences of the telegram contrast strongly to the emotionless as-a-matter-of-fact narrative from Meursault in the second example? And isn't that lost in the newer version when both Meursault and the telegram have the same tone? The Meursault from Mr. Ward's translation always talks that way, giving the impression that he actually puts a bit of thought into what should be his dispassionate commentary, rather than just speaking in meandering run-on sentences as someone simply going through the motions would (and the way author Albert Camus described Meursault in later years). Also, who is Maman? I'm not sure I would recognize the word as a form of "mother" if I weren't already familiar with the story. In sum, the value of The Stranger is beyond doubt. But consider the issue of; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman (Helix Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard P. Feynman Page; Review: Anyone who became familiar with Richard Feynman from his hugely popular memoirs What Do You Care What Other People Think, and Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman will find The Pleasure of Finding Things Out an intermediate step between those books and the dense scientific texts behind his Nobel Prize and reputation as one of the 20th century's great minds. This book is not meant to be entertaining, but I suppose a glimpse into Mr. Feynman's mind cannot help but be entertaining, even when it is a series of lectures based entirely on science. Here he talks about what he calls the "thrill" of boldly finding out what no man knew before, on subjects ranging from the discovery of the reasons behind the crash of the space shuttle Challenger to the atomic bomb project at Los Alamos and from the role of science in society to his Nobel acceptance speech. And while it is not specifically written with the non-scientist in mind, a strong background in science is not necessary to understand and enjoy the wind-ranging collection of philosophies, musings, and remarks collected on these pages.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pnin (Penguin Modern Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Vladimir Nabokov Page; Review: With this book, Timofei Pnin takes his place along side Leopold Bloom, Rabbit Angstrom, Holden Caufield, and Col. Aureliano Buenda among the great protagonists of 20th century literature. A linguistics professor, the often hapless and despairing and always comical Mr. Pnin has an unexplainable pride and an obsessive-compulsive personality. Like the book's author Vladimir Nabokov, Mr. Pnin is a quirky Russian expatriate in middle class America: he would be hard pressed to be more foreign. And yet he is a wonderful illustration of everyone's fruitless attempts to control what cannot be controlled in their lives. He is a stinging parady of himself, of Mr. Nabokov, of us. In my mind, Pnin surpasses even Mr. Nabakov's masterpiece Lolita, simply because so much of the story of unforgettable Lo-li-ta has become so clich that much of the author's artistry is obscured from modern readers' eyes. But with Pnin, Mr. Nabokov's deft and subtle hand is plain to see.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What If? : Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Cowley Page; Review: I've been a history buff my whole life, and as an adult I became one of those people who naturally looks for different ways to do the same old thing. So I easily assumed that this fun "what if" genre of looking at history would be fascinating to me. And I was right, at least at first. But over time, reading this book wore me down. That isn't a criticism of any essay in particular: I think that several -- such as Lewis Lapham's exploration into the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, Thomas Fleming's piece about how the American Revolution Could have been lost, and John Keegan's view on how Hitler's war could have been won -- are particularly strong. But like certain kinds of desert, what started out as a tasty indulgence just became too much to enjoy. We've all had the experience of sitting next to a know-it-all guest at some dinner party, someone who has an unusual explanation for everything and who won't listen to anything or anyone who doesn't support what he thinks. That mind-numbing feeling is the similar to the one I had after reading a few of these essays in a row. Does that mean you shouldn't buy this book? No, not necessarily. But if you do buy it, my suggestion would be to take it in stages. Read an essay or two and then switch to something else, and then come back to it. As for me, the purchase What If 2?, which once seemed assured, will have to wait a while.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anil's Ghost; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Ondaatje Page; Review: Like several of my fellow reviewers here, I really wanted and expected to like Anil's Ghost. I am attracted to elegant writing in general, and to author Michael Ondaatje's work in particular. And the setting -- amid the problems revolving around the Sri Lankan Tamal Tigers -- is something I know about only from newspaper headlines and have been eager to know about on a more personal level. Unfortunately, although I found this book wonderfully written, it seemed to be about almost nothing, at least nothing I could recognize. Open its pages and read almost any paragraph and the images and word choice will enchant you. But without a more coherent story line and better character development, I'm not sure who could enjoy this. I did make my way through the whole thing, but I found it slow, murky, depressing, ambiguous, and ultimately unsatisfying. The protagonist, forensic anthropologist Anil Tissera, is particularly puzzling in my mind: I read more than 300 pages dominated by her thoughts and fears and interactions and yet I still have no idea who she is. Yes, the writing here is delecate and elegant. But one could say the same thing about most of Mr. Ondaatje's work. My suggestion is to pick another of his books, one that comes with a compelling story as well as the wonderful writing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert M Pirsig Page; Review: I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for the first time a couple of years after it was published, when the eye-catching pink paperback cover was new to bookstores (I remember my parents talking about that bold color while we were on our own long trip of some kind). At that time, I was more or less the same age as the son of the book's narrator, Phaedrus, and of course I could not help but interpret the story from the younger man's perspective: this was an adventure story about a cross country trip, a boy learning about his father, an introduction to a life led by beliefs rather than instinct. Now, as an adult, I see things through Phaedrus' eyes -- which is to say author Robert Persig's eyes, since in terms of concepts (if not geography) it is considered autobiographical -- and I can recognize many of Phaedrus' musings and thoughts as those of a man who is at once confident of and also seeking his place in the world. The book is best known as a tribute or sequel to Henry David Thoreau's Walden, which Phaedrus refers to at several points. Others have pointed out, for example, that the protagonist's long (and not too interesting) discussion of what he carries in his knapsack recall Mr. Thoreau's own endless lists of the materials used to build his lakeside shack or the seeds he planted for his sustenance. But there is much more to this book than that. The provocative blend of Eastern and Western thought, the way he generalizes regarding his philosophical predecessors (and gets some things wrong), the conclusions he draws and the way he sometimes fails to follow his own advice -- they blend to create a picture of an intelligent, complex, and flawed character. Not unlike many of the book's readers. Maybe that is a key to the book's lasting impact -- at least to this point. Like Walden, the book has practically become an icon in the decades since it was published. A quick scan on Amazon reveals dozens of books using the title Zen and the Art of something ... of knitting ... of making a living ... of archery ... of falling in love ... of poker ... of day trading ... even of the actual maintenance of motorcycles. But unlike Walden, I think the high water mark for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has come and gone. It was an interesting and compelling re-read for me -- as it would no doubt be for others -- but as I worked through it I started to realize that much of its appeal was as a philosophical time capsule, a glimpse at a time when the globalization of ideas was still new, when East and West were further apart than they are today. Take that away and most of what is left is an adventure story about a cross country trip, a boy learning about his father, an introduction to a life led by beliefs rather than instinct. And that's not; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert M Pirsig Page; Review: I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for the first time a couple of years after it was published, when the eye-catching pink paperback cover was new to bookstores (I remember my parents talking about that bold color while we were on our own long trip of some kind). At that time, I was more or less the same age as the son of the book's narrator, Phaedrus, and of course I could not help but interpret the story from the younger man's perspective: this was an adventure story about a cross country trip, a boy learning about his father, an introduction to a life led by beliefs rather than instinct. Now, as an adult, I see things through Phaedrus' eyes -- which is to say author Robert Persig's eyes, since in terms of concepts (if not geography) it is considered autobiographical -- and I can recognize many of Phaedrus' musings and thoughts as those of a man who is at once confident of and also seeking his place in the world. The book is best known as a tribute or sequel to Henry David Thoreau's Walden, which Phaedrus refers to at several points. Others have pointed out, for example, that the protagonist's long (and not too interesting) discussion of what he carries in his knapsack recall Mr. Thoreau's own endless lists of the materials used to build his lakeside shack or the seeds he planted for his sustenance. But there is much more to this book than that. The provocative blend of Eastern and Western thought, the way he generalizes regarding his philosophical predecessors (and gets some things wrong), the conclusions he draws and the way he sometimes fails to follow his own advice -- they blend to create a picture of an intelligent, complex, and flawed character. Not unlike many of the book's readers. Maybe that is a key to the book's lasting impact -- at least to this point. Like Walden, the book has practically become an icon in the decades since it was published. A quick scan on Amazon reveals dozens of books using the title Zen and the Art of something ... of knitting ... of making a living ... of archery ... of falling in love ... of poker ... of day trading ... even of the actual maintenance of motorcycles. But unlike Walden, I think the high water mark for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has come and gone. It was an interesting and compelling re-read for me -- as it would no doubt be for others -- but as I worked through it I started to realize that much of its appeal was as a philosophical time capsule, a glimpse at a time when the globalization of ideas was still new, when East and West were further apart than they are today. Take that away and most of what is left is an adventure story about a cross country trip, a boy learning about his father, an introduction to a life led by beliefs rather than instinct. And that's not; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Italian Folktales; Author: Visit Amazon's Italo Calvino Page; Review: I haven't been a particular fan of folk tales in the years that have passed since more or less my tenth birthday, but it's hard not to adore this charming, magical, and fantastic collection of traditional Italian stories as recounted by master storyteller and author Italo Calvino. In the book's introduction, Mr. Calvino seems to regard his production of this almost 800-page volume as a sort of obligation. But in reading its pages, it's clear that it was really a labor of love, a massive project undertaken by an already established writer who had no need to produce something so unusual and challenging in order to help his own reputation. But we are clearly better off because of he did produce it. Inside are exactly 200 precious stories, parables, fables, and good old fashioned yarns -- all of them plucked from the Italian folk tradition, dusted off, and improved by Mr. Calvino. I admit that "improved" is not a word I'd usually want to read in regard to a modern production of classic literature, but from the bits and pieces I know from experience, improvement was needed: many of the tales were originally published based on cobbled together version of traditional oral stories with partially-developed sub-plots and characters whose names or motives change partway through the story. I have seen the original Italian versions of at least three of the stories between this book's covers -- Fra Ignazio, Rosemary, and the Peacock Feather -- and was thoroughly confounded by the original, only to be charmed later by Mr. Calvino's cleaner and more thoughtful retellings. It is important to remember that the Italian literary tradition dates further back in a direct line than any other in Western Europe: many of these tales were originally written in Italian long before the language evolved beyond being anything more than a vulgar street slang and when only Latin and Greek was spoken in the drawing rooms of literate Italians. And yet it wasn't until 1956 and Mr. Calvino's self-described obligation that more than a couple dozen or so of these wonderful stories was gathered in a single volume. Hats off also to George Martin, Mr. Calvino's translator, surprisingly enough, for only this book. Mr. Martin does a terrific job of preserving Mr. Calvino's cadence and subtle linguistic flare, and he does it while staying away from the temptation of translating too literally, a flaw that has a hold on many less talented translators.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill; Author: Visit Amazon's Ron Suskind Page; Review: The Price of Loyalty is really two books in one. The first part concentrates on painting a flattering picture of its main subject, former Treasury Secretary and Alcoa Chairman Paul O'Neill. This part is at times gratingly predictable, painting a picture of Mr. O'Neill as a maverick genius, the only member of President George W. Bush's inner circle with the awareness and valor to point out that the emperor has no clothes. The second part, which is much more interesting and important, points out that -- at least the way Mr. O'Neill tells the tale -- the emperor indeed has no clothes. I was briefly tempted to suggest that every American ought to read this book before voting in the upcoming election, but I won't because I think that its credibility is strained by the many times the two main themes of the book overlap. It is hard to avoid doubts about whether certain episodes are told with the goal of painting the preordained picture of Mr. O'Neill, the hero, or of Mr. Bush, the heel. I don't see it as a matter of honesty or dishonesty, but more of the kind of filter Mr. O'Neill passed information through and what might or might not make it through. Still, it's a worthwhile read: even though it weighs in at more than 350 pages, it is a fast and compelling read. More importantly, if even half of the convincing anecdotes -- about juggling budget numbers in national addresses, of disregarding evidence that would make war in Iraq more difficult to justify, of the way the Grand Old Party has been hijacked by its most Machiavellian wing -- are true, then there is a lot we should be worrying about. And though the White House has cast Mr. O'Neill's views as sour grapes from the highest level figure to have left the administration to date, there is little reason to doubt the statements and archives of a man who has been known for the occasional verbal gaffe and a lack of peripheral vision, but not for a lack of integrity.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Every Second Counts; Author: Visit Amazon's Lance Armstrong Page; Review: Cycling champion and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong starts out Every Second Counts by explaining that in his mind, one of the hardest things in the world is to do something twice. He was talking, of course, about repeating as champion of the Tour de France after his stunning victory in 1999. But he could have just as well been apologizing in advance for this rushed and poorly organized effort, Mr. Armstrong's second autobiography after the inspiring and hugely popular volume It's Not About the Bike. I am puzzled by the sloppiness of this book, unless it was hurried along in order to have it in bookstores in time for the holidays. Whatever the reason, readers who found this book in their stockings were treated to two spellings for the name of Mr. Armstrong's colorful teammate, Floyd Landis/Landes, and were told twice within the span of one paragraph that riders would not leave the mountains until the final three days of the 2002 Tour. More importantly, the narrative drifts wildly in terms of what it is trying to do. At points the aim seems to be telling Mr. Armstrong's side of his failed marriage or the constant drug testing he must undergo. Sometimes Mr. Armstrong tells us that just finishing an grueling event like the Tour de France is an accomplishment, and later he says that he'll quit the moment he realizes that he can't win. He tries to take ammunition away from critics who think he's a hothead or too self centered. A few times, Mr. Armstrong even puts on his philosopher's cap and opines about politics, love, Sept, 11, the duties of public figures like himself, or the notion that everyone ought to adopt a cause. By trying to be almost everything, Every Second Counts risks being about nothing. It's the same problem that befalls many singers who have big hits on their first records, or championship teams that disappoint a year later. Luckily for cycling fans, the same thing didn't happen to Mr. Armstrong on the bike, where, through 2003 at least, he maintained the hunger and strength necessary to overcome what must have been an enormous and growing temptation to rest on his laurels and enjoy what he accomplished. And that brings us to one of the two main things that are right about this book. Every Second Counts is clearly at its best where Mr. Armstrong is most passionate: the parts dealing with riding and racing, and those dealing with his own recovery from cancer and his work with other cancer victims. Even with the help of an accomplished journalist like Sally Jenkins, Mr. Armstrong has never come across as much of a writer, but when his passion shines through that hardly matters. He would have been much better off if he had simply stayed with what he knows best and cares most about. Oh, yes, and found a better copy editor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bacchae; Author: Visit Amazon's Euripides Page; Review: I didn't read Medea when I was in school, but I have now read through this slim tragedy twice over the last month, and the more I think about it the more I find the story line and its captivating protagonist fascinating and current. Before opening the play, my knowledge of Medea had been limited to the occasional reference to it in news reports involving infanticide -- not something that made me eager to read the original. Though Medea does take the lives of her children in a twisted revenge plot, it would be a serious mistake to consider that unforgettable act the central part of the play. Instead, it is Medea's evolution that is most important. Despite the fact that she gave up her life to follow Jason, Medea is revealed as a kind of proto-feminist early on in the story, a woman defined more by cleverness than by rage ... and yet never seeming merely cunning or calculating. Sadly, this kind of dominating and complex female character would be somewhat unusual by the standards of popular literature today; she must have been exceptionally remarkable in the day of Euripedes, the play's author. The tragedy itself indicates this kind of reversal in several ways, ranging from the manner in which Creon reacts to Medea in their conversation near the end of the story to the way the chorus makes mention of streams flowing upwards in the mountains. But for all its value, Medea does not stand on its own. Readers must know what ancient Greek audiences already knew: that Medea sacrificed everything, including her life in her home country, to help Jason win the treasured Golden Fleece and to mother his children. But soon she is abandoned in favor of a woman of more noble birth, which is where the play begins. This edition -- not the play itself -- loses a star for failing to explain that context in what could have been a very brief but invaluable introduction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Galileo's Mistake: A New Look At the Epic Confrontation Between Galileo and the Church; Author: Visit Amazon's Wade Rowland Page; Review: Wade Rowland, author of Galileo's Mistake, certainly doesn't have much faith in conventional wisdom. Most people were taught that the conflict between Galileo Galilei and the Vatican was the last gasp of the Age of Faith before it gave way to the Age of Reason -- a view seemingly supported by the church itself, which in 1992 officially admitted it had wronged Galileo. But it is Mr. Rowland's contention that the venerable mathematician and astronomer was not a casualty of a revengeful and backward church but instead a victim of historical circumstances and his own lack of tact. Mr. Rowland notes, for example, that the church never bothered Nicolaus Copernicus, who proved mathematically that the earth rotated around the sun more than 20 years before Galileo was even born and nearly a century before Galileo's famous summons to Rome. The difference, of course, is that between what Copernicus said in 1543 and what Galileo was told in 1632, Rome experienced the full brunt of the protestant reformation and responded with its own counter-reformation: the Holy See could no longer afford dissent that that kind. Those are the historical circumstances. Galileo's lack of tact, his "mistake" as Mr. Rowland puts it, is more complicated. While Copernicus presented his views in the Latin "De Revolutionibus," Galileo made his mark with "Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany" which was written in Italian, a vulgar street language at the time. More importantly, where Copernicus released his proofs on his deathbed and to a largely academic community, a Galileo just past middle age touted to a wider audience that his proof showed that the scientific method was clearly superior to the Bible as a way to understand the universe. And lastly, while the church warned Galileo to stop his promotion of the scientific method in 1616, Galileo came back to it just 16 years later when he published "Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems," where he ostensibly explained both sides of the heliocentric-geocentric debate but made no mistake about which side made most sense in his mind. The Vatican, Mr. Rowland states, had no option but to call Galileo to Rome. It is when it describes the circumstances Galileo's trial rather than the circumstances of the theological debate that this book is most interesting. Like the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial or the case against Rosa Parks in 1955, Galileo's trial was about rules being broken and not about whether the rules were right or wrong. In that light, Mr. Rowland writes that a narcissistic Galileo was clearly guilty of breaking the rules set out by an embattled and desperate church -- a church that showed its leniency by placing Galileo under house arrest rather than burning him at the stake as was common at the time. To make his points, Mr. Rowland uses fictionalized dialogue and he creates situations where he takes certain liberties to fill in the gaps between what is known as fact, and for its part, the writing flows easily (revealing Mr. Rowland's journalistic background). But for all that, Galileo's Mistake; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Stones of Florence; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary McCarthy Page; Review: After reading The Stones of Florence, I speculated that although author Mary McCarthy has a good feel for words and a certain passion for Florence, she must have been in a bad mood when she started writing. Now, I'm not someone who looks for travel literature that overly romanticizes the places it covers. But painting an accurate picture of a place is one thing, and grumbling under one's breath is rather something else. Yet with The Stones of Florence one can almost imagine Ms. McCarthy's scowl as she rails against other writers who write about Florence, about the tourists who visit the city, the traffic on its streets, and the smog that surrounds it. Although modern environmental laws have improved the air quality in Florence in the years since this book was written in 1964, the city has become an ever more popular subject for writers, the traffic has worsened, and the crowds of tourists have grown larger and less cosmopolitan ... I shudder to imagine what Ms. McCarthy would write today. In my eyes, most of the book's value comes from the fact that it is considered one of the parents of modern travel writing, a blend of history, literature, autobiography, and intelligence gathering. For students of the genre, this would probably make an interesting read. But for anyone thinking of reading this ahead of a long-awaited trip to the storied Tuscan capital, I dare say that seeing the city first from Ms. McCarthy's often jaded point of view could color the experience in an undesirable way.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fermata; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholson Baker Page; Review: This is probably my favorite book from Nicholson Baker, the modern master of minutiae. Mr. Baker has a gift for capturing the essence of habits, thoughts, reactions, and objects that are so small, so insignificant that most people don't ever notice them ... and yet when Mr. Baker puts them on the page, he gets it just right. None of the half dozen of so books I've read from Mr. Baker sound like much when the plots are summarized, and that is certainly the case with The Fermata. The book's story line is based on the ability of the 35-year-old narrator Arno Strine to somehow stop time, and most of the pages are used up with explorations of how he decides what he can and can't do while time is stopped. The unimpressive story line means that the value of the book depends almost entirely on Mr. Baker's ability to keep the prose engaging. Sometimes it doesn't work (as with his more recent effort Box of Matches) and sometimes it works well, as with The Fermata. As always, what holds it together when it works is Mr. Baker's memory for trivia, his intelligence, and his eye for detail: witness the title: "Fermata," the noun form of the word "stop" in Italian, is also a musical term that means holding a note longer than the time value -- a perfect name for a book with this kind of plot. Ultimately, my criticism of The Fermata is one shared by all of Mr. Baker's books and all literature based on prose rather than memorable plots or characters. In my mind, they're like the old clich about Chinese food, which tastes great but leaves you hungry a few hours later. In the case of this book, the prose keeps the pages turning, but when you're through, very little of it sticks with you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No Way to Treat a First Lady; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Buckley Page; Review: Author Christopher Buckley, whose razor wit somehow transformed a spokesman for the tobacco industry a sympathetic protagonist in Thank You For Smoking, sets his sites on the alleged assassination of the president in No Way To Treat A First Lady. What's next? A comedic treatment of domestic abuse or drug addiction? Whatever it is, based on the two efforts of Mr. Buckley I have read so far, it is bound to be an entertaining and intelligent. This time around, Mr. Buckely sets up fictional circumstances that hilariously skewer the scandals surrounding Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Cochran and OJ Simpson, Marc Rich, Monica Lewinsky, and the American legal system. Don't be surprised to find yourself laughing, loudly and often. A friend of mine calls this kind of book a "warm shower" -- it's nice when you're in it, he says, but the good feeling doesn't last long once you step out onto the bathmat. It's a characterization I can't deny, but I'll say that this warm shower is better than most. It won't force you to ask yourself important questions, and it won't affect the way you see the world. But as an easy-to-read story that manages to keep the pages turning without insulting anyone's intelligence, it's hard to beat.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rider; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Krabbe Page; Review: Cycling holds a unique niche in the world of sports. It is a delicate balance between rider and machine, between strength and tactics, between the individual and the team, between man and the elements. Anyone who has ever ridden seriously knows that almost any serious ride is an epic journey, an endless series of choices and possibilities, of suffering and pleasure. To date, I have read nothing that captures the real essence of that experience nearly as well as Tim Krabb's The Rider, which was originally published in 1978 in Amsterdam and which appeared in English only in 2002. Like a racing bike that has been relieved off all excess weight and trimmed of anything that could increase resistance against the wind, The Rider is prose in its most basic and stripped down form. There is hardly a wasted or misplaced word here: the writing is crisp, powerful, efficient, and compelling. The little book weighs in at just 148 pages, just a little more than one for each of the 137 kilometers of the Tour de Mont Aigoual, by all rights a nondescript semi-pro bicycle race through the rolling mountains of Cvennes, in south central France. It may not sound like much, but Mr. Krabb breathes life into it by describing perfectly what goes on inside a racer's head: everything from relevant glimpses at strategy -- in addition to being a strong rider and an even better writer, Mr. Krabb may be best known as a chess champion, and his eye for tactics and detail shows -- to interesting thoughts about his own athletic career, about philosophy, fantasy, his competitors, and fascinating memories from cycling history. The book is set in the 1970s, a time that will seem quaint to riders who have become interested in the sport only over the last few years: a period when riders made decisions about strategy rather than have it radioed into their ear pieces, when leather straps and not titanium clips held the shoes to the pedals, and when riders packed half an orange and a few figs in their pockets to fuel the ride rather than the latest scientific miracle mix. I found it all exhilarating. As I leafed through my copy of the book earlier in order to double check a few facts before writing this review, I found myself happily re-reading some of the more compelling passages. While I was doing so, two (non-cyclist) friends stopped by and I read out loud to them Mr. Krabb's dramatic account of Charley Gaul's stunning victory in the 1956 Giro d'Italia ... and they were unimpressed. Which brings me to why I withheld one star from what I think is an excellent book: its appeal is far from universal. Unless you are a rider -- or at the very least, a serious fan of the sport or very close to someone who is a rider -- then I think it will be difficult to appreciate the discussions of the nervousness that accompanies a rapid descent from the mountains or the thought that goes into choosing; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: God Is My Broker: A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth; Author: Christopher Buckley; Review: I guess I'm firmly in the growing Christopher Buckley fan base, and so I'm not sure how objective I am when I write a review of one of his books. Suffice it to say that this one -- written with collaborator John Tierney-- has the same crisp writing, the same kinds of unusual story lines and plot twists, the same kinds of colorful characters that made Mr. Buckley's other novels wonderful examples of worthwhile light reading. In this story, a failed investment banker becomes a monk and in the incarnation of Brother Ty, he somehow becomes a catalyst in the ethically flawed rebirth of the monastery's wine. The story is a satire that takes aim at self-help books, but as someone raised Catholic (and practically living in the shadow of the Vatican), a former financial journalist, and a wine lover ... well, a story line that among other things takes aim at the Holy See, Wall Street, and Napa Valley hit close to home in too many ways for me not to love it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Defense of Globalization; Author: Jagdish Bhagwati; Review: Aside from a small handful of real Luddites, I don't think there are many people left who are against all forms of globalization, nor can there be many who are completely in favor of it, warts and all. But you'd never know that based on most of what's written on the subject: most literature on the subject tends to treat discussions of the global economy in black-and-white terms. Authors, essayists, and columnists too often rely on gimmicky strategies that pull on the heartstrings but do little to examine the real pros and cons of an increasingly global world, focusing more on what's wrong than on what can be done. And discussion I've seen too often takes too narrow a view -- life in a particular village, the impact on a specific industry -- for a well-rounded debate to take shape. In Defense of Globalization is the first effort I've seen in a long time that manages to avoid most of those pitfalls, relying on objective and unemotional discussions of evidence rather than anecdotes, and presenting its arguments in a straightforward and gimmick-free way. It is full of important information and still eminently readable. Opponents of globalization usually base their arguments against the international market economy on a few strong points: that it encourages child labor, that it erodes democracy, that it weakens the plight of women in the developing world, that it kills local cultures, and that it harms the environment. In this book, scholar and author Jagdish Bhagwati addresses each of those issues in a series of chapters that make up the heart of the book. But globalization proponents will not find in In Defense of Globalization a blind defense of their views. Mr. Bhagwati takes the anti-globalization points seriously. He goes so far as to show that he shares many of the anti-globalists' views and values (especially regarding poverty), and he points out many areas where unchecked global capitalism has the potential to do more harm than good. This makes the book much more effective than it would have been otherwise. But despite all that, Mr. Bhagwati still sees free trade as the best was to raise incomes and speed up the long-term development of the world's poorest economies, and he compellingly illustrates why any kind of trade protection -- no matter how noble its intent -- in the end leaves the protected and the protected against worse off. And unlike many efforts of this kind, it doesn't simply stop at pointing out what's wrong -- it offers many options for improving the current situation. In the end, In Defense of Globalization is not aimed at partisans on either side of the globalization debate if what they are looking for is information to back up what they already believe. This is a book will make anyone who thinks much about globalization think again ... and perhaps realize they share more than they thought with the opposite side.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Niall Ferguson Page; Review: I find this whole book to be more than a little disturbing. But while it is mostly a forward-looking effort from the sadly puzzling historian and author Niall Ferguson, I find it most frightening when it looks to the past. It's in those parts of his thesis that Mr. Ferguson argues, for example, that the U.S. should have dropped as many as 50 atom bombs on China in order to end the Korean War quickly and neatly, and where he opines that the Vietnam War should have been fought even more ruthlessly starting back in the mid-1960s, as a way to snap the North's resolve. It was all enough to compel me to temporarily close Colossus with a scowl and a wrinkled brow to reach for the comfort of a dusty old volume containing he works of Tacitus, the first and second century Roman historian who Mr. Ferguson no doubt knows far better than I do. Tacitus, best known for his opinions about the throne's power to corrupt and the scandals and ruined lives its corruption produced, famously wrote about Domitian's reign of terror: "They made a desert and called it victory." Evidently, if Mr. Ferguson had his way, the desert would stretch far beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. He backed the controversial U.S. war effort in Iraq from its first rumblings, criticizing it only where it has paused to reassess or deny its imperial designs when that time could have been used to forcefully to indiscriminately crush resistance (or anything that appears to be resistance ... or that might evolve into resistance). He argues for a U.S. foreign policy along the lines of that employed by imperial Britain, endeavoring to win the Middle East's hearts and minds by ruling their pocketbooks and politics. If these dangerous points had been made by almost anyone else, I would have stopped reading after 30 or 40 pages and dismissed the writer as a crackpot. But I grew to know Mr. Ferguson through the Pity of War and The House of Rothschild -- not books that swayed me with every argument, but which were full of worthwhile, uncommon, meaty, and complex theories that forced me more than once to dramatically reconsider what I believed. And while last year's troubling effort Empire now seems like a kind of uncomfortable preface to Colossus, it had been easy for me until now to dismiss that book as an aberration. So I returned to Colossus after a short break and finished its 400 pages, sadly shaking my head almost the whole time. Without a doubt, Mr. Ferguson is a talented writer with a stunning command of information and historical context. He writes compellingly and with great enthusiasm, more so in Colossus than in his earlier work. But it appears to me to be sorely misdirected here: he fails to convince that the U.S. has the power to develop the kind of empire he describes and, more importantly, he fails to explain why it should even try to do so. I get the idea that without many decades of time to; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Under the Banner of Heaven : A Story of Violent Faith; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Krakauer Page; Review: Under the Banner of Heaven has several chilling storylines between its covers. The horrible centerpiece of the book is the 1984 case of a two fundamentalist Mormon brothers who brutally murdered their sister in law and her infant daughter; and the context comes from the colorful description of the Mormon church's first decades, when violence apparently became a cornerstone of the faith. But the undercurrent is about the place of religion in America -- a theme that comes to a head during the murder trial of the Lafferty boys. In justifying their unspeakable crime, the Laffertys claimed they were acting on direct orders from God, who told them that the two victims were standing in the way of His plans. Attorneys developed an insanity defense, claiming -- not unreasonably -- that anyone who believes such an "order" could not be sane. But the book points out that so-called normal religious people believe many things that don't stand to objective reasoning: the virgin birth, for example, or the transformation of bread into the body of Christ. Are these people insane as well? If not, who decides what religious beliefs are rational and which are not? And if there is no objective standard to judge these things by, does that amount to a sanction of atrocious acts committed by would-be messiahs like the Laffertys? A more or less similar story could have been written about any number of other ghastly crimes (author Jon Krakauer mentions several in passing in Under the Banner of Heaven), and the Mormon church by no means has a monopoly on violent histories. But Mr. Krakauer does make a compelling and highly readable case that the basic beliefs of Mormons (e.g., the church's historical reliance on violence, its love-hate relationship with polygamy and government authority, and the belief that every member can receive direct revelations from God) make this sort of event more common. And he certainly tells the story of the Laffertys in a way that will keep readers turning the pages even as they shake their heads in disbelief. Several of my fellow reviewers have dismissed this book as anti-Mormon propaganda, and after reading it I can certainly understand why it is not a best-seller in Salt Lake City. But I cannot have an opinion about how subjective the book might be since I am far from being an expert on Mormon history. Until now, my views of the church had been shaped by bits of information I'd been taught in U.S. history classes, a single trip through heavily Mormon northern Utah, the glossy public relations campaigns from the mainstream church, and a small handful of interactions with Mormons over the years. But what is clear is that Mr. Krakauer did an extraordinary amount of research to produce this book. He weaves together stories of dozens of historical and contemporary Mormon families in far-flung outposts of the American west, Mexico, and Canada, mixed in with historical records, news accounts, and Mormon doctrine. Other non-fiction writers would do well to read Under the Banner of Heaven if for no; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birth of the Chess Queen: A History; Author: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Yalom Page; Review: Every once in a while, I read an appealing book and say to myself, "It's about time somebody wrote something like this!" But the most interesting books I've read are about things I never would have though anyone would write about, which is exactly how I would categorize Birth of the Chess Queen: A History. To be honest, I've still got some misdoubts about this ... but I guess a book can't be bad if I find myself scribbling notes to myself every few pages. I've been a chess player for nearly as long as I've known how to read, and I admit I have wondered from time to time why in a game with early Muslim roots that was popularized in Europe during the Middle Ages -- neither culture known for its egalitarian qualities -- would be so dominated by a single powerful female piece, the way the queen dominates chess. Author and Stanford University gender scholar Marilyn Yalom's thoughts on the same subject were no doubt the starting point for this book, which is filled with information that any chess player or anyone curious about gender roles will find interesting. For example, the queen piece evolved from the vizier (a bearded male piece that was like an anemic bishop, able to move only one diagonal space in any direction), who stood next to the king in one form or another for five centuries before the queen definitively appeared. Even then, the evolution was not universal: several games using the hapless vizier are still played in the Middle East, and the game most folks now know as chess is in some cultures still called "queen's chess," treating it as a derivative of some lost standard version of the game. The first chess queen appears in the 10th or 11th century, and it seems to have taken her around 300 years to accumulate the power she has today. But more interesting -- even if somewhat unconvincing -- than a mere collection of trivia are Ms. Yalom's theories about why this evolution took place the way it did. I was thrilled by her research to uncover what she calls "missing link" pieces, chess pieces no longer used but that played an intermediate role between the original colored lumps that the Moors played the game with when they arrived in Spain the eighth century (the Koran doesn't allow the depiction of living creatures) to the six distinct pieces used today. She find the mention of the queen piece in a late 10th century Swiss manuscript, what appear to be 11th century ivory queens in Italy, and a distinctly female face on a queen a century later in Spain. She writes that the queen was able to give the vizier the boot thanks to the rising status of women in medieval Europe, the same period when the Virgin Mary started to play more than a bit role in the church's teachings. Ms. Yalom comes up with other examples to support the idea, some well known and some less well known. She mentions the 10th century; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crazy Like a Fox: The Inside Story of How Fox News Beat CNN; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Collins Page; Review: Whenever I watch Fox news, HL Mencken's comment that "nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people" comes to mind. But while I and many others might complain that the new king of the cable television wars sins by appealing to the lowest common denominator, it is also clear that it has -- for good or for bad -- reinvented a sector less than a decade after arch-rival CNN invented it. While the title of this book might imply that it focuses mostly on the seven-year history of Fox news, it is really about the evolution of the sector as a whole. Well documented is Fox's blatant disregard for conventions most journalists consider (or considered) beyond reproach -- above all the value of objectivity and a healthy suspicion of institutions -- but the central argument is how it forced its values on rivals CNN and MSNBC, the well-funded joint venture between Microsoft and NBC. The book is an accessible read, well researched, objective in its take on the subject (author Scott Collins works for the Los Angeles Times, and not one of the three main players in the sector), and packed with enough information to even satisfy people in the business. But despite all that, I think it also misses the real spark behind Fox's rise. Mr. Collins' central argument can be boiled down to a 1995 Times Mirror poll he cites that reported that while 40 percent of Americans said they were politically conservative only 5 percent of journalists did. Fox, he argues, rose up to compensate for that lopsidedness. While that is no doubt relevant, I think it is also a simplification. I see the main difference between the pre-Fox and post-Fox worlds of news coverage not as one between circumstances in which conservatives did not have a voice and one in which they do, but instead a story about a society that is losing its empathy, its tolerance for opposing views. The arguments for why that took place are best left for another day, but if one accepts the point it becomes clear that Fox is not a cause but a symptom.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eats, Shoots and Leaves; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynne Truss Page; Review: The only thing that most of the reviews about this book has in common is their grammar and punctuation -- most folks seem to love the book, several rail against it, and a handful appear to have no opinion. But almost nobody has been willing to read this unlikely best seller and then write a review that ignores the lessons about punctuation the book focuses on. That in itself offers strong proof about its value. Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a charming book and an unusual success story, and I applaud it for bringing to the fore a debate about the aspect of our language that has suffered most from its inundation under a sea of Internet chat and cellular text messaging. Using a mix of humor and anecdotes, author and journalist Lynne Truss manages to create a highly readable and enjoyable primer that not only explains how punctuation works but why it is important. If you have any doubt, witness the sentence: "A woman without her man is nothing." Now add two lonely punctuation marks and the meaning is turned on its head: "A woman: without her, man is nothing." The title of the book is another example -- it is supposed to be a description of the diet of pandas, but because of poor punctuation it sounds more like a complaint about a murderous dinner guest. Fair warning: American readers might have problems with some of Ms. Truss's vocabulary (a "fag" is a cigarette in England; "rubbers" are erasers), and her statements about placing all punctuation marks outside quotation marks and the frequency with which she uses Britishisms like "actually" and "obviously" will stand out to readers already comfortable with their grip on grammar and punctuation. A lot of those problems could have been eliminated by putting the manuscript in the hands of a thoughtful editor before releasing it in the United States. I also have a problem with treating punctuation as an end rather than as a means to an end. I think anyone who writes even a grocery list while trying to remember thousands of often archaic and obscure rules could starve to death before they ever make it to the supermarket. The ultimate goal should be to make the writer's intent clear. Punctuation is simply a tool to that end.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ulysses; Author: Visit Amazon's James Joyce Page; Review: I am writing this review on the 100th anniversary of the most famous day in the life of the wandering Jewish Dubliner Leopold Bloom, who was created by James Joyce and immortalized in Ulysses. "Bloomsday," as this day is called in some circles, prompted me to once again revisit this vast, difficult, and important book. I should note that I have only read Ulysses from cover to cover once, and that was more than 15 years ago. But I refer to it and re-read parts of it periodically, even though the years appear to have dampened some of my enthusiasm for this brick of a book. The more I think about Ulysses, the more I decide that most of the value of reading and understanding the book (two very different things, by the way) comes from its ambition and the impact it has had on 20th century literature. This is the work that -- probably to the chagrin of literature students everywhere -- more or less invented the stream of consciousness style of literature, and which literary historians say marked the start of the modern era in English literature. The narrative, a nearly 800-page examination into the events in Leopold Bloom's life on June 16, 1904, is dense but also very compelling, and the language is often crisp and colorful. Unfortunately, the language is even more often a bizarre maze of metaphors, references, and descriptions so inaccessible that some scholars think they may contain some kind of secret code. At one point, the erotic and deflating soliloquy of Molly Bloom (Leopold's wife) takes up something like 25,000 words unmarred by a single punctuation mark -- a section long enough to be published separately as a novella. Without a doubt, a similar book written today by an unknown talent would never find its way the shelves of the neighborhood Books-A-Million without first shedding 300 or 400 pages under the red ink of some unfortunate editor. There's also little doubt that the modern literary cannon is better off for the fact that that didn't happen when Mr. Joyce produced this seminal work. Readers are also better off, but only the ones willing to work at it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yakov and the Seven Thieves; Author: Visit Amazon's Madonna Page; Review: I had occasion to read Yakov and the Seven Thieves on a recent visit to some friends who have small children and I have to admit I was absorbed by the book's star power. And the story from pop music icon Madonna isn't bad either. Which is a way of saying that I think the real star of this book is Russian illustrator Gennadii Spirin, who manages to create a magical eastern European world of fanciful architecture and fashion and dreamlike snowy settings using mostly color washings and a trusty No. 2 pencil. The five- and seven-year-old children I read the story to already knew the book before I arrived, and it was the illustrations and not the story that had them giggling in delight. That said, the story itself is pretty good. Madonna's writing style is crisp and fresh -- probably something she developed by writing some of the world's best-known pop songs over the last generation. She seems very comfortable in her role as a storyteller, at least until the last pages, when the story becomes rushed in order to tie everything up while making sure that the moral isn't lost on its diminutive audience. But the kids didn't seem to mind that. The story is about a fellow called Yakov, a village cobbler with a sickly child. When the traditional medicine and the town's wisest elder all fail to help the poor boy, Yakov turns to a cast of characters whose names give a clue to their morals: Ivan the Arsonist, for example, or Vladimir the Villain. The boy is miraculously cured. The point is that we've all got a little bit of Vladimir the Villain in us, and if we are bold enough to admit that and fight these dark tendencies, well, then anything is possible. I am no expert about contemporary children's books, but the moral seems a bit more religious than Mother Goose and the Grimm's Fairytales I grew up with. Again that's a likely reflection on the author, who is famously devoted to Kabbalah, a kind of Jewish mysticism. Fortunately, it is the philosophy's moral values and not its mysticism that shines through. Using the old schoolhouse grading system, I'd call it a sold B -- good enough to consider buying for children in the appropriate age group, but not quite good enough to stop you from wondering if you'd even be thinking about it if it had not been written by one of the world's most recognized popular culture figures.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lance Armstrong: Images of a Champion; Author: Visit Amazon's Lance Armstrong Page; Review: Lance Armstrong: Images of a Champion is squarely aimed at the growing market niche made up of die-hard Lance Armstrong fans, and if you count yourself in that crowd it's hard to imagine you won't be thrilled by what this well-made volume has to offer. But if you are more of a general cycling fan -- as I am -- then chances are you'll decide that this collaboration between Mr. Armstrong and Graham Watson, cycling's photographer of record, is a bit too much of a good thing, a level of hero worship that borders on awkwardness. That said, Mr. Watson's photography is as always excellent and even if the level of detail in the text doesn't rival that of Mr. Armstrong's two autobiographies (It's Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts) it is really more of a commentary than a narrative, and that saves it from being redundant to the other efforts. The book has an undercurrent about specialization as a factor of Mr. Armstrong's success -- the same level of specialization that resulted in the book itself. While Mr. Armstrong's legacy as one of cycling's greatest champions is secure, history may also remember him as the man who proved once and for all the value of focusing on one big race each year rather than simply trying to achieve a good level of fitness and then racing as often as possible, as most previous champions did. This book is just as specialized: it's not about it's not about a sport, or an event, or a team, or a race. It's not even about a man and all the dimensions that implies. It's about a great cyclist. Now, is that good or bad? The way you answer that question will determine whether or not you should buy this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skinny Dip; Author: Visit Amazon's Carl Hiaasen Page; Review: Skinny Dip could make a decent even if politically correct 250-page read for the beach this summer -- if only the book weren't almost 400 pages long. This is the first book I've read by Carl Hiaasen, who has made a name for himself with what I have read are bitingly hilarious narratives mostly set in my native Florida. I picked up Skinny Dip on a whim, looking for a well-told but light story to read in the summer heat, and I was only partially rewarded. The story does have its moments. The story's feckless antagonist, a biologist called Chaz, is initially cast as a villain by explaining that he doesn't separate his papers and plastics for recycling. On the payroll of a rule-bending tycoon, Chaz fakes test results to mask fertilizer runoffs in the Florida Everglades and then he throws his wife over the side of the ship on an anniversary cruise to prevent her from discovering the deed. She survives only by grabbing onto a bale of marijuana that happened to be floating by, and vows to take revenge. It's not Ulysses, of course, but it was never met to be. Where Skinny Dip falls short is in its pacing and its politics. The poor rhythm of the tale comes from its length, which includes too many dead spots to make it the kind of page-turner it could have been with a more aggressive editor (see the lengthy and ultimately unsatisfying revenge plot of the cannabis-hugging wife). And the politically correct characterizations -- however admirable they might seem at first -- are in the end tiring. Mr. Hiaasen seems more than a little earnest in the moral undertones he creates. The book's obvious environmental subplot, the use of a character who vows to never misuse the services of illegal aliens again, a host of smiling good guys who never drink and who will their assets to charity -- it's enough to make it seems like the obvious lessons and not the narrative are the point of the book. That may work with children's stories, but one presumes that adults' literary tastes are more involved -- even when they are lounging at the seaside.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Oxford Dictionary of Popes; Author: Visit Amazon's J. N. D. Kelly Page; Review: Without a doubt, this is the best available general resource source on papal histories, well referenced and organized with a no-nonsense writing style that makes it both an invaluable source of information for scholars and a fun book to just open to a random page and read. The collection of papal mini-biographies here is the most complete I know of, including even the various anti-popes and the historically questionable Pope Joan. Where the available information is incomplete or contradictory, author, editor and researcher J.N.D. Kelly usually points that out. Other books give more information about specific aspects of the papacy, but none offers such a wide range of information between two compact covers. My one complaint is a minor one: Mr. Kelly's judgments about what did and did not happen and who should and should not have been pope (regarding everything from Pope Joan and the anti-popes to conspiracy theories surrounding the unexpected death of Pope John Paul I in 1978) tend toward the official Vatican view more often than I'd like. But a book has to take some point of view, and if Mr. Kelly had done the opposite I'd probably be complaining now that he was a bit too antagonistic for my taste. All in all, this is an irreplaceable resource for any theologian, religious scholar, or intellectually curious reader.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Distance: Ovett And Coe: The Record Breaking Rivalry; Author: Visit Amazon's Pat Butcher Page; Review: The Perfect Distance is an extremely fascinating look at one of the most intriguing athletic rivalries of the last generation. In the early 1980s, the drama represented by the races -- both real and virtual -- between Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett were on par with the more or less contemporary rivalries between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. As author Pat Butcher -- a fair middle distance runner in his own right -- points out, as with all great rivalries, the battles between Mr. Coe and Mr. Ovett attracted attention as much because of the athletes' personalities as because of their prodigious talents. Mr. Coe -- now Lord Coe -- was the refined and cultured middle class boy, compared to Mr. Ovett, the muscular and brash son of market trader. Based on his world record for 800 meters that lasted for an amazing 16 years and his successful defense of his 1500-meter title at the Los Angeles Olympics, Mr. Coe was probably the most successful of the two. But such comparisons are really not relevant with a rivalry like this one. These two men traded world records -- some of which stood for mere hours before the other crushed them half a continent away -- in a way that entranced any sports fan in the early 1980s. Each won the other's specialty at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, and Mr. Ovett once won 45 races in a row over nearly three years, a record unlikely to ever be duplicated at the highest level. As a high school and university-level middle distance runner at that time, the battles between these two great athletes had no small influence on me, which is why I decided to buy this book the moment I saw it. But the thing that pushes this volume over the top is the way Mr. Butcher interprets the men's dominance. Why has the drama of the middle distance never approached the pitch it had during Mr. Coe and Mr. Ovett's best years? Mr. Butcher points the finger at the two champions themselves. As someone who closely followed the sport 20 or more years ago, I was amazed to find that Messrs. Coe and Ovett raced each other only seven times in the 15-year span during which they were both active, and four of those were in Olympic finals. In addition to avoiding serious competition outside the biggest of races, they pioneered the use of professional pacemakers in world record attempts, a still-used strategy that harvested them a combined 17 world records but also turned the middle distances into a mechanical and predictable exercise that has virtually eliminated serious competition outside of the world championships and the Olympics. In the end, The Perfect Distance forced me to reconsider my romanticized view of the careers of these two great champions, which is in itself significant. It is an original effort, compellingly written, with an insider's understanding of the sport. And yet it remains accessible to the casual sports fan looking for; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Way to Paradise: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mario Vargas Llosa Page; Review: At first glance, The Way To Paradise is a classic example of Mario Vargas Llosa's style: interesting and unusual characters, colorful settings, poetic prose. The book even uses Mr. Vargas Llosa's preferred device of switching between narratives in alternating chapters as he did with such great success in Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter and The Feast of the Goat, among others. But in the end, I think, the story falls well short of those other two wonderful books, for a variety of reasons that left me puzzled. First, I'll add my name to the chorus of reviewers who were left confused by Mr. Vargas Llosa's decision to pepper his narrative with second-hand comments from the book's two main characters (especially with Flora Tristn, who seems to ask herself at least once every page something like "but you could not have known that, could you, Flora?"). More importantly, the style of alternating chapters between the story of Ms. Tristn, a 19th century social reformer, and her grandson Paul Gauguin, the painter, doesn't work nearly as well here as it does elsewhere. That is mostly because the two stories have very little to do with each other. Ms. Tristn and Mr. Gauguin were related -- though they never met each other -- but aside from a few passing and insignificant comments by Mr. Gauguin about his grandmother, one story line never crossed. Are you interested in the story of Ms. Tristn's epic battle to mobilize workers in France in the 1840s? Then read the odd-numbered chapters. Do you prefer the story of the famous painter of Tahiti and Tahitians around the turn of the 20th Century? Then skip the odd and read only the even-numbered installments. The one common thread between the two narratives is hinted at in the title: in their own way, both Ms. Tristn and Mr. Gauguin spend their lives trying to reach a certain kind of paradise. In the case of the former, it's through trying to create a kind of workers' paradise in which women and laborers are protagonists. In the case of the latter, it is through fleeing the closed art world of Paris in the 1880s for the paradise of Tahiti, where Mr. Gauguin felt the savage and pure soul of mankind was still bare to see. But in the end, all both characters find is frustration and, of course, death. Days after finishing the book, it is both characters' deaths that stick with me the most. Mr. Vargas Llosa describes their physical declines with horrible consistency. The biting and consuming gut pains that crippled Ms. Tristn upset my own stomach. And the periodic descriptions of the insects attracted to the foul-smelling puss dripping from Mr. Gauguin's syphilis sores more than once left a bitter scowl on my face. Mr. Vargas Llosa does deserve kudos for the way he brings two distant and distinct historical characters to life, his second consecutive historical novel in which mounds of research make the actual history seem at once central and effortless. If you are a fan of Mr. Vargas Llosa's; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Modern Classics Scoop Centennial Edition (Penguin Modern Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Evelyn Waugh Page; Review: Call William Boot the Forrest Gump of the 1930s: oblivious to the process he is a part of, he continually finds himself in the right place at the right time, blindly stumbling onto the Big Story that made him a reluctant hero. In Scoop, Evelyn Waugh -- one of the most famous curmudgeons of English literature -- produces an enjoyable and easy-to-read satire that will recall the novels of P.G. Wodehouse and Graham Greene's lighter efforts. In the book, Mr. Waugh points his razor wit toward the media, royalty, politics, warfare, and travel, all in the context of a fictional and fanciful war in the made-up Republic of Ishmaelia that is based on Italy's ill-fated war in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), which Mr. Waugh himself covered as a young reporter. His sharpest barbs are saved for his one-time profession, which he paints as being populated by lazy and back-stabbing prima donnas incapable of independent thought and more interested in style -- or at least the appearance of style -- than in substance. The bland Boot, the story's protagonist who is a decent enough fellow but a hopeless journalist, manages to get far closer to the truth than any of his colleagues but does so only by chance. Though the attitudes, language, and practices described in Scoop are more than a little dated, there is an element of truth in the picture Mr. Waugh paints of the Fourth Estate (as sad cases like the contemporary one involving one-time New York Times rising star Jayson Blair remind us). The descriptions are, however, greatly exaggerated: it is impossible to imagine a time when writers were sent into the field so poorly prepared, with unlimited expense accounts, and rewarded for sending in cryptic messages that are somehow turned into massive front-page reports. There is a slight element of sour grapes in Mr. Waugh's description of the newsgathering field he failed to excel in, something most obvious from the names he chooses for the fictional newspapers in the story (The Daily Beast, The Daily Brute, etc.). More importantly, like most popular satires, Scoop is really less about its subject matter than about comforting those who don't move in the same circles as the rich and powerful the book dismantles between its covers -- remember that these are the same people who were expected to buy this book when it was published in 1938. Even critics at that time recognized this in an as-a-matter-of-fact way, referring to Scoop as a comedy of errors Mr. Waugh dashed off to pay the bills between more weighty projects. But the most serious flaw of the book concerns the way the main character, Boot, evolves ... or fails to evolve. Characters are the cornerstone of any great story and even with a farce like Scoop (compare Boot to the bumbling Wormold in Mr. Greene's Our Man in Havana, another satire produced by a serious writer on a lark) the story is dramatically improved by illustrating the evolution of characters over the length of the narrative. But in Scoop, Boot returns home just the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Things Fall Apart: With Connections (Holt McDougal Library, High School with Connections); Author: Visit Amazon's Chinua Achebe Page; Review: The more the reader thinks about Things Fall Apart, the more he becomes aware that the heart of a story is about the struggles of an individual and less about what is a compelling and unsentimental survey of Nigeria's Ibo culture just before the arrival of white settlers. The story's protagonist is Okonkwo, who at first appears to be a model warrior and self-made man who slowly discovers that the attributes he believed would serve him well as an adult instead breed a fear of failure and profound frustration. He is a complex and heavy-handed head of his household who is at once sympathetic and cruel. Most of the story is told before the actual appearance of the first white settlers, but their pending arrival hangs over the middle part of the book like a rain cloud. By the time it actually happens in the last 50 or so pages of the book, Okonkwo has been driven into exile, his life a shambles. He has only a slim hope of redemption, and that is shattered by the arrival of the settlers. Okonkwo's story is a relevant one even at a time when cultural and political imperialism has turned away from Africa toward the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. But more important than its relevance is its artistry: it is a deceptively simple epic tale somehow packed into just over 200 pages, and one of the most impressive first novels on record. Don't miss it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Borges: A Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Edwin Williamson Page; Review: Jorge Luis Borges famously wrote that all literature is autobiographical, something so true in his own case that I had my doubts whether his any biography of him could tell us any more than his literature. After all, there isn't much compelling about Mr. Borges' life aside from his writing: he lived at home with his mother until she died when he was 75 years old, and he boasted about not venturing beyond his bedroom and his father's library for days at a time. Without a doubt, Mr. Borges' extremely original work is far more interesting than his seemingly unimaginative life. All that made for a challenging assignment for biographer Edwin Williamson, who pulled it off surprisingly well. Mr. Williamson certainly did his leg work: he apparently read everything Mr. Borges wrote short of his laundry lists, and he talked to scores of people who knew Mr. Borges when he was alive. But the most interesting parts of this book's 384 pages was still the examination of the literature, where Mr. Williamson convincingly reveals how much of the great writer's work was an elaborate code hiding his personal suffering coming from failed loves, and a feeling of inadequacy in regard to his mother, who all but worshipped the heroes of the Argentine independence movement in her family line. But that is about as close as Mr. Williamson comes to uncovering Mr. Borges' inner self. He could have come a bit closer had he not left out several important facts that must have been easy to come by: Mr. Borges' finally found love with former student Mara Kodama, who was many years younger than the writer. But Mr. Williamson doesn't tell us how much younger. Additionally, Mr. Borges' well-known and important (but puzzling) estrangement from his boyhood friend Adolfo Bioy Casares gets only a passing mention. And Mr. Borges' political navet and confusion -- he called Argentina's dictatorship of the mid-1970s to the early 1980s a "necessary evil" and he turned his back on his native land by choosing to die in Switzerland -- is chronicled but not explained. It's difficult to judge how much of this is Mr. Williamson's fault. As one of the 20th century's most important and influential writers, Mr. Borges is clearly a worthy subject for a major biography. But the man's private life perhaps means that a worthy biography is impossible. Despite Mr. Williamson's noble effort, the best biography of the enigmatic Argentine may still be his collected works.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ideas That Changed the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Felipe FernandezArmesto Page; Review: My knee-jerk reaction was to dislike this book for the same reason I dislike the notion of reading a newspaper headline rather than the article, or skimming through the guidebook rather than experiencing a place. It's melodramatic, but I always saw these things as symptoms of a culture bent on cheapening itself, where being able to act and talk like an expert was just as good as being one. But as a worked through this thick little book my dislike softened a bit, and even if it never really became anything warm it did turn into a kind of begrudging acceptance. In the end, I'm glad I didn't buy this book myself -- it was a gift -- but I'm also glad I read it. Most of the book's value, I think, comes from the context it builds. I did not find any single chapter extraordinary, and quite a few seemed disappointing (this is not the fault of author Felipe Fernandez-Armesto -- after all, how can anyone adequately describe anti-Semitism or theories about the afterlife or the history of time in a mere two pages?). But together they formed a mosaic that from a distance gives a pretty good picture of current thought and where it came from. Nobody will become an expert -- real or otherwise -- at anything by reading this book. But Mr. Fernandez-Armesto clearly is an expert, and I admit that his efficient and often opinionated writing does a good job at laying everything out in easy-to-understand terms. In the end, reading this book is a little like taking a spoonful of everything on a restaurant's menu in order to figure out what plates might be worth eating more of later. That sort of thing usually leaves me with heartburn, and rather than picking this volume up again I would prefer to refer to the original sources or, at worst, an encyclopedia. But for the world's enthusiastic skimmers, Ideas Than Changed the World is probably worth considering.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jetlag Travel Guide To Molvania; Author: Santo; Gleisner, Tom; Sitch, Rob Cilauro; Review: Zlkavszka. ("Hello" in Molvanian) I've written a few chapters in travel guidebooks over the years, and in my travels I've leafed through many more of these sometimes-haughty volumes. That background was enough for me to instantly smile at the idea of a fictional satire like The Jetlag Travel Guide to Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry. The idea at first seems so simple and clever that it's surprising someone didn't come up with it sooner. Unfortunately, like a comedian who only tells jokes about one subject, this gag started to wear thin long before I reached the end. I've seen some criticism of this book for being insensitive toward Eastern Europe, where the made-up republic of Molvania is purportedly located. But I think the real problem is that my knowing smiles at the purposely bland explanations of Molvania's currency exchange and mail service soon give way to the ability to almost guess the punch line before reading it. The book does have its moments, mostly because authors Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, and Rob Sitcht are skilled at accurately mimicing the tone of various travel guides found in any backpacker's backpack. Amazingly, the book seems to have given birth to a cult of misinformation about this would-be country: one bogus news report I saw announced that Molvania had been removed from the Eurovision song contest, where it would have competed with a song written in badly broken English that starts with the words in the title to this review (the music video is available online). Despite its strengths, I see the whole project as an intelligent and worthwhile joke stretched far beyond its value. I have read that there are more Jetlag Travel Guides on the way -- one about a made-up Latin American backwater, and another about a fictional African nation. After reading the Molvania edition, I can only hope that the announced future plans are another elaborate hoax like the one that created this unfortunate toothless republic. Grovzsgo! ("Goodbye" in Molvanian); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection; Author: Visit Amazon's Toby Faber Page; Review: Like most people, I had heard of the renowned Stradivarius string instruments, but aside from a vague idea about how well made, rare, and expensive they are, I knew little else about them. If you are in that same category, then author Toby Faber's passionate and well-written Stradivarius: Five Violins, One Cello and a Genius is worth a look.. I didn't say it is a must-read, because any conclusions one draws about these outstanding instruments after reading the book's 300 or so pages comes from a kind of triangulation based on the six chapters, one each about the six best-known examples of violin-maker Antonio Stradivari's work. Each story is compelling in a different way -- my favorite is about the so-called "Messiah," believed to be the only Stradivarius in existence that has never been played -- but the quality of each tale varies a bit. One of my favorite quotes from the book is from the writer George Eliot. "Tis God [who] gives skill," she wrote, "but not without men's hands ... He could not make Antonio Stradivari's violins without Antonio." Quite an endorsement from a writer not known for hyperbole. The most interesting theme with a subject like this one is how and why these instruments made with relatively crude technology and tested by Mr. Stradivari's more or less untrained ear during a brief span starting more than 300 years ago have elicited praise like Ms. Eliot's and, according to most experts, have never been equalled in quality. But that important story is told here as much by implication as by intent; I would have liked to have seen more discussion or analysis in this area, perhaps in some kind of concluding or summary chapter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley; Author: Jonathan Swinchatt; Review: Terroir, as most wine buffs know, is the elusive argument that advocates of French wine use to argue that their favorite beverage is superior to the wine produced in other countries. It is an unmeasurable quality: a combination of soil, climate, character, history, and tradition that enthusiastic tasters say they can recognize in the wine. It is why a specific wine tastes the way it does and not the way one produced a few hundred yards away tastes. Though Napa Valley is certainly a newcomer compared to the oldest wine-growing areas in France, Italy, and Germany, Napa certainly does have history, and certain patches of it are celebrated for producing wines that have enough sophistication and depth to stand up to any other wines in the world. But to what extent does that mean California wines have a quality like terroir? It's an interesting question and one that deserves a book that includes a thorough and lively treatment. The Winemakers Dance, unfortunately, is not that book -- although not for a lack of trying. Passionate authors Jonathan Swinchatt and David Howell are geologists by trade, and it shows by the way they attempt to argue for terroir in Napa from the ground up -- including scores of geological maps and aerial views of the valley floor and nearby mountains. The authors discuss many of the key players and vineyards in the region in great detail. The problem is that despite the authors' attempt to create something accessible to and compelling for the general public, the books falls far short of that, remaining for the most part an academic treatise. Amazon's description of the book got it right: "exhaustive and ... exhausting." I am a bit of a wine buff myself, with a mid-sized and growing collection of wine books, but this was tough to get through, and a third of the way through I gave up trying to read it cover to cover and instead settled on a strategy of picking through the tests for parts that captured my attention. Am I disappointed I bought it? No, not too much, despite my complaints, The Winemakers Dance taught me a great deal about the relationship between the winemaker and the land in Napa Valley. But it's back on my shelf now, and, unfortunately, I think it'll probably stay there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Evil 100; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Gilman Wolcott Page; Review: I can't figure out who this extremely weak book is aimed at. As a serious discussion of evil -- something I held out hope for until a couple of minutes after I cracked open the cover -- it is far too superficial and haphazard. A light and fun treatment of the subject? Um, doesn't writing something about evil preclude that tact? Instead, we're left with an an almost random list of people who, at the highest levels, are responsible for some truly atrocious events (Adolph Hitler is first; Ossama bin Laden eighth), then eroding into a list of rapists, assassins, and serial killers at the middle levels, before concluding with the world's most famous sexual fetishist (the Marquis De Sade) and a couple of computer virus writers. Almost half of the evildoers are from the U.S.; almost all are men. None of this is to belittle the horrible to nasty things these people did, though it could be argued that the format of this book does that. The whole concept is similar to learning about food by writing about the hundred most tasty meals ever prepared, or discussing parenting by ranking the hundred best-behaved children ever to be potty trained. It's absurd. Much more interesting would have been an investigation into what kind of psychology makes people evil, or of historical trends regarding the subject. But there are other problems: --How do you rank kinds of evil? The whole process requires some kind of formula based on how much persecution is worth how many murders, that the murder of anonymous masses is worth more or less than a high degree of sexual perversion, a lack of sanity, or a low IQ, and puts a ratio on how much property damage is worth a human life. --Also, how good is the history this information in based on? Comparing the well-documented evils of Nazi leaders with the myth of someone like Vlad The Impaler, the historical character that Count Dracula is based on who is ranked in the top ten and who may or may not have existed ... well, you see the point, which is made over and over again. --There are many factual errors. The number of dead listed for the battle of Antietam is actually the number of men killed, injured, or missing. Chilean dictator Salvador Allende was not a Communist. And no serious commentator has blamed Iraq's Sadam Hussein for the anthrax attacks in the U.S. in 2001. There are many more examples. --Then, as with any top 100 compilation, what about those left off the list? Africa and Latin America are woefully underrepresented. What about the perpetrators of apartheid in South Africa or of the African slave trade? Or Fransisco Pizarro, who destroyed the great Inca capital of Cusco and killed tens of thousands of natives so he could send their gold and silver home, to the smelters of Sevilla? What about Abamael Guzman, the founder of Latin Americas bloodiest rebel group, or Alfredo Stroessener, who ran Paraguay as a haven for ex-Nazis and who left his country a; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib; Author: Visit Amazon's Seymour M. Hersh Page; Review: Over the last year I've read or become familiar with more than a dozen of the latest crop of books published to criticize or support the White House's policies, and Chain of Command is the best of the bunch. As would be expected, Seymour Hersh's writing is as always clean and angry and compelling. And the conclusions the investigative reporting icon draws are well thought out and more than a little frightening. In short: if you can read only one book in this genre this year, you've found it. A reader examining Mr. Hersh's work for the first time here may not realize how far ahead of the curve he has been in exposing scores of intelligence failures, poorly thought out national security initiatives, and the horrible Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Many of Mr. Hersh's points were treated with suspicion when they were made, only to be accepted as common wisdom when the full story became known (though the book's editors would have done well to make that clearer, but more on that in a moment). His main point in Chain of Command is all these issues -- the selective evidence regarding weapons of mass destruction, the sidestepping of the federal bureaucracy and the diminished importance of Congress, the misuse of intelligence, the abuse of human rights abroad, foreign policy zealotry, and so on (I might add elections-related shenanigans from four years ago) -- amount to a kind of coup d'tat, and it's hard to argue against his points. Clearly, Mr. Hersh is outraged in Chain of Command, but what earns my respect the most if the fact that his anger is not partisan, but instead based on what he seems to see as a widening gulf between what is happening in the U.S. and because of the U.S. and what comes out of the mouths of senior government officials. Mr. Hersh is an old-fashioned muckraker and proud of it. Now allow me to quibble for a moment. The vast bulk of Chain of Command was distilled from around 20 articles Mr. Hersh wrote for the New Yorker, though editors updated a few subjects and juggled the order a bit, most obviously to emphasize new reporting regarding Abu Ghraib. I would have argued in favor of printing the original articles as they were published, in chronological order and with dates on them -- something that would have elegantly presented the material without begging the question of what was known when. The updated information could have easily been presented in a short epilogue to each chapter or to the whole book. Additionally, Mr. Hersh on a few occasions threatens to undermine some of his credibility by relying on speculation on subjects like prison conditions at Guantnamo, and by making only passing references to minor evidence that could weaken his arguments, on subjects such as troop movements between Afghanistan and Iraq. But he never crosses the line in a way that has damned many of the other books out this political season, thanks in a large part to his solid reputation launched when he; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Judgment of Paris: California vs. France & the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine; Author: Visit Amazon's George M. Taber Page; Review: For Napa Valley wine lovers, 1976 is the turning point in the history of what is now considered to be one of the world's truly great wine producing regions. That's the year that two California wines beat two French wines in a blind tasting at a Parisian wine shop. When the news appeared on the pages of Time Magazine, it seemed to legitimize Napa wines in the eyes of many wine lovers. The trouble with pointing at 1976 as a turning point in the history of Napa Valley wines -- and of California wines by extension -- is that the year is really just a single point on a long timeline. Like 476 (the date generally accepted to mark the fall of the Roman Empire), 1476 (the start of the Renaissance in Florence), 1776 (the independence of the United States), or 1876 (the invention of the telephone), the date is a culmination of a process that started years before and that continued to evolve for years afterwards. It's a kind of shorthand that references something that is without a doubt cheated when it is reduced to a date and a one-paragraph explanation. But if you accept the premise of the 1976 turning point, then it would be impossible to find someone better equipped to tell the story than author and journalist George M. Taber. Mr. Taber was the Time correspondent who -- when faced with a slow news day -- decided to attend what was supposed to be a gimmick wine tasting in Paris nearly 30 years ago. The results are well known: the 1973 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from the same year handily beat their better known and costlier French rivals from Bordeaux and Burgundy -- despite being judged by a panel of French wine experts (no Americans were included). It was a man-bites-dog story that captured the wine world's attention. "It seemed like a nonevent -- clearly France would win," Mr. Taber wrote, recalling his opinion before the tasting. But the event also seemed to "a perfectly wonderful way to spend an otherwise slow afternoon." The final sentence of the article has become nearly legendary: "California (wines) defeated all of Gaul." The account of the afternoon, the circumstances that led up to it, and the events that followed make for fun and informative reading. Mr. Taber gets points for being a compelling storyteller, with a crisp no-nonsense writing style one would expect from a veteran journalist. My criticism -- as I write this I am wavering between awarding three or four stars -- is that the story seems to take the event too seriously. Even aside from the necessary shorthand of focusing on a single event to tell a larger story, it seems to inflate the importance of the developments of May 24, 1976 beyond that. The word "revolution" appears on the book's 336 pages scores of times, but I don't think that what happened can rightfully be referred to with the R word. French wines were considered the best in the world before the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynne Truss Page; Review: I am such a big fan of Lynn Truss' now famous grammar diatribe Eats, Shoots & Leaves that I could hardly wait to get a hold of her latest effort, Talk to the Hand. But now, a couple of weeks after finishing the latest book in one gulp, I find it tempts me to paraphrase the old joke people use about the weather: everyone talks about rudeness but nobody does anything about it. That's the biggest difference between the two books. Both are about Ms. Truss' pet peeves, but while the former pointed out scores of grammar mistakes common in every day usage and discusses ways to improve the problem, Talk to the Hand just lists various kinds of rudeness ... and then it discusses still more kinds of rudeness. Sometimes it even repeats itself. Aside from a tongue-in-cheek suggestion to stay inside, disconnect the phone, and bolt the doors in order to avoid a society of loud cell phone users and cold-calling telemarketers Ms. Truss does little beyond ramble on about rude behavior wherever it's found. Not that that isn't a promising start -- especially for a writer with the keen eye and crisp writing style Ms. Truss is known for. But I found myself waiting for a turn that never came and in the end, that made the easy-to-read and often funny book strangely unsatisfying. Three stars seems about right. I don't want to say that the volume is without merit -- I chuckled far too much for that to be the case -- but if you buy it looking for another book as insightful as Ms. Truss' first, you'll have to look elsewhere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Penguin Dictionary of Saints: Third Edition (Dictionary, Penguin); Author: Visit Amazon's Donald Attwater Page; Review: As a Rome-based freelance writer who frequently publishes articles about the Vatican and its history, I knew I needed a good reference book to help me recognize saints in history, art, and tradition and understand why they are important. I did some research to decide between this volume, the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, and the Delany's Pocket Dictionary of Saints and I decided to buy this one. Then some time passed, and I decided I needed still more information and so I bought the Oxford version about a year later. And six months ago the Delaney edition found its own place in my book shelf. And do you know what? After familiarizing myself with the new additions to my religious library on their arrival, I have hardly opened either of the Penguin edition's rivals. To be clear, none of these books contains all the information in the other two, but I believe this edition -- in terms of authoratative (even if sometimes brief) biographical information, good organization, data on symbolism related to saints, a helpful glossery of terms, and an impressive bobliography -- is the best to have if you'll only buy one book. As another reviewer here pointed out, the book's great weakness is its lack of significant information about patron saints. And that's important, because many lay people first decide to learn more about the lives of saints because of the patron saint of some area of interest (the Delaney book is best in that regard). But I believe that flaw is more than compensated for by the book's strengths. At the risk of envoking a tired cliche, the book is written in a fact-packed and yet accessible style that makes it a good option for the novice and a valuable resource for more experienced saint watchers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Cold Blood; Author: Visit Amazon's Truman Capote Page; Review: In Cold Blood is in the spotlight again, in the wake of the success of the film Capote. But the renewed attention on the book does nothing to change this important book's ever-growing limitations. Most fans of In Cold Blood point to the belief that author Truman Capote more or less created the genre of the true crime novel with this effort -- a questionable point I won't quarrel with, for argument's sake. But as with any iconic work, it is emulated and improved upon until the very aspects that made it seem great and new are diminished. In the case of In Cold Blood, what is left is a vain, dated, and two-dimensional effort whose main virtue comes from its historical importance. Of course, in the book's defense, In Cold Blood's historical importance is enormous. The story is based on the murders of Kansas' Clutter family in 1959. Mr. Capote was a tireless interviewer, and he even attended the executions of the convicted murders Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. The writing still seems crisp and clean. And the story itself inspired a generation or writers who followed Mr. Capote's lead with varying degrees of success. But a book is a living thing, and if we separate In Cold Blood from its place in the literary canon of the late 20th century, then Mr. Capote's struggles to remain objective, his simplistic and cinematic portrayals of the leading characters, his sometimes heavy-handed foreshadowing and use of symbolism -- at best they now seem quaint, and at worst they can appear almost amateurish. The ripple effect from a book like this is enough to garner four stars in my estimation, but you won't catch me awarding five to something with this many shortcomings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Known World; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward P. Jones Page; Review: I'm a contrarian by nature, and so all the hype and praise for The Known World made me consider the book with more than a little suspicion when I finally decided to give it a try at the suggestion of two friends who loved it. I'm glad I gave it a chance. While I won't sing author Edward P. Jones' praises as loudly as some other reviewers here, I did enjoy the way he developed the book's characters, his sense of plot, and his keen eye for detail. But I found the writing uneven (I could almost imagine Mr. Jones writing to music -- here's the part where he listened to Maria Callas ... and now here's the part where he switched to Eminem ... at this point he changed the CD to John Coltrane). I won't spend time summarizing the plot because that is already done adequately elsewhere on this page, and also because it may be unnecessary: the book's main virtue is not in the execution, but in its challenging and unusual theme. The story is about black Americans owning black slaves in the ante-bellum South. If this were a diving or gymnastics competition, I'd award big points for the degree of difficulty, and a little less impressive score for how well the author pulls it all off. At first, Mr. Jones' non-linear chronology can be confusing, but once the technique is established it is not hard to follow -- indeed, it is one of the factors that makes the book interesting. It also opens the doors to revelations about characters because he can have one character talking about some past event that was in the near future only a page earlier. The overall product is disturbing and usually compelling: a very good but not great effort. Mr. Jones is not a modern-day John Steinbeck, as one reviewer opined. But he's only 55 years old and this is his first novel (his other book, Lost in the City, is a collection of stories) -- so he may yet approach Mr. Steinbeck's level.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (Puffin Classics) : Abridged; Author: Alexandre Dumas; Review: The Count of Monte Cristo was a Superhero long before Superheros were cool. A 19th-century cross between James Bond, Batman, Zoro, and Dirty Harry, the title character is a seemingly all powerful and all knowing master of all trades, whether languages, art, chemistry, disguise, psychology, philosophy, theology, international relations, literature, protocol, diplomacy, or combat. But he is also deeply conflicted and brooding man who builds his life around a dramatic quest for revenge against the men who ruined him early in his life, but who along the way darkly questions his decisions and motives. As a young man, Edmond Dante had the perfect life: a beautiful fiance, a promising career, and dedicated friends. But the jealously of a few people around him combined with some unfortunate circumstances, ruined him, and he ended up jailed for life on the harrowing island prison Chteau d'lf. After an apprenticeship with learned co-prisoner Abb Faria, Dants makes a daring escape from Chteau d'lf, finds millions the then-dead Faria had hidden away, and then changes his name -- Monte Cristo is the name of the fictional island where Faria's treasure was hidden -- and begins his epic quest for vengeance. It is not inaccurate to look at The Count of Monte Cristo as a novel about revenge, but it is much more than that. It is a story about love and anguish, about sin and redemption, and about light and darkness. It is also an extraordinarily captivating read, the rare example of important historical literature that is also a good fit for reading on the beach or during airport layovers, and an appropriate read for anyone in his or her early teens and onward into old age. The book is also a great conversation piece: while I was reading it, at least half a dozen people stopped me to ask what I thought of the story, often with nostalgic and wistful looks in their eyes. There are some flaws to The Count of Monte Cristo that are common with 19th-century literature: a complicated cast of characters, for example, means the reader must keep up with many names and relationships. And the reader must also employ a willing suspension of disbelief, not only to accept that the protagonist can rise from such humble origins to become so good at everything he does (this is the case with almost all Superhero stories), but also in order to believe that the cast of nefarious enemies in mostly modest circumstances who wronged him at the start somehow rose to become the wealthiest and most powerful group in early 19th century Paris. The neat ending in which no evil-doer is left unpunished and almost no worthwhile personage is not left standing seems too neat and pat, even by today's Hollywood standards. But are these really flaws in the book or of the times? I choose to think it's the latter, which is why I believe this dark and fascinating story is so important and worthwhile, a real thriller that puts modern representatives of the genre to shame.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Man Without a Country (Book Club Edition); Author: Kurt; Edited by Simon, Daniel Vonnegut; Review: It would be a mistake to simply lump A Man Without A Country into the growing heap of books bashing the policies of the president. While it does have some of that (the book's best line may be when Mr. Vonnegut writes that the scariest reality TV show he can think of would be called "C-students at Yale"), the book also saves a fair amount of bashing for those who don't protect the environment, for tobacco companies, for religion, for rude people, and even for Mr. Vonnegut himself. But what I think this book is really about is reminding us not to take the 83-year-old writer for granted. Mr. Vonnegut did not have to publish this book. Nobody would have faulted him if he stayed home to puff his famous Pall Mall cigarettes and kept his worries to himself. Mr. Vonnegut's place as one of the great voices of modern American literature is much less likely to be enhanced by this slim volume than it is to be hurt by what might be seen as an aged curmudgeon's ranting or a me-too salvo from a grouchy leftist resisting the slide toward irrelevance. What it does instead is it proves how relevant Mr. Vonnegut still is. Mr. Vonnegut spoke at an assembly back when I was at university and he discussed the "canary in a coal mine" theory of the role of artists in the world. Like subterranean fowl, Mr. Vonnegut said, artists are the most sensitive creatures in their environment. And as such they are the first to notice when something has gone wrong. That is the role the author is playing with this collection. Little of what appears between this slim volume's covers is new. Much was originally written for the left-of-center magazine In These Times and then simply edited and collected here. And as a whole, even where the actual writing, information, or anecdote is indeed new, the point of view as a whole won't be a surprise to faithful readers of Mr. Vonnegut's work. What is new is finding it all in one place where its power and relevance is most obvious. Admittedly, the book can be a bit hit and miss. At times, the writer's crotchety voice is reminiscent of a well-read Grandpa Simpson. But where it is good it is very, very good. Sample Mr. Vonnegut's comments on ... ... the arts: "If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts." ... foreigners' view of the U.S.: "Foreigners love us for jazz. And they don't hate us for our purported liberty and justice for all. They hate us now for our arrogance." ... the morale of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East: "Their morale, like so many lifeless bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas." ... on sanity (quoting George Bernard Shaw): "I don't know if there are men on the moon, but if; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom; Author: Visit Amazon's Roger Pearson Page; Review: Voltaire has been part of my life for nearly a quarter of a century, ever since I picked up a copy of The Portable Voltaire at a used bookshop near my high school for one dollar. I made the purchase at the suggestion of a pretty girl who I never did convince to go out with me. I guess that's not really relevant to anyone but me, except that Voltaire does write about how heartbreak (which is what that frustration seemed to be at the time) can be a stone on the path to enlightenment. Whether that disappointment and the many that followed inched me closer to real enlightenment over the years, I can't say. But one of the first times I ever remember feeling more enlightened than many of my peers was as it dawned on me that my familiarity with the 18th-century philosopher and writer was all but unheard of among South Floridians in their late teens (and even among most of their teachers). I must admit I've always been puzzled by Voltaire. Despite my long exposure to his work, I cannot identify a single component of his beliefs that I have adopted as part of my core philosophies. Only a couple of his lines have stuck in my memory over the years, and even upon re-reading it as an adult I found Voltaire's seminal work Candide a bit of a slog. Yet I continue to think of him as one of the most important factors in my intellectual formation, for reasons I assumed too vague or subtle to pinpoint. With an eye toward discovering why that is, I picked up a copy of Roger Pearson's new biography, Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom. Previous biographies I've seen were too academic or too technical to hold my attention for long. But after leafing through it, I had high hopes for Mr. Pearson's effort. I was not left unrewarded, even though I consider the biography only a mixed success. Mr. Pearson, I think, tries too hard to overcome the weakness of most academic biographers who produce informative but utterly boring works. He does this through the use of humor that is at first refreshing but quickly becomes irritating. I don't think this biography covers any significant new ground in Voltaire's life, but many of the stories I had read or heard in the past are retold here in a mostly readable way (at least when Mr. Pearson does not try to be witty). What is new is the way Mr. Pearson relates some of these anecdotes to what we know of Voltaire's iconoclastic beliefs. Take the fact that he refused to cover up that his birth in 1694 was the result of an illicit affair between his mother and an intellectual and songwriter called Rochebrune. While most people of his generation would seek to obscure such ignoble circumstances, Voltaire instead venerated his mother for preferring Rochebrune's "wit and intelligence" to the company of her attorney husband, who, Voltaire said, was "a very mediocre man." Similarly, his selection of the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Year of Magical Thinking Playscript. Joan Didion; Author: Visit Amazon's Joan Didion Page; Review: The Year of Magical Thinking was the first book I ever read that left me awed by something so brutal and tragic, simply because of honesty, beauty, and style. Author Joan Didion produced a tragic work of art out of her heartbreak, and although I cannot envy her her anguish, I know the rest of us are better off because she somehow produced this breathtaking (and astoundingly draining) memoir. Anyone considering the purchase of this book by now knows the story was motivated by the death of Ms. Didion's husband, fellow writer John Gregory Dunne, from a massive coronary the day before New Years eve 2003 -- while at the same time, the couple's daughter Quintana lay in a nearby hospital with what turned out to be a deadly case of pneumonia and septic shock. Rather than propel her into despair, the circumstances instead produced what she calls "magical thinking." Ms. Didion's mourning over Mr. Dunne's death exactly follows Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' pattern of mourning, and yet she describes it in such raw and beautiful language that we are seeing it as she did ... in a surprisingly impersonal but highly involved way. As I read the book, I continually marveled at how Ms. Didion could concentrate on writing -- let alone writing something so stunning and charged and balanced -- while grieving. The answer, I think, is that perhaps before being a wife, or even a mother, she is a writer. This project was not a kind of therapy for her. A writer writes, and a great writer presented with tragedy writes something like this. I had the chance to briefly meet Ms. Didion through a mutual friend a little less than a year ago. She was correcting the proofs for this book at the time, but didn't seem to want to talk about it. Our mutual friend asked how good she thought the book would be and she tried to change the subject after briefly allowing that she thought it would be "a good one." When the praises for The Year of Magical Thinking started rolling in, I chalked up Ms. Didion's vague response to modesty. But after reading the book, I am less sure. As magical as her thinking was and as beautiful as the book's language proved to be, it is a strangely impersonal account of the most personal of all experiences -- just as her answer during our brief chance meeting was impersonal. That's not a value judgment as much as it is an observation, but one that I think is telling. A couple days after finishing The Year of Magical Thinking, I realize that I admire it much more than I enjoyed it. I considered awarding it four stars rather than five simply because it is so consuming and so draining that I cannot possibly imagine it being a pleasant read for anyone. But, in the end, I decided it is far too beautifully done to merit anything but a perfect score. Just be aware that if you decide to crack this book's cover you will be; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The War That Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War; Author: Visit Amazon's Fred Anderson Page; Review: I am proof that author and historian Fred Anderson is correct in the first significant point he makes in The War That Made America: he writes that most Americans -- even well read Americans with solid educations -- know little about the French and Indian War. Guilty as charged -- at least until recently. Mr. Anderson makes a compelling case for the importance of the war, which he says has had an astonishingly large impact on American history. Most of the world calls the conflict the Seven Years' War, but in the U.S. and Canada it is known as the French and Indian War. It started in 1754 after a miscalculation between a young George Washington and his band of undisciplined Virginia volunteers and their Indian guides. The group stumbled onto a detachment from the French forces that were at that time wrestling control of North America away from the British. Washington lost control of his unruly troops, who routed the French and abused captured prisoners: decapitating one man and scalping several wounded Frenchmen. A series of retaliatory battles followed and the war began. In his History of English Speaking People, Winston Churchill called the Seven Years' War the "first world war,' and it's easy to see why. Battles were fought not only throughout North America but also in the Caribbean, Brittany in northern France, and in the English Channel. Sensing a weak point in London's resolve, a major revolt broke out in the Philippines and a smaller one in South Africa, then both parts of Britain's massive empire. The French and their Indian allies controlled the first five years of the war, but soon the might from the British forces in the colonies began to be felt. By 1759, the tide was turned and by 1761 the brief French dominance of North America -- which at one point stretched from Quebec to New Orleans -- was finished for good. Mr. Anderson goes into plenty of detail about how this happened, but in my mind that's much less interesting than the dominoes that fell in the decades after the war's conclusion. Here's a sample: * France's Indian allies, deprived of further support from Paris, became disgruntled and revolted. In 1763 they launched Pontiac's Revolution, an uprising that represents the only coordinated battle plan by more than a handful Indian tribes in North American history. The Ottawa Indians took over Detroit for part of the three-year war, which Mr. Anderson said encouraged Americans to openly hate Indians "without reserve or distinction," eventually leading to the destruction of subjugation of every tribe on the continent. Never again would tribes of the most native of Americans ever be protagonists in the continent's history. * Because of their part in winning the war for Britain, American colonists began to see themselves as what Mr. Anderson calls "partners in empire" -- but London did not see it that way. Less a decade after the end of the war, the British parliament passed a tax on the colonies to help pay for its growing worldwide military expenses without; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything - by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven D. Levitt Page; Review: Did you ever see a preview for a film that looked so great that you could hardly wait to see the real thing, and then when you did you realized that every worthwhile instant of the film had been captured in that two-minute trailer? That's the way I felt after reading Freakonomics. And what a shame! It's a concept with so much potential in a discipline continually misunderstood by a general public whose critical skills seem dulled by the cheap use of numbers and comparisons that contain no real information. The book even starts out strongly, illustrating that economist and co-author Steven Levitt is skilled at looking at conventional problems in unconventional ways (his initial topic is why crime rates suddenly dropped in the early 1990s -- the answer is fascinating). But from that point on the book contains at least ten pages of meaningless and sometimes insulting fluff for every page even worth glancing at. In the end, I couldn't help but conclude that the book was anything but a rushed and poorly-slapped-together effort from a publisher and co-authors who really should have known better. Yes, I know it's a big seller. Cue P.T. Barnum's quip about underestimating the intelligence of the American people. How this could be allowed to see print puzzles me. From what I have read, Mr. Levitt is a brilliant economist. And I know co-author Stephen Dubner is a well-regarded journalist. What were they thinking? The unfortunate duo first met when Mr. Dubner penned a tight and informative 5,000-word feature on Mr. Levitt for the New York Times Sunday Magazine, back in 2003 -- an article that served as the basis for this book. That's your hard-hitting preview. Skip the 70,000 words of fluff that is the main attraction.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr., and the Reign of American Taste; Author: Visit Amazon's Elin McCoy Page; Review: I experienced the Robert Parker Phenomenon for the first time only recently. I've been a wine lover all my adult life, and as a result I've spent my fair share of time in wine shops. But I've also lived outside of the U.S. for most of the last decade and a half -- a period that more or less corresponds with the most dramatic part of Mr. Parker's rise as a wine critic. But in December, I found myself at a neighborhood wine store in Northern Virginia on a Saturday afternoon, picking out something to bring to dinner at a friend's house. I asked the merchant if he had a second bottle of a nice Barbera d'Asti that was down to one on the shelf. He said he'd check in the back and he left me at the counter for a few minutes. A woman with gravely voice and multi-colored curlers in her hair walked up and asked another shop worker: "Do you have anything Parker rates above 90 that I can get for under 20 bucks?" They went off to look for one, and someone else approached another clerk. "Do you have this one?" the man asked, holding up a computer printout from Mr. Parker's web site like a Holy relic. Within a couple of minutes, another customer approached the counter with four wines a different clerk suggested, and he wanted to trim his purchase by one. "Which one does Parker say is the worst?" he asked. And this was all in a span of only six or eight minutes! The fellow helping me returned with the second bottle of Barbera I was looking for and I asked him about what I'd heard. He said it was par for the course, a typical Saturday afternoon. After that, I started to pay attention in wine shops all over the country and I swear I must have heard Mr. Parker's name mentioned more than I heard the word "chardonnay." This Phenomenon probably isn't a surprise to U.S.-based wine lovers, but it really gave me pause. Complaints about Mr. Parker fall into two categories: some people claim he is not completely consistent, and others charge that his influence is too great. Both categories are explored in Elin McCoy's highly readable The Emperor of Wine, the ostensibly unauthorized biography of Mr. Parker. I read the book a few weeks before my most recent trip to the U.S. and I admit that I wrote off both kinds of criticism as hyperbole from jealous rivals. After coming face to face with the Parker Phenomenon, though, I give the second complaint -- that Mr. Parker's influence is too great -- more credence. With mindless droves swarming into their wine shops asking for Mr. Parker's latest picks, how can a wine maker resist crafting his product to appeal to Mr. Parker's famous palate? And when that happens, where does the variety of flavors in the wine world disappear to? It's tempting to blame Mr. Parker for this problem, but it isn't his fault. He has his personal taste in; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas L. Friedman Page; Review: The first thought that came to mind after reading Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat is that the title really doesn't work. First of all, because it recalls the pre-Columbian traditionalists who ignorantly predicted that the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria would fall off the earth when they sailed west -- the anti-globalists of their age. But even using Mr. Friedman's definition -- that the world's economic playing field is being flattened and made more fair by globalization -- it's a stretch because what the book really says is that maybe the world is starting to become flat. Perhaps. I'm sure the title was chosen by the publisher for its dramatic effect, which I guess is hard to argue with. It got me to buy the book. I am a fan of Mr. Friedman's New York Times columns and I enjoyed one of his previous books, and so I really expected to like this book, but instead I found it hot and cold. It couldn't be more topical, and Mr. Friedman is no stranger to legwork. The writing itself is strong, even if his style of taking us with him wherever he goes -- we meet his family, find out what he orders for lunch, we know what goes on in his head as he pumps gas -- works better in the small doses of his column than it does in book form, where it can become annoying. Mr. Friedman also grossly underestimates the importance of shifting political priorities (would China be where it is without an increasingly market friendly government?). And he suffers from the columnist's sin of stating opinion as fact -- even if we allow all his points, even Mr. Friedman would have to admit this is a fickle world where bold predictions have a habit of coming unraveled with time. But the book's biggest weakness is the padding between points. Mr. Friedman seemingly makes his point and then he adds an anecdote or two, repeats the point, gives an example, and then reiterates the point again -- all when the basic argument alone would suffice. In the end, I think this book would be a lot better at 300 pages than it is at 500. None of that obscures the fact that Mr. Friedman makes some very important points. He argues, for example, that the world over the next generations will be shaped by economic winners -- countries like China and India -- rather than economic losers in the Middle East, no matter how many extremists they turn out. The fact that India and China may end up becoming bigger players on the world stage than Iran or Syria is thanks to the Internet, which allows companies anywhere to bid to run call centers, data input facilities, repair centers, help lines, manufacturing facilities. That these countries have cheap and educated work forces is enough to compensate for any geographic disadvantages. This is already happening to a greater degree than most of us would guess (though in terms of overall impact, the numbers are still small). Mr.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: LEXUS AND THE OLIVE TREE; Author: Thomas Friedman; Review: I just finished being underwhelmed by Thomas Friedman's best-seller The World is Flat, and I recall being so much more impressed by The Lexus and the Olive Tree when I read it a few years back. So I decided to go back for a look to determine whether this is as good as I remember it. Yeah, it is. Comparing the two books, it is obvious that The World is Flat is flashier, and on reading it it seems to have been prepared more to appeal to the market than to curious minds. There's no doubt that if you are looking for a critical, informative, and iconoclastic view of globalization, then The Lexus and the Olive Tree is a better bet, despite some flaws. And there's even less doubt that Mr. Friedman -- whose jet-black hair turned salt-and-pepper grey in the period between the two author's photos -- is moving further from the mark as time goes by -- much like the angry indie rock group that tempers its edge to ensure commercial success. The name of the book is a good metaphor for globalization: it was borne in 1992, when Mr. Friedman finished a tour of a state-of-the art Lexus factory in Japan and after marveling at the efficient robots that assembled those beautiful cars, he enjoyed a meal of freshly-prepared sushi on a soundless bullet train. He leaned back in his chair and read a bit about the latest Middle East clashes, and it hit him: half the world was consumed by lust for things like those sublime Lexus autos, and the other half was consumed with fighting over who owned some olive tree. Both of these books are at their heart about the importance of individuals in each respective process: say, Bill Gates and Osama bin Laden, respectively. But what The Lexus and the Olive Tree does so much better than its progeny (The World is Flat is considered a 2005 "update" to this superior effort) is make its points pretty clearly and effectively, without all the padding that seems to characterize the newer volume. Globalization is becoming an increasingly meaningless buzz word: to understand what it really means and what it implies, you could do much worse than reading The Lexus and the Olive Tree. I didn't completely re-read The Lexus and the Olive Tree for this review, but I did spend an afternoon refreshing my memory by leafing through it. I cannot say it is without flaw. Mr. Friedman's writing can often seem heavy-handed (this is a common weakness for writers who earn their paychecks crafting 800-word installments and who suddenly decide to write a 500-page argument on a single subject). And it's almost as if he became fatigued with the effort -- the end of the book seems weaker than the first two sections. Additionally, even though I think this is the better of Mr. Friedman's two books on globalization, there are parts of The Lexus and the Olive Tree that are clearly dated (there's a chapter praising Enron, for example) -- not so much that; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World; Author: Visit Amazon's Lawrence Osborne Page; Review: The Accidental Connoisseur is such a well written, well informed, and personal account of one man's love of worthwhile food and wine that the only way anyone interested in the topic might be put off by the book is if they have a problem with the personality of writer, bon vivant, and accidental connoisseur Lawrence Osborne. Unfortunately, to many Americans, Mr. Osborne may come across as a bit pompous. But if that misunderstanding takes place, it is just because he is what I will ambiguously term A British Man From A Certain Social Class. I don't know if he has a public school (i.e. prep school) background, but my guess is he does. Oxbridge is likely. And if that's true, it means he uses a vocabulary and draws parallels that may seem designed to show off his well-rounded education. That doesn't bother me, and I in fact considered it part of the book's charm -- especially when mixed with healthy doses of friendly self-deprecation, deadpan dry humor, and an erudite writing style that are also trademarks of the South Kensington-type crowd with similar social distinctions. So step one to figuring out whether or not you'll enjoy this book is to determine whether or not you will appreciate that kind of writing. If you think you will, then there really isn't a step two -- except maybe clicking on the "add to shopping cart" tab you'll notice on the upper right-hand side of this page. The book is made up of a series of 11 adventures the Quixotic Mr. Osborne conducts, covering the world's greatest wine-growing areas. The thread that ostensibly connects these adventures is that Mr. Osborne is trying to understand the world of wine better: Is any wine really worth hundreds of dollars? Can you really taste the characteristics of the land where the grapes were grown in the wine? What makes certain combinations of food and wine better than others? What makes a great wine great? My guess is that Mr. Osborne figured out the answers to a lot of his questions by the end of his journeys. And what's nice about it is that with The Accidental Connoisseur, we can come along for the ride.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Johnson Page; Review: When I first learned to drive, my parents sent me to the grocery store to pick up a few things. When I got back to the car I put the bag of groceries on the roof to find the keys, and then I got in and started to drive home -- with the groceries still on the roof! Several drivers honked their horns to get my attention as I meandered through the rows of parked cars. But I ignored them, until, just as I was about to pull out into traffic, some guy in a truck shouted: "Hey! Your groceries are on the roof!" Embarrassed, I reacted with typical teenage vigor: "I know!" I shouted back, as if the other driver was the idiot in that conversation. "I wanted them there!" And that is how I would summarize the main arguments in Everything Bad is Good for You: "We know a lot parts of American society are way out of whack. But don't worry -- we wanted them there." Intense television watching? Better than no TV at all. Video games? Practically an Ivy League education. A lack of face-to-face social interaction among young people? Perfect! The only significant valid point in the book is that entertainment today is much more complex than it was 30 years ago. Television show and film plots are more complicated, games require quicker decision making, and so on. I don't quarrel with that. But author and alleged social scientist Steven Johnson appears to misunderstand what intelligence is, confusing it with mental stimulation. It would be like saying someone is a better athlete because he moves around a lot, no matter what the results of the actual athletic competition. The book implies some very basic questions: Is all learning of equal value? Is there a difference between trivial knowledge and real wisdom? Does memorizing data automatically spark creativity? For each of those questions, Mr. Johnson's answer seems overly simplistic, troubling, and aimed to reassure a non-thinking readership. Obviously, some kinds of learning and information are more valuable than others. And there is more to wisdom or creativity than connecting neurons in the brain through high mental stimulation. To wit: imagine one youngster who memorized all the differences between the last ten versions of some hit video game, the processor speed needed to play the game, and the engineering team that built it. And another young person has read and understands Shakespeare: he can recognize the original plot elements, puns, wordplay, character types, and poetry of the bard's works. Based on this limited information, both kids have great memories and are both are likely to have natural smarts. But which would you rather spend an afternoon with? Which is more likely to grow up to be a worthwhile adult? Whose morals and ethics would you be more likely to trust? If pop culture really is making kids smarter -- based on some very limited definition of that word -- is it making them better? Does pop culture build character? Does it teach morals? Integrity? Work ethic? Those things are; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rome Then and Now; Author: Visit Amazon's Federica D'Orazio Page; Review: It's difficult to stand in front of an ancient building like the Pantheon or the Coliseum without wondering what these structures and the surrounding areas must have been like in times gone by. Rome: Then and Now helps answer some of the questions that pop into the Roman daydreamer's mind, through the contrast of old and new photographs and well-researched supporting texts. Obviously, by using only photographs, passionate Roman author and guide Federica D'Orazio can't possibly show us Rome at its peak. But she can show us how much the city has changed over the last century and a half -- complete with goats resting near Trajan's Column, country folk washing their clothes in the Fountain of the Tritons, and a food market filling Circus Maximus -- all of which gives us plenty more ammunition for absent mindedly speculating about the still more ancient past. The idea for this book is so simple and elegant that it's a wonder nobody thought of it before: the left-hand pages feature grainy sepia prints of important Roman sites; the right side more modern photos of the same areas. And La Dttsa. D'Orazio doesn't just focus on the sites everyone has heard of, but she takes us down the winding alleyways of the Eternal City to show us some sites that many visitors fail to see (there are six pairs of photos from my neighborhood, in fact, a couple of which were very surprising to me even though I've lived there for several years and consider myself a history buff). There are 68 pairs of photos in all, the collection of which must have required an extraordinary amount of research. I have some relatively minor complaints, though. Most importantly, I think the book would have been much stronger if the modern photographs had been taken from the exact same angle as their antique counterparts. Sometimes they are, but most of the newer shots are instead taken from the same general area photographers must have used for the older photos, and in a couple of examples they are even taken from a different side all together. Shooting from the exact angle every time would have made the fascinating comparisons this book prompts easier and better. Also, the texts are written in a way that in some cases reveals the sort of halting style of translated text. I have worked as a translator myself, and I know the work isn't easy -- perhaps my background means my eyes are more sensitive to these shortcomings (they are minor things, such as writing "Column of Trajan" rather than "Trajan's Column"). The problem is nothing that prevents the enjoyment of the book, but the test doesn't quite flow like something written by a good native language writer (though it is better than many other books produced under similar circumstances). Lastly, I would have liked to have had a table of contents listing the photographs in order, and perhaps a text at the beginning describing how the project came about and the process of tracking down some of these old gems of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fraud; Author: Visit Amazon's David Rakoff Page; Review: It is difficult for me to avoid the clich of saying I feel ripped off by Fraud, so I'll just get writing that out of the way right off the bat. Looking over the other reviews here, I don't understand how more readers don't feel the same way. Writer David Rakoff's collection of essays leaves a taste of disappointment in my mouth that won't go away, made worse by the fact that he makes it clear he could do so much better. There's no doubt that he's a talented writer with a great feel for words -- albeit unusually large ones -- and a keen eye for the absurd. He's lived a very interesting life, full of improbable events and unforgettable personalities. I'd probably even consider reading another of his books. But I honestly hope to never crack open Fraud again. I think Mr. Rakoff seriously overestimated how interested the world is in his internal anguish, his bitter naval gazing, and the way he looks down his nose at the rest of us. The book is needlessly complicated, packed with obscure references and unnecessary 50-cent words. And because of the combination of those factors, the book doesn't ever really gel: it's as if Mr. Rakoff is trying to appear cleverly and profoundly self-deprecating, but with a superiority complex. I don't think it can be done, yet Mr. Rakoff tries time and time again. It's tempting to think that Fraud's weaknesses could have been fixed by the right editor, but the more I think about it the less convinced I am that such a person exists. I now think Mr. Rakoff would be better off starting over and this time repeating to himself another clich as he starts each page: "keep it simple, stupid."; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Collected Poems 1943-2004; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Wilbur Page; Review: I first read Richard Wilbur's poems more than 20 years ago, but I have to admit that for most of that time he has been for me like the fire brigade or catastrophic health insurance -- I was glad he was there, but for whatever reason he didn't seem terribly relevant in my life. This book helped remind me how wrong I have been. Upon reflection, I realize that at least part of the reason for my undervaluing Mr. Wilbur's work stems from my own shortcoming: I was probably too young to appreciate his delicate insight and wit when I formed my opinions about him. But the main reason is probably because he's such a forgettable personality. He is a white male. Like most men of his generation, he served in the army during World War II. He doesn't use strange punctuation marks or filthy language. I know almost nothing about his personal life, but, as far as I know, he has never considered suicide, he has never been in rehab, he has never gone mad, and he has never been arrested. All he has done is produce beautiful and important poems, virtually non-stop for more than 60 years. In an age in which we are flooded with public personalities that demand to be noticed, that is disappointingly easy to overlook. Collected Poems, 1943-2004 is probably as close as we're going to get to Mr. Wilbur demanding to be noticed. And if you are the type who enjoys simple pleasures and metrical poise, then you really should notice him as he appears on these pages. Everything Mr. Wilbur wrote through 2004 is included here, including previously unpublished recent poems, song lyrics, children's poems, and the great poet's well-known published works. There is no need to own any other book of Mr. Wilbur's poetry if you buy this. I'm not enough of a fool to try to use my own words to describe Mr. Wilbur's. Instead, I'll end with the final verse of Seed Leaves, one of my favorite poems in the book: Forced to make choice of ends, The stalk in time unbends, Shakes off the seed-case, heaves Aloft, and spreads two leaves Which display no sure And special signature. Indeed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles C. Mann Page; Review: Charles Mann's remarkable book, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, made me rethink most of what I considered to be true about life in the western hemisphere before the arrival of Christopher Columbus -- and that's saying something. I have considered myself a student of history since adolescence, one with a special interest in the U.S. and Latin America. I even lived in Peru for several years in the 1990s, where I read and wrote a great deal about the Inca Empire that had been based there. After reading 1491, I realized that my view of the world that Columbus stumbled on had not been turned on its heads, but that the tragedy I had imagined for the native cultures had been put into greater focus and delicately altered. The most surprising fact in the book is that by the start of the 16th century, small pox and other diseases brought by the very first Europeans had resulted in the death of around 100 million people living in the Americas: a mind-boggling 95 percent of the Indians exposed to Europeans died of disease. That's around 1/5 of the world's total population at the time, the equivalent to 1.3 billion extra people today dying of disease over the course of a century. Stunning. He also argues that the attractive stereotypes of native cultures as humans living in harmony in a pristine world is wrong and essentially dehumanizing: European cultures have, Mr. Mann writes, "implicitly depicted Indians as people who never changed their environment from its original wild state. Because history is change, they were people without history." All of that made the horrifying treatment of these cultures easier over time. He points out that cultures in the Americas were no more uniform than those in Europe: from Eskimo populations in what is now northern Canada and Alaska, to the jungle tribes of the Amazon, to the pyramid-building civilizations of Central America, to the roving peoples of sparsely-populated North America. In between grand points like these, Mr. Mann touches on other points of contention: Where did these cultures come from? Why weren't they more effective in resisting the European advance? Why did they invent the wheel and then only use it as a children's toy? He even speculates (briefly) on what might have happened if the Europeans had arrived earlier or later. But what might be 1491's best trait is that through it all, Mr. Mann remains agnostic about what could of happened and who was to blame for what did happen. Like a good journalist -- and I have read that Mr. Mann's background is indeed in journalism -- he focuses instead on showing us the story rather than interpreting it. He leaves the interpretation to the reader.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silver Spoon; Author: Visit Amazon's Phaidon Press Page; Review: Like almost anyone with a passion for food living in Italy, I've got a copy of Il Cucchino d'Argento on my bookshelf -- it's the Bible of Italian cuisine. Sadly, this first English-language edition of the book won't be achieving the same status among Anglophile lovers of Italian table fare. It's not the fault of the Italian publishers -- the book is still a one-stop resource for everything from antipasti to ziti, with great illustrations, and all bound very handsomely -- but lazy translators and unambitious editors ruin this English-language edition, which is titled The Silver Spoon. Just to give a few examples: metric measurements are awkwardly translated (one recipe suggests adding 11.35 ounces of cheese to a dish, another says the cook should add "1 to 4 portions" of salt -- without saying how large the portions should be), vocabulary is inexact (the words "pot," "pan," and "skillet" seem to be used interchangeably, as do "glass" and "cup"), no suggestions are made for meat and vegetable ingredients difficult to find away from Italy's shores, and basic information such as how many people a certain dish will serve and how long it will take to prepare (all of which is in the original) are just left out. There are typographical errors and misspellings galore, several of them comical. But my favorite mistakes include some that just left me scratching my head: one marinade must be "stirred frequently and infrequently for 5 to 12 hours" (the Italian says it must be "stirred regularly but not often for 5 to 6 hours") and there's a cake that upon completion must be "carefully cooled, or not" when in Italian it must be "cooled until warm to the touch." All this is all a real a shame, because this book really should be a staple of anyone's cookbook library. If you can't figure out Italian well enough to get Il Cucchino d'Argento and you won't be frustrated by the awkward and puzzling texts in this beautiful volume, then go ahead and get it. For anyone else, I'd suggest waiting a year or two until the next edition is released (and is, hopefully, edited more carefully).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Million Little Pieces; Author: Visit Amazon's James Frey Page; Review: A NOTE FROM THE REVIEWER: I read A Million Little Pieces and wrote a review I think author James Frey would like. When I went to the to post it, I noticed that Amazon will soon begin shipping copies of this book with a special note from the author and publisher, to explain and clarify some of what people have interpreted as inaccuracies in the book. In that same spirit, I have clarified some points in my review below in hopes that what I wrote will be more accurately understood. The new information appears in [brackets]. Thank you. A Million Little Pieces is a riveting memoir that aggressively grabs your attention, starting from the first page. [OK, well, what I meant to say here was that starting from the very beginning, the book stretches the limits of any intelligent readers' willing suspension of disbelief. It's not a book that starts strongly and goes awry at some point. It just starts awry.] The opening scene is unforgettable: dazed author James Frey awakes on a flight without knowing where he is, his clothes covered with "a colorful mixture of spit, snot, urine, vomit and blood," with his four front teeth missing, and a bloody hole in his cheek. He is wanted by the police, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and his life on a dizzying downward spiral that seems like it can only lead to a pathetic and horrible death. [Um, how to do I put this? Maybe it isn't apparent just from reading it, but this paragraph was my way of saying that the little voice that during the opening sequence whispers into the readers' ear: "Is this supposed to be taken at face value?" will become a deafening chorus within a few dozen pages. Consider yourself warned.] Somehow, though, Mr. Frey heroically pulls out of his free-fall and miraculously transforms himself into someone who, one could convincingly argue, is indeed "the greatest literary writer of his generation" -- a goal he even states in the text. [Obviously, this is meant to point out how pedantic, clumsy, and stylistically unadventurous the writing is. In terms of story telling, Mr. Frey is a one-trick pony, simply shocking the reader at every turn: Blood! Guts! Urine! Bile! Spit! Snot! What I was trying to point out here, in case anyone missed it, is that he attempts to mask the shock strategy through what amounts to a distracting use of self-deprecation, unpredictable paragraph breaks, Random Capitalization, and an absence of quotation marks and paragraph indents. But I don't think he fools anyone with those ploys.] But none of it happens before he traverses what appears to be several of Dante's levels of hell: submitting himself to mind-blowing dental surgery without anesthesia (to fight the pain, he grips tennis balls so forcefully that he cracks his fingernails), undergoing what can only be described as a hellish detox experience, and surviving his relationships with a nefarious group of characters that include a mobster, a deranged crack addict, fallen boxing champion, and a diseased prostitute. [I guess some stickers; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paris Then and Now (Then & Now); Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Caine Page; Review: Paris is, I think, the second most beautiful city in the world (full disclosure: I live in Rome, which is tops in my book) and so I was eager to take a look at this book when I saw it at a friends' house. I was already familiar with the Then and Now series after receiving the Rome edition of the book for Christmas, and after seeing this book I can only conclude that what I had chalked up as weaknesses in the Rome book may just be faults in the series. The central idea for the book is charmingly simple: the left-hand pages feature old photos of some of Paris' best-known spots, and the right-hand side of each page is made up of modern shots of the same sites. The biggest problem is hard not to notice: the angles of the photos on the right are very often not taken from the same angle as the older images. I found this to be so puzzling as to be irritating. I think it shows a lack of planning on the part of the book's editors, and it also robs the reader of being able to make a complete comparison between the way things were and the way they are -- a process that is the book's very raison d'tre. I admit my patience for such sloppiness had already been tried with the Rome book, but the sins seem even greater here. I also rue the absence of a table of contents listing the photographs in order, another weakness that now appears to be a characteristic of the series. I'm not sure how likely these issues are to be solved in future editions, since by my count nearly 30 photos would have to be re-shot in order to solve the largest problems. But if the editors would like to release a book that reaches this volume's potential, they'd better get snapping.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries; Author: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Johnson Page; Review: One of the minor skeletons in my closet is that for more than half my life I have taken a perverse pleasure from obituaries (extremely weak pun intended). One of my early jobs as a journalist involved writing obits, as they're called in the business. At first, they were based on forms or phone calls from grieving relatives. And then I was promoted to the job of the guy who conducted creepy interviews with well-known local figures the newspaper felt might give up the fight over the next year or two. One old timer bragged that he had already given such interviews to young pups like me every couple of years for the last decade, and that he intended to give a few more, too. And he did: that was 21 years ago and a Google search a few minutes ago revealed that he lived a healthy and noteworthy life until 2003. As anyone who already knows about The Dead Beat might guess, a guy like me is bound to find this book -- author Marilyn Johnson's enthusiastic and insightful treatment of obituaries -- another perverse pleasure. And if you appreciate these compact and well-written summaries of notable lives, then you'll enjoy the book as well. Ms. Johnson must be an insatiable obit fan: someone who turns straight to the death notices when she opens the newspaper and who at night combs the Internet for more. In this book she gives a history of obituary writing, profiles of some of the best-known practitioners of the trade, a host of examples of the best obituaries in both the U.S. and Britain, and she even throws in a few yarns from an unlikely obituary writing conference. She focuses a large part of the book on the extent to which obituary styles differ on each side of the Atlantic: British obits can seem needlessly flowery and weighed down by anecdotes to American readers. Stateside obituaries, meanwhile, "waste space on the foibles of non-entities and their pound cake recipes," according to one British critic. Ms. Johnson convincingly argues that the art form -- yes, I wrote "art form" -- went through its most significant recent evolution in the late 1980s -- after I moved to other sections of the newspaper. That is when obit writers began to be allowed by-lines for their work -- a development that created a certain pride in authorship that improved quality; eventually leading to the more opinionated form of obituary we have today. It may seem a bit morbid to derive joy from someone's death, but Ms. Johnson points out that a good obituary is as much a monument to someone's life as a headstone or an elaborate funeral. And by the same token, this book is a worthy monument to obituaries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cosmopolis; Author: Don Delillo; Review: Most of the action in Cosmopolis takes places inside a stretch limousine, as protagonist Eric Packer, an insanely wealthy currency trading wizard, is driven across Manhattan for a hair cut. Because of circumstances beyond his control, the trip takes up most of the day. So Packer spends the time monitoring his investments from afar and moving a cast of secondary characters -- consultants, service personnel, even his doctor -- around the city like pieces on a chessboard, all to satisfy his whims. I know it doesn't sound exciting. And it's not. Some of the greatest stories in history -- Ulysses, Catcher in the Rye, The Old Man and the Sea -- are driven by characters rather than events. And though I hadn't held out hope that Cosmopolis would propel author Don DeLillo to the ranks of Joyce, Salinger, and Hemingway, I did imagine (in vain) that his development of character would at least keep me entertained for the book's 200-plus pages. This is the first book from Mr. DeLillo I've read, and I can only hope that the dialogue is better in his better-known efforts, like Underworld and Libra. Here, it's just forced, mechanical sounding, and so strangely similar that it's often difficult to tell who is saying what by what they believe and say. To wit: "There's a common surface, and affinity between market movements and the natural world." "An aesthetics of interaction," "Yes, but in this case I'm beginning to doubt I'll ever find it."" "Doubt? What is doubt? You don't believe in doubt. You've told me this." And so on. Yawn. Wake me when they're finished. The book's main virtues come from Mr. DeLillo's insightful descriptions of every-day scenes and his dark humor. But even in those areas, the narrative seems to work too hard for a limited effect. There is no shortage of better books to spend your time and money on.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century; Author: Kevin Phillips; Review: This is the kind of book that would have kept me up at night had I read it six or seven years ago. American Theocracy convincingly and chillingly compares the current situation in the U.S. to that during the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire, The British Empire, Hapsburg Spain, and the Dutch Republic. Scared yet? Author Kevin Phillips comes up with a series of characteristics of what he called a "power already at its peak and starting to decline." The list includes a polarization of the society and widespread concern with cultural and economic decay; growing religious fervor and an increasingly close relationship between church and state; a rising commitment to faith over reason; growing government debt; and "hubris-driven national strategic and military overreach." Jeez, open most days' newspaper and don't be surprised to find concrete examples of each of these points. The point risks being lost amid all the white noise predicting doom and gloom of different sorts these days. No doubt most readers will find themselves a little more jaded to these sorts of prognostications than they would have been just a few years back. But what separates Mr. Phillips from the pack (at least to some extent) is his curriculum vitae: he is the same Kevin Phillips who, as a Republican strategist in the 1960s, shattered the Democrat's "solid south" in his book The Emerging Republican Majority. Most political scientists credit the book with sowing the seeds that handed the Republicans the White House in every election since then that didn't feature a highly-intelligent southern governor on top of the Democratic ticket as a way to wrestle a few electoral votes away south of the Mason-Dixon line. If Mr. Phillips can recognize the hubris in what he helped create, then maybe that's something we should take seriously. The book comes a bit unraveled at the end, though, when Mr. Phillips unconvincingly argues that the disastrous war in Iraq was precipitated by the needs of several key Republican constituencies: energy producers looking for new oil and gas fields to develop, currency traders worried that OPEC might abandon the dollar and cause its collapse, and evangelical Christians who see events of the last generation in the Middle East as coming right from the Book of Revelation, hailing Armageddon. While he there some validity in his conclusions, Mr. Phillips is no doubt oversimplifying an astonishingly complex set of issues. But his ultimate conclusion -- that Republican extremists currently pulling the strings of power in Washington are responsible for the country's energy vulnerability, over-stretched military, sky-high debt levels, and the indulgence of radical religion -- are a threat to the country as great as the one facing fifth-century Rome is rings true and is without a doubt bone chilling. Come to think of it, American Theocracy may yet keep me awake with worry tonight.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy; Author: Visit Amazon's Francis Fukuyama Page; Review: Francis Fukuyama's place in the public consciousness is originally tied to his 1992 seminal work The End of History and the Last Man. With America at the Crossroads, he seems eager to prove not only that history has not ended, but that he feels it could use a little selective editing -- especially when it concerns Mr. Fukuyama himself. As first glace, the book seems to be another thick tome from a heavyweight intellectual weighing in on the war in Iraq and the direction he feels the government should take. It even has added weight given that Mr. Fukuyama was an early supporter of the war, dating back even before the current administration. In 1998, Mr. Fukuyama joined more famous neo-cons like Pail Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld, and John Bolton -- collectively known as the Project for the New American Century -- in signing a public letter addressed to then-President Bill Clinton calling for Saddam Hussein to be toppled. It's available online, opining that Mr. Hussein had become "more serious than any [threat] we have known since the end of the cold war." Many of the letter's 18 signatories eventually became the architects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but before then, American at the Crossroads says, Mr. Fukuyama himself began having second doubts about the wisdom of the then-pending war. But if that is true, why did Mr. Fukuyama continue writing articles and essays lauding the war well into 2003? In public not a word about his misgivings was published until 2004 -- the internet is littered, meanwhile, with articles arguing the opposite -- and he apparently didn't become fully convinced of his opposition until the end of that year, more or less when he says he started to work on this book. None of this is hard to find: it took less then ten minutes with the a9.com search engine to realize the nagging doubt I had reading the book was related to something real. Put all that aside, and Mr. Fukuyama's suggestions make good sense. He argues convincingly that the government failed to correctly calculate the extent to which the war would ignite anti-Americanism, for example, and that plans exaggerated the threat Mr. Hussein represented. True and true. But I can't get around the fact that Mr. Fukuyama built this book around the notion that he had misgivings about the war more than a year before he started to reflect those in his writings. If the timing is a fabrication designed to strengthen this book then that's just wrong. But if the book is right and the articles and essays were inaccurate then that's borderline criminal given that if he had used his influence in 2002 and 2003 there's little doubt that Mr. Fukuyama could have changed the shape of the war, lessening the impact of a bloody and costly blunder.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger; Author: John L. Allen Jr.; Review: One thing that must be pointed out right off the bat is that regardless of what the cover of this book says it is not a biography of Pope Benedict, though it very easily could and should have been (add a half dozen pages as an authors' forward, and give the volume what would amount to a moderate edit). At best that is misleading; at worst it is dishonest. Another important thing to call attention to is that getting through the book can be a bit of a slog. Author John Allen is known for an amazing breadth of knowledge on all things Vatican, and that is apparent here. But he is a highly specialized and skilled reporter and not a writer, wordsmith, or storyteller. Don't expect to be entertained as much as informed. But the amount of information here is the book's saving grace. I've done quite a bit of reading about Benedict and his previous persona Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and there is a lot here regarding the theologian's early days, his relationship with Pope John Paul, and the political and historical context that produced him that is simply not available elsewhere. In looking over the words of my fellow Amazon reviewers, I dismiss much of the criticism as hurtful responses from fervent admirers of the Cardinal, who evidently can't stomach the idea of an analysis of the man that doesn't involve falling to one's knees and weeping in reverence. Objectively speaking, any serious book of this kind has to take a point of view. And for all his stylistic shortcomings, Mr. Allen makes his point of view clear from the beginning, and he does a more than adequate job at explaining the flip side of each argument in most cases. In the final analysis, if you want to better understand the man now on the Throne of St. Peter -- even if through a text written a full five years before he was selected for the job -- it would be easier to do worse than this book than it would be to better. Just make sure you are ready to work your way through 352 pages packed with information but void of many clever turns of phrase or literarily pleasing passages.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why; Author: Visit Amazon's Bart D. Ehrman Page; Review: In that it is based on the notion that the Bible was not handed down verbatim from God, Misquoting Jesus is bound to ruffle some feathers among the most fervent religious zealots. But for anyone else, the book is a fascinating, enjoyable, and accessible read. The main point of Misquoting Jesus is that because of human error, individual agendas, conflicting interpretations, and translation problems, there are literally tens of thousands of versions of the books of the Bible. And since the original versions are for the most part lost to history, there is no clear consensus as to which is the "real" version. Generally, this isn't a problem, since the differences are minor and for the most part rhetorical. But some examples -- author Bart Ehrman argues, for example, that the story of Jesus' warning "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" is almost surely a third-century fabrication -- profoundly challenge the very foundation of the Holy Writ. Mr. Ehrman's points stand to reason, but they are controversial because so much of western culture is based on the lessons taught by these texts. For some people, the Bible is interpreted as a guide to life and ethics to be interpreted as literally as possible. But even for the less fervent it is disconcerting to think that the story of Judas or Lazarus may have at least in part been the product of some forgotten person's imagination. I don't subscribe to the notion that these discrepancies erode the value of the Bible as a spiritual and instructive document. Instead, I think it shows the important vibrant and human side of the most important book ever written. Each of us puts our own spin on the Bible when we read it. Why is it wrong to think others may have put their spin on it while transcribing it? Every other ancient text -- whether Greek tragedies, Roman philosophical texts, or Beowulf -- has evolved over time. Why should the Bible have been immune to these forces? Anyone who would guess that Misquoting Jesus was written with its own agenda should not discount the fact that Mr. Ehrman is himself an evangelical Christian. He set out to write a different book and then developed the general theme for Misquoting Jesus after noting so many discrepancies in Biblical source documents. In sum: those who believe that challenging ones core beliefs is healthy and worthwhile will find Misquoting Jesus a rewarding and interesting read. But those who see the Bible as too personal to be challenged ought to look elsewhere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memoirs of Hadrian; Author: Visit Amazon's Marguerite Yourcenar Page; Review: Some editions of Memoirs of Hadrian say it is "by" both author Marguerite Yourcenar and Grace Frick, the translator. Normally, I would consider that a bit much -- like giving the frame maker partial credit for the painting -- but in this case it seems more than warranted, as Ms. Frick was the mind behind one of the best translation jobs I've ever come across. If she hadn't managed it, Memoirs of Hadrian would have faded into obscurity for English-language readers. After all, the story line is not eventful: it is a series of letters from Roman Emperor Hadrian to future emperor Marcus Aurelius, who Hadrian had come to think of as a grandson. What makes Memoirs of Hadrian great is the way the story is told. The book captures the candid language and thoughtful sentiments of a wise old man nearing death and offering his wisdom to his young heir. It is a kind of frank confession that is at once autobiography, philosophy, and psychology. An example, from near the beginning, when Hadrian explains where his life stands: "Like a traveler sailing the Archipelago who sees the luminous mists lift toward evening, and little by little makes out the shore, I begin to discern the profile of my death." Another example, when Hadrian describes a military victory: "Rome had prepared me a triumph. I no longer protested against these vain but venerable customs; anything which honors man's effort, even if only for a day, seemed to me a salitary in presence of a world so prone to forget." And I could go on and on. Obviously, the concepts and narrative come from Ms. Yourcenar. But the beauty of the language in English depends so much on Ms. Frick. As a work of literature, I suppose it is possible that the rich language and profound sentiment would be enough to make reading it enjoyable. But I do think that a general knowledge of Roman history and European and Italian geography will immeasurably add to the enjoyment of it. It is not an easy read, but it is worth the effort. (Interesting contextual information not completely explained in the book: Marcus Aurelius was 17 when Hadrian died at the age of 62, but Hadrian had already arranged for Marcus Aurelius to eventually become emperor. Hadrian's adopted son, Antoninus Pius, adopted Marcus Aurelius on Hadrian's insistence, and after Antoninus Pius' 23-year-reign, Marcus Aurelius became emperor himself, as Hadrian desired. The three men were the last of the five "Good Emperors".); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marco Pantani: The Legend of a Tragic Champion; Author: John Wilcockson; Review: It's always sad when something has a wonderful opportunity to be great but settles for being merely average. That was never the way of Italian cycling icon Marco Pantani, but it is, sadly, the only way to look at Marco Pantani: the Legend of a Tragic Champion. Pantani deserved better. He was obviously -- and fatally -- flawed, but through his flamboyant personality, dramatic cycling moves, and unmistakable appearance he also brought much-needed color to a sport increasingly dominated by single-minded robot-like riders. He died a dramatic, tragic, and pitiful death, and the world of sport was left poorer for it. Pantani's persona is just one of the reasons this volume should have been much, much better than it is. Another equally important reason is that editor John Wilcockson assembled a virtual Dream Team of cycling writers for the project, from venerable Italian journalist Pier Bergonzi, the chief writer with the pink-paged La Gazetta dello Sport, to his insightful friendly rival Sergio Neri at BiciSport. Add France's Guillaume Prabois, and the staff of the U.S.-based VeloNews. Even Graham Watson, the best-known photographer in the business, contributed some of his signature images. These guys pulled out all the stops, tracking down the Ukrainian maid who cleaned Pantani's room in the hotel where he died of a drug overdose (he kept he very warm, she said) and the tourist who was the last person to see Pantani alive (he said Pantani told him, in a local dialect, "I don't know if there will be another day"). Swiss journalist Michel Beuret even manages a thoughtful interview with Christina Jonsson, Pantani's former girlfriend, who avoided the press in the wake of the cyclist's death. But I think Mr. Wilcockson fails the effort just as a team captain fails his support riders when the pace is too much for him, despite their hard work and preparation. There are many problems. Sloppy editing means that there are contradictory bits scattered all through the text: at one point the book says only four men ever won the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year; in other parts it says there were seven (seven is correct). At several points it says the 2003 Giro was Pantani's last race, but in the appendix is points out (correctly) that he competed without distinction in the challenging Tour of the Basque Country five weeks later. What's more, the writing is uneven, plodding, and predictable. Of course, one reason for that is because the bulk of the book was written in Italian and much of what's left was written in French. But giving it a more unified feel and level of quality has to have been on Mr. Wilcockson's list of duties as editor. Don't blame the translator: he got it to this point. Someone needed to finish the job. And don't get me started on the title. The world "legend" first and foremost means something "presented as history but unlikely to be true." While, technically, the word can also refer to someone so admired they seem to be the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Disposable American: Layoffs and Their Consequences; Author: Visit Amazon's Louis Uchitelle Page; Review: Louis Uchitelle's freshly published The Disposable American is being hailed in some European circles as proof that at least some Americans finally "get it" when it comes to economic theory. But when this American read the book, I had the opposite reaction, wondering instead how an accomplished writer of economics like Mr. Uchitelle could possibly produce something so naive. I will concede that The Disposable American does a good job of identifying some of the most difficult economics questions of our day: Is there a way to balance the concerns of the worker with those of the company? What happens when those concerns are at odds? When and how should the government step in? Unfortunately, beyond correctly identifying the problem, the book gets little else right. Generally speaking, Mr. Uchitelle prescribes a European-style economic model for the U.S. -- one that produced two generations of relatively sluggish growth in Europe even though the continent boasts a cultural tradition that at least makes a decreased emphasis on competitiveness understandable. But adopting such policies stateside -- where from a sociological perspective efficiency and consumption trump esoteric characteristics like culture and nuance -- begins to seem akin to suggesting a man and his wife switch outfits before dinner (it makes no sense, and, what's more, I don't care to see the result). Making it more difficult to fire workers -- one of Mr. Uchitelle's suggestions -- only makes companies less likely to hire them in the first place. It also makes the creation of a large black market that doesn't contribute to tax or public pension roles more likely. That particular issue reminds me of a conversation I had with an Italian economist several years ago, where he explained that Italy's protectionist labor laws were designed to avoid what he called "cruel U.S.-style capitalism." I asked him if he thought it was cruel for Italy to have an 11% unemployment rate at a time when only 4% of Americans were without a job. His answer was that the issue wasn't that simple -- and over time I've come to realize that in some ways he was correct. But Mr. Uchitelle seems to think it is that simple, except he gets it backwards ... and then he writes a book about it. More examples: Mr. Uchitelle says that in some cases it's a company's "obligation" to keep workers on the payrolls for as long as possible, even if it means the company eventually fails. He argues for more generous unemployment benefits that make getting a job relatively less attractive. He wants companies' obligations to focus on the worker rather than on production or profit. These seem like cures worse than the disease they purport to cure. There are some steps that seem to inch closer to the kind of value Mr. Uchitelle advocates. But the best I know of -- profit sharing, which lets workers benefit and make decisions as both employees and owners -- gets only a passing reference. In its stead are a series of suggestions that made me grimace at each turn, as; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Lewis Page; Review: If you love stories about an unlikely hero, a guy who succeeds not by calling in favors or taking advantage of wealth, but by Out Thinking his rivals, then you should probably consider reading Moneyball. And if you're a baseball fan to boot, then what are you waiting for? Moneyball is the well-written and fast-moving story of Billy Beane, a one-time hot baseball prospect who never panned out. But he hits the big time as general manager of the Oakland A's by thinking outside the box, transforming this small-market team with a limited budget into one of baseball's most successful franchises by re-evaluating the way players are measured. The result: he covets players no other team wants, and he wins with them. Most baseball teams collect players the way an art collector accumulates paintings. Add one or two high-priced and high-visibility objects to an otherwise average group, the thinking goes, and you can start collecting accolades. According to author Michael Lewis, Beane goes about it differently. As a can't-miss prospect who missed, Beane recognizes the psychology of the super star who will not deliver what he promises. But more importantly, Beane also ignores conventional and flashy statistics like batting average and ERA for seemingly mundane alternatives like on-base percentage and ground balls allowed. After all, he'd ask, what does it matter if a player gets to first after driving the first pitch to the warning track or by drawing a walk after fouling pitches off and reaching a full count? The difference is that the second option -- though much less likely to become an ESPN Play of the Day -- is far better because in addition to getting a man on base, it tires out the opposing pitcher. It's tempting to argue that Moneyball is less about baseball than it is about life. After all, the morals of the story are to disregard convention wisdom, to use your own smarts rather the opinions of others, and to pick a game plan and stick with it. Although these concepts are very valid away from the baseball diamond, that isn't too relevant here: Moneyball is a baseball book, and chances are that if you don't enjoy and understand the sport, then most of the book's lessons will be lost on you. One thing I can't figure out is why Beane allowed this book to be written. He obviously has a good thing going in Oakland, and I don't understand why he would reveal his secrets to Mr. Lewis. I guess it's not much of a risk that other teams will emulate this unusual statistics-based approach (At least three other teams say they do -- the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Toronto Blue Jays -- but they all have too much money to really need this philosophy. And it's not something you can do to a limited degree, like adding a drop of milk to your coffee. It's all or nothing). But Beane also gives insight into how he manipulates trades to his advantage, and how he knows (and names); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memories of My Melancholy Whores. Gabriel Garca Mrquez; Author: Gabriel Garc-A Mrquez; Review: I used to speculate that the novella was Gabriel Garcia Marquez's natural forum -- but after reading Memories of My Melancholy [...]I have my doubts. Unlike novellas such as Chronicle of a Death Foretold, No One Writes to the Colonel, and Of Love and Other Demons, the author's unique talent for arching and vast narratives that move freely in time is confined here, and Mr. Garcia Marquez's imagination never quite seems to take flight. And I don't think the story would have been improved by lengthening it: it seems like it would be a better fit as a sub-plot in a more ambitious work than as a tale asked to stand on its own. I admit that on some level, I probably raise the bar a little when it comes to evaluating the work of Mr. Garcia Marquez, who I count among my favorite writers. But as I read this slim but handsome volume, I couldn't escape the feeling that the author may have been going through the motions as he wrote this. The story almost seemed like a parody of Mr. Garcia Marquez's best works, especially Love in the Time of Cholera, which similarly explored the concept of love in its various and unlikely forms. With Memories of My Melancholy [...], the love develops in the imagination of the book's 90-year-old protagonist, who for the first time in his life allows himself to truely care for someone: a 14-year-old virgin and would-be prostitute who he never deflowers, never speaks to, and never even sees awake. This is not a book about sex, as some reviewers assert, and so the inevitable comparisons with Lolita are off the mark. But almost as mistaken are the reviews that call this great literature, for we never really understand the main character's motives. Why did he choose to live such a libertine but lonely existence? Why are his own examinations of his life reduced to pat phrases like wanting to "die alone, in the same bed in which [he] was born" and boasting of having "never gone to bed with a woman [he] didn't pay"? At first glance, the story does seem to be about sex, which is obviously inaccurate. At other points, it seems be about love, loneliness, morals, or old age. But what I think it is really about is obsession, and as such it is ultimately unsatisfying because we don't really understand the character with the obsession. All these criticisms are relative, of course. The book still offers Mr. Garcia Marquez's familiar and reassuring story telling style and delicate language, and it again brings us back to the fascinating world of rural Columbia as Mr. Garcia Marquez imagines or remembers it. Translator Edith Grossman does another magnificent job rendering flowery and literary Spanish into highly readable English nonetheless faithful to the original. But the watered-down storyline, the unconvincing protagonist, and the contrived and banal ending would have been unthinkable in Mr. Garcia Marquez's prime, and even in the twilight of his career they are unworthy of his glorious talents.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Swan Green; Author: Visit Amazon's David Mitchell Page; Review: Fans of David Mitchell's acclaimed and popular Cloud Atlas might be disappointed to find that Black Swan Green features none of the previous book's ambitious temporal leaps and interwoven story lines. Me? Those devices put me off when I read the book, and so I was eager to dive into Black Swan Green in hopes of enjoying Mr. Mitchell's ample talents without the distractions. I was at least partially correct: Black Swan Green is a very traditional, chronological, first-person, semi-autobiographical, and not quite predictable coming of age story. Unfortunately, it's also rather ordinary. The story is about an unusually insightful and thoughtful 13-year-old called Jason Taylor. It is set entirely in 1982 (starting in January, when the boy inadvertently smashes his grandmother's irreplaceable Omega watch, and ending after Christmas), all in the sleepy village of Black Swan Green in Worcestershire in the U.K. We meet Jason's family, neighborhood chums, a stammering nemesis from school, and we get insight into the life in this anonymous central English hamlet. There's nothing wrong with the story; it's just that there isn't much that is right about it either. Three hundred pages after starting the book, I am no less convinced that the 36-year-old Mr. Mitchell is a talented and promising writer. I applaud him for experimenting with new styles, and I hope he will continue to do so until he finds the one that works best with his abilities. I hope he'll cross this style off the list, though, because it isn't what I think he is looking for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Slow Food(The Case For Taste); Author: Visit Amazon's Carlo Petrini Page; Review: Though the Slow Food is making appropriately Slow headway into U.S. consciousness, it has been an important and well-known influence on Italian culinary values for years. Slow Food: The Case for Taste is a good way to figure out what all the attention is about. For anyone who doesn't know, Slow Food is the antithesis of "fast food," as it is represented by drive through burger restaurants, coffee in a to-go cup, and ready-to-eat microwave dinners. The 17-year-old organization was born from opposition to the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Rome's iconic Piazza di Spagna (the effort was unsuccessful: that particular location is still open and it serves more than 8,000 hamburgers a day). From that beginning, it evolved to promote eateries that use fresh ingredients and preserve historical cuisines, to fund educational programs, and to encourage the movement's members to stop and smell the roses (and then to have a nice plate of pasta and glass of wine afterwards). I'm a fan of many aspects of the Slow Food movement: I don't think there's a better guide to Italian restaurants than the Osterie d'Italia guide (available only in Italian). And the organization's educational programs have certainly heightened the awareness of good food and wine in Italy, something I have clearly benefited from. Overall, the emphasis on good, well-made, and unpretentious food and wine is something almost everyone can enjoy. My main criticism of the Slow Food movement is that it seems to look at things too simply, divorcing the desire to eat and drink in a certain way and experience life under a certain set of rules from reality, often advocating actions -- such as the lengths someone should go to get the right garlic, or to eat in a proper restaurant, or decide how to vote on political issues -- that make less sense when taken in context. This all-or-nothing approach ends up sounding naive, and probably only undermines the validity of the organization's values. The weakness (apparent in this slim volume) means the book gets docked one star. The other star is removed for sloppy translation and editing. Phrases are in some cases so badly translated that they can sound stilted and are sometimes difficult to understand. More importantly, editors appear to have simply translated a book written for an Italian audience without understanding that the values and context -- that word again: can anyone at Slow Food understand that different contexts require different reactions? -- are very different in the U.S., where this book has been marketed. There are several examples of this weakness, but the best comes from a passage talking about an appreciation for wine, where the book reads: "when they are old enough, the kids will develop a taste for Barolo" -- not in most families, given underage drinking laws and the fact that in the U.S. Barolo starts at $50-60 a bottle! I have not read the Italian edition of this book, but I'm going to seek it out. My best guess is that this edition was rushed to press in order to; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adverbs: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Handler Page; Review: I didn't know about the connection between author Daniel Handler and his pseudonym Lemony Snicket until after I finished Adverbs, but I think I sensed a kinship between the two. Both are told with a certain deadpan humor, both wrestle the maximum meaning out of words and phrases, both stop just a hair short of becoming pedantic in their explanations. Unfortunately, after a certain point, I think the unusual combination of characteristics under both names succeeds ... but at the expense of the narrative. The biggest difference, of course, is that Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is written for children (or, perhaps more accurately, at the parents who buy them for their children), while Adverbs is aimed at adults. And while the former explores some of the central themes of childhood -- fear of abandonment, need for approval, adventure, that sort of thing -- Adverbs focuses squarely on the main theme of adulthood: love. The book is made up of 16 intersecting stories that, with witty pen and stiff upper lip, explore the frail state of love. The title of the 250-page volume comes from the fact that each chapter is named for the adverb that modifies the word love as it is described in that chapter. I thought the first chapter -- entitled "Immediately" -- was the best, telling us about a couple on their way to hear a will read. Here's how it starts: "Love was in the air, so both of us walked through love on our way to the corner. We breathed it in, particularly me: the air was also full of smells and birds, but it was love, I was sure, that was tumbling down to my lungs, the heart's neighbors and confidants. Andrea was tall and angry. I was a little bit shorter. She smoked cigarettes. I worked in a store that sold things. We always walked to this same corner, Thirty -- seventh and what's -- it, Third Avenue, in New York, because it was easier to get a cab there, and the entire time we were in love." Nice. Looking over the book again, I think the second chapter was probably my second favorite, and I think the third was the third best ... ... which tips me off to a trend: like many books held together by a clever device like the adverbs theme here, the veneer eventually wears thin and the story suffers. After some reflection, I think that if I read some intermediate story first, that might have become my favorite. If I read the first one last, it might have started to feel as weary as I did when I finally put the book aside. If I had it to read over again, I'd leave it at my bedside and pick it up every third night or so. I don't want to undervalue Mr. Handler's writing, which is smart and efficient and fun to read. But I can't escape the feeling that because of the book's hallmark timing, vocabulary, and style it is damned to be good but not; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael R. Gordon Page; Review: Occasionally, books I've read have prompted me to pause and close my eyes to savor the poetic language or to consider an unexpected turn of events. But Cobra II is the first book I've ever had to pause and put aside based purely on fury. A few days later, I think I'm still too angry to write a thoughtful review. This book is a thorough and well-researched examination into the possibility that one of the principle reasons behind the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was to prove Donald Rumsfeld's heart-held belief that a small and more nimble military could be more effective than the concept of "over-whelming force" called for by the (Colin) Powell Doctrine. Never mind that it was wrong -- is the desire to prove a theory correct reason enough to enter into a war? There's much more to it than that -- the style with which Mr. Rumsfeld runs the Pentagon, the way he assimilates information -- but I was so angry while reading the book that I can't bring myself to open it again in order spark my memory of the details. Let it suffice to say that this book is a thick and well-documented litany of the crimes and errors Mr. Rumsfeld and his lieutenants committed on the road to Baghdad (the Defense Secretary is the main focus of the book: President Bush and Vice-President Cheney are almost conspicuous in their relative absence) from the authors of the much-more-flattering volume The Generals' War, which chronicles the previous Gulf War. One criticism: authors Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor documented Cobra II so well that their mention of sources and proof often gets in the way of the flow of the book. On the one hand, it's hard to blame them, since similarly critical books in the past have been discredited as speculation or opinion. But I think it might have been better to list this information in the form of footnotes or endnotes rather than in the text itself. Grrrrr.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Let Me Finish; Author: Visit Amazon's Roger Angell Page; Review: I had a hard time identifying with author and long-time New Yorker contributor Roger Angell and his "life sheltered by privilege and engrossing work" that he "shot through with good luck." I know Mr. Angell's essays, but in book form the sizeable silver spoon in the author's mouth at birth and a family tree that includes New Yorker legend (and a hero of mine and my fellow grammarians) E.B. White has a charming but foreign country club/Vodka Martini feel to me -- even though he discusses it so as-a-matter-of-factly that it isn't annoying, as it might otherwise be. The book describes an America that probably never existed, at least outside very slim social classes: no crime, no racism, no poverty, no social strife, no politics. But it's all told so smoothly that the pages float by almost effortlessly. There is no denying that Mr. Angell's has a subtle and smooth talent for words, matched only by his wit, charm, and insight. And yet the book always seemed on the verge of becoming unforgettable without ever making it there. At least for me, it never clicked. I have a hard time describing why, but it seemed to me like a painting that is technically sound and skillfully created but still missing the unidentifiable quality that would make it a masterpiece.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being There; Author: Visit Amazon's Jerzy Kosinski Page; Review: After watching the film several times over the years -- but before reading the book -- I concluded that Being There was a prime candidate for one of the rare instances in which the cinematic version of a story was superior to the literature it was based on. The story is so simple and so much of it is communicated by expressions, gestures, and tone of voice that it seemed unlikely that the written word would be up to the task. Instead, finally reading this thin but ambitious effort showed me again that good writing trumps good cinema almost every time. To be sure, the film is good cinema. And the talented duo of Peter Sellers and Shirley McLean are so convincing in their silver screen roles that it is hard to imagine the characters they portray looking and sounding any different than the way they were played in the film (my effort to disassociate them from the story wasn't helped by the fact that my edition of the book has Mr. Sellers larger than life on its cover). Yet the book takes the story to another level. Chance, the main character, is still a fortunate simpleton, But in the book author Jerzy Kosinski can reveal what is happening in his head, the swirling and disconcerting mystery that even the most obvious events seem to someone like him. These passages add an unexpected depth and darkness to the story, which is without most of the comic relief so prominent in the film. The end result is a book that isn't the wry comedy with precision timing I expected after knowing the film so well but rather a biting and trenchant satire about the culture of modern media, politics, and business, and of the gullible nature of a people far too eager to follow anyone they think may be willing to lead.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Open Target: Where America Is Vulnerable to Attack; Author: Visit Amazon's Clark Kent Ervin Page; Review: One of the most telling anecdotes in Open Target is based on when author and former Department of Homeland Security inspector general Clark Kent Ervin released a report in 2003 indicating that 40% of the deadly bomb parts and weapons government agents tried to sneak through airport security got through. With the distressing information in the public forum, Department of Homeland Security head Tom Ridge called Mr. Ervin into his office for a closed-door conference. But it wasn't to lament the unfortunate statistic, or to discuss ways to remedy it. Instead, Mr. Ervin says, his boss berated him for his conclusions and finally asked: Why couldn't you have at least said we were 60% successful? Wouldn't that have sounded much better? That is the devastating theme of Open Target in a nutshell: that the United States' efforts to stem the threat of a terror attack is based on creating certain impressions, demonstrating bravado about being proactive, and, most importantly, to help rationalize extreme steps taken elsewhere. Mr. Ervin is not a gifted writer, but he does effectively sound the alarm about where risks lie, and he goes on at great length about how they can be stemmed. His suggestions are not high-tech or complicated plans but rather critical but common sense approaches that in many cases simply require the expense of a little shoe leather from agents in the field. He suggests, for example, checking all containers arriving to U.S. ports, securing soft targets like athletic stadiums and water supplies, cross referencing databases of suspected extremists, and encouraging coordination between territorial agencies like the FBI, the CIA, the State Department, local and state police, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security. It's hard to read Open Target and not be appalled and frightened by how astonishingly vulnerable the U.S. seems to be, at least from Mr. Ervin's perspective. I brush aside one criticism I've read of the book, which is that Mr. Ervin was simply providing potential extremists with a laundry list of targets on the susceptible American underbelly. I had that critique in mind when I started the book -- but as I worked my way through it I realized that the vulnerabilities Mr. Ervin points out are so obvious that while it's beyond belief that security forces haven't worked harder to limit the risk, it's also very unlikely that hostile forces hadn't thought of them long ago. One critical appraisal that does give me pause is Mr. Ervin's own point of view. He finished his 18-month stint as the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general in 2004, when Congress would not confirm him. He says the reason was that he was too effective in pointing out mismanagement and security lapses that legislators preferred not to have so much attention called to those failures. I can't say whether Mr. Ervin's assessment is correct or not, but while reading Open Target it is each to imagine that part of the author's reason for writing the book may have been to settle the score with those who wouldn't let him do the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Democracy in America: Abridged Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Alexis de Tocqueville Page; Review: As an American living in Europe, I read with great interest Alexis de Tocqueville's book about a European experiencing America. Like most people, Mr. de Tocqueville started out with a characterization of the United States, believing that the country's early 19th century prosperity was a function of its distance from rivals in Europe. But after his famous trip, he concludes that the real difference comes from each side's view of risk taking. It's an insight as relevant today as it was when it was written. Mr. de Tocqueville predicted that the growing issue of state's rights would lead to bloodshed (it led to the Civil War -- though he wrongly predicted it would eventually lead to a breakup of the union, he was very nearly right on that point as well); he predicts the fledgling country's industrial rise and its emergence as a true world power; he recognized the symbiotic role between industry and democracy at a time when they were believed to be unrelated. His insights into the American psyche, optimism, and ambition at times seem timelier than most op-ed pieces. More than a century and a half after it was written, I am hard pressed to conjure the name of a better commentary about America and Americans. It is an astonishing feat considering the brevity of Mr. de Tocqueville's four-month visit, his youth (he was in his early 20s), and early stage of development the country was in. But the result is something that shouldn't be skipped by any serious student of the political and social essence of the United States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Like Shaking Hands With God: A Conversation About Writing; Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.; Review: This is a wisp of a book. At less than 80 pages, I read it in one evening in the time it took me to eat a few tapas and down two pints of beer. By the time the check arrived, I was already writing down my thoughts inside the back cover. But what an enjoyable wisp it is! Almost everyone I know is a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, and so the colorful and curmudgeonly wisdom he brings to the table here is no surprise. But who is this Lee Stringer guy? By the end, I began to think of him as a superior version of James Frey (author of the badly written pseudo memoir "A Million Little Pieces") with the main difference that Mr. Stringer (1) writes well and (2) his tales about life on Skid Row are true. Actually, now that I think of it, that's kind of like saying I'm like Shakespeare except that he (1) writes a lot better and (2) he's been dead for almost 400 years. Anyway, back to the book: I admit that Like Shaking Hands With God doesn't offer a great price-per-word ratio (it's slim and relatively expensive) but it does offer a great deal of wisdom on its handful of pages. Based on two conversations between two friends with a lot of respect for each other, these guys are smart, they know how to express themselves, and they've been around the block a few times. The book bills itself as "a conversation about writing" and it is that. But it's more of a conversation about being, but a kind of being that involves writing. For a lot of avid readers, that's a perfect fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Legend (2015); Brand: Tom Hardy; Review: Awesome movie!!! my boy and I loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Justice League vs Teen Titans (DVD); Brand: Sam Liu; Review: Purchased this for my boyfriend. Came super fast and he was happy. Would buy again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OCEAN'S TWELVE (WS) (DVD); Brand: George Clooney; Review: Awesome movie!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Volume 1; Brand: Uma Thurman; Review: Great movie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: War Room; Brand: Priscilla Shirer; Review: Such an excellent Movie! A must see for any Christian couple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ariat Women's Bluebell Western Fashion Boot; Brand: ; Review: Excellent boots but not surprised since from Ariat. Very comfortable and fit just right. Spend the money on a good product especially when on your feet!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sanuk Women's Donna Distressed Flat; Brand: ; Review: Super comfy but make your feet stink lol small price to pay for comfy cute shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Volcom Junior's Always On Trucker Hat; Brand: ; Review: I've got a big head so not surprised it's a little small but I love the construction and I've received lots of compliments on the design!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PrettyGuide Women's 1920s Flapper Dress Crystal Sequin Embellished Fringed Gatsby Dress; Brand: PrettyGuide; Review: Love love love this dress!! It fit amazing and I received sooooooooo many compliments! Very well made!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toms Kids Luca Blue Cinderella Slip-On Shoe; Brand: TOMS; Review: So comfortable and super cute!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Kaerntnerhof; City: Vienna; Review: Stayed July 2014. Super clean, friendly, and accommodating -- they changed our room so that we could check in early after a hectic travel morning. No AC, but the fan kept the air moving and the evenings were reasonably cool. You can leave your windows open and, because the hotel is located in a dead-end, it's fairly quiet even though you're right downtown. The lift is a bit small and there's no luggage assistance, but that's what you get for 3 stars in this price range. The location is unbeatable -- 5min walk from Stephensplatz! A great value right in the heart of Vienna cafe-culture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Drumheller; City: Drumheller Alberta; Review: Clean room. Comfy beds & pillows. Good, free breakfast, but BE EARLY. The pool was OK and hot tub small, and the layout means the 'splash radius' from the water-slide takes up half of the deck area. Overall happy I saved $50 over the place next door. Tip: Avoid the nearby mall restaurants and go (2 or 3 blocks) 'into town' for dinner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Medicine Hat Lodge Resort Casino Spa; City: Medicine Hat Alberta; Review: The room was comfortable, clean, and surprisingly did not smell like chlorine (being next to the pool). The pool/waterslide, being the selling feature for us (read: for our 10yr-old), was a disappointment: the steam room was inoperative, there was standing water all over the deck area, and the waterslides were so scummy my wife didn't use them a second time (the 10yr-old didn't care). The free breakfast buffet was good, but don't fall for the '$5 off dinner buffet coupon'-scam: They still cost $30 each + $15 for the child! Way overpriced for what was average food at best.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rossi Boutique Hotel SPA; City: St Petersburg Northwestern District; Review: The building is right on the Fontanka Embankment, blocks from Nevsky Prospect and the Anichkov Bridge. I don't know how any other reviewer could complain about the distance: I walked from this hotel to the Church of the Saviour in under 20min (with a 9yr-old). The room was clean, although a little tight, and the glass wall between the shower and the main room took some getting used to. The 'king-sized' bed turned out to be two singles put together. The patio restaurant had tasty, well-priced food. The breakfast was also tasty, but four days of 'free' breakfasts for three people somehow became 13 breakfasts on our bill. Since they forgot our wakeup call, and we were nearly late for our flight out of Russia, we didn't have time to argue about breakfasts. So, a couple of hiccups, but, overall, a great place at a good price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mere Hotel; City: Winnipeg Manitoba; Review: If you have to come to Winnipeg, it's a decent price along the river, close to The Forks. I look out the window, and there's a brown river -- not exactly picturesque, but better than bars on the window. Everything in the room is white and square (hip and modern, I'm assuming), but the overall feel is cold and institutional. Just not my style, I guess. The beds are large and clean, although the party on the hotel cafe patio is preventing me from getting much use out of them as I write this at 1:40am. (Room is on the third floor, btw.) Tiny parking lot. Noisy AC. And what's up with the glass wall between the bedroom and the bathroom? Good thing there's free coffee, because you'll need it in the morning.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: Stayed for a week with family. Pros: Unparalleled location, views, character, neighbourhood, and service. Friendly staff (and dog). Solid breakfast in sunlit breakfast room. First floor stairs steep but no big deal. Cons: Intermittent unpleasant odor from shower drain (including upon check in). No A/C, but big windows to open in the evenings.. The bed and pillows in the main room were not comfortable, and the rubber mattress cover on that bed, what the..?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London Victoria Hotel; City: London England; Review: Stayed for a week with family. Great location: 5min to Victoria station, 2 blocks to restaurants and grocery, 15min walk to Buckingham Palace. Decent sized clean room with comfy beds, A/C, free wifi, and full bath and shower (no fridge). Good breakfast. Also received excellent help a week after our stay to retrieve a forgotten item. Super value for the location -- would definitely stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Sin alma (El protectorado de la sombrilla, #1); Author: Gail Carriger; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: "Sin Alma" es un libro que vio la luz en el 2OO9 y al cual estuve tratando de hincarle el diente desde hace dos anos. Cuando por fin pude conseguirlo no se por que pero lo olvide y pospuse mucho su lectura - si mal no recuerdo lo lei a finales del ano pasado pero me tomo casi dos meses engancharme -. Esto no quiere decir que sea dificil cogerle el hilo o que sea aburrido, no, no, ni mas faltaba. Es solo que nunca pude superar los tres primeros parrafos por falta de tiempo xD Para poder leerlo debi hacer una extensa investigacion acerca del genero al cual pertenece el libro: El Steampunk. Resulta, sucede y acontece que este sub-genero literario que nace de la ciencia ficcion esta ligado a la epoca victoriana; momento de la historia en el que reino Victoria I en Inglaterra, de ahi su nombre - premio a la obviedad - y en el cual la Revolucion Industrial estaba en pleno apogeo. Aunque nacio de la literatura ha migrado hacia otros lares de la cultura y es considerado como moda, ademas de ser aclamado en el cine. El steampunk se desenvuelve bajo el idealismo del avance cientifico basado en la industria - que por ese momento estaba centrada en el uso del vapor y el carbon, es mas, steam significa vapor -. Los cientificos de la epoca estaban locos ocupados tratando de averiguar la manera de construir maquinas que funcionaran con vapor, que fueran utiles y sencillas de usar. Extranamente las historias que se centran en este tipo de tecnologia retrofuturista tienen un parecido con la realidad actual, en la cual vemos muchos de los inventos del imaginario pero no con los mismos elementos que son utilizados en las historias. Basta de lecciones de literatura, llego la hora del libro. En esta magnifica obra, vampiros, hombres lobo y preternaturales - o sin alma como nuestra protagonista- conviven con los humanos y todos tienen estrictas reglas de etiqueta que seguir. Es dificil creer que dos cosas tan opuestas se puedan mezclar bien sumandole un romance paranormal, pero para la autora fue pan comido -ok, no pero es una forma de decirlo,- la ambientacion victoriana le dio un toque perfecto ya que el lenguaje que se usa es tan estirado que hace que el sarcasmo que constantemente usa Alexia suene totalmente refinado y mas de una vez fue el tono el que me saco las carcajadas. El ritmo del libro es el justo, no muy rapido pero tampoco tan lento que hace que quiera gritar de la frustracion, aunque hay situaciones donde desee arrancarme el pelo por tardarse tanto en su desarrollo; Gracias a Dios esto es compensado por el humor acido y atrevido de Alexia y por supuesto de las situaciones candentes propiciadas por el guapisimo e irritante Lord Maccon. Si tuviera que describirlo utilizando solo palabras diria que es: atrevido, diferente, arriesgado -ya no muchos autores se meten con vampiros y hombres lobo debido a ser un tema tan trillado,- y muuuuuy divertido. Lo unico que me; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bailando con el diablo (Cazadores oscuros, #4); Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: Mi segunda lectura de Bailando Con El Diablo, fue tan gratificante como la primera; aunque debo reconocer que no recordaba el dolor constante de mi pecho al leer cada recuerdo que Zarek nos brindaba, si bien cuando leo algo conmovedor aparece esa molestia. En el caso de Zarek, al lado de ese dolor, surgen unas ganas indescriptibles de asesinar a todos los que lo hicieron sufrir. Zarek es un Cazador Oscuro maldito en todo el sentido de la palabra. Hijo de una prostituta/esclava (no me acuerdo, la verdad), repudiado por su padre, madre y hermanos, la infancia de Zarek es esa que ningun nino desea tener. ?Su muerte? Sobre sus piernas pidiendo clemencia. ?Su vida despues de la muerte? Congelandose las pelotas en medio de la nada Alaska sin un Escudero por mas de novecientos anos. Llevado a la soleada (?) Nueva Orleans gracias a Ash (hurra por mi sexy Cazador Oscuro), fue devuelto a su "hogar" por culpa de la diosa-vaca Artemisa a la espera de una muerte segura a manos de sus propios companeros de lucha. Herido en la espalda, culpa de los gajes del oficio, es "rescatado" por Astrid, una jueza del Olimpo y hermana de las temibles Moiras, quien es enviada a juzgarlo como un favor personal hacia Acheron (otra vez el). Como parte de su imparcialidad, Astrid es ciega lastima que no pueda ver al sexy Z pero como ella es una diosa, tiene sus metodos para poder verlo y asi quedar cegada por su belleza, vaya ironia. En fin, el libro se desarrolla cuando Zarek queda atrapado en casa de Astrid por una tormenta de nieve, es alli cuando ella pone en marcha su plan para decidir si es culpable o no. Lo que ella no sabe es que el chico maloso no es tan maloso como piensa. Lo que mas me gusta de este libro es que desde el principio quedas enganchado. Ayuda mucho que el apareciese en el anterior y todos rogaramos por saber como iba a terminar. Tambien, y aunque algunos digan que es un cliche, para mi, su historia es bastante singular. ?Odiado en vida y tambien despues de muerto? No son muchos los casos y desglosar toda la existencia de Zarek es lo que te mantiene ahi, aunque hay que resaltar que no todo tiene que ver con su pasado; tambien podemos ver, por los laditos, al Zarek tierno y protector hacia las mujeres, o mejor dicho hacia Astrid y sin nombrar su sentido del humor que siempre me hacia mearme de la risa (metaforicamente hablando). En general, es uno de esos libros que te hacen llorar, patalear y golpear a tu novio almohada y al final te sacan una sonrisa por el final romanticon que tuvo. Yo si lo recomiendo. Frases Favoritas --?Que esta haciendo? --pregunto Artemisa mientras se percataba que Simi hablaba sola. --Hace una lista de lo que necesita para matar a Thanatos. --Suena como si fuera a comerlo. --Probablemente. --No tengo prejuicios contra nadie, princesa. Odio a todo el mundo por igual.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1); Author: Richelle Mead; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: OMG! The final of the book it's so awesome. I can't wait to read the next book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La noche del cazador (Psi/Cambiantes, #1); Author: Nalini Singh; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La noche del jaguar (Psi/Cambiantes, #2); Author: Nalini Singh; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Dios, que libro tan bueno, realmente me gusta porque me identifique un poco con Faith y definitivamente Vaughn es sexy :D; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers, #4.5); Author: Lisa Kleypas; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Para ser el libro final de la serie, fue bueno, pero me hubiera gustado que tuviera mas interaccion entre los personajes; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Everything Forbidden (Albright Sisters, #1); Author: Jess Michaels; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: oooh god, i love this book!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jekel Loves Hyde; Author: Beth Fantaskey; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Libro con buena trama, aunque es un poco extrano, me gusto la mezcla entre juvenil y paranormal, pero a decir verdad creo que no es tan paranormal porque el trastorno de Tristen se podria decir que es una predisposicion a la violencia, a la psicosis y otras enfermedades que estimulan la violencia y lo sociopata en un ser humano, pero bueno me gusto el final, aunque quede intrigada con cierta personita que no supieron explicar donde estaba !!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Si no despierto; Author: Lauren Oliver; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Si hubiese tenido otro final el libro no seria tan perfecto.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sangre azul (Vampire Academy, #2); Author: Richelle Mead; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Primera leida: Noviembre/2011 Segunda leida: Julio/2016; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #4); Author: Laurell K. Hamilton; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Primera lectura: 29/10/2011 - 30/10/2011 Segunda lectura: 06/04/2015 - 08/04/2015; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1); Author: Richelle Mead; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Primera leida: Noviembre/2011 Segunda leida: Julio/2016; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1); Author: James Dashner; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Hace un par de semanas, me estuve preguntando porque todos los libros que me he leido siempre son iguales, no me refiero a la historia en si, es solo que la gran mayoria son libros escritos por mujeres, y la historia que se cuenta es narrada solamente por chicas o, compartida entre ambos generos. Asi que imaginense mi sorpresa cuando descubri este libro escrito por un hombre y narrado, en su totalidad, por un chico, me dije: "esto es una total coincidencia". Y en realidad es refrescante poder leer las cosas desde un punto de vista diferente :DD Y ahora vamos con el libro. Debo decir que amo y odio este libro al mismo tiempo. Es que es tan frustrante y la vez tan interesante. El aura de misterio que lo rodea es simplemente grandiosa, mantiene tu mente corriendo en cada instante para tratar de averiguar que es lo que en verdad sucede. Al mismo tiempo esto me hace querer arrancarme el pelo. La historia esta tan bien pensada que es imposible que se escape una sola pista y esto es tan !FRUSTRANTE! Aunque hay algo que me molesta de este libro y es su comienzo. Cuando comence a leer me perdi totalmente, me sentia como un Grennie (odio esa palabra, !gracias Thomas!), es como si creyeran que tu lo entiendes todo, cuando en realidad no es asi. Puede ser que ese sea el objetivo: tratarte como si hubieras llegado en La Caja, con tu memoria borrada y estuvieras tratando de adaptarte a la vida en El Claro. Es algo inteligente, pero a mi me molesta demasiado, es como si hubiese abierto el libro y en el momento de comenzar a leer !BAM! me chocara con una pared. Es frustrante. De los personajes, mi favorito sin dudas en Minhos. Wow que chico, tan joven y tan valiente, siempre con un comentario tan sarcastico, y a la vez tan real. Me sorprendi cuando lo vi rendirse, pense: "Dios no, si el se rinde es como si todo estuviese acabado." Pero fue bueno saber que siguio y siguio hasta el final. Personaje que no me haya gustado: sin pensarlo ni un solo momento es Teresa. Nunca entendi cual era su puto papel; si, puede comunicarse con Thomas, pero ?por que tuvo que esperar tanto tiempo para hablar en su cabeza y ayudarlo a entender cual era su papel? No se, esa chica me asusta, hay muchas cosas que no estan claras acerca de ella; supongo que eso lo sabremos en la siguiente entrega ;) Comentarios sueltos. 1. Odio los Greviers, me hacen pensar en melcocha de avena. Ugh. 2. Siempre crei que los escarabajos navajas tenian que ver con el rompecabezas, por eso de la frase que se escribio Teresa al despertarse. Es triste ver que al final no aparecieron. 3. A pesar de que nunca se queda callado amo totalmente a Chuck, yo tambien senti que era como un hermano pequeno. 4. No me gusto para nada el final de Alby, el se merecia algo mejor que eso. 5. No entendi lo que; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Divergente (Divergente, #1); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Primera lectura: 15/12/11 - 16/12/11 Segunda lectura: 17/02/15 - 18/02/15; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Ruin My Teenage Life (How to Ruin, #2); Author: Simone Elkeles; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Love it <3; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (How to Ruin, #1); Author: Simone Elkeles; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Puedes leer la resena proximamente dando cliq aca.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #10); Author: J.R. Ward; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: ATENCION: Esta resena contiene un monton de spoilers, muy poco carino para con la autora sin mencionar que es la entrega numero 10 de una saga que ya lleva varios anos viendo la luz. Para comenzar a resenar es necesario hablar sobre la historia central y las sub-historias que entretejen todo el libro (No me digas. Si, si les digo). La trama central gira en torno a Tohrment, su intento-de-salvar-a-Wellsie/romance-con-No'One y el dolor por el que pasa en solo un ano. Este libro tiene potencial, si se le dedica mas tiempo a la estructura, los dialogos y se le cambian situaciones o si se les aborda de una forma diferente. Sentimentalmente hablando. EN GENERAL... Las primeras 500 paginas son material que necesita ser trabajado a fondo y me hubiese gustado que las circunstancias fueran diferentes. Que pudieramos conocer mas a No'One porque sigo sin saber quien carajos es. Hola, mi nombre es No'One o Autumn o como sea que quieras llamarme, me suicide, la Virgen Escriba tuvo piedad de mi y vivo en un limbo, estoy viva pero tambien muerta, ayudo a Payne con su recuperacion pero hace dos libros que no hablo en forma con ella. Tohr me trata como una puta barata y yo me dejo. ?Olvide mencionar que fui violada pero cada vez que me acuesto con Tohr me hago un lavado cerebral porque no tengo ninguna objecion en que me trate como un animal listo para procrear? Si, esa soy yo. !Dioooooooooos! Ella tiene la personalidad mas extrana que he visto/leido en mi vida. Sin mencionar que en ningun momento se explica el por que ella es asi. Parece como si su pasado nunca hubiese pasado. Mori, me borraron de los libros de historia y soy una nueva yo sin pensamientos y/o acciones concretas. !Merlin y Morgana!, me exaspera no poder conocerla, el no saber porque actua asi y no de otra forma. Otro de los muchos errores fue Tohr, a quien odie, en especial las primeras 500 paginas. Es estresante y poco sensible y su actitud es sinceramente cagante. Bien, estas de luto. Lo comprendo y no pretendo ser mala. Se lo que se siente cuando pierdes a alguien a quien amas pero, ?podrias por favor, aunque sea por un momento, salirte de tu burbuja de horror, dolor y depresion para darte cuenta cuanto dano le haces a tu familia y amigos, quienes, por cierto, solo intentan ayudarte? Gracias. Ahh y por favor, consiguete un psicologo que pareces con trastorno de doble personalidad: en principio tratas a No'One con ternura, luego la follas sin piedad, casi como si fuera una putita y al final vas a preguntarle a Lassie si todo funciono porque tu shellan muerta, quien tambien quiere ayudarte y desea que seas feliz con No'One, va a desaparecer junto con tu hijo no-nacido por siempre. Y pensar que alguna vez crei que el era el mas normalito de los Hermanos. SALTEMOS AL FINAL DE UNA VEZ Es lo unico que pienso estuvo bien trabajado y se nota que la autora le dedico bastante tiempo (vale,; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dead Men Don't Wash; Author: Ally Blue; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: Recomendada por Goodreads, esta es una buena historia corta, bizarramente divertida e interesante; con personajes que se salen de su esquema - un cambiaformas, un ladron-compulsivo-de-jabon y un detective que dice ser Sherlock Holmes. - Es una lectura rapida y un escape de otras mas intensas. Ally Blue es una escritora del genero homosexual que yo no conocia - conozco muy pocas, lo admito. - Que me haya saltado en las recomendaciones de Goodreads fue una deliciosa sorpresa porque tiene una interesante coleccion de libros extranos, este es solo una pequena prueba de ello. La sinopsis de este ebook es un poco confusa, no sabia que esperar del libro; pero vale la pena mantenerse en esta confusion porque asi se tienen muchas sorpresas. La historia es divertida de una manera muy extrana y se lee de un tiron, yo hasta me quede triste de lo corta que es - solo 64 paginas en la traduccion - y aunque hay cosas que sigo sin entender recomiendo leerle entre libros mas grandes para asi relajar la mente. Ademas es gratis :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lo que fue de ella (Si decido quedarme, #2); Author: Gayle Forman; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: "Buscando informacion no encontre a este libro en alta estima por muchas personas, quienes afirmaban que no habia necesidad de una secuela. Al principio pense lo mismo pero yo sentia curiosidad de saber que habia pasado despues de que Mia habia despertado del accidente por lo que ignore las malas criticas y lo lei. No me decepciono, en realidad me gusto incluso un poquito mas que el primero porque como lo cuenta Adam suena muchisimo mas real. La forma en que Gayle Forman ha puesto las palabras en boca de Adam es asombrosa. No muchas autoras saben escribir desde el genero opuesto, pero esta mujer lo hace como si hubiese nacido hombre. Ella supo como poner en 23 capitulos todo el dolor, el odio, la tristeza y la ira vivida por ambos en los ultimos anos." Lee la resena completa dando cliq aqui.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Si decido quedarme (Si decido quedarme, #1); Author: Gayle Forman; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Bien, ?que decir sobre este libro? Podria comenzar diciendo que es un tanto diferente. No es un libro sobre el cielo o el infierno, no tiene nada que ver con fantasmas o espiritus, ni de superacion personal ni nada parecido. Es sobre elecciones. Tomar decisiones es dificil, antes o despues aparecera el y si... que nos hace cuestionarnos todo y, en muchas ocasiones, provoca que hagamos lo contrario a lo que teniamos pensado. Si tenemos en cuenta eso debe ser muchisimo mas dificil decidir si quedarnos en este mundo o irnos. Muchos diran: "Eso es facil, nadie quiere morir asi que elegiran quedarse aca". Pero ?que sucede cuando todo lo que uno quiere ya no esta? Hace falta tener mucho valor para tomar la decision que se tome, sea la una o la otra. Es por eso que considero que Mia tuvo mucho coraje al elegir y puede que no haya sido la eleccion correcta, pero yo la respeto por hacerlo. En cuanto a Adam, wow que chico. Sinceramente me parecio una persona muy rarita. Como dice Mia, es algo melodramatico pero me encantaron todos sus intentos para poder verla, fueron tiernos pero solo si los ves desde un punto de vista friki. Lo que si me mato fue lo ultimo que hizo por ella. Todo el rato yo estaba pensando: "Le va a cantar algo" pero me sorprendio mucho con el ipod y la palabreria. Ademas toda la situacion, lo que le dijo y como hubo estado llorando sin que lo viera, contribuyo para que Mia tomara la decision. Mientras lei el libro, me imagine que seria muuuy triste y si, lo fue, pero no del todo, tuvo un poco de humor y me sorprendi un par de veces sonriendo por la familia tan loca que tenia Mia y todas las situaciones bizarras que le ocurrieron. No llore, como suele sucederme a veces, pero si me entristeci y reflexione bastante sobre mi propia vida. Otra cosa que me encanto de este libro es que tiene su propia banda sonora y si son un poco lerdos con la musica como yo, se sorprenderan aprendiendo de varios generos y toda la emocion que conlleva ser musico. Y sin mas, me despido recomendando este libro. No se arrepentiran de leerlo ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal (Harry Potter, #1); Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Para los que no lo saben, la lectura de este libro va de la mano del reto Desvetando a HP; no fue algo simple de hacer considerando la opinion que tenia antes de comenzar el reto (no es gran cosa, solo habia dicho no mas de Rowling). Sin embargo, gracias al asunto de estar sin casa por las ultimas tres semanas y a una lobotomia doble (?), logre convencerme de darle una segunda oportunidad al libro y, bueno, supongo que lo logre. Aplauso, por favor. Habia hablado de mi falta de habilidad para engancharme con la cosa esta y esta vez no fue la excepcion. Analizando el porque de esto, he descubierto que gran numero de primeros-libros de una saga paranormal, cualquiera que sea, tienen por definicion la palabra "aburrido" pegada en su primera pagina. Yo me inclino por creer que al tratar de sumergir al lector en este nuevo mundo el desarrollo de la historia se entorpece haciendose mas lento y tedioso, ademas de su falta de accion, que es lo que, en mi opinion, vale la pena en un libro. No es que Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal sea aburrido, yo no lo tacharia de tal, es solo que, y esta es mi muy humilde opinion, hace falta mas conflicto, el ingrediente ideal para que todo funcionara de la manera correcta. Es decir, tratar de que la introduccion al mundo de la magia no dominara a la historia central. Sin embargo, y debo mencionarlo o si no seria una total hipocrita, me gusta el mundo que rodea a Harry Potter; el asunto de la magia es algo que nunca me habia tocado de esta manera, digo, si he leido unos cuantos libros que van mas alla de mi propia imaginacion pero jamas habia contemplado a la magia desde el punto de vista de un mago, el como la haces parte tuya y a partir de ahi haces lo que quieras con ella. Ya. Lo dije. Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal es un libro bastante extenuante, se hace eterno, a pesar de ser tan corto, y yo culpo totalmente a la adaptacion cinematografica. En mi caso, si no hubiese sido por la pelicula pude haberme metido por completo en el misterio de la historia y el recelo con el que la comence no hubiese sido necesario. Menos mal aprendi que Harry Potter no es un nino retrasado-idiota (asi es como yo lo veo en la pelicula) sino que es uno de esos chicos ironicos que adoro; ademas, que el aire de "adulto muy aburrido" de Dumbledore es pura mierda, en el libro es muy divertido y sarcastico. Ah, y se me olvidaba, el quidditch es un deporte muy complicado pero es totalmente EMOCIONANTE. Asi que, con algun odio y todo lo que implica ese sentimiento, termine el primero de una saga de siete libros preguntandome que depararia el siguiente, cosa que solucione muy pronto con una sonrisa y una buena dormida despues de eso. FRASES FAVORITAS --Ahora, vosotros dos... Este ano os teneis que portar bien. Si recibo una; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Las ventajas de ser un marginado; Author: Stephen Chbosky; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: No, no me he visto la pelicula y a). no lo lei por ella (ni sabia que existia hasta despues de leerlo) y b). no quiero verla. Ahora si. ... ... ... Pfffffffff, que hacer, que pongo aca (lease esto ultimo con una nota histerica leve). Realmente me he planteado que decir de este libro pero me enfrento a un gran dilema: no se que copiar. Es decir, tengo tanto en mi cabeza que no logro ponerle sentido a las palabras: no tipico, identificacion con el mundo, exploracion de la adolescencia, drogas, amistad, sexo, depresion, rareza, personajes reales, fuera del estereotipo. 10 frases, precedidas por comas, que definen (en forma vaga) a este fantastico libro. Charlie: 15 anos, a punto de iniciar su primer ano de secundario. Amigo suicida, depresivo. Extrano. Sin amigos. Patrick y Sam: todo lo contrario de Charlie, exceptuando lo de extrano. Mientras Charlie inicia su primer ano, descubre las 'maravillas' de la adolescencia: drogas, alcohol, cigarrillo y sexo. Todo esto de una manera jamas contemplada por mi: con la maxima inocencia que alguien con un desorden mental (porque en mi opinion el lo tiene), puede tener. Chbosky nos ofrece una manera completamente diferente de narrar (y que a el le funciono): mediante cartas dirigidas a nadie que te hacen pensar que ese nadie eres tu. Las ventajas de ser un marginado toma un rumbo explicativo de la vida real que es bastante real (valgaseme la redundancia), sin estereotipos, dramas o imposibles de ella misma. Me encanto el tipo de narracion escogida, los personajes creados (principales y secundarios), la trama desarrollada y sobretodo, soy una fan empedernida del final. Y de la banda sonora detras del libro. Simplemente, si me gusto. Y mucho.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rayuela; Author: Julio Cortazar; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Y tres anos despues de haberlo leido por primera vez, aun me peleo con las palabras para poder describirlo. "Oliveira no es solo exiliado de su patria sino exiliado de si mismo. (...) Mas que una historia de amor, o de algun grupo de amigos que se reunen a hablar para olvidar lo mierda que es su vida, es una historia que trasciende la realidad literaria; un enredajo de palabras sin sentido con mucho sentido, si es que alguien puede creerlo. Es lo que me gustaria ser sino fuese lo que soy."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan; Author: J.M. Barrie; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Resena en El Beso Carmesi. Todos, absolutamente todos, (y no creo que haya una excepcion a ese todos), los que vivimos en el mundo occidental nos hemos visto Peter Pan. Tambien puedo asegurar que no todos (pocos, creo) se han leido el libro, la version original de la historia. Lo cual es un poco triste porque estas personas nunca sabran la verdad detras de ese nino pecoso con complejos de crecimiento. Ilustremonos. Segun la version cinematografica, Peter Pan es un nino que se nego a crecer, es valiente, ingenuo y no sabe nada de ninas (lo cual se muestra en verdad en el libro); pues bien, con mis entendimientos (?) del libro pude vislumbrar a un Peter totalmente asustado, ustedes diran ?miedo de que? Pues eso se ve en la pelicula, el tiene miedo a crecer. Por eso se niega rotundamente a hacerlo y de ahi viene su irreverente rebeldia y el hecho de que odia a los adultos. Pero no todo se queda ahi. Al leerme el libro, pude darme cuenta que este pelirrojo, es precisamente eso: un pelirrojo. Ok, ?que? Me desvie un poco y creo que no me entienden. Siempre he visto (o en las pelis, al menos) que los pelirrojos son una fuerza a tener en cuenta; traviesos, rebeldes, llevados a su parecer, orgullosos y con un fuego interno que a veces me da miedito. Asi es como yo logro ver a Peter. No nos enganemos, el me gusta, es un buen personaje y puedo entender a la perfeccion su miedo a ser adulto. En Peter Pan y Wendy, que es el libro que yo me lei, se nos cuenta la aventura de Wendy y sus hermanos junto a Peter, Campanita y los ninos perdidos en el Pais de Nunca Jamas. No les voy a mentir, el libro me gusto y a la vez no. Crei que seria muchisimo mejor que la pelicula y lo es pero de una manera totalmente diferente. Peter es el mismo nino pero siento que en el libro no se le da el mismo protagonismo que en el filme y es extrano, ya que el libro trata de el. Pero bueno, no me voy a poner a discutir con un tipo que lleva mas de medio siglo muerto. Otra diferencia que encontre es que Wendy, no es la misma Wendy. De hecho la Wendy del libro es un tanto estupida. No se si sea por la clase de educacion que recibio o que, pero ella misma no se da la importancia que merece en la historia y en realidad me molesta porque no se le muestra como la figura importante que fue en el libro. A quien en realidad amo es a Garfio . Primero porque es super sexy, ok no; es bastante inteligente y eso me fascina en un antagonista. El no representa el papel de malo plano que la mayoria de veces podemos ver en las historias sino que es capaz de adoptar otros tipos de personalidades (haciendose el sufrido, queriendo cambiar, etc.) y el en realidad odia a Peter, yo; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6); Author: C.S. Lewis; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Proximamente en: [url] ---> No te lo pierdas; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: With Abandon (With or Without, #3); Author: J.L. Langley; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: Love it. La personalidad de Matt es de los mas linda y Aubrey... joder, que hombre. Un excelente libro con una buena pizca de suspenso y muchas escenas subiditas de tono. Absolutamente recomendable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Incubus Dreams (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #12); Author: Laurell K. Hamilton; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Ya no quiero asesinar a Richard, o al menos no aun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Danse Macabre (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #14); Author: Laurell K. Hamilton; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Este libro es como una maldita montana rusa. Extrano a Zerbrowski :S; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harlequin (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #15); Author: Laurell K. Hamilton; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: He vuelto a odiar a Richard. !Fucking idiot!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Dead (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #21); Author: Laurell K. Hamilton; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Gracias por los mas de 20 libros de la increible Anita Blake, lastima que yo ya he terminado con ella ;); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Edipo Rey; Author: Sophocles; Genres: history, poetry, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Me fascino. Esta es mi tragedia griega favorita. !Ahora a pensar como carajos la voy a representar!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1); Author: Diana Wynne Jones; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Muchisimo mejor que la pelicula :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2); Author: Richelle Mead; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: No es un secreto que este libro ha sido uno de los mas esperados en este ano. Despues de Bloodlines la mayoria queriamos leernos pero como YA esta historia. Mead no ayudaba mucho poniendo esas frases en su facebook que nos volvian hiper-mega-locas porque como todas sospechabamos eran de Adrian. Entonces apenas estuvo listisimo el libro (Gracias chicas de Bookzinga, !son las mejores y mas rapidas traductoras que he visto!), lo descargue y en un record de 16 horas me lo lei (no sin recibir un par de reganos por parte de mi madre, quien estaba histerica porque no me despegaba del pc ni para ir al bano. Serio que sip). No pienso ahondar en muchos detalles para no complicar la cosa, asi que esto sera sencillo y breve. Me gusto. Como casi todo lo que escribe Michelle Read. No se como hace esta mujer pero sus libros siempre mantienen el ritmo adecuado: no muy rapido como para no dar tiempo de que se desarrolle la historia pero tampoco tan lento como para aburrirse con demasiados detalles. Tenia unas expectativas altas y las supero todas, toditas. Como bien sabemos al final del libro anterior llegan la Agente Scarlet y el Agente Boring Borscht (no estoy en capacidad de revelar su verdadera identidad, lo juro). ?Su objetivo? Junto con Adriancito deben averiguar que hace que un humano/Moroi/Dhampir restaurado no pueda volver a convertirse en Strigoi, ademas de otros asuntos pendientes del libro anterior. El misterio de este suceso y otros cuantos, se mantiene durante todo el libro. Y aunque al final se resuelven algunos de estos (con ayuda de ciertos humanos psicoticos), otros no y eso deja con ganas de mas. Esta historia tiene de todo, desde acosos *tos* Eddie *tos*, pasando por romances bizarros, obsesiones con autos, helados y Shakespeare hasta revelaciones que nos dejan con la boca abierta. Los personajes maduran mucho durante el libro, como Jill quien entiende que su vida no es normal y que no puede inmiscuir a un humano en ella y por supuesto Adrian *desmayo colectivo* de quien nos dimos cuenta en el libro anterior que no es el mujeriego alcoholico que quiere hacer creer a los demas, sino que es tierno y protector a su manera. Ademas de muy inteligente, perceptivo y que trata de ser asi solo por joder a su padre, que es una mierda. El es todo lo contrario de Sidney, quien se embarca en un relacion casi perfecta con Adrian un tipo identico a ella. !Imaginense la perfeccion de la relacion! Sin olvidar que esta chica que es super inteligente, mandona y muy responsable (omitamos lo que dijo ese alguien !!) en cuestiones de relaciones sociales y normalidad es una nina que no sabe de que esta hecho el mundo. Y que si le ponen un elefante rosa en frente de su nariz no puede distinguirlo. Pero no todo puede ser felicidad y caramelos. Hay accion, peleas, ataques, defensa personal, hechizos y un secuestro de por medio, que son el conductor ideal de la historia y que mantienen al lector absorbiendo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1); Author: Charlaine Harris; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Nombres tontos + Argumento flojo = Desgracia de libro.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Amante al Fin (Hermandad de la Daga Negra, #11); Author: J.R. Ward; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: Jodida sea mi mala suerte. ?En serio? Este libro es un puto chiste, demasiado relleno, muy poco QHUAY. Ya estoy empezando a juntar las palabras para mi resena o lo que yo llamo "La destrozada de un libro que debio haber sido magnifico". Jodida JR, arruinaste mi vision del QHUAY. Termine con vos, me quedo con la version de VaneCaos. Punto.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rubí (Piedras preciosas, #1); Author: Kerstin Gier; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Proximamente resena :D; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Fair Godmother (My Fair Godmother, #1); Author: Janette Rallison; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour, #1); Author: Olivia Cunning; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Proximamente resena en El Beso Carmesi.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Awakening (Leopard People, #1); Author: Christine Feehan; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: Lo odie de la A-Z. Y eso es todo !!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Se solicita novio… ¡Urgente!; Author: Lia Belikov; Genres: young-adult, romance; Review: Condicion durante la lectura: ATRAPADA La verdad que goce con este libro. Es divertido, relajado y ?mencione divertido? Totalmente recomendado; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hearts at Stake (The Drake Chronicles, #1); Author: Alyxandra Harvey; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Vale la pena decir que me da una flojera tremenda el hacer un resumen del libro, ademas que a veces me lo tiro soltando algunas cosillas que no deberia soltar y arruino a todo el mundo y mato al gato. - ?Que?, ?cual gato? - Ya callate, descerebrada. En fin. Vayamos al grano. Este libro es por lejos, uno de los mas entretenidos que me he leido en lo corrido del ano. Tiene una magia que hmm, hace que no quieras despegarte, no por la trama, que en si es algo flojina, sino mas bien por como nuestra personaje estrella (no, no es Solange), osease Lucky Lucy, maneja cada situacion. Ademas Nichoooooooooolas. Super babeable Nicholas, y sus hermanos no estan nada mal. Lo que sea. El es tan serio, tan centrado, tan sexy, taaaan buen hermano. Y taaaaaan muchas otras cosas, que es inevitable no quererlo desde el primer momento cuando lo vemos tratando de abandonar a Lucy a su suerte rodeada por vampiros 'enamorados' de la princesa Solange. Si, el si sabe como conquistar el corazon de una chica. No quiero dejar a nadie atras por lo que dire que amo a los siete hermanos Drake, son unicos, inigualables, vampiros, divertidos, traviesos y por no mencionar su gran sentido del deber para con su hermana, y con Lucy, en resumen: yo quiero siete hermanos asi. O mejor, quiero una mejor amiga con siete hermanos asi. P.D. Logan, te amo. Casate conmigo. Ok, no. ?Que me gusto? Primero y mas importante de todo, el humor y la ligereza que mantiene durante sus doscientas y pico de paginas. Amo totalmente el sarcasmo y eso es lo que nuestra Lucy junto con Nicholas, nos brindan. ?Que no me gusto? Que juntaran dos romances en un solo libro. Es estresante porque uno no sabe a cual pararle bolas, ademas que cuando terminaba un capitulo todo quedaba como en el aire. Y nunca se supo en realidad como se desarrollo cada relacion. Lo mejor hubiese sido que trataran esos no-noviazgos en libros separados. Otra cosa que no me gusto y que preferiria que no fuera asi es la personalidad de Solange, es demasiado malcriada, muy llevada a su parecer y medio tarada. Es como 'yo puedo manejarlo todo por mi cuenta', a los tres segundos la secuestran y para rematar no hace nada memorable por salir de la situacion, tiene que venir Kieran a rescatarla. Parece una damisela en apuros en estado de coma. No se como se la aguanta la valentona de Lucy. Recomendaria leer el libro porque: 1. Lucy, es uno de los mejores personajes femeninos que he leido. Con tiempo y dedicacion, podria llegar a convertirse en una super-mujer. 2. Nicholas, sexy Nicholas. Grandisimo bocon de mierda, pero sexy. (Entiendase aca que me estoy babeando sobre el teclado al recordarlo). 3. Sietes hermanos Drake, a quienes amo y respeto por muchisimas razones que ahorita mismisimo no quiero mencionar. 4. Final explosivo que me puso los pelos de punta. 5. Es una lectura ligerisima que aliviana la mente y te hace reir. En resumen,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter y la cámara secreta; Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: ATENCION: Como lo prometido es deuda, aca esta mi opinion sobre el segundo libro de Harry Potter (no me maten , por favor ^-^) Harry Potter es una de esas historias que a medida que se publican mas libros, mas interesantes se ponen. Aunque HP & La Camara de los Secretos (una traduccion libre del titulo, lo se, pero me parece que es mas adecuada), no sea un cuento del otro mundo, uno se puede dar cuenta que la trama en general va creciendo, en cuanto a complicaciones y eso. Lo que me gusta de este libro, basicamente, es la ligereza con que se cuenta, en comparacion con el anterior, si bien sigue teniendo ese toque de introduccion (creo que eso se vera por siempre ya que es todo un mundo diferente al nuestro), tal vez sea el hecho de que cada pieza del rompecabezas cae en su lugar al armarlo. Y es que La Camara de los Secretos es un misterio que me costo descubrir y no fue sino hasta el final del libro cuando me di cuenta quien era el que estaba detras de enigma del diario (mas alla de saber que el autor intelectual era Tom Riddle) y ahi fue cuando todo el libro tuvo sentido. Ademas reafirme mi posicion de "los libros son mejores que las versiones cinematograficas" . Ha sido toda una sorpresa descubrir que esta historia se esta poniendo mejor y mejor. Y cada uno de los personajes me gusta mucho mas. Sinceramente, nunca crei poder decir esto pero Harry Potter me esta gustando y mucho ;) Quiero recalcar que es en este punto (cuando todavia no he terminado El Prisionero de Azkaban), en el que todavia digo que hay algo que no me sigue cuadrando en la historia. Y a pesar de ser una Slytherin (!wujuuu!) en Pottermore, haber hecho un par de pociones, hechizos, devorar un par de libros y haberme visto casi todas las peliculas, Harry Potter no esta en el top de libros que mas me gustan. Si, es interesante, tiene humor, misterio y absolutamente nada de romance y aun asi hay un no-se-que que evita que me enamore del libro y lo idolatre como una nueva religion. Tal vez ese algo sea el mismisimo Harry Potter pero el hecho es que hara falta mucho para subir un poquito el estima de esta serie. Y de la autora, en general. Jotaka, me sigues cayendo gorda !!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter y el prisionero de Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3); Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Advertencia: Spoliers y sarcasmo puro. . Harry Potter y sus aventuras (ya hasta lo bautice xD) han subido un peldano en "la escalera a mi corazon" -ok, no. Es una forma de decir-. En el Prisionero de Azkaban podemos apreciar una trama mucho mas compacta y el aura de misterio que desprende se ha hecho mas grande que la de los dos primeros, dandole un hilo conector a la historia imprescindible. Lo que provoco en mi, mayor satisfaccion cuando se vino el final porque muchas de mis teorias sobre los personajes son casi, casi correctas. El libro empieza de una manera bastante deprimente con el trato de los Dursley hacia Harry durante el verano antes de su tercer ano en Hogwarts. Por fin, Potter se enfrenta a ellos despues de un estallido de magia que envia a su tia a volar, literalmente hablando. Con sus baules y su fiel lechuza (Hedwig <3) a cuestas, Harry se enfrenta al terrible panorama de ser un mago sin hogar y con la mirada atenta de un amenazante perro negro. Claro, como es Harry Potter y a nuestro heroe no le puede pasar nada (al menos, no todavia), es rescatado por el autobus noctambulo y pasa el resto del verano en Hogsmeade, un poblado totalmente magico y al que Harry no podra ir ese ano ya que no tiene permiso de sus padres. Pobre huerfanito. (Notese que me he estado juntando mucho con Draco Malfoy) La noticia de moda antes, y despues, de iniciar el curso es la reciente fuga del prisionero "mas peligroso" de Azkaban, Sirius Black quien, por cierto, es el eterno rival de Snape. Aunque Harry no sabe por que tanta algarabia con respecto a ese tema no tarda en enterarse que el tipo este mato a sus padres, o se presume eso ya que nunca se comprobo que Black los hubiese asesinado. El caso es, que durante el libro no se habla mas que de eso y del siempre nuevo profesor de DCAO. Este ano le toco a Remus Lupin (gritito histerico), presunto licantropo y mejor amigo de los padres de Harry. Ahh y del fugitivo tambien, es mas se sospecha que Lupin tenia cierto enamoramiento por este ultimo. Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban es por mucho mi libro favorito hasta ahora por la diversidad de personalidades que aparecen y por el hecho de que nuestros protas han crecido bastante a lo largo de los dos anteriores y aca se demuestra. Aunque Harry sigue siendo un idiota, eso como que nunca va a cambiar. Con el anadido de que parece en un estado de imbecilidad perpetua. Fiel a su irritante sentido del despiste, Rowling le da pequenos enreveses a la historia que van complicando la vida de Harry y alejando el verdadero meollo del asunto de los ojos del heroe: el por que Sirius quiere matarlo. Al final, las cosas se le tuercen y nada sale como uno piensa que va a salir. Lo cual es bastante frustrante porque "la supuesta verdad" no son mas que un monton de cuentos; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marauder!Crack; Author: Irati; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, fiction; Review: !Diosdiosdiosdiosdiosdios! Este es uno de esos fics que te sacuden la tierra que pisas y te hace cuestionarte todo lo que has leido alguna vez. Canon o no, cualquier amante del Potterverso que sienta un amor especial por los Merodeadores (por todos) debe leerlo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insider (Exodus End, #1); Author: Olivia Cunning; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Siempre que termino alguno de los libros de Olivia Cunning quedo con esa sensacion de que algo falto y no, no son las escenas sexuales (porque de esas hay muchas) pero... no se. Tal vez pudo haberle agregado algo mas. Aunque, ahora que lo pienso, Olivia tiene escenas sexuales geniales pero sus tramas son algo flojas. Tal vez deberia intentar invertirle un poco mas de tiempo a ellas en lugar de incluir tanto sexo (pero probablemente le quite la gracia a los libros, despues de todo son unas estrellas de rock).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Verano; Author: Zafy Slasher; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: La historia de como llegue a encontrar esta joyita es muy enreversada. Todo comienza organizando mis estanterias digitales, la curiosidad de un pdf de tan solo cinco paginas me llevo a una busqueda de su autor (que termino siendo una "ella"), de ahi me encontre con un blog repleto de contenido homoerotico (nada poco usual en mi) que no me impresiono hasta que lei una sinopsis descabellada. Aun no recuerdo cual fue pero tenia que ver con una relacion sexosa Harry/Draco (si, los de Harry Potter), que ahora se se llama DRARRY. Y como dicen por ahi, la curiosidad mato al gato porque salte a un mundo de perdicion y romance centrado en dos personajes masculinos creados por una rubia loca que no quiso que Harry usara su varita mas creativamente. El hecho es que comence la lectura de este, mi primer acercamiento al mundo del fanfiction, el slash y muchas otras cosas que ignoraba, mi primer fic, con recelo y hasta extraneza pero me supo enamorar a pesar de haber sido chocante al inicio. No puedo sino decir que Zafy es una verdadera artista que ha logrado conmover mi corazon y me ha hecho adicta una mezcla que funciona a la perfeccion a pesar de los alzamientos de cejas en su direccion. Y bueno, tambien como Maryam (por ahi esta con su opinion del fic), me tomare el atrevimiento de meter un pequeno fragmento en sus anexos. Los lectores: Laura: Le entrego tardes y noches a la lectura, se enamoro de cada palabra, cada accion y cada personaje. Aprendio a amar una relacion que, para muchos, parece imposible y extrana. Tambien lloro, como no, con ese ultimo capitulo. Envejecio y rejuvenecio entre el numero 63 y el epilogo. Muchas gracias, Zafy, por escribir una historia tan maravillosa. Esperamos que en un futuro te animes a escribir otra que la supere.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She Is One Of The Boys; Author: E.M. Molleja; Genres: young-adult, children, romance; Review: Proximamente resena. Solo adelanto que me gusto mucho y me rei cabron con el.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three for Me?; Author: R.G. Alexander; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: !OMFG, A la mierda el Kamasutra! Creo que este libro es uno de los mas calientes, sucios y pervertidos que he leido en mis seis anos de leer erotica. Le di 4 estrellas porque es demasiado corto. ?86 paginas? !Es un sacrilegio! Recomiendo este libro a todos los amantes de la erotica y a todos aquellos que no le temen a la deliciosa perversidad del sexo en grupo.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Esmeralda (Piedras preciosas, #3); Author: Kerstin Gier; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Bueno, a pesar de que los libros con finales abiertos me gustan, este me ha dejado un saborcito raro en la garganta. Hay tantas cosas que quedaron sin respuesta (desde mi punto de vista) que no estaria nada mal que la autora hiciera un spin-off o un cuarto libro de la saga. Por lo demas me ha encantado la saga a pesar de que Gwenn me desesperaba en muchas partes. Tambien me ha entrado la idea de escribir un pocos mini fics para compensar tantos misterios que quedaron flotando. En fin, fue un muy buen libro con excelentes personajes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hot Ticket (Sinners on Tour, #3); Author: Olivia Cunning; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: !SINNERS, SINNERS, SINNERS...! Reaccion general en todo el libro: Mi reaccion inicial con Jace: Cuando conoci toda su jodida historia: Lo que quisiera que me hiciera secretamente: Y, por supuesto, el final estuvo lleno de: Y por supuesto, ahora sigue Wicked Beat y yo estoy como:; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles, #1); Author: Gena Showalter; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Calificacion: 4,5 "Sorprendentemente, el libro me ha gustado un monton, Ali es un personaje muy bien construido y, gracias Dios, no es la tipica rubia adolescente que tiene que ser salvada cada cinco segundos. Tiene una personalidad fuerte e independiente, una lengua afilada y la capacidad de lograr aquello que se propone. Definitivamente, la clase de heroina que a mi me fascina. Cole, por su parte, es un gran misterio. Tiene un aire de chico peligroso (y en realidad lo es), por el que muchas mujeres babean, incluyendome, pero no puedo juzgarlo bien porque es imposible conocerlo por completo en esta primera parte. Eso si, me gusta mucho que respete a Ali y la trate como su igual." Lee el resto de la resena en El Beso Carmesi.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prohibido Enamorarse de Adam Walker (Idiota Encantador, #1); Author: Lia Belikov; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: !Mujeres! A veces me pregunto si las reales no seran tan idiotas como algunas de los libros. Es decir, no entiendo porque le ponen cuatro y hasta cinco (!cinco!) estrellas a un libro que degrada la condicion femenina, porque si, eso es lo que hace. Al principio, es bastante interesante el tira y afloja de los personajes pero llega un punto en el que tu mente dice: basta. Los protas, sinceramente, se hacen odiar. Por un lado esta Anna, la tonta y ciega Anna tan enamorada de un patan que si el le dice baila, ello lo hace, cual fiel perrito recogido de la calle. Y por el otro, esta Adam, traicionero, mentiroso y manipulador. El me exaspera, un momento dice que la ama y que no puede vivir sin ella y al siguiente la esta sacando de su vida. Arreglate, muchacho, o la quieres y luchas por ella, o no lo haces y la dejas vivir su vida. Pero no la trates como si fuera un titere porque no lo es, es una persona con sentimientos que merece tu respeto. Y eso es lo que no me gusto del libro, la bipolaridad de esos personajes, la enfermiza relacion que ambos tienen, por que si, eso no se llama amor, se llama dependencia. D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.I.A. No digo que la historia sea mala, es solo que despues de un tiempo cansa. Me rei mucho con algunas situaciones y hay personajes maravillosos como Nicole la sobrina de Adam o los padres de Anna, Susan, Rita e incluso Marie, la enferma mental del libro, pero la relacion principal es floja. En mi opinion, Adam y Anna son personajes a los que les falta crecer, vivir un poco la vida, en otras palabras, madurar. Si la autora hubiera explotado un poco mas eso, les hubiese dado un tiempo para que pensaran que era lo que estaban haciendo y despues les hubiera dado la oportunidad de que se conocieran mejor, el libro seria un exito. No estoy desmereciendo la historia de Lia Belikov, ella es una buena escritora y tiene otros proyectos divertidos, pero este libro, definitivamente, no es de los mios.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meant to Be; Author: Lauren Morrill; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Me encanto, es bastante refrescante no leerse el tipico cliche de todos los libros. Pronto la resena completa.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maravilloso desastre (Desastre, #1); Author: Jamie McGuire; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Querida, Jamie McGuire. Gracias, me diste las 16 horas mas intensas de mi vida. Este maldito libro fue una constante montana rusa llena de emociones pero no me arrepiento de haberme subido. Gracias de nuevo, creo que cai enamorada, pero no de Travis sino de Shepley, el es tan lindo. En fin. Miles de millones de abrazos y de gracias infinitas, hiciste que pasara un excelente rato. No dejes de escribir. Atentamente, Laura. PD: Podrias enviarme a uno de los hermanos Maddox, son malditamente calientes :P; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It; Author: Adam Selzer; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: A pesar de saber que este libro es una especie de satira de Twilight sigue siendo bastante estupido.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Apocalipsis Z. El principio del fin; Author: Manel Loureiro; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: HOLY MOTHER!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Battle Royale; Author: Koushun Takami; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: wtf??? esto ha sido lo mas sangriento, violento y desesperante que he leido en mi vida??? auxilio??? y el final??? para nada lo que esperaba??? por que se murieron los que yo queria que quedaran vivos???? POR QUE. A parte de eso, un muy buen libro, me dijeron que Los Juegos del Hambre estaba inspirado por este pero nada que ver, ni cosquillas le hace. La trama te mantiene atento, TODOS los personajes estan bellamente construidos y la escritura es tan fluida que te hace querer seguir pasando pagina a las dos de la manana (cosa horrible cuando tienes que levantarte tres horas despues). En definitiva, uno de los mejores libros que me he leido en un buen rato. Se merece las cinco estrellas y mas.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Señales (Alianza, #1); Author: Helena Dax; Genres: fiction; Review: esta es mi tercera vez leyendo Alianza y como siempre me emociono demasiado, Helena se la jugo con este libro y planteo el inicio de una historia especial que rompe todas las desilusiones que deja el condenado epilogo. sin duda, uno de los mejores fanfics de harry potter en espanol.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator; Brand: Magellan; Review: The Magellan works great. I love the accuracy and the long battery life when it is not plugged in. I had a problem with the first one I received; it would not talk after a few weeks. I called Magellan and they sent me a new one no charge. My only complaint is that it is picky about the spelling of locations. If you misspell the word it will not find it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: D-Link Wireless N300 Mbps Extreme-N Gigabit Router (DIR-655); Brand: D-Link; Review: Great product. Easy to install. Have had no problems. A lot better than my old Belkin router.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony MDRZX100 Headphones (Black); Brand: Sony; Review: I bought these for my 4 year old to watch DVD player in minivan. They look nice and are very comfortable for my child. Sound quality is good as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony MDRZX100 ZX Series Stereo Headphones (Blue); Brand: Sony; Review: I bought these for my 4 year old to watch DVD player in minivan. They look nice and are very comfortable for my child. Sound quality is good as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lg Tone Pro Hbs-750 Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Black Hbs750; Brand: LG; Review: Liked them so much bought my wife a pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Study at Yale; City: New Haven Connecticut; Review: The room was very relaxing and inviting. The beds were incredibly comfortable and offered a very restful night. Our favorite perk was ordering a book to our room. We also enjoyed the shops and restaurants nearby. What a wonderful experience. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn and Suites Arcata CA; City: Arcata Humboldt County California; Review: This was a great place to stay while visiting the Redwoods. It was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also good fuel for our hike into fern canyon. It was easy to find, right off the highway to the Redwoods.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manoir Sur le Cap; City: Quebec City Quebec; Review: We had a beautiful room with a glorious view of the Chateaux de Frontenac. It was very convenient to Little Champlain and the Old City. The staff were all very helpful and patient. They printed directions to help us find our way to the Ice Hotel nearby and offered advice on the best times to do our activities. This was so helpful! We will stay there the next time we plan to flee the States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel Conference Center; City: Syracuse Finger Lakes New York; Review: If you're visiting Syracuse University, you won't find a better location. Just at the foot of college hill, it offers easy access to tour campus, grab some grub and experience the University experience. Our room was also very clean and comfortable with views of Fraternity row. The staff were very cordial and helpful with whatever we needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Roxbury Contemporary Catskill Lodging; City: Roxbury Catskill Region New York; Review: These rooms are unforgettable. The manager allowed us to tour a few rooms before we picked our room. Each one had its unique personality and accommodations to whisk you away for a night or a week. In addition to wonderfully comfortable beds, and a spotless bathroom, it offered a small kitchen area complete with decadent wines to make for a romantic evening. In the morning, we enjoyed some breakfast on the deck overlooking the beautiful Catskill Mountains. Whether you're looking for a place to stay while you skii at the nearby mountains, paddle in the streams or to simply relax in the fall while enjoying spectacular views of the leaves in the fall, choose The Roxbury for a wonderful escape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Plante; City: Gaspe Gaspesie Region Quebec; Review: The hotel was comfortable, updated and had a great view. It was also convenient to food and the few shops in town. It was a welcome and restful home during our time in Gaspe. I'd recommend booking a whale watch or kayaking tour of the seal colony in Forillon National Park while there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Nazar; City: Selcuk Izmir Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Fabulous host who spoke excellent English and was always willing to help with any requests. He got us a great deal on a hot air balloon ride for our stay in Cappadocia and an excellent tour guide for Ephesus. Our room was clean and comfortable. Terrific shower! The upstairs dining area was lovely with exceptional views. Food was consistently delicious with excellent service. Perfect choice. You will not be disappointed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harman Hotel; City: Fethiye Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Our family of four adults reserved two rooms. It was immediately apparent that the air conditioning was not working in either room. One room required three trips to the desk, the other required that we switch rooms so the air conditioner could be serviced. We were told it would be completed in a few hours, but learned it actually was not repaired until late that night. At 11 pm I asked when the loud throbbing music in the bar would stop, and was told "when all the customers leave", so we changed rooms once again! This hotel might work if you are looking for an American experience. We were not. There was little typically Turkish about this place, and so we were very disappointed. In the morning, right after we checked out, we walked toward the water thru the local neighborhood for a few blocks, and discovered a beautiful beach. Nothing in the brochure even indicated that was there. The pool at the hotel was packed, and unless one gets up very early to reserve a chair under an umbrella they are out of luck. Fethiye was not easily accessed without a car, which was another disappointment. Our stay at this hotel was our family's least favorite experience in all of Turkey.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Indian Palace; City: Bogota; Review: I have no hesitation recommending this hotel! Delicious breakfast, very comfortable room, but more than that, a very warm family. It made our stay in Bogata something we will always remember. We had a fabulous (but expensive) homemade Indian dinner, plus had the company of the family members who answered all our questions about Bogata. A beautiful, quiet place in a quiet residential area, but a close walk to the bus station. All of Bogata awaits you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingna Lodge; City: Montagu Western Cape; Review: Excellent knowledgable and friendly host, who was always a joy to talk with. The lodge is filled with historical artifacts John and Joy have collected. A truly unique experience. The breakfast was deligihtful, and the room gorgeous. No hesitation recommending this fabulous place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saxe Coburg Lodge; City: Prince Albert Prince Albert Municipality Western Cape; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Mitch McConnell snubbed by Elijah Cummings' pallbearer in handshake line at U.S. Capitol ceremony; Abstract: A pallbearer appeared to refuse to shake Mitch McConnell's hand as Rep. Elijah Cummings was lying in state at the Capitol.; Category: news
Title: Jeff Bezos is set to lose his crown as world's richest person; Abstract: Jeff Bezos is about to relinquish the title of world's richest person to Bill Gates, as Amazon.com Inc. stock tumbled in late trading Thursday.; Category: finance
Title: Judge: Brad Pitt, others can be sued over New Orleans homes; Abstract: The Times-Picayune/ The New Orleans Advocate reports Pitt and other foundation directors asked the court to remove them from the lawsuit, saying they weren't personally responsible for the construction.; Category: movies
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: Trump mocks Bloomberg as 'little Michael,' predicts he won't do well in 2020 race; Abstract: President Trump said he doesn't think Michael Bloomberg would perform well in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary but that he'd like to run against him.; Category: news
Title: Fans are divided after Drake was revealed as a surprise festival headliner, booed off stage; Abstract: Fans are divided after the audience at Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw festival booed Drake, who was revealed to be the surprise headliner.; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: A Plain Death: An Appleseed Creek Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Flower Page; Review: I loved the book a page turner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Lewis Page; Review: Enjoyed; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Englisher (Annie's People Series #2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Lewis Page; Review: Enjoyed, now reading #3 .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Guardian (Home to Hickory Hollow, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Lewis Page; Review: Loved this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Child of Mine; Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Lewis Page; Review: I found it a little hard to get into but once I did it was a page turner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kentucky Brothers Trilogy: 3-in-1 Collection; Author: Visit Amazon's Wanda E. Brunstetter Page; Review: Loved it. Wish it would continue.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Faithful to Laura (A Middlefield Family Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Fuller Page; Review: Enjoyed very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Work Sharp WSKTS-W Knife & Tool Sharpener; Brand: Work Sharp; Review: Delivered on time. Product works as described even though I used only once. All the knives that I sharped works better than before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BDF NA50 Window Film Sun Control and Heat Rejection N50, Black (Light) - 36in X 50ft; Brand: Buydecorativefilm; Review: Just follow the instruction and you will be fine. It helped our shore house greatly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prime-Line Products B 803 Screen Door Top Tension Spring, Mill,(Pack of 2); Brand: Prime-Line; Review: Worked as it supposed to be. I don't need to fight with my patio door anymore.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WaterBella Stainless Steel Shower Head - Rain Style Showerhead, Waterfall Effect, Elegantly Designed, High Polish Chrome, 8-inch; Brand: Waterbella; Review: Very satisfied with my purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunter 54098 Bayview 54-inch ETL Damp; Brand: Hunter Fan Company; Review: Works well. Good looking and great air flow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wireless Doorbell Kit MECO Remote Ring Door Bell 1000 Feet Operating with 4 Level Volume 36 Chimes, Receiver; Brand: Uarzt; Review: Works well as advertised; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finether 15.4ft Extension Ladder|Aluminum Ladder| Multi-Purpose Folding Ladder with Safety Locking Hinges and 2 Panels,EN131 Certified, 330 Lb Capacity; Brand: Finether; Review: Very light and smartly designed as described.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aurum Cables 12 Feet 3 Outlet Extension Cord 16AWG Indoor/Outdoor Use White - UL Listed; Brand: Aurum Cables; Review: Good as described; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Alert Smoke Detector Alarm | Hardwired with Backup Battery, BRK9120b6CP; Brand: First Alert; Review: Works well as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Alert Smoke Detector Alarm | Hardwired with Backup Battery, 6-Pack, BRK 9120B6CP; Brand: First Alert; Review: Works well as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsonite Luggage Compact Folding Cart, Black, One Size; Brand: Samsonite; Review: It is easy to pull the handle and glides nicely. I use it for the air travel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Noble Mount Arizzo Shoulder Handbag - Clearance; Brand: ; Review: Perfect size, very summery and tons of compliments all the time. Try something completely different like this orange. You will love.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kenneth Cole New York Women's KC2695; Brand: ; Review: Nice inexpensive watch but band gets dirty very quick. Just wipe off with a Clorox wipe. It will be fine. Cute for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sam Edelman Women's Romy Thong Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Sam Edelman aww, great style and loving the zebra fabric. I wear them with everything. Love the heel height , perfectly comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Luxe Plunge Clog; Brand: Merrell; Review: I love Merrell shoes. Great quality and fits true to size. When they arrived there was no pink on the heels as shown either. Nice brown casual clogs. Perfect heel height too. Cute with capris, jeans. Good walking shoes .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Mountain Women's Handy Mule; Brand: WHITE MOUNTAIN; Review: Recently received the black leather ones in 8, I usually wear a 7.5. Thinking I would wear thicker socks with these. These were slightly big. Heel height is good . Left shoe was slightly stretched and comfortable. Right shoe was and still is tight across the top. I like the style and design and usually love White Mountain. They are usually the real comfort shoe. These are just ok....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sbicca Women's Secret Ankle Boot; Brand: Sbicca; Review: Nice quality made ankle boots, leather strap is adjustable. Love the fit, heel height is perfect and easy to walk in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Maymie Stellar Riding Boot; Brand: ; Review: Gorgeous leather & nice color boots. Very comfortable toe box on size 8. I usually wear 7 1/2. But these were tight on my calves. I'm small framed with medium legs. Hope they will stretch slightly with more wear. There's a small tab of elastic to stretch so I kept these. Bigger calves will not work in these. Nice quality and not cowgirl looking at all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: French Toast Girls' Long Sleeve Crew Neck Tee; Brand: ; Review: Color is exactly as shown, super thin material. Quality just isn't there like I prefer. Can be worn a few times . Will be tossed out pretty quick.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: American President, The (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Casino (1995); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Postman, The (Postino, Il) (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Girls (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Hall (1996); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flirting With Disaster (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation (1996); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Minds (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Genres: Adventure, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Showgirls (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dumb & Dumber (Dumb and Dumber) (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ed Wood (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forget Paris (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hoop Dreams (1994); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder in the First (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nell (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Léon: The Professional (a.k.a. The Professional) (Léon) (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quiz Show (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Muriel's Wedding (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Artist in the Ambulance; Brand: Thrice; Review: Amazingly, Thrice have just about outdone themselves this time. This cd struck me as a revelation, and when i woke up to it, i could walk away from it. Simply put, it was an awakening experience for me. Thrice has overcome all musical boundaries and have arrived victorious. As another reviewer recently stated, I have never seen a band do so much in so little time. Most of all the tracks on the cd are under 4 minutes, some under 3 minutes, and every second is gold. I just cannot put into words how amazing this band is: Cold Cash and Colder Hearts- A sick opener, great melody, the haunting verses really convey the lyrics, which speak about the poor and how we do nothing to help them (11/10) Under A Killing Moon- Awesome guitar work in this tune, perfect chorus, definitely a keeper (WELL WATCH THE WITCHES BURN!!) (10/10) All Thats Left- WOW. This was the track that drew me into Thrice; the song has a very catchy tune to it, and it will stay in your head for a while. Not much screaming, but the song doesnt need it... its already a masterpiece (12/10) Sillhouete- One of the harder tracks on the cd, a bit hard to understand the lyrics at first. This is definitely one of Thrice's darker songs, with the sreaming chorus, it comes through as a very hard song (9/10) Stare At The Sun- another UNBELIEVABLE track which delievers completely and is definitely an earfriendly song. Even music fans that are sensitive to hardcore and intense riffs will get a kick out of this song. BEST SONG ON THE CD (15/10) Paper Tigers- An INSANE song, NO SINGING all screaming throughout the whole song. This has to be tied for my second favorite song on the cd. Dustin absolutely delivers in this track... it will have you jumping up and down and you will definitely get into it (14/10) Hoods on Peregrine - Not one of my favorite tracks, still a very good song. It has a strong chorus and the lyrics might stick with you for a while on this one too. (8/10) Melting Point Of Wax - At one point this was my favorite song on the cd. Not a heavy screaming track, the chorus is really what grabs you and pulls you in. The intense guitar and bass work keeps it running and the violins add to its greatness (10/10) Blood Clots and Black Holes - Another track that i don't thoroughly enjoy, but it is still decent. Probably the worst track on the cd, but still very good nonetheless. Guitars are very solid in this track. (7/10) The Artist In The Ambulance - The title track definitely does the cd glory. The track is a moving song about Dustin in a car crash, and listening to the lyrics will really give you chills down your spine. A simple, yet incredible song (13/10) The Abolition of Man - HOLY S*** this track just recently caught my attention when i re-listened to the guitar solo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deja Entendu; Brand: Brand New; Review: Brand New's deja entendu was the second "emo" cd that i ever bought, and i will never forget it. This absolutely amazing sophomore album has shown brand new's full potential, and they have proved to be a mature and skillful group. Brand New has completely evolved from their prepubescent release "Your Favorite Weapon", which was not nearly as original. This cd will move you, and each song will send chills down your spine. A special tidbit that i have grown interest in is the fact that most the names of all of Brand New's songs do not contain words from the songs, but set up a storyline for the song. It shows great creativity, and Brand New has definitely made it their signature mark. Tautou- Wow, if only this track was a few minutes longer, it would be an unforgettable classic. But this moving and calming intro grabs you when the guitars come in, and it really helps start off the cd with a bang (9/10) Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades- This song starts off with an unforgettable bass line which then blends into the verse. It continues as with bittersweet lyrics and tunes. It has a mellow feel until it explodes into the chorus. The song is a piece of art, and is a very catchy single. (10/10) I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light- This song starts out with calming lyrics and a sweet acoustic riff. The rest of the band comes in at the chorus and will leave you with your jaw dropped. Even though it doesnt have alot of energy, you get into the song after a few listens. This was the first song that i got into by Brand New (10/10) Ok i believe you but my tommy gun dont- Another calm starting track where the melody kind of lingers, and then the guitars come in and it builds as the track progresses. Suddenly, the chorus hits you and the energy comes through to finish off the track with a bang. (11/10) The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows- THIS IS AN AMAZING SONG!!! without a doubt, the best song on the cd. This song served as a successful single to put brand new on the map. The perfect blend of guitars and singing gives a chance for the backup singer to show off. It starts off with a calm guitar riff but then explodes into a solo, and then the verse swings in. The haunting chords then erupt into the high-energy chorus, where the singers take turns yelling out their lyrics. The dfferent lyrics also help the main singer relate the listener to the car crash. (15/10) The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot- another song that starts out calm and smooth with acoustic guitar and drums, continues for a while, and then smashes into a vigorous chorus, and the song ends strong. A great song that will cause you to say "what did i just hear?" and go and listen again. (11/10) Jaws Theme Swimming- Creative guitars cause the time signature to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: They're Only Chasing Safety; Brand: Underoath; Review: I know that a lot of hardcore fans and long time uO fans are dissing this new cd, but being a fan of emocore, i find that they have evolved quite nicely. "They're Only Chasing Safety" blends a perfect mix of melodic lines and in-your-face hardcore. Although this cd might be too calm for old uO fans, this cd isn't exactly a walk in the park either. The Spencer can still pack a mighty punch when it comes to screams, and as i listen to some old uO stuff i can tell that he is stronger and more talented than the old scremer. Now, his power and style is incomparable to any other emocore singer today. Young And Aspiring - Whoa. How does he do that? This song will make you listen twice just to prove that its actually real. There is so much overwhelming power and fury in this song, i don't understand how anyone could possibly say that this too calm. This is my call to arms... A great opener! (5/5) A boy brushed red... - Now here's a breather. At least thats what they want you to think... It starts out with simple guitar chord progression and slowly builds into a pounding chorus line that will punch you in the face and not be sorry for it. ITS ALL IN YOUR GOODBYES! (4/5) Impact of Reason - a whirlwind of POUNDING screams and yells that will leave your ears in a coma. The chorus mellows out a bit for some melodic tones, but then just busts back out and starts the craziness again. Another heart pounder (4/5) Reinventing Your Exit - now heres the stuff i like to hear. Make fun all you want, but this song represents some great emocore. INCREDIBLY catchy verses and hooks. This song is a bit calmer, but will blow you away nonetheless. A definite ear pleaser (5/5) Blue Note- Cool interlude, its even cooler when you see it live, because it seems like the guys are just playing random notes and then the next song hits you... Dangerous Business... - Awesome techno beats or whatever you want to call them... It comes out swinging and them bleeds into one of the most INCREDIBLE choruses ever produced. MY KNUCKLES HAVE TURNED TO WHITE. If this chorus doesnt throw you down flat on the floor than you are not a true emocore fan, becuase this is the best stuff. Im DIGGIN the backround chorus. No literally, its a large chorus. "Drowning in my sleep!". Unforgettable! (5/5) Down, Set, Go - a great song that takes a has a few more emo influences, but any emo/emocore fan would definitely be proud of this song. The chorus isn't as strong as some of the other ones, but still a very memeorable one. It bleeds into an acoustic break about 3/4 thru the song, and that definitely ups its credibility. (4/5) I don't feel very receptive today - heres a good one for all the core fans out there. This song is a pinnacle song for Spencer and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Straylight Run; Brand: Straylight Run; Review: You wouldnt really think a cd could do it, but it really makes you want to jump with joy. If you're not that kind of person, it will surely send shivers down your back. The beautiful melodies really blow you away. When i first heard it, it really turned my head. Id just gone thru a few crappy cds, and didn't expect much from this band that i heard from a demo off of the Victory Records 04 demo (Your Name Here). That song really drew me in though. It really caught my attention. And this was before i knew about the whole TBS/Straylight Run controversy, and i didn't yet know that this was John Nolan and Shaun Cooper's new project. So when it finally came time to listen to the full-length, boy was i shocked. It starts out with a calming opener... The Perfect Ending (10/10) - This song really makes you pay attention. The piano and soft vocals hint at something more, so as you listen on, the lyrics flow and then the chorus just wows you. Hints at the power and emotion that they are ready to put out. An awesome opener. Tension and the Terror (11/10) - What an awesome track! Gets you moving, and this is the point where you realize that these guys (and girl) aren't playing around. This really sets the stage for the high caliber music throughout the record. chorus will make you JUMP up and down (or at least it did to me) Existentialism on Prom Night (16/10) - ...OH MY can this be real? IMHO one of the top 5 emo songs ever written. I has been interpreted to be a poetic ballad to the breakup of Taking Back Sunday. It is just a flawless song. The piano chords are beautiful, and the lyrics of this song just make it. If the verses don't do it, the chorus will make your jaw drop. Give it a listen, im sure you will think the same. Another Word For Desperate (8/10) - One of the sadder songs on the album, this song kinda hits you hard, and hits where it hurts. Not one of my favorite songs, but the time signature change and strings at the end made the song excellent. I won't be around here for... too very long! Mistakes We Knew We Were Making (8/10) - a great quiet song. this one kinda sneaks up on you. A good song with great verses. Best lyric ever: A Failed Attempt To Capsulize A Feeling. Dignity and Money (9/10) - An awesome feel-good track. The chorus really makes you go for another listen. The prechorus where Michelle sings over john really makes the song. The bridge kinda reminds you of old TBS (hmmm...) but overall is a great track. Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway) (11/10) - A more than flawless song that really pulls at you. It really puts beautiful imagery into your head about going back down Sunrise Highway... Tool Sheds And Hot Tubs (9/10) - hmmm.. interesting track... hey, michelle has to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Question; Brand: Emery; Review: This cd completely lets loose the tension buckled up in Emery's first major release - The Weak's End. Their power is shown in hits like "Studying Politics" and "Returning the Smile". This energy surpasses that of Weak's End, save a few standouts such as Walls. Overall, this cd is simply catchier and more enjoyable; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Missing - Dead or Alive (A Gripping Psychological Suspense Novel) eBook; Brand: PETER MARTIN; Review: I did not finish the book, I read almost 1/3. It was so well written and drew me in so deeply that the tension was too palpable! I was becoming depressed just reading the book because it reminded me of a day long ago when our daughter disappeared. She turned up house-sitting for friends, it was my fault since I forgot. For several hours we were frantic and very scared! I know how the story ends because I read other reviews, but it did not matter. I had to put the book down. This is meant as praise to the author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death Wishes; Brand: Visit Amazon's Rowanna Green Page; Review: This story was so much fun to read, and so well written! Rowannas descriptive powers leave nothing to be desired! We come to understand Jo Golds innermost thoughts about all the intimate and important moments of her life. Machidiel, apprentice guardian angel, must pull all manner of heavenly strings to help Jo complete her bucket list without her being the wiser; which gets harder to do as time passes, for both of them. Rowannas use of dialogue and action keeps the story moving along very well. It is so much fun to be privy to both sides of the veil! I rate Death Wishes 4.8 of 5 stars! I found a handful of spelling errors that did not detract from the pure reading pleasure very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bob eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tegon Maus Page; Review: Ha ha ha. Sorry, I cant stop laughing! Ha ha ha. This is the funniest book I have read in a long time. Is belt. I am not going to forget that ever. I will laugh to myself or smile every time I think of Bob. I don't think Peter Anderson needed much help to find trouble. Bob took him to a whole new level of Trouble, and I was laughing all the way. Let me suggest you read this book in private, unless you don't care how people look at you when you are in the middle of a big belly laugh. I am not going to spoil this book, you already know it is scifi from the cover. The rest you should discover on your own. I like Tegons writing, he shows himself adept at the craft. He handles POV well and includes lots of action and dialogue to move the story along. This is a well written book. Here is my problem, I found a small handful of errors. I normally do not give more than a 4.9 star rating when I find errors. Bob is so well written, it is so funny and a true pleasure to read, I have to give it FIVE STARS!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Grandfather's Pants - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tegon Maus Page; Review: HELP! I am Rolling On The Floor Laughing! ROTFL for you millennials and younger. I have not laughed so much in many years, even Bob (another of Tegons books) wasn't this funny! This is the story of Jack dealing with a peculiar history of the males in his family. I have promised not to spoil a book in my reviews. Though I cannot say any more about this history, I can say that while Jack is wooing the girl of his dreams he is subject to extreme external pressures he fears will cost him far more than the love of his life. I know that sounds so serious, fear not, this is the funniest book I have read in at least 10 years! Tegon masterfully captures the angst and worry Jack feels as a relationship with the beautiful Connie begins to blossom. His mom gets involved, her friends get involved, three beautiful, nubile women get involved, and his grandfathers pants get involved! It might be too much to say the pants save the day, but they have an undeniable influence! Tegon handles so much of the craft well, he moves the story along perfectly with lots of action and dialogue. He preserves POV quite nicely as well, the lack of proper POV is one of my pet peeves. I gave Bob an extra tenth of a point for humor, I have to give My Grandfathers Pants an extra five tenths of a point for extreme humor. Not outrageous humor, but such an overwhelming amount of laughing is created! Maybe Bob has the belt to go with the pants. I found a few errors for a score of 4.9, add the extra 5/10s and the total score is 5.4 of 5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Machines of the Little People: The Eve Project: #1 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tegon Maus Page; Review: Tegon continually surprises me. I have read two of his other books, Bob and My Grandfathers Pants. They were hysterical! In The Eve project, Tegons writing is top notch, a thrilling blend of narration, dialogue, and action. While not as funny as the other two, the plot puts Ben through seemingly impossible situations and we get to enjoy the increasingly difficult experiences. The story seamlessly blends science fiction, paranormal, action, and romance. Because I am committed to no spoilers, I cannot say more except get this book, you will not be disappointed in the craftsmanship or the story! I found a handful of errors so The Eve Project gets 4.9/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unbalanced eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Courtney Shepard Page; Review: What a fun book to read! I am so glad I did not miss this book, the fantasy and paranormal underpinnings lend depth, which is not often encountered in a modern action tale. Asha is hot! She is also a mercenary, she fights injustice and slavery. But something goes very wrong in the latest mission. The intel was faulty, and Father Sean is aiming at her! I am committed to never giving spoilers, therefore I cannot provide more details about the book. I can announce that a sequel is in the works, which is the best possible news I can share. The author has done a really nice job of writing this book. She shows a mastery of POV, she gives a wonderful depth to her characters and the settings. I award Unbalanced a score of 4.9 of 5 Stars! It would have been a higher score except for the handful of spelling errors I found.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wishing Stone: The Eve Project: #2 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tegon Maus Page; Review: Tegon has done it again! What a mind-blowing story! If you read the first book in this series Machines of the Little People, then you know Tegon Maus is a wonderful author. His writing is well crafted, there is a large amount of humor and the plot twists keep you guessing. What you don't know is this book, while every bit as good as the first, takes a hard turn and goes in a decidedly different direction. I was shocked and delighted with the tangential course of this book. It all makes so much sense at the end. I am committed to no spoilers, but the cast of characters and the plot twists are so delicious. I laughed out loud more than once! The Wishing Stone gets a score of 4.9 of 5 stars! The score would have been higher but for the handful of spelling errors I found.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Boston Ranter; Brand: Visit Amazon's Layden Robinson Page; Review: I don't know quite what to make of author Layden Robinson. There is something different about him, there might be a lot different about him actually. He is not your average writer. But, I do know he is funny! He made me laugh out loud many times! That is LOL for you youngsters. He also made me wince, cringe and sigh with relief. He made me feel a lot of things. That is one of the hallmarks of a good writer. I really enjoyed this book. His reminisces brought to mind some of my own adventures as a boy, I could really relate in many places. The Boston Ranter gets a score of 4.5, the score would have been higher but for the handful of spelling errors I found.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Darnay Road eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Diane Munier Page; Review: Diane is one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style. She makes very effective use of the First Person POV. I was greatly excited and honored when she asked me to proofread her book. I was not disappointed in the least by "Darnay Road". Diane has such a deft touch when she describes the inner thoughts of her characters. Her descriptions of locales, daily activities and the general milieu in her books are top notch. Growing up in the 60s was not easy for many people, the societal upheaval was intense. Dianes characterization of the boys and girls growing up in tumultuous times is uncannily accurate. I grew up in the same era. You are going to love this book for so many reasons just like me. "Darnay Road" gets 5 STARS! Congratulations Diane and thank you so much for writing so well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gift; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tegon Maus Page; Review: I love Tegons writing! He normally writes scifi and humor. This is the first fantasy book by Tegon I have read and there is humor in this also. Like Tegons other books, there is a wonderful balance of dialog, action and introspection. His characters go from frying pan to fire to blast furnace and manage to survive all odds. There is some serious drama in this book and yet there is plenty to laugh about. This is the thing I like so much about all of Tegons books, he makes me laugh. The descriptions of scenery and action are wonderful and thrilling. Tegon has successfully created a mood darker than previous books and Tuckers tortured soul is expressed quite well. I am happy to report that the rumor of more books in this series is going to be true. Except for the small handful of spelling errors the score of 4.9 stars would have been higher.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catherine de Valois: French Princess, Tudor Matriarch (The Legendary Women of World History Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Laurel A. Rockefeller Page; Review: My first audio book in many years, I was immediately drawn into the story! It was so entertaining to learn about a relatively unknown figure from history! Catherine was an amazing woman, she made a place in history for herself, despite the very prevalent misogyny of that time period. Richard Manns narration was excellent, the background music and sound effects were quite good and contributed a great deal to a very pleasurable experience. I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. Since my first experience was so good, Catherine de Valois gets 5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Wolo (350) Wolf Whistle Electronic Horn - 12 Volt; Brand: Wolo; Review: Very easy and straight forward to install. Comes with everything but the push button for making it sound off. Awesome and loud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubicon Express RE1600 Front Track Bar; Brand: Rubicon Express; Review: Heavy duty and went together good but was to long for my tj with a 3" lift.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AntennaMastsRus - 13" All-Terrain Flexible Rubber Antenna is Compatible with Jeep Wrangler TJ/YJ (1987-2006) - Spring Steel Internal CORE; Brand: AntennaMastsRus; Review: Like the looks but hurt the reception; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rough Country - 1156-1-inch Motor Mount Lift for Jeep: 97-06 Wrangler TJ 4WD, 04-06 Wrangler Unlimited LJ; Brand: Rough Country; Review: Did what its supposed to do; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ALIEN SUNSHADE Jeep Wrangler Mesh Bikini Top Cover Provides UV Protection for Your TJ (1997-2006) Original Black; Brand: Alien Sunshade; Review: Great product. Fast shipping. No flap on highway. Would definitely recommend to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Washington Court Hotel; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: Through Hotel Tonight I got a room for $89 on a Sunday afternoon. Rooms typically cost two or three times this amount. The venue is a couple of blocks from Union Station. This is a large well-located hotel with large comfortable rooms with baths. The bathroom had a separate heater. There is a bar where several people got drinks. I enjoyed my stay at the hotel. I shall certainly return when I can locate a room with such a low rate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Baron Hotel; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: I stayed here for one night when I had a late night in Washington, DC. I found the room for $89 on booking.com. The rooms have been completely remodeled since the new management operated this facility about a year ago. I had a small room with a double bed with a small bathroom and shower. The decorations were new and elegant. I arrived around 3 pm with my baggage. The lady at the desk told me that she had placed me on the third floor so that I would not be bothered by the noise from the restaurant on the ground floor. However, there was no elevator. I carried my bulky parcels up the stairs. It was a struggle. I could have paid $5 for the continental breakfast the next morning. I chose instead to get a substantial breakfast at the nearby coffee shop. When I returned late at night, I was exhausted. I slept soundly until I got up the next morning to depart early. Except for the lack of an elevator, I was pleased with the accommodations. This hotel is two blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro so it is conveniently located on the red line. I shall stay here in the future. The rooms cost more in summer. The convenience of proximity to the red line may outweigh the additional expense. I plan to return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tropics Hotel Hostel; City: Miami Beach Florida; Review: I attended a meeting at the Convention Center from June 9 to 13, 2012. I wanted a hotel near the convention center for June 8 to 13, 2012. For five days my charge was under $400. The cost was $435 with tax and fees. I could have saved 3% if I had paid cash. I was asked to pay $20 in cash on admission. I was then given a remote control for the television. I returned the remote control on check-out to receive my $20. This is an art deco structure of 3 stories probably from the early part of the last century. There are 70 rooms. There is a large safe in the room. This is large enough for a laptop computer. Enter a code to close; reenter the code to open. On entry I found soap and shampoo in the bathroom. The shampoo was not provided again. On a couple of days no soap was supplied. There was no glass provided. I bought coffee at McDonalds. Then I used the coffee cup for drinking water. There was a pool on the first floor. I did not use it. There was a computer in the lobby for Internet and other uses by guests. I was told by the staff that local calls are cheaper with the pay phones in the lobby than from the hotel phones in the rooms. There is no door man. I carried my luggage to my room. The room is a comfortable carpeted space with a comfortable queen bed. There is a television mounted in the wall. This is fine budget accommodation. Take soap, shampoo, toiletries, and drinking cups with you. You must go out to eat. There is no refrigerator or hot plate for cooking in the room. There is no restaurant in the hotel. There are several places to eat nearby. The site is on Collins a block from Loew's Hotel. The convention center is a few blocks away. The 150 Airport Flyer bus goes from the bus terminal near Terminal E of the Miami International Airport to Lincoln Road and Washington Street, a couple of blocks from the hotel for $2.35. When you leave the hotel, walk to Collins and 17th Street to the bus stop to return to the airport. June is the rainy season. It rained heavily for four hours on my first day. Some days were sunny. Temperature were in the 90s during the day and in the 80s at night. It was hot and humid all the time. Clubs and bars are nearby. They are open until 5 am. Parking is a problem. Take public transportation or taxis.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Baron Hotel; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: I stayed again at this facility near Dupont Circle. The site is close to the Dupont Circle Metro. I was told again that there is no elevator. When I mentioned that there was no elevator during my winter visit, I was told, "It is taking longer than they thought." Climbing the stairs with parcels was a challenge. I asked for a room away from the street to avoid the noise from the restaurant. I was given an oddly shaped room without a closet. The bathroom was fine. Although the fire emergency plan indicated a fire escape route through a door in the bedroom, the door was painted over. It had been permanently sealed closed. Fortunately there was no fire. I did not need to take the alternate circuitous fire escape route. I was glad to stay at this conveniently located hotel while I attended a conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel a few blocks down the street. I would have paid more than twice as much for a room at the reduced rate at the Ritz-Carlton.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Ambassador; City: Vancouver British Columbia; Review: I went to Vancouver for a meeting at the Vancouver Convention Center in early June. I needed to spend minimal funds. Fortunately I located Hotel Ambassador. It is located a few blocks from the stations for the train to the airport. Also it is at the intersection of Granville and Davie Streets. There are several restaurants and clubs on both those streets. It is about a mile from the convention center so I walked the distance in about half an hour. The hotel has two stories. There is no elevator. I needed to carry baggage up and down the stairs. I used the safe deposit box in my room. There is no telephone in the room. There is no air conditioning. The bed was comfortable. There was a sink in my room. I was readily able to use the free WiFi in my room. I shared the bathrooms at the end of the hall. Housekeeping provided soap, but not shampoo or conditioner. Housekeeping changed towels and collected trash daily; however, my bed was unmade throughout my stay. Coffee was free in the kitchen from 9 to 11 am daily. Since I departed at 11 pm, I wanted to occupy my room until 8 pm. I had to pay for an additional day to stay in my room until 8 pm.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Downtown Richmond; City: Richmond Virginia; Review: I went to Richmond for a fulltime program at the Richmond Ballet. The sponsor obtained a discounted rate at the Holiday Inn Express. The facility was a walk of a few blocks from the hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. The room looked north; it was quiet. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and handsoap were provided daily. A full breakfast including an egg dish, sausages or bacon, muffins, and gravy were served from 6:30 to 9:30 am daily. WiFi was free throughout the facility. A business center and a health facility were available for 24 hours daily. Parking in the underground garage costs $10 daily. This is the second year when I have returned to this hotel for my weeklong program at the nearby Richmond Ballet. I plan to return next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Baron Hotel; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: I wanted to stay in Washington, DC, the night before an early morning conference in Bethesda. I readily made the reservation online. There are many steps to climb from the street to enter the building. Inside the building there are several steps to climb to reach the lobby. I readily checked in at the desk. I was disappointed to be told the the elevator does not work. I climbed the stairs to the second floor for my room 206. There are multiple doors. All were shut. I could be confused to find the exit in case of fire. The room is exquisitely decorated. There were minor chips on the table and the nightstand. The bathroom was tastefully arranged. There was a computer open to windows in a common area on the second floor. I could not locate a mouse to operate the computer. The hotel is on 22nd Street between Avenues P and Q. There are embassies nearby so this is a relatively safe neighborhood. The Dupont Circle Metro stop is two blocks away. The shortest route is to walk on 22nd Street to Avenue P. Then turn north on 20th Street to walk to the north entrance to the Metro. My bill was $66 ($75+ with tax). This is a bargain for a comfortable lodging in a relatively safe neighborhood. The many steps from the street to the lobby and the absence of a working elevator likely represent insurmountable barriers to those who cannot readily ambulate on steps and to those with heavy luggage. When I return, I shall carefully make a mental note of the route to follow in case of fire. I plan to return to this facility when I stay in Washington again. The facility is a bargain.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Penrose Hotel; City: Philadelphia Pennsylvania; Review: Last month I attended an activity at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Hotels nearby had raised the rates for this meeting. Looking at online sites I was able to locate this facility at a rate under $100 a night. A friend suggested that I could safely walk in the neighborhood if I stayed on the main streets. The facility itself is undergoing renovation. I had a fine room with a flat-screen television and radio. The accommodations were sparse and comfortable. A safe deposit box was not available. Complementary cold breakfast is served daily from 7 to 10 am. There is a swimming pool; it was covered for the winter in late April and early May. Apparently they are planning to have the breakfast room converted into a restaurant. There is a diner across the street; I never ate there. I spent most of my time at the Convention Center. I took the Broad Street Subway to the Oregon stop. Then I walked around half a mile on West Moyamensing Avenue to Penrose Avenue to the hotel. Most of the walk was through an Italian-American neighborhood with well-kept buildings. The residents were friendly. I felt safe walking there at 5 am and 10 pm. I had to cross under a highway to go to Penrose Avenue. The traffic was heavy. I carefully crossed only with a green light. The intersection could be dangerous to pedestrians. It took 30 to 60 minutes each way to go from the hotel to the convention center. People who can readily walk half a mile each way can benefit from this inexpensive hotel in Philadelphia. Take a taxi when carrying luggage. This is a reasonable alternative to the extremely expensive hotels near the convention center.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Downtown Richmond; City: Richmond Virginia; Review: I stayed at this facility for a week while participating in an intensive at the nearby Richmond Ballet. I arrived before 11 am so I was given the available room for handicapped persons. It was fine. The space was suitable for a person in a wheelchair. I was able to use the space without problems. A full complementary breakfast was served daily from 6:30 to 9:30 am. Eggs, omelettes, sausages, cereals, waffles, yogurts, bananas, and apples were available. A coffee maker, microwave oven, and refrigerator were present in my room. I was absent most of the day. This is the third year that I have stayed here for a week while participating in the activity at the Richmond Ballet. I plan to continue to return here when I am in Richmond.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Saratoga Springs; City: Saratoga Springs New York; Review: I spent a week in Saratoga Springs, New York, to participate in an intensive at the Swyer Studios behind that National Museum of Dance. Although I had reserved a room with a king bed, I took a room with two double beds when I arrived around 12:30 pm because no rooms with king beds were available. The room was comfortable. I used complimentary wifi in the room. I also used the computers in the business center to record notes on a flash drive using a USB port. I ate an omelette with cheddar cheese and potatoes daily for breakfast. They were delicious. I also had fruit daily for breakfast. The breakfast buffet was convenient. This hotel is close to the National Museum of Dance. This is a good choice for people taking part in activities at the museum.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fielding Hotel; City: London England; Review: I went to London last week for a conference. The conference hotel was expensive so I sought a moderate place in Covent Garden. I had a single room, room 2, on the ground floor. There was a television and DVD player. WiFi was available for free. Bottled water, instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and wafers were provided free daily. I kept valuables in a safe at the front desk. The reception was available 24 hours a day. There was air-conditioning. I never used it. The window was open an inch; it was comfortable. My room was on a courtyard where workers and people congregated. There was noise and loud talking throughout the day and night. I was so tired that I was able to go to sleep readily. The noise did not bother me. There are no restaurants in the hotel. However, the hotel provides a list of restaurants suggested by clients. In particular I went to Wings, a nearby place opening at 7 am Monday through Saturday. I ate breakfast there regularly. I had a cheese omelette with salad for 6 pounds and 40 pence, approximately 10 US dollars. There is no elevator. Guests must be prepared to climb stairs. I was on the ground floor, room 2, so I did not have to climb stairs. This is a fine hotel conveniently located a block from the Royal Opera House, a few blocks from the Covent Garden subway station. I plan to return here when I go to London.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Saratoga Springs; City: Saratoga Springs New York; Review: I came for a week at the National Museum of Dance. The hotel was a ten-minute walk away from the venue. I had an omelet for the hot breakfast each morning. It was delicious. The room was comfortable and quiet. I used the business center to record messages on my USB flash drive. I then used the computer in the business center to place my notes on social media.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rodeway Inn Center City; City: Philadelphia Pennsylvania; Review: When I decided to go to an event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, I was dismayed to see the high prices (over $200 a night) for each of the hotels designated for the meeting. I located this hotel a few blocks from the convention center for a lower nightly fee. The hotel is located on Walnut Street between 12th and 13th Streets in a pleasant neighborhood. There are many restaurants and clubs nearby. I booked a room with a double bed. I was sent a message that my room has a private bathroom across the hall. I stayed in room 207 at the end of the hall. The windows overlook an alley where people congregate and night and garbage is deposited and picked up. There was some noise from that alley. There is a locked door connected 207 to 206. I could clearly hear people talking in 206. The bathroom is across the hall. I needed to exit my room to use the bathroom. The key opened both the room the bathroom. The bathroom was small but tastefully decorated. There was a shower with a fixed spout from the ceiling. There was a hair dryer. The room was tastefully decorated. There were multiple electrical outlets around the room. There was a large-screen television. There was a large safe in the room. The room contained a coffee-maker, refrigerator, and microwave oven. There was an ironing board and iron. There was no telephone. There was no closet to hang up clothes. There were no drawers to store clothes. There was no thermostat. On some nights I felt cold. The room was crowded, but adequate. There was a single elevator going from the ground floor to the sixth floor. The housekeeper told me that the elevator did not go to the seventh floor so she had to carry the cleaner up a flight of stairs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Aqua Sphere Seal Kid 2 Swim Goggle, Clear Lens/Pink Frame; Brand: Aqua Sphere; Review: We have two 3 year olds and this is perfect for them. Easy to adjust (lengthen to take off and tighten to wear) and had good/fitting seals to keep water out (unless divining in head first). Perfect for pool or in ocean - has lasted one season so far (with wash/rinse after each use) and should last at least one (or more) season.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aqua Sphere Vista Junior 2 Pack Swim Goggles; Brand: Aqua Sphere; Review: This mask is definitely for smaller faces - it fits our 4 year old boys very well. They really like it and the quick tightening mechanism work great! We really like it and the boys do too - plus it comes with a case to put them away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coleman Tent Kit; Brand: Coleman; Review: Nice compact kit but mine came with only 3 pegs...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent; Brand: Wenzel; Review: Very large tent for 4 persons, like that it has 'two' rooms, the front of which can be used as 2nd bed room or sitting area. Lots of openings, perfect for camping in FL. Ours came in different color than what was ordered - else it w/h been a 5 star.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern, Survival Kit for Hurricane, Emergency, Storm, Outages, Outdoor Portable Lanterns, Black, Collapsible (Batteries; Brand: Vont; Review: Great lamp for hanging inside tent, emits lots of light and is not too heavy to hang on the loop in the ceiling of the tent. Compact design for when not in use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Metal Brake-Fast Dog Food Bowl (Medium); Brand: Brake-Fast; Review: The bowl was shipped fast and is exactly as described. After purchasing one for our first dog we learned that it was a hit. His eating time went from about 30 seconds to 2 minutes! When we welcomed a second dog, we knew right away we were buying another. Her eating time went from about 40 seconds to 5 minutes! Totally winner in our book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greenies Original Regular Size Dental Dog Treats; Brand: Greenies; Review: The dogs love them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Dura Chew Wolf Bacon Flavored Bone Dog Chew Toy; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Both of the dogs continue to come back to it months later.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Fun Dura Chew Shapes Dog Chew Toy; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Both of the dogs continue to come back to it months later.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Dura Chew Textured Toy, Peanut Butter/Chicken/Bacon; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Both of the dogs continue to come back to them months later.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bamboo Quick Control 6-Foot Leash with Seat Belt Latch Blue; Brand: Bamboo; Review: I had another 6 foot Bamboo Quick Control leash that I purchased years ago and love. The thumb piece on the metal clasp finally broke off from being used daily for several years. The original design starts out about 3 ft long and can be adjusted to 6 ft. I like keeping it short so my dog is near me. The new design starts out at 6 ft, can be adjusted down to about 5 ft, but that's it. It's way too long to have your dog near you. The other down fall is that the black padding around the seatbelt clasp is now a different section than the black padding for the pocket. (It's actually a bit different than the picture shown.) So at 6 ft long, there's a big heavy piece about 4 ft down the leash. It's something that would weigh the leash down or be bulky when trying to flip it over a tangled dog. I will be returning the product and hopefully finding a shorter version. The padded handle however is a huge plus. This is what I liked about the original. It's great for a dog who likes to pull.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: USB 2.0 Extension Cable Type A Male to Type A Female 6 ft, Black; Brand: Generic; Review: Super fast free shipping. Great poduct. Wil highly recommend to anyone needing a usb cable. Used for Droid Razr Phone extention. Thanks Brian.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Endust for Electronics, Blu-Ray Disc Lens Cleaner, Microfiber Towel Included, Dust Removal (11452); Brand: Endust for Electronics; Review: Works great. Has endust to reduce static. So far no complaints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 30 PACK; Brand: MagicFiber; Review: Received today. More heavy duty I think than most microfiber cloths. At least heavier. I like &would recommend. Great price. Got two days early.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG BP350 Streaming Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-ray Player Black - New; Brand: LG; Review: Player works great so far. Switching is easy just make sure you push play while the tray is open. If you close & push play for region B for example after switching it'll show only plays region B. Will update after I've had the unit for awhile.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RCA Audio Piggyback Cable, 2 RCA Male to 2 RCA Male + RCA Female Piggyback, 6 foot; Brand: Mizar; Review: Great cables.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SquareTrade 2-Year Consumer Electronics Protection Plan ($175-199.99); Brand: SquareTrade; Review: Haven't used warranty yet. Hopefully won't have to. If I do I'll update review according to services. A lot of good reviews so we'll see. Great price for this kind of protection. Thanks Square Trade.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innovera 81900 Slim CD Case, Clear, 25 per Pack; Brand: Innovera; Review: Great cases. Ordered on the 24the & received next day less than 24 hours. Thanks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Тур де Франс. Путешествие по Франции с Иваном Ургантом; Author: Vladimir Pozner; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: Mnogo kto khorosho znaet ili tol'ko slyshal o frantsuzskom vyrazhenii <>, chto perevoditsia kak "iskusstvo naslazhdat'sia zhizn'iu". Vladimir Pozner ubezhden, chto eto samoe glavnoe kachestvo i dostizhenie frantsuzov. On govorit, chto eto to samoe kachestvo, kotoroe dvigaet vsiu Frantsiiu, i liubuiu eio sostavliaiushchuiu: bud' to iskusstvo, vinodeliia, promyshlennost', kulinariia, parfiumeriia ili moda. I eto to samoe kachestvo, kotoromu Frantsiia uchit ves' mir. Chtoby uznat', pochuvstvovat', poprobovat' <> nuzhno "poprobovat'" mnozhestvo samykh raznykh veshchei vo Frantsii, ochutit'sia v samykh raznykh sferakh. I togda prikhodit iasnoe ponimanie, chto <> deistvitel'no vezde, v kazhdom ugolke Frantsii. "Tur de Frants" - eto kniga-puteshestvie, daiushchaia svoim chitateliam unikal'nyi shans okunut'sia i "poprobovat'" to samoe frantsuzskoe <>. Tem kto sovsem ne znakom s Frantsiei ili znakom dostatochno poverkhnostno - eta kniga mozhet rasskazat' dazhe bol'she chem uchebniki po istorii ili literature. A dlia menia eta luchshaia kniga vsego tsikla puteshestvii Poznera i Urganta.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thirteenth Tale; Author: Diane Setterfield; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Triller, gotika, detektiv v samykh luchshikh traditsiiakh sestior Bronte. Roman v romane o siostrakh bliznetsakh, starykh tainakh, obmane i pravde. Esli vy iskrenne liubite britanskii roman, tainy proshlykh vekov, khoroshuiu klassicheskuiu literaturu - to etot roman tochno dlia vas!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dandelion Wine (Green Town, #1); Author: Ray Bradbury; Genres: history, young-adult, children, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Ia prosto ne mogla otorvat'sia - tochnoe pero Bredberi, no chutochku novoe, nezheli ego privychnyi zhanr. I konechno tochno-tochno iz moego detstva.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Captains; Author: Veniamin Kaverin; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Luchshaia kniga iz moego detstva.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inferno (Robert Langdon, #4); Author: Dan Brown; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Perfect as always! But the ending of book ... it's strange for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Путь к финансовой свободе; Author: Bodo Schafer; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Poleznaia kniga kak bazovaia nastol'naia kniga, rasskazyvaiushchaia kak pravil'no obrashchat'sia so svoimi finansami. V knige po polochkam razlozheny printsipy obrashcheniia so svoimi den'gami (ved', kak izvestno, den'gi dolzhny rabotat') tak, chtoby eti den'gi pomogali zhit'. Imenno "pomogali", ne stanovilis' smyslom zhizni ili tsel'iu. I, konechno, sovety kak sdelat' tak, chtoby ikh bylo bol'she s kazhdym godom. Khotia, konechno, stoit otnosit'sia chutochku skepticheski k nemetskomu avtoru, i, pererabatyvaia material, perenosit' ego na nashu postsovetskuiu real'nost'.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft; Author: Stephen King; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Sekrety remesla mozhet otkryt' tol'ko deistvitel'no blestiashchii master. Ne udivitel'no, chto Stiven King smog tak tochno, dostupno, neobychno rasskazat' kak zhe eto delat': pisat' knigi. Na nebol'shikh 317 stranitsakh umestilis': fundamental'nye sovety kak zhit', chtoby pisat'; tochnye, prakticheskie i kazhdodnevnye sovety chto konkretno i kak delat'; kak na khoroshei lektsii razobrany konkretnye primery, i dan otlichneishii spisok literatury, a takzhe domashnee zadanie. A samoe udivitel'noe, chto skvoz' ves' etot urok avtor King rasskazyvaet o sobstvennoi sud'be kak nagliadnom primere sostoiavshegosia pisatelia. Prichem rasskaz etot potriasaet, ved' okazyvaet, chto tak chasto zhizn' i tvorchestvo - eto mnogo-mnogo boli. Dazhe esli vy ne sobiraetes' pisat' knigi - eta kniga mozhet byt' interesna kak eshchio odna neprostaia istoriia potriasaiushchego cheloveka.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life; Author: Anne Lamott; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This book change my mind. Some thing about the writing and the life come true. It is a story when the book help .; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Windsor Inn; City: Dumas Texas; Review: We are on a road trip and had driven 9 hours today so wanted a quiet room. Room was very clean, bottom floor and far enough off the highway to be fairly quiet. We called Best Westerns 800# and got a better rate than on-line.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alpine Lodge; City: Red Lodge Montana; Review: We are on the road to Seattle from Austin Tx and each day we decide which way to go. We called ahead the morning we decided to stay in Red Lodge and were fortunate to find a cabin available at the Alpine Lodge. Larry and Trish are great hosts and we enjoyed our 2 nights in our "little" cabin. One caution, if you are a "big" person you might want to take one of the rooms as the shower is "tiny"! Larry and his side kick serve up made to order breakfast every morning outside and the weather was beautiful. Larry guided us were to hike one day and the area has many things to do. We would have loved to stay longer!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caboose Motel; City: Libby Montana; Review: We have been traveling for 9 days and have followed Trip Advisor recommendations trying to stay at $100 or less in smaller towns. The Caboose Motel is older but clean and updated bathrooms. Beds were comfortable and it was quiet, would stay here again!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Budget Inn Express of Gillette; City: Gillette Wyoming; Review: We followed Trip Advisor reviews and booked at Budget Inn. Our goal on our trip has been to try and keep rooms $100 or under, this was $100. We had a room on first floor which is actually basement level. Rooms are old and towels were Motel 6 "thin". Front desk older lady is not a happy person, For $100 I expected more.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sunset Motel; City: Alliance Nebraska; Review: We have been traveling from Austin TX to Seattle and wanted to take off the beaten path routes. We saw this motel review and thought we would give it a try. First look when driving in its pretty rough with mostly construction/oil and gas workers staying here. Our room was old but clean with a comfortable bed. I think it's priced pretty high for the age of the room but the other chain hotel is much higher. Very few places to eat in town but that's to be expected in small town Nebraska!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Knights Inn Van Horn; City: Van Horn Texas; Review: We were driving from Phoenix to Van Horn and looked up reviews for Knights Inn. We looked at prices on-line then called. We got a better price for 2 doubles by calling. Room was large, clean and quiet, great bargain at $59 + tax. Breakfast is minimal so just had coffee. The Loves truck stop in town has Subway and fresh fruit so we opted for that. We would stay here again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pine Creek Country Inn; City: Nacogdoches Texas; Review: We stayed one night in the "Garden" room. The room was very clean and had a comfortable king size bed. The attention to detail is missing, both reading lights on either side of bed didn't work, wifi was so low it only worked occasionally and there were no towel racks or hooks for bath towels. The hot tub was nice and robes were provided. The dinner was Thursday "steak" night and my husband had a wonderful steak, Augratin potatoes were excellent and the Caesar salad was exceptional. My shrimp dish was ok. There are cats EVERYWHERE! We came after much rain but you could still smell the poop and pee. On the back deck there were two new litters of kittens. It seems irresponsible to not fix these cats. It's a nice location and it wouldn't take much to make it more enjoyable for the guests.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rock Springs KOA; City: Rock Springs Sweetwater County Wyoming; Review: Expensive for a gravel parking lot, $42. I needed wi-fi so that's why we stayed. Asked for a space near transmitter and still really slow. Husband said his bathroom didn't have enough stalls for size of park, women's was ok but old. Thank goodness it was just over-night. Oh yeah, view was big tanks!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Burns RV Park; City: Burns Oregon; Review: We booked one night and decided to stay for two while we did laundry and groceries. Very nice spots with lawn in-between and many shaded spots. The fellow who checked us in re-arranged a reservation so we could stay another night. Road noise quiets down around 10pm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Century 2 Campground; City: Salmon Idaho; Review: We didn't look at reviews until after we made reservations. I decided to try an approach with owner that was with friendly and engaging. First asked his name (Robert), then asked about him. He started to warm up then showed our spot to park RV. Next morning he stopped by and asked if we wanted some Zucchini as he has a beautiful garden. He brought over squash and cucumber. Only complaint was the road noise doesn't slow down until 11pm but nice park on the Salmon River, clean bathrooms and showers and good laundry facilities.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona; City: Sedona Arizona; Review: We were with another couple, rooms next to each other on third terrace. Beautiful views, nice rooms and full breakfast. The sunset off the balcony is fabulous and nice seating on terrace with fire pits.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with food recipes as follows:
Title: thai noodles pad thai; Review: The flavor of this dish is very good and almost exactly like restaurant Pad Thai. I would give it 5 stars, but the recipe needs some work. Eggs and Bean Sprouts are not listed ingredients, but are in the directions. (I used 3 eggs and skipped the sprouts.) Green onions are in the ingredient list, but are referred to as scallions is the directions. You don't need as much oil, either. Better to add the oil as needed. I used Olive Oil and it was fine. I added the pepper flakes at the same time as the sauce and this helped distribute the heat. Overall, a good final product, and worth making. I'll make again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: easy baked ham n egg casserole; Review: This was simple and quick to assemble. However, it didn't appeal to me (and I'm an egg and ham lover). The flavor was bland and the texture confusing. I really wanted to like this, but I'll make a frittata next time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: crunchy chicken casserole; Review: I really wanted to like this. I liked the ingredients. But, it was lacking something. The flavor was just a little too bland for me. The crunch was nice, but the flavor was bland and uninteresting. I won't be making it again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: olive garden garlic alfredo sauce; Review: Great Alfredo and easy too. Half and half works great. The cheese adds a lot of body to the sauce, so don't bother with any other thickening (like flour).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s muffin shop jumbo blueberry or strawberry muffins; Review: I made this recipe exactly as written and am fairly experienced in the kitchen. The muffins were heavy and bland. I won't make these again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Lonsdale Hotel; City: London England; Review: First of all, the Lonsdale has a good location, in a nice part of London and close to the centre. We stayed for one night after coming down from the Midlands to see a musical in the West End and it was very convenient for that. That, however, is one of the few good things you can say about it. The staff was generally surly and uncommunicative and entirely foreign - some spoke very poor English. The first room we were given had no headboards on the bed and stank of stale cigarette smoke - despite our requesting a non-smoking room. The second room was very hot (radiators on full and no way of turning them down) and the light in the bathroom didn't work. We were assured that this would be fixed, and in all fairness both were fixed quickly. However, although the radiators were off the room remained very warm; it was not a cold night and we had to have the window wide open all night, which made it rather noisy. The furniture and fittings were barely adequate - many items were cracked, old and poorly maintained. The carpets were shabby and frayed. The 'ensuite bathroom' was a cabinet installed in one corner of the room and while clean enough was very cramped; there was hot water, as long as you worked out that the shower had to be turned towards the cold end to get hot! The room wasn't too dirty, but could certainly have been better. The television worked, but wasn't tuned into any stations. Breakfast was adequate (bacon, sausages, fried eggs, toast, orange juice, tea), but kept running out and had to be replenished (slowly) by very surly kitchen staff. There was only one flavour of jam and no sauces at all. All in all, not a particularly pleasant experience and I'm glad we only stayed one night - I certainly wouldn't have stayed any more. £75 per night may be cheap for London, but it is still not exactly cheap and I expect much more for my money. I have stayed in many (much, much cheaper) hostels in major European cities, and I have to say that this 'hotel' was far worse than any of them. Not recommended at all.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Origo Hostel Guesthouse; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: A second floor flat in an apartment building which has been converted into a small hostel. The front door opens off a walkway around the building's central courtyard (a feature of many Budapest buildings) and leads into a central communal kitchen, off which open four bedrooms (a twin, two doubles and a triple), a bathroom/toilet (with a shower in the bath) and a shower room/toilet. Good: Can't be beaten on location - Central Budapest, 2 minutes walk from Parliament, Kossuth tér metro station and the No.2 tram; fantastic value for money; generally clean and hygienic; clean bed linen and towels are provided; the cooker, fridge and washing machine are all in good condition and appear to work well; the only staff member we encountered was very friendly and spoke excellent English (she was waiting for us on our arrival - we never saw any member of staff again for the whole week we were there!); the beds are comfortable and there is plenty of storage space; good lighting and plenty of electric sockets in the room; there is no noise from outside - the rest of the building is residential and quiet and no traffic noise penetrates from the street (which is a pretty quiet one anyway, although there is a bar in the building next door); there is a small but good supermarket about 2 minutes walk away (open 7am-7pm most days, 7am-1pm on Sundays). Bad: Can be difficult to find on arrival (the street door is unmarked with only a small label on one of the bellpushes next to it and there are no signs within the building except a small sign on the door of the hostel itself); the lock of the hostel door is dodgy and can take ages to open (we had a nasty moment the first time we arrived back late at night, before we realised that it did unlock with a bit of coaxing); a family of cockroaches appears to live under the washing machine, and also makes occasional forays into the bathroom; the shower room door has no lock and the toilet seat is parting company with the toilet (the bathroom is much better, but the shower in the bath isn't mounted on the wall and therefore needs to be handheld to use); the window of our room opened onto the walkway and we therefore couldn't really leave it open; the walls are quite thin and you can be disturbed by other guests (although nobody there when we were was particularly noisy).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Hostel; City: Vilnius Vilnius County; Review: First of all, the A Hostel is in a very convenient location, a few minutes walk from both the bus and railway stations and about 5 minutes walk from the Gate of Dawn at the southern edge of Vilnius's Old Town. There's a trolleybus stop about a minute's walk away, but that's only useful if you're returning to the hostel as it's only one-way. However, buses and trolleybuses to all over town go from just outside the station, so that's not a problem. There's also a large covered market and a supermarket a few minutes walk away in the direction of the Old Town. Don't be put off by the rather scruffy street or the fact that the old location of the hostel now bears a sign telling you it's being refurbished. The new hostel is more or less opposite. The first thing that strikes you about it is that it's absolutely spotless inside - a team of cleaners always seems to be working away. The reception staff are friendly and speak decent English. They don't have a lot of space to store your luggage - arriving very early on an overnight bus, our room wasn't ready and two rucksacks seemed to be more than they had room for in the reception area, but they did manage to find space in the broom cupboard and moved the luggage to our room as soon as it was ready. We had a twin ensuite room, which turned out to be on the ground floor just off the common room/kitchen. It was basic, but comfortable and very clean. We had requested a twin, and our hearts sank when we arrived to find a double, but after we informed reception a cleaner arrived within minutes and rapidly turned the double into two singles, complete with individual bedside tables and reading lamps. The bathroom appeared to be brand new and everything worked perfectly - it was cleaned every day. We didn't really use the kitchen, except the large fridge, but it seemed to be well-equipped. The hostel was generally quiet, comfortable and excellent value for money. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naughty Squirrel Backpackers; City: Riga Riga Region; Review: The Naughty Squirrel is a typical backpacker hostel, but none the worse for that. Its location can't be beaten, on a cobbled street in the heart of the Old Town, a few minutes walk from one of the main tram and bus stops (which serves the bus to the airport among many others), and only a few minutes more from both the bus and railway stations. The reception staff are exceptionally friendly and efficient. We had a twin room, which had bunks. It was basic, but clean and comfortable. Immediately outside were a shower room/toilet, two more shower rooms and two more toilets. These were all clean and in good working order and it was never a problem finding an empty one to use. We didn't use the bar/common rooms (except to store food in the fridges), but they seemed popular. Although there were quite a few people staying there, the hostel was not generally particularly noisy or rowdy, with the exception of one group who seemed to decide that because they had to get up at 6am one morning it wouldn't be fair to leave without waking everybody else up by walking around the hostel shouting at each other! But that wasn't the hostel's fault. Perfect location and excellent value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostel Freedom; City: Torun Kuyavia Pomerania Province Central Poland; Review: A small, quite hostel right in the centre of Torun. You couldn't get a better situation, a couple of minutes walk from the Rynek along the Old Town's main street. The hostel only has a handfull of rooms and is situated on the fourth floor. There only appeared to be one member of staff, who was always there, but he was pleasant, efficient and spoke good English. We stayed in a twin room, with two bunks. It was very small, but comfortable and very clean (as is the whole hostel). There are two shower rooms/toilets, and that seemed sufficient when we were there at least. Breakfast is simple, but plentiful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Coroana; City: Brasov Brasov County Central Romania Transylvania; Review: We stayed for six nights in a twin room with en suite bathroom. The building is beautiful, the oldest extant purpose-built hotel in Brașov, and a fine Art Nouveau edifice (although it could do with a coat of paint). Particularly impressive are the lobby, stairways and restaurant, all Art Nouveau. The room was slightly old-fashioned, but clean and comfortable, with an efficient fridge, TV (probably Romanian channels only, although we didn't watch it), two comfortable chairs and a double wardrobe. There could, however, do with being more electric points and the reading lamps by the beds did not work. The bathroom was also clean with a shower and bath; the shower took a while to get going but once it did was efficient and hot. The staff were friendly and efficient and happily stored our luggage behind reception on our last day after we'd checked out. There is only wifi in the lobby and restaurant, but that is free and efficient. A free breakfast is served in the adjoining (and beautifully restored) restaurant every morning. The first morning we had to order from a menu, but on subsequent mornings it was a buffet, with a choice of omelettes, fried eggs, Romanian sausage, frankfurters, cold meats, cheese, salad, rolls, bread, yoghurt, fruit and cake. No complaints at all. The location couldn't be better, on Strada Republicii, the pedestrianised main street of the walled city. From here it's a short walk to pretty much everywhere of interest in the city and only five minutes to Piața Sfatului (Council Square), the heart of the city, and the Black Church. It's also a short walk to the Livada Poștei bus terminus (where you can get a bus to pretty much everywhere in the city, including the railway station and bus stations), the pleasant Central Park and the large Billa supermarket on Strada Nicolae Bălcescu.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BOOK A REST Hostel; City: Bucharest; Review: Stayed for six nights in a twin room with an external private bathroom. The hostel is located at the back of a theatre and bar in a reasonable residential area of Bucharest east of the city centre along Bulevardul Carol I. We only encountered two members of staff, when we checked in and out, but they were both friendly and helpful. The room was very clean and the beds were comfortable. Plenty of electric points. A double wardrobe (lockable), table and two chairs. The bathroom was also very clean and the shower was efficient and hot. The only downside was the awful, tiny towels that almost all hostels will insist on giving you. Why? You cannot dry yourself properly on a postage stamp! Is it really too much of a problem to provide decent-sized towels? There is a well-equipped kitchen and free and efficient wifi throughout the hostel. The hostel is a five-minute walk from the Calea Moşilor trolleybus stop, from which it's three stops to the Universitate metro station at the heart of the city, from where you can get to pretty much anywhere in Bucharest (I highly recommend buying a weekly metro pass for 25 lei if you're here for any length of time - completely invaluable). Just beyond the trolleybus stop is the Bulevardul Carol I tram stop, two stops from the old town, and also a good 24-hour supermarket. Alternatively, you can walk to Universitate in about 15-20 minutes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Hotel Berlin Mitte; City: Berlin; Review: I chose this hotel because I wanted somewhere reasonably-priced and well-situated to explore Berlin during a three-day trip and I wasn't disappointed. To be honest, it doesn't look much from the outside. A bit like a warehouse on a nondescript (but quiet) back street lined with modern buildings. But inside it's very nice, both in the public areas and in the room. The room was excellent. Not much of a view (the neighbouring block of flats and the petrol station beyond), but large, comfortable and well-equipped (including a safe, coffee/tea-making facilities, toiletries, a hairdryer and a fridge). There's no restaurant, but the hotel bar serves bar meals. We only had breakfast once (as it's a bit on the expensive side), but it was very good: a buffet with a huge hot and cold selection. The staff are all friendly and efficient. The hotel is two minutes walk from the Gleisdreieck U-bahn station, which is perfectly situated for getting around, only two stops from Potsdamer Platz (change for Brandenburger Tor, which is the next stop) and four from Zoologischer Garten (change for the X9 express bus to and from the airport right outside the station - 2.80 euro for the whole journey). Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Thrill of the Chase - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: Linda Chance strikes again with another great alpha male romance. I really enjoy her books and only wish she could write faster. It would also be nice to see her write a longer book and less short stories. I really enjoy her writing style and this was no exception. This book involves three couples and each story was good. I would highly recommend this author. My only complaint is that I have to wait for her next book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: His Indecent Proposal - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: Anything by Lynda Chance is worth a read and this book, while short, is no exception. I don't know why I so love dominant men, but few write them better than Lynda. Often a dominant male can come across as offensive but not in Lynda Chance books. I just wish she could write faster.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid for It (An Erotic Novella) (Maids for It Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lucy Rodgers Page; Review: This was a really erotic tale. I enjoyed the author's writing style and am looking forward to her next book to see if the characters are developed even more fully.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rancher's Virgin Acquisition - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: You can NEVER go wrong with a Lynda Chance book. My only complaint is that Lynda doesn't write fast enough and I am forced to read mediocre books or re-reading all of her other ones. I love that Lynda develops her characters and has perfected the art of writing erotic romance. This is an author to put on auto buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarah's Surrender (Ranchers of Chatum County Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: I have always counted on Lynda Chance for wonderful books with blazing hot alpha males and sizzling romance and she has another winner here! John Garrett is a billionaire rancher who meets school teacher Sarah McCallister and falls for her immediately. Both John and Sarah have been burned before and are afraid to trust again. Both find a love they cannot fight, that is worth fighting for. I have no idea how Lynda consistently invents stories with just the right mix of heat, conflict and love but she does. Put Lynda Chance on auto buy and you will not regret it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marco's Redemption eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: Lynda Chance is the master of penning alpha male romance. I am not embarrassed to admit that I eagerly await anything Lynda Chance writes and Marco's Redemption was worth waiting for. I'm not sure why I would not mind being possessed by any of the characters she writes. It may be that even though controlling and possessive, all of her insanely attractive alpha males want nothing more than to protect and cherish the woman they love. Who could ask for more? I guess I could - ask for more - Lynda please please keep writing faster and faster.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Josh and Hannah (Redwood Falls Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: This book is different from Lynda Chance's earlier books and she seems to get better with each book she writes. The story of Josh and Hannah is certainly tamer in a physical sense, I am sure that is because Hannah is only 15 at the beginning of the story. While Josh and Hannah find love immediately, their story develops over a number of years and is a joy to read. The characters in this book are young and in love and have to fight circumstances and their own issues to find forever. it was clear from her first book that Lynda Chance has great talent and her earlier books were shorter and very intense with sizzling sex scenes. In satisfying her fan's requests for longer books Lynda has exceeded expectations. Of course, all of the heroes in Lynda's books are very possessive and it is no different for Josh. In Redwood Falls she has created a world that I cannot wait to return to and I absolutely cannot wait for the next story. As always, well done!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: President Barack Obama: The Kindle Singles Interview (Kindle Single) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's David Blum Page; Review: I realize this is free - But you couldn't even pay me to read it. I've gotta give this administration credit for one thing, they really know how to work social media and media in general. Too bad there is never any substance behind it and they spend most of their time trying to find ways to sell ideas that just do not work.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pursuit eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: I have NEVER been disappointed with a Lynda Chance book and this is no exception. I wait (impatiently) for every release and devour it the minute I get it. This release was interesting because its a prequel to her previous release and the story of Lauren and Logan starting from their first meeting. Absolutely no one does an alpha male better than Lynda. She spins an amazing and addictive tale whether it is a short story or a full length book. You cannot go wrong reading her romantic, sexy and consuming tales. The only downside is once its over you are stuck waiting for the next treasured release.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Knights' Sinner (The MC Sinners Series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bella Jewel Page; Review: With each book this author just gets better and better, I am so glad to have stumbled on her first book and have not been disappointed since. The characters are flawed but their love is real. Altogether a great story teller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bikers And Tinsel (The MC Sinners Series) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bella Jewel Page; Review: It was great to catch up on all the MC Sinners and Bella Jewel wrote another story that lets us see what nay be coming in the future; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heaven's Sinners (The MC Sinners Series Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bella Jewel Page; Review: Bella Jewel can really write a hot biker romance. This series has gotten better with each book and if you like this genre you should give this series a try.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Eye for an Eye: Zach and Katie's Story (Redwood Falls Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lynda Chance Page; Review: I love everything Lynda Chance writes and I have read every one of her books. If you love possessive, strong, sexy and loving men and real stories of love and commitment then buy every one of her books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadowing Me (Breakneck Series, Book Three) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Crystal Spears Page; Review: Crystal Spears adds another GREAT story to the Breakneck Series with Shadowing Me, Tatiana and Shadow's story. Other reviews have summarized the story so I won't do it here. I will say that Crystal Spears writes great books about a dark and gritty world but that world has a gold mine of true and lasting love running through it. I don't live in the world of MC's but Crystal Spears makes me wish that I did. Her books have the perfect blend of romance, suspense and sexy scenes - all leading to a lasting love. What more could a romance reader ask for. I am now impatiently awaiting the next release from Ms. Spears. Read this series!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scandal With a Prince (Royal Scandals Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nicole Burnham Page; Review: I'll admit that i liked the description of this book and downloaded it when i realized it was free . i had placed myself in the one click penalty box after holiday overshopping in the kindle store. This book was surprisingly good. Really goid character development and a really lovely story. My only criticism is that it dragged a bit. Overall, a book that i would actually purchase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stanton Series Box Set: Stanton Series (Box Set) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's T L Swan Page; Review: Ok so I was in a book funk, read the blurb and too a chance. Thank Goodness! There really is nothing better than going into a book with no expectations and having your socks blown off. This isn't your typical forbidden romance. It has everything, drama, romance, mystery, a riveting storyline and HEAT. Do not miss this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SDBING 32pc Syringe Highlighter Pens with 32 Colors Christmas gift; Brand: SDBING; Review: GREAT QUALITY. I love these. Worth the price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HABA Totoro Cute Plush Pencil/Pen Bag Pouch; Brand: HABA; Review: I bought two of these and they took some time to arrive but it was worth it. I LOVE THIS, IT IS THE CUTEST THING EVER! I use it for my most used pens, and a highlighter and a white out. Everything fits inside. AMAZING.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ReNext Canvas Pencil Case, Set of 4 (Color may vary); Brand: ReNext; Review: The writing on the pouch may be a bit off and the size is a little small. However, it's good for the price and use. I put all of the pens and pencils I don't use. I like it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Portable Laptop Desk, Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Stand with CPU Fans Mouse Pad Side in Bed; Brand: C-color; Review: I waited patiently for this planned and it was worth it. The only downside is that it's not hardcover, but soft. It's slightly bigger than expected, but that's okay. The content on the inside is simply amazing! This planner has EVERYTHING I need and I am so glad I found it! I'll be going to college soon and this will help me stay on track in EVERY part of my life, including my emotional and physical well-being. This is simply amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Star Spiral Notebook, 3 Subject, Wide Ruled Paper, 150 Sheets, 10-1/2" x 8", Color Selected For You (05204); Brand: Five Star; Review: So I don't get why some people are complaining. These are one of the best notebooks out there. I bought my first five star - five subject / color : red in 7th grade for math. I still have it today, in amazing condition and I'm graduating HS. I am buying a 3 sub for high school for my 3 classes. It's a great way to keep everything in one place. :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Stranger than Paradise (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Underneath (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Philadelphia Story (1940); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of Sight (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Damage (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Fat Liar (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Walk on the Moon (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clockstoppers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ladyhawke (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Awful Truth (1937); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Catch a Thief (1955); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Talk of the Town (1942); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Notorious (1946); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inspector Gadget (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stealing Beauty (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Truman Show (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Waiting for Guffman (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen Days (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kangaroo Jack (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Autumn Sonata (1978); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ref (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under the Sand (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tigerland (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Much Ado About Nothing (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Solaris (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Office: Series 1 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Night (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Waking Life (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sabrina: The Teenage Witch (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Insomniac: Uncensored: Vol. 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Christmas with The Simpsons (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Benny and Joon (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Insomniac: Uncensored: Vol. 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Mighty Wind (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Everest: 50 Years on the Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 1 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pokemon Heroes: The Movie (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Girl (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Days of Wine and Roses (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth R (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I (1976); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jackson Browne: Going Home (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Boy! (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: George Carlin: Playing with Your Head (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Larry Sanders Show: Season 1 (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kung Fu: Season 1 (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary (Rerelease) (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pokemon: Jirachi Wish Maker (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peter Gabriel: Growing Up Live (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Secret of Roan Inish (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Samurai Jack (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Invader Zim (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sports Night (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starman (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thin Man (1934); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Winter Wonderland (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samurai Jack: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 9/11 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilary Duff: The Girl Can Rock (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ed Wood (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homicide: Life on the Street: Seasons 1 & 2 (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Henry VIII (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Denis Leary: The Complete Denis Leary (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nip/Tuck: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Houseboat (1958); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New York Minute (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roast of Denis Leary: Uncensored (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Ninas (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 3 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The X-Files: Season 5 (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting: Collector's Edition (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Home at the End of the World (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The X-Files: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gaslight (1940); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suicide Kings (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Falling Down (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kalifornia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Racing Stripes (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clarissa Explains It All: Season 1 (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mask: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fat Actress: Season 1 (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Job: The Complete Series (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pilates Workout for Dummies (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Autopsy Files (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Betty Blue (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Anger (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nip/Tuck: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: After the Thin Man (1936); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Another Thin Man (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arrested Development: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Meg Swansen's Knitting; Author: Visit Amazon's Meg Swansen Page; Review: I just received this book yesterday and spent all last evening poring over the beautiful photographs and knitting patterns. Ever since I picked up Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop, I've been an avowed Knitter-in-the-Round, and this book of Meg's has some excellent designs. I can't wait to finish the gansey I'm working on now so I can start work on the Weeping Sun pullover or the Fairisle Cardigan. Looks like my knitting basket will be stuffed again with 3 or 4 concurrent projects! If you knit, get this book. If you don't knit--get it anyway and learn how!! I'd also recommend any of her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman's books (Especially Knitting Around) to get you started. If I can teach myself to knit(with help from books) anyone can!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Poisonwood Bible; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Kingsolver Page; Review: Exquisite. Humbling. Overwhelming. Ms. Kingsolver thrusts both hands into the deep, slithering, breathing, convulsive tilth that is Africa and shapes it into a beautiful tale I'm still savoring. I opened this book with quite different views than I possessed at the finish. I am amazed by my own ignorance; just when I think I understand this wonderful, frightening, burdensome world, I find something like this book that throws me back on my heels. If you liked Out of Africa, read this book. Perhaps Ms. Dinesen and Ms. Kingsolver have vastly different views--one having been a colonial herself--but the _language_, the imagery--my God! The only lull for me was toward the end, in Leah's political themes, and that was mainly because I don't know that much about the Congo's history or how it involves America. Bewildering and changing and full of revelations, however. What are you waiting for? Read the book!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Power and the Glory; Author: Visit Amazon's Graham Greene Page; Review: I am only now discovering Graham Greene; this was the second of his works that I've read. It is not a book to be taken up for a little light entertainment; I'm still digesting it, you might say. It stays with a person. Superficially, it is about government oppression and man's inhumanity to man; more specifically, it is about love and its dual power to transform and destroy. Read it on whatever level you choose; basically, it is about a Roman Catholic priest struggling with his faith and intense guilt while trying to elude the forces of a government that has declared his religion illegal. I came away from it moved and disturbed, which in my opinion (humble tho' it be) is the purpose of literature: to create a mirror for the reader herself. What flaws do I posess that masquerade as virtue, what overpowering desire truly motivates my actions? In this novel the main character, the whiskey priest, takes flight not only from his persecutors but also from himself; in the end he finds he can only redeem himself by returning. And there I find another question to haunt me...did the priest indeed find redemption in the end?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Burnt-Out Case; Author: Visit Amazon's Graham Greene Page; Review: Greene employs themes of faith and unbelief of all kinds in this novel. As with most of Greene's serious works, it's not easily read; if you want to be comfortable, try his "entertainments", and yet I wouldn't even guarantee that those novels wouldn't leave you feeling unease. Essentially, this is the story of a famous architect who runs away from civilization to a leper colony in Africa. He wants the world to forget him entirely, but the world will not leave him to anonymity. Even in the leper colony his deeds are misinterpreted to be perhaps greater--or at least other--than what they actually were. A doubting priest siezes on Querry's kindness to an injured man as proof of Querry's saintliness; a venal yellow journalist broadcasts Querry's run from the world as the selfless work of another Schweitzer. Just about everything Querry does, whether purposely or inadvertently, is misconstrued by those around him who somehow need to elevate him above themselves as proof that God or good exists. In the end, in true Greene fashion, this situation is ironically reversed; those who at first would believe only in Querry's sainthood come to believe an outright lie about him, much to their disappointment and outrage and Querry's own end. What did I take away from this? Good literature remains relevant throughout the years; what was true in 1961 is true in 2000 and was true a millenium ago. We build up our saints and heroes (and politicians) often with our own desires, whether they have done anything good or not and tear them down just as arbitrarily. More than that: truth exists, goodness exists, but we in our human weakness (and often unwittingly) find ways to distort that truth and goodness to our own purposes. Gloopygirls assessment? I liked the book. I'm not about to canonize Green--or gleefully tear him down. I'm not qualified either way--but I know what I like...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun'; Author: Visit Amazon's Gene Wolfe Page; Review: This is the third reading I've made of these books and by far the best. No doubt in ten year's time it will only further improve.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Patrick Day in coma after suffering brutal knockout; Abstract: The junior middleweight underwent emergency brain surgery after being knocked out by Charles Conwell.; Category: sports
Title: Carlos Correa lost his mind while saving Astros vs. Yankees in ALCS; Abstract: Carlos Correa hit the game-winning home run in Game 2 of the ALCS, lifting the Astros over the Yankees to even the series. And he doesn't remember.; Category: sports
Title: Solomon: Astros are Team October; Abstract: NEW YORK In the pregame hype video at venerable Yankee Stadium, a broadcaster's call blared throughout the stadium as a highlight reel ran on the video screen, stating that the "dream season continues." Well, it is continuing. But perhaps for just one more day, thanks to the Houston Astros. On Thursday, the Astros once again flexed their muscle against the Yankees, taking an 8-3 win to move within a victory of advancing to the World Series for...; Category: sports
Title: Bulletproof Emmett Till marker replaces vandalized sign; Abstract: This is the fourth historical marker at the site. Previous ones became a target for vandals; Category: news
Title: After throwing a punch, Dabo Swinney made CB Andrew Booth ride the manager bus back to Clemson; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: 50 Home Décor Horrors You Can't Look Away From; Abstract: Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and these home decor doozies are prime examples.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Fox News contributor: 'Most likely' outcome is Trump doesn't run in 2020; Abstract: Fox News contributor Christopher Hahn predicted that President Trump will not run for reelection in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Former NBA first-round pick Jim Farmer arrested in sex sting operation; Abstract: Farmer, 55, was booked for trafficking a person for a commercial sex act.; Category: sports
Title: Man's trip to a cheese shop helps unravel missing persons case; Abstract: Kris Zocco's whereabouts the morning Kelly Dwyer was reported missing would be the first in a series of clues as to what may have happened to the 27-year-old woman; Category: news
Title: California authorities found and destroyed $1 billion worth of marijuana plants; Abstract: A tip about supposedly legal hemp production led California investigators to fields of marijuana plants. About 10 million of them.; Category: news
Title: Injured Cowboys DL Daniel Ross arrested on drug, gun charges; Abstract: Cowboys defensive lineman Daniel Ross won't play this season after being placed on injured reserve in August because of a shoulder injury and any future availability may be impacted by a suspension. Ross was arrested on Wednesday morning in Frisco, Texas. The Frisco police department said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that [more]; Category: sports
Title: Rip Taylor's Cause of Death Revealed, Memorial Service Scheduled for Later This Month; Abstract: The comedian died at the age of 84 last month.; Category: tv | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: How to Cheat in Photoshop, Third Edition: The art of creating photorealistic montages - updated for CS2; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Caplin Page; Review: What a FANTASTIC book this is! I actually have the newer version of this book that was just released for Photoshop CS this month, but since I cannot find it here at Amazon I thought I would add the review to this older version....simply because it is such an excellent book! I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone else....middle to highly skilled PS users.....perhaps even beginners...they might struggle a bit in the beginning but it is a valuable book to have in the library that you can refer to. I am an advanced PS user but find this book invaluable for referring to for quick tips and ideas and quick methods for doing things that one might normally do habitually in a much more complicated & roundabout way. GREAT for inspiration too!! And there are so many things I have learnt about...new methods....new ideas....THANKS FOR A REALLY GREAT BOOK, STEVE!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Juicing for Life: A Guide to the Benefits of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juicing; Author: Visit Amazon's Cherie Calbom Page; Review: This book is EXCELLENT and one which I highly recommend. Yes...it's from 1992 but it all still stands true. The one thing about eating this type of food/juice and eating this way in general is that the underlying benefits and facts don't change. It certainly is not a fad but based on principles that stand the test of time. You can buy a book on this subject that is 50 years old or one that is brand new...they will say pretty much the same thing. This book is very well laid out tho' and is packed with a wealth of information. It points out the benefits of juicing and what each vegetable and fruit is good for...and how to drink them, along with some excellent recipes. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green for Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Boutenko Page; Review: I just received this book yesterday and spent a considerable amount of time last night browsing through it. The book is EXCELLENT....very informative and well written. It made me realise just how much I have been missing out on this much-needed part of the diet that is so necessary...and how easy it is to eat this way. I have been juicing a lot of greens but haven't tried "green smoothies" before. I made my first one last night and was HOOKED...really really good stuff...now I know why others are so addicted. And the fantastic thing is that it is so SO good for you!! Green smoothies really make it easy to consume lots of greens...and quickly too! Juicing greens is a nightmare because you have to spend so much time and use soooooo much green veggies to get such a little bit of juice....doing it this way, the "green smoothie" method, makes all the difference in the world...and you get ALL the goodness. I learned a lot about other things too that I hadn't known about before....the importance of hydrochloric acid in the stomach for example. Get this book!! It is a valuable & necessary addition to your health foods library!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Digital Manga Workshop: An Artist's Guide to Creating Manga Illustrations on Your Computer; Author: Visit Amazon's Jared Hodges Page; Review: This book is really wonderful! I was looking for a book on general illustration/cartooning/digital art...what the best methods were for "merging traditional sketching/artwork with the digital art platform"... this book seems to cover that all in great detail! VERY well explained...excellent use of tons of detailed artwork along with the literature. The book is really gorgeous to look at too! HIGHLY recommended! Oh, and if you want this book mainly for creating manga artwork... it has everything you need!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Art and Design in Photoshop: How to simulate just about anything from great works of art to urban graffiti; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Caplin Page; Review: I am a longtime fan of Steve Caplin's books and this is another top notch book that I am going to be adding to my collection. I did not know this book was even out up until today when I came across it at the bookstore. Before I knew it I was completely engrossed in this book... what had started off as a plan to do a quickie "sneak preview" turned into a looooooong episode as I slowly went from page to page trying to devour as much juicy information as I could before I had to leave (much) later on. I would have bought the book then and there but am going to have to wait just a little bit longer as my budget is on a tight freeze due to my 4 tyres (or "tires" as you say here in the US) having to suddenly be replaced 2 days ago...ugh!! FANTASTIC book Steve!! Keep them coming! It's books like yours that inspire the creative juices to keep flowing!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Word of Promise Audio Bible: New King James Version; Author: Carl Amari; Review: I have wanted this Word of Promise Complete Audio Bible for a while but am only now finally listening to it to the first time. Truly, it is EXCEPTIONAL ... far beyond my biggest expectations!! This takes one's experience of the Bible to a whole new level. I cannot possibly describe in words just how very beautiful it is. The music alone adds a whole new dimension to the listening experience...really exquisite! And then there are the sound effects that bring it all to life so that you feel as if you -- yourself -- are a part of it all. I cannot emphasize enough how highly I recommend this! I think every home and family should have a copy. I cannot even begin to imagine the time, love and devoted labor that went into creating this masterpiece!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fast and Simple Gluten-Free: 30 Minutes or Less to Fresh and Classic Favorites; Author: Gretchen Brown; Review: I received this book a couple of weeks ago and looked slowly through it...the recipes are really great and I know this is going to become one of my favourite GL cookbooks! I highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Mountain Men's Patriotic Kitten Adult T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Looks great, fits great, washed up very nice. And it gets compliments from strangers when I'm wearing it in stores.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars Men's Words Of Wisdom T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Fits good, washes up nice, I like the shirt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courage the Cowardly Dog Men's Poses Graphic T-Shirt; Brand: Courage the Cowardly Dog; Review: Nice and soft. I call it a woman's shirt. Looks great and feels good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Men's Classics Midweight Waffle Thermal Henley Top; Brand: ; Review: Just what my husband wanted! He is a happy person.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Packable Reversible Black Printed Fisherman Bucket Sun Hat, Many Patterns; Brand: Be Your Own Style; Review: Already have rain tested it and I love it. The rest of me got wet, but my hair stayed dry and so did my glasses. I would order it again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Blues Brothers Vintage Dark Black Sun Glasses (More Colors); Brand: moda; Review: I ordered these in black and green for the kids at school. We wore them to our annual picnic. We all looked fab.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Women's Boyfriend Skinny Jean; Brand: ; Review: Bought these and they were too big. Bought a second pair and they fit better. Same the big ones for those bloated days. These are my favorite jeans. I wear them with my Timberlands and other shoes. Dress them up or down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RFID Wallet Ladies Clutch - RFID Protective Ladies Wallet - RFID Secure Wallets Stop Electronic Pickpocketing; Brand: ID Stronghold; Review: I give this 3 stars because it wasn't what I thought was posted online. They need better photos of the product. It does the job, but I just don't like it and I don't want to have to send and order something else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Genuine Leather RFID Blocking Secure Wallet (Black - Bi-Fold - 10 Slots) - by Identity Stronghold; Brand: ID Stronghold; Review: Bought this for my husband and he says it fits everything he needed it for and he likes it. Great buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Propet Women's Travelwalker II Shoe; Brand: Propt; Review: returned. too big.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Performance Women's Go Walk Baby Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: sent back. too big.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: iLoveSIA Women's Yoga Leggings Athletic Pants with Pocket; Brand: iLoveSIA; Review: These fit, but I'm short and they are too long. Might hand them down to my daughter. She's talker and one size smaller.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's Overtime Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: too big. returned; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Olga Women's Luxury Lift Underwire Bra; Brand: Olga; Review: loving my new bra; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Olga Women's Sheer Leaves Minimizer Bra; Brand: Olga; Review: ordered 6 new bras all from Olga and I like them all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reebok Women's Classic Nylon Slim POP-W; Brand: ; Review: bought the shoes for my daughter and she doesn't wear them much. I bought them for look/color. Will be selling them soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reebok Women's CL Lady Duchess 30 TXT Lace-Up Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Bought these for color/look. Daughter doesn't wear them much. Will be selling them soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Jean Cut Stretch Straight Fit Pant; Brand: ; Review: they did not fit. Bought the correct size and my husband could literally pull these off without unbuttoning or unzipping. Had to send back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's Synergy A Lister Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Bought these for my daughter. She gets plantar warts for some unknown reason. Bought these because they are easier on the foot if she does get a plantar wart. We wear the same size shoe, so I get to wear them also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's Elite Class Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Bought these for my daughter. She gets plantar warts for some unknown reason. Bought these because they are easier on the foot if she does get a plantar wart. We wear the same size shoe, so I get to wear them also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's Elite Class Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Bought these for my daughter. She gets plantar warts for some unknown reason. Bought these because they are easier on the foot if she does get a plantar wart. We wear the same size shoe, so I get to wear them also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Haggar Men's Asymmetrical Argyle Quarter-Zip Sweater; Brand: ; Review: Husband loves the new sweaters I ordered him. Gets many compliments at work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Polo Assn. Men's Solid Crew-Neck Sweater; Brand: U.S. Polo Assn.; Review: Husband loves the new sweaters I ordered him. Gets many compliments at work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Performance Women's Go Walk Lace Up Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Bought these for my daughter. She gets plantar warts for some unknown reason. Bought these because they are easier on the foot if she does get a plantar wart. We wear the same size shoe, so I get to wear them also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Henry Men's Fair Isle Holiday Crew-Neck Sweater; Brand: ; Review: Husband loves the new sweaters I ordered him. Gets many compliments at work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wacoal Women's Plus-Size Fine Form Full Busted Underwire Bra; Brand: ; Review: this fit somewhat small. Still like the product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wood Watch - Wooden Watch - Men's Style Omega I Rose Wood Personalized Engraving Available for Non Prime Orders; Brand: Woodman Watches; Review: This was a gift and I wasn't there when the person received the gift, so I have no clue if it was a good gift or not.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: roswear Women's Sexy Criss Cross Bandage Push Up Bikini Swimsuit; Brand: roswear; Review: Heavily padded which I don't need. I thought maybe it had pads that you could remove. I kept the bottoms but the top was a waste. You need two people to try to get the top right.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Michael Kors Chelsea Aviator Sunglasses; Brand: Michael Kors; Review: Everyone loves these shades. I get the most compliments on these glasses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Synergy Style Watch Womens Sneakers; Brand: ; Review: comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Demon hunter Men's Slim Fit Jeans S83Y5; Brand: ; Review: fit my husband great. My husband is 60 and just because she's 60 does not mean he needs to dress in grandpa jeans. He's a small guy. Even skinny jeans are big on him, but the super skinny would just be too much to look at....lol; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: GE Kraft Bubble Mailer Padded Envelopes, 000 4"X8", 500 Qty; Brand: GE; Review: Awesome; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: [3 Rolls/1350 Labels] 4 x 6 Direct Thermal Address & Shipping Labels UPS, USPS, Fedex (4 x; Brand: enKo Products; Review: Great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother Genuine Drum Unit, DR420, Seamless Integration, Yields Up to 12,000 pages, Black; Brand: Brother; Review: Great Job!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gorilla Supply Thermal Receipt Paper Rolls 3 1/8 x 230 10 Rolls; Brand: Gorilla Supply; Review: Great Job!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pratt PRA0410 100% Recycled Corrugated Cardboard Box, 8" Length x 8" Width x 8" Height, Kraft; Brand: Pratt; Review: Great Job!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iMBAPrice - 1 Roll of 450 (USA) 4x6 Direct Thermal Labels for Zebra 2844 ZP-450 ZP-500 ZP-505 (1 inch; Brand: iMBAPrice; Review: GREAT!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Celebs turning 60 in 2019; Abstract: See Marie Osmond, Jason Alexander, Emma Thompson, Simon Cowell and more stars who were born in 1959.; Category: entertainment
Title: Carlos Correa lost his mind while saving Astros vs. Yankees in ALCS; Abstract: Carlos Correa hit the game-winning home run in Game 2 of the ALCS, lifting the Astros over the Yankees to even the series. And he doesn't remember.; Category: sports
Title: Charlize Theron Talks 'White Privilege,' Growing Up During Apartheid in South Africa; Abstract: Charlize Theron, during an onstage discussion with her "Gringo" costar David Oyelowo about philanthropy at Thursday's annual fundraiser for Nigerian children's educational and health program GEANCO, said she was a beneficiary of "white privilege" while growing up in Apartheid-torn South Africa. "I obviously am a white person who benefited from my white privilege," Theron said; Category: movies
Title: Chargers players were not happy when they heard Steelers anthem 'Renegade'; Abstract: During the Chargers' 24-17 home loss to Pittsburgh, players and fans were confused why Steelers anthem "Renegade" was playing.; Category: sports
Title: Rams trade Marcus Peters to Ravens for Kenny Young; Abstract: In a surprising and unusual development, a two-time Pro Bowler has been traded from one playoff contender to another. The Rams traded cornerback Marcus Peters to the Ravens. The Ravens are sending second-year linebacker Kenny Young to Los Angeles in the deal, according to Jay Glazer. The move comes as a surprise, as the 26-year-old [more]; Category: sports
Title: Murder warrant for Fort Worth officer says woman he killed was holding gun in her home; Abstract: The murder arrest warrant for a white officer who shot and killed a black woman on Saturday says that the victim was holding a gun after she heard noises outside her window.; Category: news
Title: Cuomo signs law aimed at weakening Trump's pardon power, closes 'double jeopardy' loophole; Abstract: Lawmakers said the measure was necessary to ensure state investigations don't get derailed by the president.; Category: news
Title: Bob Kingsley, Country Radio Legend, Dead at 80; Abstract: Country radio legend Bob Kingley, the longtime host of the nationally syndicated program Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40, died early Thursday in Weatherford, Texas, following a lengthy battle with bladder cancer. He was 80 years old. A member of the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, inducted in 1998, he later became only the format's fifth representative in the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. Kingsley was 18 and serving in the Air...; Category: music
Title: Contractor claims video shows structural flaws prior to Hard Rock Hotel collapse; Abstract: A contractor posted a video arguing it showed structural problems inside the Hard Rock Hotel construction site two days before its deadly collapse.; Category: news
Title: 18 places around the world that are being ruined by tourism; Abstract: From damaging monuments to overcrowding neighborhoods, tourists have caused some serious harm in these popular travel destinations.; Category: travel
Title: Suspect Shot And Killed By Police After Violent Struggle Inside Moving Car In The Bronx; Abstract: One person was shot by an NYPD officer Thursday afternoon in the Norwood section of the Bronx.; Category: news
Title: California governor pardons 3 convicted immigrants to help block deportations; Abstract: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on Friday announced he's pardoning three immigrants who committed crimes as part of an effort to protect them from being deported back to their home countries.; Category: news
Title: Supreme Court tosses challenge to Republican-drawn Michigan electoral maps; Abstract: Supreme Court tosses challenge to Republican-drawn Michigan electoral maps; Category: news
Title: Quiet Riot Drummer Reveals Stage-Four Cancer Diagnosis; Abstract: Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali has revealed that he has been battling stage-four pancreatic cancer since this past April. Since the 2007 death of singer Kevin DuBrow, Banali has been the only member of the band's classic lineup to continue to play with the band. He's also been the group's most consistent band member since 1982. "The original prognosis was very scary," he said in a statement posted to podcast host Mitch Lafon's Facebook page....; Category: music
Title: Report: Patriots trade for Mohamed Sanu, send second-round pick to Falcons; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Stevie Wilkerson put together the most memorable season of any Oriole; Abstract: That doesn't mean he was particularly good, but it sure was fun to watch.; Category: sports
Title: Turkey's Erdogan threatens to "crush" former U.S. allies in Syria; Abstract: The Trump administration, accused of abandoning America's Kurdish allies, got Erdogan to agree a brief ceasefire, but that ends today; Category: news
Title: Caterpillar just flashed the latest warning sign for the global economy; Abstract: The construction equipment titan a bellwether for global industry posted a 6% drop in sales and an 8% drop in profit per share.; Category: finance
Title: Mitch McConnell snubbed by Elijah Cummings' pallbearer in handshake line at U.S. Capitol ceremony; Abstract: A pallbearer appeared to refuse to shake Mitch McConnell's hand as Rep. Elijah Cummings was lying in state at the Capitol.; Category: news
Title: Massive American Dream mall to open but will shoppers come?; Abstract: After endless fits and starts and billions of dollars spent, American Dream is officially opening its doors to the public as the second largest mall in the country, and third largest in North America. It will showcase 3 million square feet of leasable space dedicated to more than a dozen entertainment attractions like a 16-story indoor ski slope, rollercoaster, waterpark and eventually 450 retail, food and specialty shops.; Category: finance
Title: Cummings' widow responds to Trump's attacks, gets standing ovation; Abstract: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the widow of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, appeared to respond to President Trump's previous attacks of her husband during a speech at his funeral.; Category: video
Title: World's largest White Castle runs out of burgers on day 1; Abstract: To some, White Castle may just be another fast food burger joint. To others myself included it is a religion. It's the kind of place we take our loves on Valentine's Day; it's where we marry them when we realize they're "the one". It's a restaurant that, for some of us, becomes more than a restaurant. While there are those who are aghast at the chaos that occurred yesterday when White Castle opened its first-ever location in Arizona, there are...; Category: foodanddrink
Title: DeVos held in contempt for violating judge's order on student loans; Abstract: A federal judge on Thursday held Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in contempt of court and imposed a $100,000 fine for violating an order to stop collecting on the student loans owed by students of a defunct for-profit college.; Category: news
Title: The CEO taking on the gun lobby; Abstract: Ed Stack didn't set out to be an activist. The chief executive of Dick's Sporting Goods, Mr. Stack spent his career selling fishing rods, camping gear and athletic equipment at big-box stores around the country. Dick's was founded by Mr. Stack's father in upstate New York. As a young man, Mr. Stack worked for the family business. But he didn't enjoy the experience. His father was a divisive boss who couldn't manage a supply chain, and was...; Category: finance
Title: 3 GOP challengers take roadshow to pro-Trump Tennessee; Abstract: Three Republican longshots challenging President Donald Trump in 2020 made a roadshow stop in the liberal-leaning capital of pro-Trump Tennessee. Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and former Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois drew a sparse crowd Saturday at the Politicon conference in Nashville. The event attracted several hundred people in a room with more than 2,000 seats. The three...; Category: news
Title: Football Four: As Ohio State rolls and Oklahoma falls, Alabama and LSU ready for showdown; Abstract: As Ohio State rolls and Oklahoma falls, the SEC dreams of getting two teams into College Football Playoff. Out West, Oregon and Utah climb back in.; Category: sports
Title: Trump education official to resign and call for mass student loan forgiveness; Abstract: A senior student-loan official in the Trump administration said he would resign Thursday and endorse canceling most of the nation's outstanding student debt, calling the student-loan system "fundamentally broken."; Category: finance
Title: Brandon Gonzales Charged With Capital Murder In Greenville Party Shooting; Abstract: Brandon Gonzales, 23, is charged with capital murder of multiple persons and his bond is set at $1,000,000.; Category: news
Title: He dropped the gun, walked out of the house and put his hands up. Then an officer shot him five times.; Abstract: The acting police chief in San Bernardino, Calif., said the officer's decisions "did not meet the standards held by our department."; Category: news
Title: Video captures terrifying moment woman slips at Grand Canyon; Abstract: Emily Koford was visiting the national park with her mom when a step backward left her clinging to the rocks.; Category: video
Title: Niagara Falls: Boat stuck on rocks 101 years dislodged; Abstract: High winds and heavy rains dislodged the remains of a barge in the rapids above Niagara Falls that had been there 101 years.; Category: weather
Title: 1 dead, 8 others hospitalized in Salmonella outbreak likely tied to ground beef; Abstract: The CDC said the latest Salmonella outbreak is not tied to one type or brand of ground beef.; Category: news
Title: Kellyanne Conway: 'I Don't Know' Whether There Was A Quid Pro Quo With Ukraine; Abstract: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said on Sunday that she does not know whether U.S. military aid was withheld from Ukraine to solicit help in an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, refusing to guarantee that there was no quid pro quo at any time. During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Conway instead repeatedly emphasized that the funds were ultimately sent after being delayed over the summer. "I feel confident...; Category: news
Title: McDonald's Fires CEO Steve Easterbrook After Relationship With Employee; Abstract: Steve Easterbrook has been fired as chief executive of McDonald's, the fast-food chain announced on Sunday, after he engaged in a consensual relationship with an employee that violated company policy.; Category: finance
Title: Patriots wanted a test. Now, they need some answers; Abstract: The first quarter was the worst the Patriots had played all season.; Category: sports
Title: What Tuesday's elections could tell us a year before Trump faces voters; Abstract: Today's off-year elections are state and local affairs, but they will still tell us something about the national political scene one year before the 2020 elections.; Category: news
Title: Suspect named in connection with killings of N.H. couple in Texas; Abstract: Adam Curtis Williams, 33, has been identified as the man seen driving the New Hampshire couple's truck into Mexico on Oct. 21, an official said Tuesday afternoon.; Category: news
Title: NFL Week 10 Power Rankings: Even historically great defenses can have bad weeks; Abstract: Doug Farrar offers up myriad surprises in Touchdown Wire's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.; Category: sports
Title: More than 11,000 scientists from around the world declare a 'climate emergency'; Abstract: Study outlines six major steps that must be taken to address a "climate emergency"; Category: news
Title: 13-year-old charged with two murders escapes custody in North Carolina; Abstract: Officials said they have concerns for public safety due to the teen's "prior history of assaultive and unpredictable behavior."; Category: news
Title: 1 dead, 2 injured, suspect still at large after shooting at Church's Chicken; Abstract: Three employees were shot Wednesday evening at a Church's Chicken in Otay Mesa, California, the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.; Category: news
Title: Helen Mirren Says it Was 'Very Flattering' to Be Mistaken for Keanu Reeves' Girlfriend; Abstract: ; Category: movies
Title: Lamar Jackson misses practice with illness; Abstract: In the off chance that Jackson's illness will force him to miss Sunday's game against the winless Bengals, Robert Griffin III would likely get the start.; Category: sports
Title: Sneaky reason why Ravens, not Patriots, are AFC's best; Abstract: In addition to MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' improving defense gives them an edge, Chris Mueller writes.; Category: sports
Title: In Virginia, progressive Democrats say Green New Deal helped turn statehouse blue; Abstract: The state Democratic party adopted the Green New Deal and a number of candidates were able to flip seats from red to blue.; Category: news
Title: Gov. Hogan Says Maya Rockeymoore Cummings 'Dog Whistle White Nationalist' Comment About Him 'Not Worth Response'; Abstract: Maryland's governor is asking Maryland's newest Democratic congressional candidate for an apology.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Roma Bakery; City: Blue Bell, PA; Review: First visit to this bakery, and everything we got was delicious. Owners were so nice and friendly. Will definitely return. The almond cookie is my favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Limon - Ambler; City: Ambler, PA; Review: Good Mexican food right in downtown Ambler. The margaritas are free, and the prices are great!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vic Sushi; City: Ambler, PA; Review: Sushi here is really good. My favorite is the Flaco. The curries are good too! The beef panang curry is yummy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dim Sum Garden; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: What a find! First ate at the original location, then at the new location on Race street. The soupy dumplings are absolutely delicious! The scallion pancakes are really good too. It is a BYOB restaurant. Remember to bring cash.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Xochi Modern Taqueria & More; City: Ambler, PA; Review: What an excellent meal at Xochi! We had Huarachitos and the trio Guacamole for appetizers. The wild mushroom was my favorite. For the main, we had a medley of tacos. I loved the shrimp taco (wrapped in lettuce) and cochinata pibil (pork) taco. Also tried the tamales, which were excellent too.. We finished up our meal with the chocolate tamale and churros. Maria was so welcoming. We will definitely be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Taking Lives (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Species III (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicles of Riddick (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: On Golden Pond (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys II (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: Special Edition (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: War Games (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Below (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mask: Director's Cut (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Antz (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: View from the Top (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Field of Dreams (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Real Women Have Curves (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2-D version) (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Army of Darkness (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepy Hollow (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Deer Hunter (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Wedding (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Nicky (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Dead (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cabin Fever (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Hour Photo (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cherish (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Platoon (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Summer Catch (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Intolerable Cruelty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walking Tall (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wimbledon (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Fever (1977); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Baby Mozart (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Wiggle Time (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Space Dancing (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baby Einstein: World Animals (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bear in the Big Blue House: Potty Time with Bear (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: It's Hug Day (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Batman (1989); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
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: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dumb & Dumber (Dumb and Dumber) (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stargate (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast (1991); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical, Romance, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outbreak (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cliffhanger (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GoldenEye (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Net, The (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fugitive, The (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven (a.k.a. Se7en) (1995); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Addams Family Values (1993); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lion King, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Firm, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Congo (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Genres: Drama, Romance, War, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mask, The (1994); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Western; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coneheads (1993); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: French Kiss (1995); Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nell (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Species (1995); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I.Q. (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dave (1993); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nine Months (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Genres: Action, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995); Genres: Action; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Junior (1994); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Demolition Man (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Madness of King George, The (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forget Paris (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Frankenstein) (1994); Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Desperado (1995); Genres: Action, Romance, Western; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dolores Claiborne (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flintstones, The (1994); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maverick (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carlito's Way (1993); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boxing Helena (1993); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Last Action Hero (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Houseguest (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994); Genres: Action, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: River Wild, The (1994); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993); Genres: Action, Comedy, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boomerang (1992); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aristocats, The (1970); Genres: Animation, Children; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Book, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Children, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Name of the Father (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sliver (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Operation Dumbo Drop (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Free Willy (1993); Genres: Adventure, Children, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Another Stakeout (1993); Genres: Comedy, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pinocchio (1940); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993); Genres: Comedy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crumb (1994); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Richie Rich (1994); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Threesome (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Made in America (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Beauty (1994); Genres: Adventure, Children, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flipper (1996); Genres: Adventure, Children; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Farewell My Concubine (Ba wang bie ji) (1993); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Little Buddha (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Instinct (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lassie (1994); Genres: Adventure, Children; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nutty Professor, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Little Folk Visuals Eency Weency Spider Precut Flannel/Felt Board Figures, 9 Pieces Set; Brand: Little Folk Visuals; Review: I have not used it yet, but it looks good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Folk Visuals Five Speckled Frogs Precut Flannel/Felt Board Figures, 11 Pieces Set; Brand: Little Folk Visuals; Review: I have not used it yet, but it looks good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Folk Visuals Five Monkeys Sitting in a Tree Precut Flannel/Felt Board Figures, 7 Pieces Set; Brand: Little Folk Visuals; Review: I have not used it yet, but it looks good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playskool Heroes Marvel Super Hero Adventures Spiderman and Green Goblin Figures; Brand: Playskool; Review: great toys; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hasbro B6388 Marvel Titan Hero Toy - Sandman 12 Inch Action Figure - Ultimate Spider-Man v Sinister 6; Brand: Spider-Man; Review: our grandson loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rubbermaid RM-HSP2 Folding 2-Step Lightweight Steel Step Stool with Hand Grip, 200-Pound Capacity, White Finish; Brand: Rubbermaid; Review: I am 5'3" and can never reach anything. I love that this is lightweight and easy to carry around the house with me. I feel comfortable when I stand on it and couldn't be happier; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GearWrench 41850 3 Piece Body Clip Set; Brand: GearWrench; Review: I bought these for my brother for christmas. He said hey are just what he needed. He works on cars for a living and needed some good tools to be able to get the job done faster and better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dura-Block AF44A Black 6-Piece Sanding Block Set; Brand: Dura-Block; Review: My husband needed these for work and he says they work really well. He needed both velcro and sticky sanding blocks. He likes the size. They also came with this free hand soap that he really likes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nuvo 60/337 Empire Two Light Vanity with Alabaster Glass, Polished Chrome (2 Pack, Polished chrome); Brand: Nuvo; Review: This was really easy to install. My husband has no experience with electrical stuff, but was able to do this with no problem. I love the look of it. It replaced an ugly brass dated light fixture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Hardware N187-034 V1020 Privacy Hook in Oil Rubbed Bronze; Brand: National Hardware; Review: I bought this for some bifold doors I made into regular doors for my Laundry closet. I had a magnetic kit keeping the doors closed but it slowly started opening or would open if my dogs tail hit it. This really worked and keeps it closed without being too tacky or big; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 7PM Modern Linear Rectangular Island Dining Room Crystal Chandelier Lighting Fixture (Medium L32"); Brand: 7PM; Review: I was hesitant to buy this after some reviews said the crystals were plastic. I wanted a really sparkly chandelier for my dining room. Like one that would sparkle when the lights are not on. This one is just that. The crystals are gorgeous. The instructions came with a numbered diagram for the pattern to hang the crystals. I will say 2 of my bags were not numbered so I had to just lay them all out by size and count to figure out which number they should be on the diagram. It took my husband about 20 minutes to get it hung up and size the wires (you can adjust them easily Even the middle.power wire) and then it took me about 20 minutes to get all the crystals hung. It came with 3 extra strands which was good because one size was missing one so I was able to make it the right length and have the right amount. It only needs 7 bulbs but came with 8. It hooked up easily and its on a dimmer switch. It's so sparkly in person pictures really don't so it justice but I will try to post some. I want one in my bathroom now. Well worth the money and much prettier then I imagined.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Solar String Lights 72ft 200 LED Fairy Lights, Ambiance lights for Outdoor, Patio, Lawn,Garden, Home, Wedding, Holiday, Christmas; Brand: addlon; Review: These are note as big/bright as I would like, but I do like that it's a super long cord and solar charged. Or that I can plug it in to charge; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Squish 41093 Sink Stopper/Strainer Stopper/Strainer; Brand: Squish; Review: I love this. It makes it so easy to keep my sink clean. The stopper part doesn't really hold water in the sink, but i use it more as a strainer. My husband doesn't really like to clear off plates before washing them so this catches all the food. I can easily empty it without having to use my fingers and i can put it in the dishwasher for a good clean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nordic Pure 10x20x1M8-6 MERV 8 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter, 10x20x1, Box of 6; Brand: Nordic Pure; Review: Great price and a great product. This didn't feel cheap or like the weave was too large to where dust will just get through.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Affresh W10355053 Washing Machine Cleaner, 1 Pack, White; Brand: Affresh; Review: These are too wet. I feel like I have to go behind with a towel to wipe everything off. I am better off using a Clorox wipe; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Carriage Women's C6A301 Two-Tone Square Case White Dial Two-Tone Stainless Steel Jewelry Bracelet Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: OK for the money I paid. approx eight dollar less as compared to local wallmart. Good for gift purpose in less spending.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casio Women's LTP1165A-2C Classic Sleek Silver-Tone Analog Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: OK for the money I paid. approx eight dollar less as compared to local wallmart. Good for gift purpose in less spending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casio Women's LTP1165A-4C Classic Analog Quartz Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: OK for the money I paid. approx eight dollar less as compared to local wallmart. Good for gift purpose in less spending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ray-Ban Mens Sunglasses (RB3183) Metal; Brand: ; Review: I gifted it to my brother, he liked it,, its cheap to buy here as compared to a local store. I will take one more it it goes well for my brother for at least 1 year..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XOXO Women's XO5218 Black Dial Two-Tone Half Cuff and Half Bracelet Watch; Brand: ; Review: Doesn't look that great in picture as compared to actual feel. Very good for gift purpose.also self. Once I got the first one,, I had to order 4 same more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Men's Redon Move Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: I ordered for my father in law as a gift. He was happy to have the shoes. He got attention from his couple of friends for the shoes. It is nice built,, comfortable..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reebok Men's Zigactivate-M; Brand: ; Review: I gifter it to my brother. He loved it. It gives you a feeling that you are jumping on a sofa... Planning to take one for me..; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hubsan X4 H107 H107L Quadcopter Propeller Blades Protection Guard Cover Black; Brand: HUBSAN; Review: BEWARE: Not compatible with 107C!!! Looks good, built good and from soft plastic, IMHO will be good for 107L Nevertheless, I have 107C. But this is my mistake and I see no any reason to blame seller. Guys, again, it's clearly described in title and in questions section, it's for 107L and not compatible with 107C!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tenergy 5pcs 3.7V 380mAh LiPO Battery for Hubsan X4 (H107C, H107D), Syma X11 X11C, TDR; Brand: Tenergy; Review: Bought them for my Habsan 107L PROS - same time as original - all 5 works flawlessly - very durable, 1 year later they still works. Time decreased onto ~20% and now quadrocopter said that battery discharged in a 2 minutes. But total time is the same. CONS - was a bit thick, but changed shape a bit NOTE - due to thickness you can remove them only by pulling for wires, but they are really thick and well glued; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ShowJade TM Upgraded 5 port/ 5 in 1 3.7v Battery Charger for Syma X5C X5A X5/Hubsan X4/Wltoys JXD; Brand: ShowJade; Review: Used it to charge 5 batteries at once, works like a charm and very happy with this purchase. Looks a bit cheap, but works fine last 6 months. Really cool thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Army Men Action Figures -soldiers of WWII- Big Bucket of Army Soldiers - Over 200 Piece Set; Brand: SCS Direct; Review: Before you'll spend time on my review I'd like to say that this unit was sent to me for testing by the seller with significant discount. I've tried to be unbiased, but please trust testing results and make your decision on your own I've bought this set for my little godson. Quality is good enough and IMHO even better than on photos. Plastic is soft and I didn't noticed any smell!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Bucket of Wild Animal Safari Action Figures 30-Pack; Brand: SCS Direct; Review: Before you'll spend time on my review I'd like to say that this unit was sent to me for testing by the seller with significant discount. I've tried to be unbiased, but please trust testing results and make your decision on your own. Well, this is a really good set for small child, 4-8 years. Quality is good enough, figures are not so precise and colors are not natural, but paint is solid and seems that they are not toxic and they are not smells. Quality of the figures is different. Elephants are really cool as well as rhino. Lions are cute but not so good. The rest is ok. Anyway, really cool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SCS Direct Dinosaur Skeleton Action Figures - Big Bucket of Skeleton Dinosaurs - Huge; Brand: SCS Direct; Review: Before you'll spend time on my review I'd like to say that this unit was sent to me for testing by the seller with significant discount. I've tried to be unbiased, but please trust testing results and make your decision on your own. Quality IMHO is good enough, see photos. Paint is solid and I didn't noticed any smell. It's a set of dinosaur skeletons and dinosaurs, some of them are from the same kind, some different. Average size is 2 inches, so IMHO they are too big for chocking hazard or to be swallowed, but small enough to be chewed. I'm not sure that a did a good choice, 'cause figures are creepy for a child, I guess. But anyway, this is my mistake. Set is nice, but I can recommend to buy wild safari and soldiers sets from the same seller instead.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster; Brand: Nerf; Review: Well, it's a good toy IMHO. Cheap and quality is really good for the price. The real distance to hit the target is ~12-15 foots, because accuracy is not great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan S. Kesselheim Page; Review: This book has a great intro section. It really gave me some good info on how to start using a dehydrator for backpacking. I had no idea the proper way to dehydrate eggs, or that you even could. Has a lot of good and easy recipes to try, very simple. I cant wait until spring to put it to the full field test.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Song of Achilles: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Madeline Miller Page; Review: I liked this book. Its hard to find a well written story with gay male lead characters that doesnt end up turning into an erotica novel. Yes, there are some sex scenes but I'd rate them at PG-13. Otherwise, its a great story true to the original ancient story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meatless: More Than 200 of the Very Best Vegetarian Recipes; Author: Martha Stewart Living; Review: Vegetarian books are a dime a dozen. But this one is actually simple and has good recipes. I hate the types of books that list all of these foreign sounding ingredients you have to go to Whole Paycheck to get. Most everything in here you can get at your local Kroger and prepare in less than an hour.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Colors of Magic: A Magic: The Gathering Anthology (Magic Anthologies); Author: Jess Lebow; Review: If you are a MTG fan then you will probably like this book. It is a series of short stories, geared towards each color type. You get two stories per color. There aren't near the quality of R A Salvatore, but they make a good read for lunch break at work, or while laying by the pool. Read the Brothers War first because there are several references to it in these stories,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood (The Brotherhood Saga); Author: Visit Amazon's Kody Boye Page; Review: This book started out great. I like the character concepts and setting, but the author just didn't develop the plot very well. The main character Odin seems to spend most of his time asking the other characters if everything is ok and then apologising for asking if everything is ok. There is absolutely no subplot. For example, the characters go on a journey to a winter hell-land but we never seem to learn why they are actually there. The characters were there for a year apparently. And Odin is a squire to a powerful elf mage? 75% through the book and I don't believe the elf Miko has taught him one spell. I enjoy gay fantasy fiction of this type. 300 pages in and not a mention of a 16 year old boys sexual preferences. I would say all the characters come across as fairly asexuAl, except the elf Miko who rapes and impregnated a young girl. The last straw was the huge amount of typing errors. It reads like it was dictated on an iPhone. I swear every single page has either a misspelled word or a random word substitution. It makes reading a chore. I quit before the end and will not be buying the rest of the trilogy.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque: Including Santa Fe, Mount Taylor, and San Lorenzo Canyon; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Ausherman Page; Review: I've found several great hikes in this book. Easy to follow. I've never found myself lost while trying to find a trail head. Great book for people new to an area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Alabaster Concordat (The Immortal Coil) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's J. Armand Page; Review: I am in love with this series and this author. I just finished The Alabaster Concordant, the fourth book in the Immortal Coil series. Each and every book was better than the last. The character development was top notch. The main character Dorian has evolved from a shy, emotionally fragile youth in book one, to a robust and confident character by book four. He takes on a leading role in defending the Earth from the forces of hell. It is so hard to find a fantasy book, let alone one that has a gay male lead character, that is well written and developed. This could seriously go on for several more books and made into a movie! I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Damron 2007 Men's Travel Guide (Damron Men's Travel Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Gina M. Gatta Page; Review: This was the first Damron Guide that I've bought in about 10 years. I was honestly a bit disappointed. The guide is about half the size of what it used to be. I realize that it must be very hard to keep up to date on the bars, but I travel and know this is out of date. Damron still includes "cruise areas" which are basically the city parks or a truck stop. Who actually hangs out in parks for hooking up anymore? Grindr pretty much eliminated the need to risk that. And they also list the adult book stores and porn outlets. It would be nice to see Damron modernize a bit. If you travel a lot this might be a nice quick reference, but you can find everything in here with a quick Google search. I do think it's fun to flip through cities and see what kind of bar scene they offer, but if you don't like gay bars then this will essentially be useless to you.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Simply Simpatico Classic Junior League Cookbook; Author: Junior League of Albuquerque; Review: I love that a lot of these can be made vegetarian. And most are really simple. No strange herbs and spices that you can only find in a Latin food store. Its literally a can of this or that, etc. everything Ive tried has come out tasty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Sallisaw; City: Sallisaw Oklahoma; Review: This is the friendliest motel staff I have ever met . Very comfortable clean rooms. The owners very friendly and eager to please. Very peaceful and comfortable nights rest. The rooms are clean. Beds are comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Longview North; City: Longview Texas; Review: Shall I start with the good things first. Its very short. The night shift desk clerk was very friendly pleasant and helpful. I checked out after a restless night from a very old uncomfortable bed. No fridge or microwave ,very small old TV, internet that was slower then my grandma and cost extra when u check in. They called it high speed internet and charge extra. When I arrived ppl were standing around outside drinking. My wife fell up the stairs because she could not see the steps due to no lighting on stair case. Upon leaving the next morning I realized 30 miles down the road I had forgotten my autistic sons fav pillow. I called and spoke to same desk clerk who checked us in. She assured me she wud keep it safe til I came back thru. 1 week later I returned and pillow still hasn't been found. That was April 4. When I continued calling they became very rude all the way up to the motels on property manager. I haven't been able to contact the desk clerk who checked us in. We keep missing each other. So to make a long story come to a end. I WONT BE STAYING THERE AGAIN!!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Victorian Inn Suites; City: Nacogdoches Texas; Review: I was quiet pleased with my stay here. Loved the jacuzzi tub, beds were comfortable. Front desk not so helpful. The sign out front said they would match any competitors price but when I quoted Americas Best Value Inn price. They wouldn't match it. But still worth the price. Grounds keeper very helpful; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Fort Smith Downtown; City: Fort Smith Arkansas; Review: I just have one question. What hotel manager comes to work in house shoes and thinks she looks professional. Answer. This hotels manager named heather I believe. I was surprised when she approached me about my concerns. How could I think she would take my concerns seriously. She sure wasn't taking her appearance or job seriously. And sure enough my issues with my room weren't addressed until I contacted the house keeping manager Lisa. She was very apologetic about the issues I had. She personally came to my room and observed and corrected the issues. She was pleasant, friendly and eager to make my stay comfortable. I explained to Lisa I had approached housekeeper Sandra and Manager Heather but got no results from Heather and was told by Ms. Sandra she would get to it when possible cause right now she was trying to get to lunch. Ms. Lisa said those issues would be looked into and she personally took care of my situation. I recently returned this month to find Ms Lisa no longer there but Ms Heather still wearing house shoes. As for Ms Sandra I didn't even attempt to contact but there was still house keeping issues not handled. I won't stay again. This is a nice place. Keep the help that takes pride in keeping it nice and who looks professional; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Nacogdoches; City: Nacogdoches Texas; Review: Well. Its a all pleasure trip this week. No work. No crew. Just the wife and me and our 15 year old son and his g/f and 2 of our grandkids. I must say this hotel surprised me. Its very clean and tidy on the outside and immaculate in the rooms beds are kinda small for queens. But very comfortable. The linen was clean fresh and soft. Will def be a returning patron. I'm planning on taking the kids to the zip line place while we are here. You can rent a entire secluded cabin fully equipped for 200.00 a night. Its less then 10 miles from nacogdoches. So I'll let you know how that goes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Nacogdoches; City: Nacogdoches Texas; Review: I have to say. I was very very disappointed with this place. I called and made a reservation for the night of the 5th. I wanted a king room with jacuzzi 109.00 they said. Ok. That was fine. We come dragging in like to beat dogs really looking forward to a hot soak. Well. They informed us the hacuzzi was broke. Why did u not call me and allow me to make other plans or get a diffrent room. U had my number where I made a reservation. They did however offer me a 40.00 discount. But that jacuzzi was what I wanted. They should have made me aware before I arrived. They did not seemed concerned that I walked away and went somewhere else. They didnt even try to appease me. So. I wont be visiting there again any time soon. Shame shame. Must be nice to have so much money u can let customers walk away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Lufkin; City: Lufkin Texas; Review: This hotel was very nice and comfortable. Most of the staff friendly. I did however have a confrontation with Ms Holden when my issues with a rude front desk clerk was passed on to her. I now see who the clerk received her skills from. Ms Holden was rude short and not concerned with handling my issues. The hotel is very nice clean and comfortable. Just needs better leadership; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Sallisaw; City: Sallisaw Oklahoma; Review: This motel. The one across parking lot Economy Inn are owned by same ppl. They don't believe in receipts and they charge pet deposit of 10.00 per night. Even for service animals. If you dispute they tell you get out. They share everything including maid Internet does not work at one and barely at other. Linens are tore stained nasty and holes everywhere Bath tub cold water knob stripped won't turn off. Drip drip drip. Bed very uncomfortable Not at all worth money Don't give receipts. Make excuses. Management rude hateful and non concerned.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Americas Best Value Inn; City: Sallisaw Oklahoma; Review: The owners of this hotel are very nice ppl. They go above and beyond to help ppl. Restaurant on property. Rooms very clean and Cozy I highly recommend if it's 1 nite or 1 month. They will take care of you. Room102; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess, Belle and Beast; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This castle is ruin me, we collect almost all the princesses! My one year old adore playing with the castle and all her princesses. she is only one year old and now the name of all of them and sing all the songs! I just love that she play and learn!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Boo York, Boo York Floatation Station and Astranova Doll Playset; Brand: Monster High; Review: Probably deserve a 5 starts but really desapointed for not getting the darker purple doll that my daughter asked for Christmas. Evething else is great it is a beautiful unique doll. Is super cool for a doll.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Little Pony Cutie Mark Magic Rarity Booktique Playset(Discontinued by manufacturer); Brand: My Little Pony; Review: For some reason I thought this Item was a little bigger. Is way tinnier than other pony sets. Also is very cute ad it have a lot of accessories. My daughter loves it anyway! She loves details so she is in loves with all the little accessories. I asked her what she liked the most and she said: " the bed, the night gown and the glasses. She is also playing on the app online and scanning her pony to play with it on her tablet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Air Dry Clay 2.5 Lb Bucket, White; Brand: Crayola; Review: This is not good quality!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: La Newborn Nursery 8 Piece Layette Baby Doll Gift Set, featuring 14" Life-Like Original Newborn Doll, Pink; Brand: JC Toys; Review: I like it but somehow I expected more. a little more quality maybe or I wanted it to be a little bigger. anyway my daughter love her baby Leah because that's her name. if my daughter didn't have instantly love this I would have return it probably. I was trying to get a similar Doll like the Natiora doll I had as a child.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sterling Silver Leverback Dyed Lapis Dangle Gemstone Drop Earrings; Brand: ; Review: Does not look anything like the picture. I expected a pretty marblelized blue/grey/blk ball. It looks like black plastic. No color at all. Cheap looking.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Scholl's Women's 2 Pack Diabetes Circulatory Crew Socks; Brand: Dr. Scholl's; Review: Very Comfortable. I am not diabetic, but have very sensitive feet. I hate it when the seam cuts across my toes and rubs. I also have large calves. Regular socks cut into my skin, leaving an indentation which hurts after a while. These don't do that. I plan on buying more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 925 Sterling Silver 1MM Round Snake Italian Chain Necklace - Lobster Claw Clasp 16-30"; Brand: Designer Sterling Silver; Review: I bought this as a birthday gift for my sister. I'm sure she will love it. It arrived packaged very well and even came with a plastic baggie with extra earring backs and notes on how to care for the silver. Not very often you get any free extras, so this was a nice surprise.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braza Contour Petals Large Silicone Nipple Covers - One Size; Brand: Braza; Review: I like the larger size. The smaller ones barely cover the nipple and leaves me feeling self conscious.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glamorise Women's Plus-Size Soft Shoulders Jacquard and Lace Soft Cup Bra; Brand: ; Review: Very pretty, but runs small. Better to order the next size up to be comfortable. Due to the product, I doubt that I can exchange it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Cowboy Village Resort; City: Jackson Jackson Hole Wyoming; Review: we were worried about a "cheesy" experience with the cabins.. that did not happen at all... Rooms are clean, well stocked, comfortable and exceeded my expectations.. will stay here again ! Pet friendly location a super plus !!! All staff members were helpful and courteous ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fireside Resort; City: Wilson Jackson Hole Wyoming; Review: I have to say the reviews on this location had me quiet nervous. My apprehension dissipated and I was very very happy that we kept our reservations. *we didn't have to cancel but I agree it's a sucky policy they have in place. We have been to many RV sites over the last 3 decades and we completely agree that we would return to Fireside Resort with our RV again. We also did not have a difficult time finding the location. We arrived during daylight hours.. we were running late as it was... but thankfully when we called to notify staff on the phone, they pleasantly assured us they were in the office until 10 p.m. The location was clean, the grounds well kept and the staff professional. The trees were mature and helped with shade and privacy.. as much as you can get in any RV park :) Each site appeared to have a standard picnic table, in ground fire pit, small but suitable grass area and level gravel pull thru site (not all sites were pull thru). As an added bonus we were greeted one morning by a Female Moose and her twins lounging on the property, it was quite serene. The sites are situated close to each other and the per day cost is on the higher end but we did NOT find this to be out of the ordinary. Especially so close to a tourist destination city like Jackson, Wy. We have had similar situations in highly popular beach city RV sites in California. Our children are grown so the complaints I read of not having a kid friendly playground area did not apply to us. We did not have any issues with the electrical,water utilities or WiFi as other reviews have stated. We used our own RV facilities so I cannot comment about other reviews on this subject. Even though they were full to capacity our first night .. the noise levels were a non issue. We slept well and with ease. My husband and I were quite comfortable with our 2 dogs. We will be back to stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manu Mele Bed and Breakfast; City: Kailua Oahu Hawaii; Review: Manu Mele is the most unstressful part of being away from the comforts of home. Carol, the owner and operator, has you feeling like ohana the moment you walk in. She is personable, caring, knowledgeable and an all around excellent hostess. We adore her ! The rooms are clean, spacious, well stocked and comfortable.. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. Staying in Kailua and here at Manu Mele has been a great experience for us. We rented 2 of the 3 cottages .. there were 4 in our party this time. Definitely will be coming back to stay again and again !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Tampa Wesley Chapel; City: Wesley Chapel Florida; Review: Located on a quiet street Off SR56...but not far out of the way. This location has the convenience factor to the neighboring shops, restaraunt etc. Close enough to attractions in downtown Tampa but far enough to enjoy a goood nights sleep. First time staying here and we will be back. Management and staff has excellent customer service and truly made you feel welcomed. THANK YOU!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emerald Shores Hotel; City: Daytona Beach Shores Florida; Review: It's an older hotel .. the room prices were amazing for being right on the beach.. parking was ample. The staff working while we were there were great! Personable, helpful, customer service skills were top notch. The pool area was clean and comfortable Lounge chairs all in working order. This is very much a 'no frills' hotel. The 'continental' breakfast or mini breakfast food snack assortment were breakfast staples for young adults. Individually wrapped buttermilk looking donuts about the size of a zinger bar, individually wrapped snack cakes and oatmeal cookie sandwiches (boy did those shrink over time) and POP TARTS ! The rooms ... Hotel owners/management need to take this area much more seriously. The rooms.... The bathrooms floors need to be deep cleaned and or replaced.... appliances and fixtures deep cleaned and modernized. PLEASE by new towels.. the rips and tears in the ones we had were more like the rag pile for home car washing. The bath towels were more like hand towels.. wash cloths very poor... the shower curtain... buy new ones ... please paint the walls. The rooms... Grateful the air conditioning unit worked. Modern TV., decent mini fridge, Cute coffee pot set up.... no coffee,tea or whatever offerred.. only ice machine is on first floor. I believe there are 8 or more floors of the building. The rooms: Newer fluffy pillows yay!! Newer bright white comforters yay! Please buy new sheets.... The rooms: The carpet. .. awful.. and I don't mean the design or color... left shoes on at alll times. In fact it reminded me of the old bowling alley carpet... The working hotel staff was awesome.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Summer Hideaway (The Lakeshore Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Wiggs Page; Review: I just find the development of relationships throughout the books to be a lot of fun to read. There is always someone in trouble to add to the excitement. The love stories are also enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hudson (Fixed Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurelin Paige Page; Review: Clearly you need to be into reading about the content of these books. I read all three in less than four days. Last one was harder to get through but still the outcome was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When We Met (Fool's Gold, Book 15); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: I enjoy the Fools Gold Series...the interaction with the characters is good, quick read. Looking forward to her next book; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Alice; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Genova Page; Review: great perspective...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Interestings: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Meg Wolitzer Page; Review: slow start...did not appreciate the way it was written...topic was good but hard to follow...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: Loved it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fixer Upper: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Kay Andrews Page; Review: It was ok...I like more drama and romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beth And The Bachelor (Silhouette, Special Edition, No. 1263); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: Quick read and enjoyable; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Calling Me Home: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Kibler Page; Review: Excellent, kept you guessing all the way to the end; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Start a Fire; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Lutz Page; Review: Dragged in spots, did not like the ending; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Go Set a Watchman: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Harper Lee Page; Review: Did not care for the book...never caught my attention; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Alyson Richman Page; Review: Awesome and moving read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luckiest Girl Alive; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Knoll Page; Review: Never caught my attention; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blueprints; Author: ; Review: It was light and easy read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's S. J. Watson Page; Review: I enjoyed the book...found it hard to put down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Obsession; Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: I enjoyed the book, easy to read, great ending; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mountain Between Us: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Martin Page; Review: Awesome story....grabs you from the start and keeps you engaged right until the end!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Prismacolor 2427 Premier Verithin Colored Pencils, 24-Count; Brand: Prismacolor; Review: This is an initial review as I have not yet used the pencils. However, I do not like the cardboard container, it is flimsy. I wish a tin box had been included like some of the other Prismacolor sets.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Decorative Mouse Pad Art Print Eiffel Tower Paris Stamped Postcard; Brand: Compass Arts Imports; Review: A very nice mouse pad. I love the antique look!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Officemate Slim Clipboard Storage Box, Charcoal (83303); Brand: Officemate; Review: I bought this to hold a coloring book or any slim book that I want to put in my tote bag and prevent it from being dented and folded in the bag. I would also be good for a sketch pad and pencil. I think it is going to work great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Gel Ink Pens, 0.7 Millimeter Metal Tip, Assorted Colors, 6 Pack (BL77BP6M); Brand: Pentel; Review: These are the only pens I have used for years business or personal use. They are just the right size and weight and have a nice grip. The ink flows smoothly. I usually use only black ink, but the price was right on this set. The colors are great for personal notes, cards, etc.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ArtBin Pencil/Utility Storage Box- Charcoal Container, 6900AB; Brand: ArtBin; Review: It's a nice box and well made. It's not exactly what I anticipated but I'm sure I'll find a good use for it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office + Style Gel Pens Set, Non-Toxic, Water Resistant, Great for Sketching, Drawing, Calligraphy (Pack of 48); Brand: Office Style; Review: These pens seem pretty good for the price. I haven't used them a lot but so far I am satisfied.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter, 3, 'Died in My Arms' After Entering Hospice Care; Abstract: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter 'Died in My Arms' After Hospice Care; Category: tv
Title: The Amelia Earhart Mystery Stays Down in the Deep; Abstract: For two weeks in August, a multimillion-dollar search from air, land and sea sought to solve the 80-year mystery of Amelia Earhart's disappearance.; Category: news
Title: This Is Why the President Pardons a Turkey Every Thanksgiving; Abstract: It's one of the quirkier American traditions. The post This Is Why the President Pardons a Turkey Every Thanksgiving appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Marines correct 74-year-old Iwo Jima error; Abstract: Historians determined that Cpl. Harold 'Pie' Keller was one of the six men who raised the flag.; Category: news
Title: Trump to host G7 summit at his Doral resort, White House says; Abstract: President Trump intends to host next year's G7 conference at his Doral International Resort in Miami in June.; Category: news
Title: Buckingham Palace has a bizarre tradition of taking an MP hostage when the Queen enters Parliament in case something bad happens to her; Abstract: MP Stuart Andrew was held hostage at the palace while Her Majesty delivered a speech at the State Opening of Parliament on Monday.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Costco workers reveal 6 things they'd never buy from the store; Abstract: Costco products are known for their reasonable prices and bulk sizes but there are some employees say they choose to avoid.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: My Father's Battle With Alzheimer's Revealed an Unsettling Truth About His Life; Abstract: After her father is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Sascha Rothchild finds a man consumed by secrets.; Category: health
Title: Lori Loughlin Is Facing New Charges in the College Admissions Scandal; Abstract: Federal prosecutors brought new charges on Tuesday.; Category: tv
Title: Dog The Bounty Hunter Is Cutting Out White Foods After His Recent Health Scare; Abstract: Dog real name Duane Chapman is taking steps to make sure he's not part of the 15% of people diagnosed with pulmonary embolism who die as a result of it.; Category: health
Title: The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir Is Unbelievably Shredded at 72; Abstract: He's been "Truckin'" for 56 years, but you wouldn't know it by his physique. The rock legend does CrossFit, Tabata workouts, and can swing a mighty mace.; Category: health
Title: TobyMac says late son 'had an untamable grand personality,' shares last text exchange; Abstract: TobyMac's 21-year-old son, Truett Foster McKeean, died Wednesday in Nashville. The Christian star released a statement Thursday on the sudden death.; Category: music
Title: AOC retweets Jane Fonda arrest video 1 day after slamming GOP for 'asking' to be arrested; Abstract: What a difference 24 hours can make. Just one day after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Republicans for requesting to be arrested for entering a closed-door Trump impeachment inquiry deposition this week, the far-left New York Democrat retweeted a video showing Hollywood stars Jane Fonda and Ted Danson being arrested at a climate protest Friday.; Category: news
Title: 1 dead, 8 others hospitalized in Salmonella outbreak likely tied to ground beef; Abstract: The CDC said the latest Salmonella outbreak is not tied to one type or brand of ground beef.; Category: news
Title: U.S.-born ISIS bride thinks she 'deserves a second chance'; Abstract: Hoda Muthana says in an interview with NBC News that she worries for the future of her 2-year-old son, Adam, and wants to return home to Alabama.; Category: news | mind |
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