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Rob N. (thor610) - Reviews

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6 Big Big Big Angels
6 Big Big Big Angels
Author: Mary Jo Pennington
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 5/17/2010
Helpful Score: 2


I read a lot of "near-death experience" books. This is the first full book I have read that describes the experience of a very young child. I have read accounts of children's near-death experiences, but not a full book. Several times in the book the author, who happens to be the grandmother of the child in question, says that she is to report only and not to interpret what her child went through. "Great!" I thought. That's what I want. But that's not what was delivered. I found that what the little girl had to say was interesting, but when the adults intervened to interpret or tell what they believed such things meant, I found their comments intrusive. I believe that what the little girl has to say can stand on its own without a running defensive commentary by the adults. Interpreting the girl's child words was fine. Sometimes only mothers can understand the babyish talk of their child, but not the experience itself. And I am familiar enough with the Bible that I didn't need the author quoting it to me every time her granddaughter saw something that was similar to what is described in the Bible. I suppose this could be helpful for some people, but I found it to be, after once or twice, annoying. These references and commentary would better serve the narrative as footnotes.

I also began to doubt some of the girl's later experiences. I wondered if some of what she said was made up when she was pressed so hard by the adults for more and more information and began to tell them what she thought they wanted to hear.

I thought the book was interesting and much of her initial experience validated by what I have read elsewhere, but the adults' intrusiveness into the narrative does not make this a "keeper" for me.


Always Talk to Strangers : 3 Simple Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life
Review Date: 4/11/2009


Despite its cartoonish cover this book has solid information for the awkward, the timid, and the fearful when it comes to approaching another person for a date. David Wygant is a well-known dating coach and in this book he shares advice for the dating novice. The book is divided into three sections: Mental and Physical makeovers; when and where to meet people; making contact.
He gives advice for online dating as well.


Basic Accounting for the Small Business: Simple, Foolproof Techniques for Keeping Your Books Straight and Staying Out of Trouble (Self-Counsel Business)
Review Date: 3/25/2011
Helpful Score: 1


HAVING BOOKKEEPING PROBLEMS?
Do you feel you should know more about bookkeeping, but simply don't have time for a course? Do you wish that the paperwork in your business could be improved, but you don't know where or how to start?

Basic Accounting for the Small Business is a down-to-earth manual on how to save your accountant's time and your time and money. Written in clear, everyday English, not in accounting jargon, this book will help you and your office staff keep better records - and keep your cool!

Inside you will find illustrations of sample forms and instructions on how to prepare all the records you will need to keep, including:
· Daily cash sheet
· Cash summary
· Statement ledger
· Payables journal
· Synoptic journal
· Payroll book
· Income statement
· Trial balance
· Columnar work sheet

About the author
Clive G. Cornish was a senior partner for many years in Linnitt, Cornish & Co., Certified General Accountants, a public accounting firm. Early in his career Mr. Cornish was a freelance author and has contributed articles to various accounting publications. His flair for writing makes this informal, sensible book very enjoyable to read.


Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast, Bk 1)
Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast, Bk 1)
Author: Barbara Hambly
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 10/19/2010


This is not merely a rehash of the first episode of the 1987-1990 tv series "Beauty and the Beast". It is a retelling of the story that introduces the characters adding depth, dimension and motivation not only to the characters, but to the story as well. What really happened to Catherine when Vincent left her at the basement of her apartment building after nursing her back to health? How did her friends and family take the news? More importantly, how did she manage to keep the secret of the tunnels and still explain her disappearance? I think Barbara Hambly does a wonderful job of taking these characters and situations and making them her own; adding more detail and information to explain what is not explained in the television show.

If you are not familiar with the television series you can still read this book and understand the characters and stories.

I liked this book much more than the other in the series: "Masques" by Ru Emerson. This one was much more interesting, well written and more like an original novel rather than an echoing of the script.


Believing in Faeries
Believing in Faeries
Author: Marcia Zina Mager
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 11/2/2012
Helpful Score: 1


I wanted to like this book. I really, really did, but more than half way through it, I put it down. I could never figure out whether the author was being serious or she was using faeries as an allegory for living. Sometimes it seemed like one, sometimes the other, which confused me and made me lose interest in what she was saying. Either way, this is not a book about faeries. It is a book of guidelines for living a more inspired and inspiring life. If that is what you want, fine, read it with that in mind. If you are looking for information on faeries, look elsewhere.


Bridges and Cupolas
Bridges and Cupolas
Author: Janet Strombeck, Richard Strombeck
Book Type: Paperback
  ?
Review Date: 10/26/2007


This book contains:
A short history of bridges and of cupolas
Humorous signs and tolls from the past
21 designs of foot bridges
8 designs of covered bridges
36 designs of cupolas
1 foot bridge plan
1 covered bridge plan
2 cupola plans


The Burning Within
The Burning Within
Author: Ranelle Wallace, Taylor Curtis
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 5
Review Date: 10/8/2009


Ranelle Wallace is married, has children and life seems fairly normal until she survives a fiery airplane crash which completely changes her perspective on life. Herein she recounts her near-death experience and her survival from all-over devastating body burns.


The Complete Book of Home Details
The Complete Book of Home Details
Author: Rh Value Publishing
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 6/9/2012


Are you longing to create the home of your dreams,but don't know where to start? Now, with The Complete Book of Home Details, you'll find hundreds of innovative and creative ideas to make your home special by enhancing altering, or playing up its architectural details. Whether your home needs some personal touches or a major overhaul, you'll want this invaluable sourcebook by your side. With more than three hundred full-color photographs, you'll find plenty of inspiration for starting improvements on your home right away.


Complete Guide to Prize Winning
Complete Guide to Prize Winning
Author: Linda Evanston
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 2/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 2/27/2008
Helpful Score: 1


A good introduction to sweepstakes, how to understand the rules and follow them. Also explains the differences between different types of sweepstakes.
However, some of the info is a bit dated. This was written before the advent of online sweeps.


The Fifteenth Pelican
The Fifteenth Pelican
Author: Tere R?os
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 1/31/2012


From the back cover:

"Sister Bertrille, How could you?"

The Daughters of Charity at the Convent San Tanco were shocked. A nun doesn't fly! But Sister Bertrille upset more rules than the rules of gravity, and soon the convent, the Mother Superior, and the town of San Juan were shaken by her antics. Basis for the hit television series, this wonderful story of a flying nun is a modern classic of humor, chosen by Best-In-Books and a selection of the Catholic Digest Book Club and the Catholic Family Book Club.

"It will be read again and again by those who love laughter." - The PILOT

From the reviewer:
Cute and funny - this book is a quick enjoyable read. For fans of the show, you will see a few similarities between the television pilot and the book, but the book is so much more adorable because of the pelicans. Sister Bertrille takes to flying not just because she is small and wears a starched cornet shaped like a paper airplane, but because the pelicans invite her along. But it doesn't take long before Sister Bertrille realizes a great big and important difference between pelicans and herself - they have wings that flap. Read to find out how this difference gets Sister Bertrille into a whole lot of international trouble.


Follow Me Boys
Follow Me Boys
Author: MacKinlay Kantor
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 8/15/2008


Someone has pegged this book under children's books 4-8. I would not consider this book for children so young. The audience of this book is not geared towards children but towards older children and adults. It tells the story of one man who made a difference in his small town by being a scoutmaster for 40 years. It is superbly written in a sometimes retrospective angle which at times does make you wonder where you are. It has some enjoyable black and white drawings. One interesting thing is the dedication: To Murray McMurray. Murray McMurray is the one who started the McMurray Hatchery in Webster City, Iowa, a very famous place for poultry aficianados. McMurray was also a scout leader, most possibly MacKinlay Kantor's scoutleader.

For fans of the film starring Fred MacMurray, you will find definite differences between the movie and the book. Some things in the movie were only suggestions in the book, but the main theme of one person making a difference is still strong.


Garage Sale Decorator: A Penny-Pincher's Shopping and Decorating Guide
Review Date: 2/1/2012


From the back cover:

If you are one of the 1,000,000+ Americans whose station wagon, van, or pick-up truck is apt to pull up to a garage, yard, or tag sale on any given Saturday morning, constantly looking for bargains to furnish and decorate your home, this is the book for you.

Garage Sale Decorator is a comprehensive guide to buying from the country's largest distribution system - the garage/yard/tag sale "collective." The book has been written to help you create personal living spaces with a distinctive personal style. . . all without spending very much money.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, Coleen Johnston lives with her husband and their two children in Zumbrota, Minnesota. She is a regular contributor to Handwoven and Handspun magazines.


The Guideposts Prayer Companion ; Fall 2001
The Guideposts Prayer Companion ; Fall 2001
Author: Guideposts
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 3/7/2008


This is a handy little book to help guide the Christian in his daily devotionals. There is space for recording your own prayer concerns, answers to prayer, and reminders of prayer.

Although it was published for use in the fall of 2001, and the days are numbered such, it can be used at any time of any year.


Hairstyles: Braiding & Hair Care
Hairstyles: Braiding & Hair Care
Author: Jacki Wadeson
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 2/1/2012


From the dust jacket:

Hairstyles, Braiding & Haircare contains all the information you need to ensure that your hair shines with health, is beautifully groomed and fashionably styled to suit your unique looks and personality. Whether you want an easy-to-care-for style that will keep you looking good from morning to midnight, a fun hairdo for those more frivolous moments, or a classic coiffeur or a glittery extravaganza for a glamorous gala, Hairstyles, Braiding & Haircare shows you how to achieve perfect results.

Part 1, Healthy Hair, tells you everything you need to know about caring for your hair, from shampooing, coloring, and perming to special treatments for problem hair and protective measures for holiday hair care. Helpful hints and hair facts give additional information that will enable you to keep your hair in tip-top condition and avoid damage and disasters.

Part 2, Styling, is packed with information that will guide you through all aspects of hair styling, from selecting the right tools, equipment, and products to practical advice on how to use them, as well as instructions on choosing a suitable hairstyle and getting the best from a salon visit. A style file provides a wide selection of inspirational hairstyles, while step-by-step instructions explain the secrets behind up-to-date techniques used by the professionals.

Part 3, Hair Dressing, contains 30 special projects that you can do at home. The clearly illustrated, easy-to-follow steps show you the basic principles of braiding, creating a French pleat, a perfect chignon, and many more fabulous styles. There is added information on how to make creative use of ribbons, beads, sequins, bows, and other exciting accessories to embellish your finished style.

Hairstyles, Braiding & Haircare is an indispensable, practical guide and inspiration for women in the 1990s who wish to present themselves to the world in their best, smartest and most attractive light.


How to Furnish Old American Houses
How to Furnish Old American Houses
Author: Henry L Williams and Ottalie K. Williams
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 11/8/2009


Written before the advent of modern decorating magazines, this book has no colorful slick photographs, but it does have plenty of black and white photos and drawings to go along with its text packed full of information about historical home styles and interiors. The authors know their subject well. Background is given of styles, periods, and pieces. This book is useful for the home owner who wants to decorate in a more authentic style or even for the museum employee who wants to reproduce a certain period in time.
Some people may find the book tedious reading because of the lack of colorful photographic examples, but I found the supplied information so much more thorough and authentic than what is found in modern books that I believe if you are serious about a certain historical look, you ought to give this book a try.


How to Marry Super Rich: Or, Love, Money, and the Morning After
How to Marry Super Rich: Or, Love, Money, and the Morning After
Author: Sheilah Graham
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 1.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 9/1/2014


This book is NOT a "how-to" book as the title suggests. It is a compilation of brief biographies of men and women who have married rich partners. Interesting in itself, but the book published in the early 1970s has seen some of the happy marriages she discusses, go south.


Mafia to Mormon: My Conversion Story
Mafia to Mormon: My Conversion Story
Author: Mario Facione
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 13
Review Date: 2/24/2009
Helpful Score: 2


The first half of this book outlines the life that Mario Facione led growing up in crime and as an adult dedicating himself to the challenge of committing crime rather than the desire to get rich. But get rich on ill gotten gain he did.
Surprisingly when two LDS missionaries come to his door, he listens to them. At first, he wants to figure out their scam, but as time goes on he realizes that they have answers to life's questions that he has never found anywhere else.
He joins the LDS church with the thought he can continue his life of crime and be a good member at the same time. He soon finds that this is not the case and he is confronted with a decision that leaves his life in the balance.
The first half of this book is a look into how a person can become involved in crime. I was ready to put the book down at that point, it was so disturbing, but the second half of this book is worth the wait. His conversion story and consequent strength in the gospel is inspirational.
The only thing I found lacking was any expression of guilt he had for all the hurt he perpetrated upon others because of his actions. That's not to say that he didn't have such remorse, but putting it into the book would have added the extra missing dimension that would have made this book better.


Masques (Beauty and the Beast, No 2)
Masques (Beauty and the Beast, No 2)
Author: Ru Emerson
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 2.8/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 10/19/2010


If you are not familiar with the characters from the 1987-1990 television series this book won't help you get to know them. It is the novelization of three different scripts: Arabesque (season 2), Masques (season 1), The Watcher (season 2). The stories are told separately and are almost a play by play action of the actual shows. If you have seen these episodes then you will recognize almost every line of this book.


Roanoke Island: The Beginnings of English America
Roanoke Island: The Beginnings of English America
Author: David Stick
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 5
Review Date: 9/15/2013


Entertaining and detailed saga of the first English colony in The New World from its origins in England until it disappeared from English sight. References from original records are used throughout. All aspects of the colonization, including the natives' viewpoint are given. Governor White's sadness and resolution in giving up his daughter and grand-daughter (Virginia Dare - the first English child born in The New World) to God's care, knowing that he would never see them again in this life is extremely heartbreaking. The various theories on its disappearance are given and explained as the appropriate ending.


Sales Dogs : You Do Not Have to Be an Attack Dog to Be Successful in Sales (Rich Dad's Advisors series)
Review Date: 12/30/2010
Helpful Score: 2


I am a fan of Robert Kiyosaki's books and follow his Rich Dad's Advisors series. However, I believe that "Sales Dogs" is not up to quality with the rest of his books. It is slightly amusing as is, using dog breeds to describe different types of sales approaches, but has very little advice on how to actually develop salesmanship qualities - something that Robert Kiyosaki highly advises in all of his books.
I read to Chapter 7 and just could not justify wasting anymore time on something that seemed to rehash the sales dog breed qualities over and over. I skimmed through the rest. If everything of importance in this book were severely edited down it would probably take up no more than a chapter.
Zig Ziglar is much more informative and gives more bang for the buck in any one of his books when it comes to actually describing salesmanship techniques.


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