Saw Wiki

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is a thrilling read, full of realistic, wince-inducing violence, monsters out of the darkest avenues of folklore, and a rich helping of gallows humor. The Grossbart brothers wander through darkest Europe in the wake of the Black Death, attracting deeply uncouth and disreputable henchmen as they do the right things for the wrong reasons, the wrong things for the wrong reasons, and debate theology from the orthodox to the heretical all the way around to a twisted orthodoxy. Townsmen, demons, and witches beset them, and yet they muddle their bloody way through it all (not unscathed!). You'll enjoy this book if you like fantasy that doesn't come from a cookie cutter, or grittily detailed historical fiction. The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart isn't quite like anything else I've ever read, and I couldn't put it down once I started.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

Click here for more information about The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Folks, I've met Obama once, heard him speak in person twice, and am very much and admirer of his, but this book (the first half, at least) just doesn't cut it.
The first half of this book, apparently written by campaign satffers, attempts to spell out what "Barackism" has to offer. In other words, it's his program statement through the words of his staffers. My friends, these ideas are good, but reading this part is as exciting as watching paint dry. Dull, dull, dull. Every other sentence begins, "In an Obama administration, this or that will happen." Bring out the sominex, people.
Part 2 is the good stuff. This contains the best of his actual recent speeches from Iowa (Jan. 4, 2008) up to a speech he made this summer in Michigan about the economy (this apparently went to press before the Denver speech of Aug 28, 2008). Even on paper, this is exciting and inspiring. Highlights include the New Hampshire speech of Jan 8, 2008 (best known as the "Yes We Can" speech), the Father's day speech (the one that inadvertantly killed off Jesse Jackson's career after the Rev. was caught making profane and jealous remarks on camera about this message), and his race speech in Philadelphia which articulates what a lot of us post-movement Blacks feel about the bitter ranting and pessimism that passes for Black nationalism.
So for reading the "Best of Barack" in his own words, it's pretty good. The rest? Let the buyer beware. Readers are better off with the various compilations of the "Best of Barack" in speeches and writings.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States is a defining moment in American history. After years of failed policies and failed politics from Washington, this is our chance to reclaim the American dream. Barack Obama has proven to be a new kind of leader–one who can bring people together, be honest about the challenges we face, and move this nation forward. Change We Can Believe In outlines his vision for America. In these pages you will find bold and specific ideas about how to fix our ailing economy and strengthen the middle class, make health care affordable for all, achieve energy independence, and keep America safe in a dangerous world. Change We Can Believe In asks us not just to believe in Barack Obama's ability to bring change to Washington, it asks us to believe in our ability to change the world.

Click here for more information about Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise

The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 (My Name is America: A Dear America Book) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is about a 17 year old boy in the middle of WWII. Hefinds himself in one of the worst battles in the war. He must fightin the now famouse D-day battle. He lands one the baech and must fight through the watter. All the while watching people infront beside and behind him be killed or wounded. This book is a reminder of how bad war rally is. The horror this boy must face to make it through. This book has great deatail, but not too much of it. I am a 12 year old boy and am reading this book for the third time, still finding things i had missed or forgotten before. I really loved this book. I recommend it for readers of all ages. A trully Amazing book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 (My Name is America: A Dear America Book)

Click here for more information about The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 (My Name is America: A Dear America Book)

Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Raine Benares, an elf and a Seeker, has enough trouble in her life without someone bringing more to her door, but when her friend and employee, Quentin, is hired to steal something from a powerful necromancer's house, she just can't let him handle the trouble alone.
The something that Quentin has been hired to steal is soon found to be more valuable and more important than either of them could ever have imagined. Before Quentin even escapes the necromancer's house, he finds himself with some unsavory company, who also just happen to want to lay hands on the very same amulet that Quentin has just pilfered.
With a little help from Raine and her family, Quentin narrowly escapes with his life. Raine insists that he hand over the amulet for safekeeping, and that's when things start to get a little wild!
MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND is an enchantingly engaging read. Devoid of the heavy depressing themes that seem to permeate popular fantasy novels lately, MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND will delight readers who like a good dose of humor mixed with their magical adventure. Author Lisa Shearin has done a superb job of crafting a fantasy world alive with elves, goblins and otherworldly creatures. With a fast paced plot, well-crafted characters and just a hint of romance, MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND is a book that fantasy lovers won't want to miss.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1)

Raine Benares is a Sorceress Seeker of average ability until she comes into possession of an amulet that amplifies her powers-and her enemies.

Click here for more information about Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1)

Department 19 (Department Nineteen) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was lucky enough to recieve this book as an ARC from librarything.com
Everyone knows that vampires are the big trend these days. So picking up Department 19, one might be subject to believe that it is just like all the rest. But Will Hill's debut novel is far from unoriginal. He leaves no plot holes, but leaves the reader craving more. His characters feel realistic and it's not hard to get sucked up in the story.
Jamie Carpenter's life is ripped apart first when is father is killed for allegedly betraying the country, and then again when his mother is kidnapped by mysterious creatures and he is hauled off to Department 19, the government's most top secret agency. He is about to learn that he has a stronger tie to Department 19 than he knows.
One of the greatest things that the book did for me was the vampires themselves. They drank blood, they were ruthless, they burned in the sun, and they were the disturbing monsters that I would expect vampires to be. Hill reverts his vampires back to how they used to be, which is fresh and a nice change of pace from all the other vampire novels out there.
As a lover of Dracula, I found the tie-in to the classic novel in Hill's book delightful. Dracula can leave a lot of people wondering what happened next after the book was finished, and Department 19 fills this gap. Hill manages Stoker's characters well, and it is clear he did all of his research before writing his book. Even if someone has not read Dracula, it is easy to pick up on what happened in the story, and what it means for Department 19. And as for those who have, it is a nice treat to revisit Van Helsing and the rest of the gang and find out what happened to them.
I hope that Department 19 and the following books in the series really take off. The story takes a classic story, throws in some original characters, and takes the reader to a hidden war that has been going on for decades. I hope Department 19 does not get bogged down and lost in all of the other vampire books, and reaches its potential. The book is unafraid of itself and isn't afraid to go into the gory details. I would highly recommend it to anyone, even those who do not normally read vampire or fantasy stories. I for one will be picking up the next book as soon as it hits shelves.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Department 19 (Department Nineteen)

Click here for more information about Department 19 (Department Nineteen)

The Oxford History of World Cinema Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)'The Oxford History of World Cinema' is an excellent reference text with contributions from well-respected academics and critics across the globe. It provides condensed versions of national cinemas, styles, and movements through different eras. What is more, a conscious effort has been made to cover well-known styles such as Italian neo-realism and the Hollywood studio system in addition to lesser known ones such as Scandanavian or Arabian cinema. Furthermore, it moves beyond national cinemas to include a diverse range of topis such as documentary, music, censorship, exploitation, animation and much more.
For those studying cinema, like myself, will find it useful as a condensed reference from which to depart into greater depths of research. Film buffs will find it useful to view films within cinematic contexts such as style, industry, and reception.
The book is divided into three main chapters: (1) Silent cinema (2) Sound cinema and (3) Modern cinema with the differnt topics aforementioned pervading throughout. In addition to this, a few hundred actors, directors, and cinematographers et al have been selected to feature in a special biography page of their own. These include notables such as Sternberg, Bunuel, DeMille, Dreyer, Ozu, Garbo, Warhol and so much more.
There are many illustrations - most of which are black and white but are stunning accompaniments nonetheless. Buy, read, enjoy and cherish it. I know I did!

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Oxford History of World Cinema

Click here for more information about The Oxford History of World Cinema

Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (Harvest Original) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Historian Alex Boese was enamored with bizarre experiments in college. During his graduate studies, Boese spent his free time tracking down the more obscure mad scientist experiments that were mentioned in his texts. He amassed a library of notes on bizarre experiments, went on to found the Museum of Hoaxes and publish two books on hoaxes, and now returns with a title about all those bizarre experiments which once intrigued and delighted him. Boese includes only research which was undertaken with genuine scientific curiosity and methodology--that which was published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Elephants on Acid contains overview and author commentary on experiments from the 1800's through the 2000's, in ten different categories - surgery, senses, memory, sleep, animal behavior, mating behavior, babies, bathroom research, human nature, and death. For each experiment, the author sets up the broader social and scientific context, describes the experimental design and results, and includes any follow-on work. Bibliographic details for each scientific publication are included. (But good luck tracking down European journals circa 1803!)
The opening chapter on Dr. Frankenstein-like research is a bit unsettling (Can a head live without its body? Can asphyxiated dogs be brought back to life?). Not surprisingly, few of the Frankenstein experiments took place in modern times. The remaining chapters are enchanting glimpses at scientific fact and fiction over the ages. Boese demonstrates that waitresses who touch customers statistically receive higher tips ("Touching Strangers"), repeats the real Pepsi Challenge ("Coke vs. Pepsi"), exposes the myth of the `Mozart effect' on IQ ("Mozart Effect"), and provides scientific proof of the synchronous menstrual cycles of cohabitating women ("Scent of a Woman"). Studies of human behavior discuss the power of suggestion in creating false childhood memories ("Lost in the Mall"), the effect of a crowd of roaches on an athlete roach navigating a course ("Racing Roaches"), and the role of fear in sexual arousal in humans ("Arousal on a Creaky Bridge").
Two of the most famous studies of good vs. evil are presented in this text. In the infamous 1970's Stanford Prison Experiment, college students playing the role of guards became drunk on their power and humiliated and dehumanized their mock prisoners. In another experiment, researcher Stanley Milgram proved that otherwise "good" individuals could be coerced into delivering painful or deadly electric shocks to other volunteers under pressure from a scientific researcher.
Ranging from the trivial to the socially far-reaching, Boese's compendium has something for everyone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (Harvest Original)

Click here for more information about Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (Harvest Original)

Blog Archive