Candy's Raves (and Rants)

Lindsay and the gang are back. A nice 6th book for this series. Again, I’m missing that “solving it together” thing they had in the first books. I think this “co-author” thing James Patterson has going on isn’t working. His books have lost something. I’ll continue with this series, of course, and hope for the best… I adore the characters, I just want to see more interaction with the girls.

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From the Publisher
When a horrifying attack leaves one of the four members of the Women’s Murder Club struggling for her life, the others fight to keep a madman behind bars before anyone else is hurt. And Lindsay Boxer and her new partner in the San Francisco police department run flat-out to stop a series of kidnappings that has electrified the city: children are being plucked off the streets together with their nannies– but the kidnappers aren’t demanding ransom. Amid uncertainty and rising panic, Lindsay juggles the possibility of a new love with an unsolvable investigation, and the knowledge that one member of the club could be on the brink of death. And just when everything appears momentarily under control, the case takes a terrifying turn, putting an entire city in lethal danger. Lindsay must make a choice she never dreamed she’d face–with no certainty that either outcome has more than a prayer of success.

Some of the pictures are funny, some are not, but the captions are hilarious. Great book, great laughs.

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From the Publisher
Photo ops, aka photo opportunities, are a staple of political management. Photo oops are photo ops with a twist. In BUSH Oops, 110 hysterically human shots of Dubya have been culled from news bureaus and captioned for even more pointed effect.

In this regime of meticulously staged, compulsively controlled presidential appearances on podium and screen, on aircraft carrier or Mt. Rushmore, it is a relief to be reminded that accidents do happen, sometimes for the sidesplitting benefit of the dutiful audience.

This book cut deep, very few books make me want to cry, throw things and feel disgusted all at once. You can’t help but feel sorry for the author, he lost everything, his family, friends, home… you can’t help but cry at the images of these people being killed, the descriptions of what went on in his area of the country. And you can’t help but be angry at the author when he describes killing someone, almost gleefully – yet… you have to remind yourself that he was 12. He was really given no real choice other than death for himself. This story pulled me in and in the end, I felt sad for him now, he’s still only 25 or so, the horror he must relive… I just cannot imagine.

I hope there is a second memoir. I was disappointed that we didn’t find out how he got out of Guinea to the United States and how he got through the next 6 years of his life.

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From the Publisher
My new friends have begun to suspect I haven’t told them the full story of my life.
“Why did you leave Sierra Leone?”
“Because there is a war.”
“You mean, you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?”
“Yes, all the time.”
“Cool.”
I smile a little.
“You should tell us about it sometime.”
“Yes, sometime.”

This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.

What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived.

In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

Oh how fun! This was kind of like visiting the same characters, just a different story. I cannot get enough of the bird kids And this was more of a YA read, so it was fast, fun and an easy read for me while at a conference, in the evenings. Definitely one of Patterson’s best!

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From the Publisher
James Patterson’s young adult masterpiece of non-stop action, mystery and suspense soared to the top of bestseller lists and created an explosion of new fans for this beloved, multimillion-selling author.

Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel are kids who are pretty normal-except that they’re 98% human, 2% bird. They grew up in cages, living like rats, and now they’re free-but being chased by the wicked, wolf-like Erasers, who’ve kidnapped Angel. Led by Max, the “Flock” embarks on a quest to find Angel, infiltrate a secret facility to track down their parents, get revenge on an evil traitor, and try to save the world-if there’s time.

Author Biography: James Patterson is a master of suspense and author of many books including 4th of July, Honeymoon, and the Alex Cross series of thrillers. With more than 100 million copies of his books in print, he is one of the top-selling writers of all time. He lives in New York and Florida.

I am torn about this book. It had some good advice, but most of it was advice you should have gotten or gleaned on the way UP that ladder. I find it difficult to believe that someone would need this when they were ALREADY a boss. Having said that, I learned a few new things I can change. I’m not sure the entire book was worth reading, but I guess if I came away with a few items it was worth it. I would recommend this book to someone that is working their way up that ladder, but for someone already there – they probably already have their work-styles situated, so it might not make a substantial difference.

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From the Publisher
Forget what you’ve heard. Nice girls can get the corner office.

As women, we haven’t always had the best role models at work. We’ve either worked for men or we’ve had female bosses who are, well, big bitches. Woman still don’t have much of a road map right now when it comes to taking charge at the office, so the team who brought you the national bestseller The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business is drawing one for us. Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio will teach you to be powerful without being possessive, to be opinionated without being brassy, and to have a strong voice without micromanaging. You’ll learn just how to own the role of queen bee in a positive way so that you can be more mentor than manager, one who leads, inspires, and motivates.

So, you finally got that promotion. You’re the boss now. The supervisor. The manager. The captain. The taskmaster. Those days of taking orders, running errands, and clock-watching are over. As exciting as all this might seem, once the rush of the promotion is over, you might be scratching your head wondering exactly what to do. Being the boss is never easy, but it’s twice as hard for a woman. It seems like there’s no middle ground. Either you’re the dragon lady who rules with an iron fist or the mousey girl who gets drowned out at every meeting. When a woman wields authority and dares to make tough decisions, how often is the “B-word” bandied about by her employees? How can she strike that balance between pushover and dictator?

Fear not. You can do the job. All you need is a little helpful advice to send you on your way. Whether you supervise two as a shift manager or lord over an entire corporate empire, Caitlin Friedman and Kim Yorio will show you how to step gracefully into your new position of power. They’ll teach you how to motivate your team without alienating them, how to delegate without feeling guilty, how to deal with office politics and how to handle evaluations, promotions, and even firings. And for those of you who are already running the show, they can help you become the mentor your employees deserve.

Inside, there are self-assessment questionnaires to help you find out where you land on the bitch or wimp scale; interviews with prominent female bosses, human-resources directors, and therapists; and advice from a whole host of experts. In addition, there are funny and informative checklists and tips to make sure you’re the Good Witch around the office and not the Big Bitch. And, most important, Caitlin and Kim will teach you the secrets to owning your role and loving it. You’ve earned your promotion, so enjoy it!

I liked that this movie didn’t have a lot of voice overs and opinions. It really didn’t need it. This movie made me feel sick (not afraid as the crazy preacher lady indicated that us liberals would) – just sick and more than a little sad. Sad for the kids. They are NINE. They don’t understand the underlying issues, they don’t understand the emotional issues of adults. I just felt ill. People like this… they… ugh. One line from crazy preacher lady sums it up: “Harry Potter: Warlocks are the enemy of god!”

Oy vey. ‘Course I have the next Harry Potter on reserve as presale :p

I find myself angry at these parents for allowing their children to be a part of this, for letting their own belief systems carry over into their children’s lives. So sad. So very sad. This is one you should watch. There were so many parts that just left me shaking my head, not such as a liberal, but as a mother – as a human being – as an American.

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Product Description
Jesus Camp, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, directors of the critically acclaimed The Boys Of Baraka, follows Levi, Rachael, and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischer’s “Kids On Fire” summer camp in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, wher

There are many books in the world that have changed my life, have changed my outlook on certain things, that have challenged me, my beliefs… oh hell, this isn’t one of them, folks. But if you want something funny, something so incredibly silly… an easy read that’s just fun… yup, this is the one…

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FROM THE PUBLISHER
From the author who brought you Spin Cycle and Neurotica comes a hilarious new novel about falling in love, hating your job, and getting what you want out of life—without ever mussing your lipstick!
When it comes to men, beauty columnist Rebecca Fine always seems to be on the scruffy end of the mascara wand. But all that changes the morning she meets Max Stoddart, her new colleague at the Daily Vanguard. With his upscale suit, Hugh Grant hair, and obscenely sexy good looks, he’s a single woman’s dream come true. Finally, her grandmother can stop surfing the Net for eligible Jewish males. But is Max the catch of the decade—or just a major babe magnet?
Meanwhile, Rebecca’s old high school nemesis has resurfaced, a former blond bombshell called Lipstick who is now engaged to Rebecca’s widowed dad. And it’s good-bye to articles on toe cleavage when a hot tip sweeps Rebecca to the center of the Paris cosmetics world, where a miracle anti-wrinkle cream is about to be launched. That is, until she blows the whistle on a scandal that could set the beauty business—and the future of world peace—reeling. Will Rebecca win the recognition—not to mention the Pulitzer—she yearns for…and get the man of her dreams? Stay tuned.

What I like about these books is that it takes me back in time in the show and I get to see the “action” from another perspective… well written, this one, was!

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From the Publisher
Lost, the television series, takes place on a remote South Pacific island, where a plane crash has left 48 survivors stranded. These novelizations will focus on survivors who are not main characters on the television show — adding depth to the show, and also offering new and compelling stories and characters for Lost fans. These new characters will have original adventures rooted within the show’s continuity; they will cross with characters from the show, and even take a background role in major events seen on the show.

I don’t know if I’d call this “fascinating” reading or not, but it did give me the information I needed in a fast, clear, concise format; and it didn’t bore me completely to death

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From the Publisher
A concise and user-friendly guide to the essentials for conducting a meeting by the official Robert’s Rules of Order authorship committee.

In a club, a condo association, or a board of overseers, how is business carried over from one meeting to the next? How is a meeting best kept on track? Who keeps the order and who decides what the agenda will be in the first place?

The answers to these concerns of assembly can be found in the rulebook of orderly meetings: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th Edition. But weighing in at over 700 pages, at least 80 percent of its content will be needed less than 20 percent of the time. Those not well versed in parliamentary procedure can find themselves lost while trying to get guidance on the everyday basics.

The solution? Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised Concise. Written by the officially sanctioned Robert’s Rules of Order authorship team, this short and user-friendly “cheat-sheet” of a guide briefs readers on the rules most often needed at meetings—from debates and amendments to votes and nominations. With sample dialogues, helpful references to the “big” book throughout, and handy tips for elected or appointed officials, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief is the essential abbreviated meeting rulebook.

This was REALLY good. It kept me guessing the whole way through; I thought I had it figured out half-way through, but I was deliciously wrong. Will creep you out a bit (or at least it did wimpy me). I loved it!

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From the Publisher
Dean Koontz’s unique talent for writing terrifying thrillers with a heart and soul is nowhere more evident than in this latest suspense masterpiece that pits one man against the ultimate deadline. If there were speed limits for the sheer pulse-racing excitement allowed in one novel, Velocity would break them all. Get ready for the ride of your life….

VELOCITY

Bill Wile is an easygoing, hardworking guy who leads a quiet, ordinary life. But that is about to change. One evening, after his usual eight-hour bartending shift, he finds a typewritten note under the windshield wiper of his car. If you don’t take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have four hours to decide. The choice is yours.

It seems like a sick joke, and Bill’s friend on the police force, Lanny Olson, thinks so too. His advice to Bill is to go home and forget about it. Besides, what could they do even if they took the note seriously? No crime has actually been committed. But less than twenty-four hours later, a young blond schoolteacher is found murdered, and it’s Bill’s fault: he didn’t convince the police
to get involved. Now he’s got another note, another deadline, another ultimatum…and two new lives hanging in the balance.

Suddenly Bill’s average, seemingly innocuous life takes on the dimensions and speed of an accelerating nightmare. Because the notes are coming faster, the deadlines growing tighter, and the killer becoming bolder and crueler with every communication-until Bill is isolated with the terrifying knowledge that he alonehas the power of life and death over a psychopath’s innocent victims. Until the struggle between good and evil is intensely personal. Until the most chilling words of all are: The choice is yours.