Kakaku：1395 saved$13.95
Arsenal Pulp Press
Usually ships in 12 to 13 days IPhone 3G used's review (This is not erotica or pornography) 『This very short books is a series of monologues by Franny, a gay man who embraces the role of "queen" not only by wearing what might be considered feminine clothing but also by protecting and teaching other gay men to accept themselves and not hide from the world around them. The monologues begin in 1950 when Franny is just accepting who he is and learning to become part of his community. The monologue chronical Franny's life for four decades as he interacts with dragqueens, butch gay men, lesbians, politicos, and intellectuals who come to view Franny as a staple and inspiring force in their lives. No explicit sexuality at all but a serious of honest and common spoken pieces representing the changes gay men and the mainstream culture around them experience post WWII. Often considered one of the best gay novels in American literature.』 『First published to wide acclaim in 1983, Franny was a book of gay heroism and camaraderie in the shadow of the burgeoning aids crisis. Today, one can read Franny with a sense of nostalgia and with the knowledge that Franny’s dreams of a society that accepts gays and lesbians without question is closer to fruition, but far from complete.
Kakaku：2850 saved$28.50
Berghahn Books
Usually ships in 7 to 11 days 『How many "bodies" does a queen have? What is the significance of multiple "bodies"? How has the gendered body been constructed and perceived within the context of the European courts during the course of the past five centuries? These are some of the questions addressed in this anthology, a contribution to the ongoing debate provoked by Ernst H. Kantorowicz in his seminal work from 1957, "The King's Two Bodies". On the basis of both textual self-presentations and visual representations a gradual transformation of the queen appears: A sacred/providential figure in medieval and early modern period, an ideal bourgeois wife during the late-18th and 19th centuries, and a star-like (re-) presentation of royalty during the past century. Twentieth-century mass media has produced the celebrity and film star queens personified by the contested and enigmatic Nefertiti of ancient Egypt, the mysterious Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria, Grace Kelly as Queen of both Hollywood and Monaco and Romy Schneider as the invented Empress.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Possibly the Best Sports Book Ever) 『I've read way more than my share of books on the machinations of the sports industry, and nothing -- nothing -- comes close to the combination of insightful reporting, trenchant analysis, and sheer fandom that is Queen of Diamonds. The nearly century-long history of Tiger Stadium, and the bitter battle to try to save it, is one of the great sports stories of our time, and Betzold and Casey make every moment of it come alive, from Ty Cobb's violent outbursts to the infamous "rusty girder" speech of Tigers president Bo Schembechler. Highly recommended for anyone who cares about baseball, our national heritage, or life in America's cities.』
Kakaku：549 saved$5.49
Everyman Chess
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Queen's Gambit Quick Tour) 『As other reviewers point out, this book is indeed rather superficial, dedicating just a bit of space to the concepts behind every QG opening, and illustrating them with a few games. Said that, the book is very short, so I really don't see how to do a much better job. There is just not enough space to provide anything other than a quick tour of the QG openings. As a quick tour of this massive opening complex, the book is actually pretty useful and beginners should definitely read a bit about each opening before concentrating all their efforts on a single one. Furthermore, transpositions and shared strategic themes are very common in the QG, so having some general ideas about every opening is essential. In summary, if you are looking for a reasonable introduction to the QG openings, "Starting Out: The Queen's Gambit" is an acceptable choice, but it feels light-weight and pricey.
By the way, John Shaw is an e4 player, which makes this QG tour undertaking rather odd. For an excellent book, related to this one but with a much narrower focus and written by an actual practitioner, see Sadler's book on the Queen's Gambit Declined.』
(Not as useful as others) 『This book deals with the various lines of the Queen's Gambit(QG), and covers all the major variations: the Tartakower, the exchange variation, the Slav and the Semi-Slav, the Tarrasch and the Queen's gambit accepted. The writing is clear and the presentation of the different lines is well organized. On the plus side, it needs to be acknowledged that it provides a neat and tight summary of an opening with an enormous ammount of theory behind it. However, as a fan of the QG, this book was a bit diappointing to me. In contrast with other volumes of the excellent "Starting Out" series, this book does not ever present the basic ideas behind each line and the verbal analysis of most lines is simply too shallow. As such, it is deffinitely not useful for begginers, which is really a shame. Even intermediate players will probably have a hard time figuring out what the basic ideas behind each line are. And for advanced players, this book is probably too basic. Also, one can't help getting the impression that the book is written mostly from white's point of view. If you play the QG with black, you'll probably be disappointed by this. Summarizing, this book unfortunately is not as good other opening books in the "Starting out" series, and, if anything, will be useful for intermediate rather than beggining players.』
(Good overview, but more is necessary to play this opening) 『If you are interested in playing the queen's gambit, or in discovering how to play against it, then this general introduction book is right up your alley. It covers all the options for both white and black in a neutral way, meaning that good and bad moves for both sides are explored.
The only possible problem I can see with this book is, due to its scope, it can not pay too much attention to any one variation. So if you decide you like the Slav Defense, or the Cambridge Springs Variation, then you'll probably have to purchase another book to delve deeper into that particular variation. Why? Because you'll find at most 2-3 games covering each variation in the book, which is no where near enough to allow you to master the opening.
This isn't meant to be that much of a criticism of the book however. As the title suggests, this is a "starting out" book, designed to whet your appetite for a particular variation and allow you (with or without help from another book) to explore that variation.
So why only four stars when the book does all that it claims to do? Because the book probably should have been about 75-100 pages longer to really give a nice introduction to the openings covered. With all the openings covered, that would mean adding about 5-10 pages per section, which isn't too much to ask. The book feels rushed. However, it is still an excellent introduction to the queen's gambit and is usable by people playing from either side of the board.』
(No focus) 『I was looking forward to this book coming out as the other books in the series are great. However, this book covers too many openings and as a result lacks focus. Covered in this book is the Queens gambit declined and all resulting variations (orthodox, tartakower, cambridge springs, exchange, etc.), Tarasch defence, Queens Gambit Accepted, Slav and Semi-Slav. The end product provides little coverage of any lines in these families. This is unlike the other books in teh series (Caro-Kann and KID) which provide a great introduction to an opening system and provides a great starting point for an opening repetoire. The writing is good, but the book is not helpful. A better approach would have been a starting out book covering QGD or Slav individually.』 『The Queen’s Gambit is one of the most popular and fundamental chess openings of all time and it has been the battleground for countless world-class encounters throughout the history of chess. Adherents include a long list of World champions, including Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, and Vladimir Kramnik.With his first two moves, Black creates a super-strong foothold in the center, one that is incredibly difficult to break down. In this book, John Shaw revisits the basic principles behind the Queen's Gambit and its many variations. Throughout this easy-to-read guide readers are aided by a wealth ofnotes, tips, and warnings from the author, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated. This book is ideal for the improving player.
*Written by a seasoned Queen’s Gambit expert *All the important lines are covered *A back-to-basics look at one of the most important openings 』
Kakaku：995 saved$9.95
A Better Be Write Publishing LLC
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Queen Bee's Mystery in the Lilac Tree is about a thug bug, Lucky Louie, who is squashed. Detective Brown is immediately sent by Queen Bee to investigate the latest incident of mystery magnitude in the Lilac Tree. Was it an accident or was someone behind it? In this Queen Bee who-dunnit, Brown uses his high-tuned sleuthing skills to come to the truth. It is a fun, past-paced rhyming mystery for children. Interactive games included for better retention. 8 X 10 Trade Paperback boldly colored illustrations.』
Kakaku：2220 saved$22.20
University of Wisconsin Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Wonderful Book) 『I think everyone of any ethnic background could appreciate this beautifully illustrated text. It has even given me some historical context for a book I'm writting. I love it.』
(Exciting Research) 『In Praise of Black Women is one of my alltime favorite books, beautifully illustrated and colorful, it does an excellent job at presenting ancestrial and legendary African women as leaders, smart, beautiful, sexy, brave, talented, spiritual, mystical, five dimensional...Every type is represented, from warrior to diplomat and everyone in between. Included, are the average everyday persons who performed extra-ordinary acts of faith and deeds. Purchasing this book new will set you back a bit, but it is worth every dollar...A home library staple and heirloom』
(An African treasury) 『"In Praise of Black Women" is a gorgeously illustrated volume relating the lives of ancient African queens, rulers and warriors from pre-historic Africa through ancient Egypt up to the 19th century. Twenty-eight remarkable women are profiled here, all of whom had a lasting impact on their time. Here you will find Queen Tiye, the consort of Pharaoh Amenhotep III; Makeda, the legendary Queen of Sheba; Nandi, the mother of Shaka Zulu, and a host of other fascinating women. Superbly narrated by Simone Schwarz-Bart in the tradition of the oral historians of Africa, there are also historical sidebars on each page to bring the time and place into fuller perspective. This book is a magnificent tribute to the women of Africa and to all women of the African diaspora.』
(You Owe It to Yourself to Read This Book!) 『In Praise of Black Women: Ancient African Queens is an astonishingly rich, gorgeous jewel box of information, artwork and the voices of women who changed the world interwoven with the words of "ordinary" women. This is a mission of true love and commitment--the work that went into it is evident on every page, and from that loving tribute flows the wonder of our Ancient African Queens and their inspring legacies. Everyone who is or knows or loves a Black woman will find this book a very rewarding read.』
(In Praise of Black Women: Ancient African Queens) 『This is a beautiful book for all generations. The book is broken down into short stories. There is extensive use of pictures and historical diagrams which makes each story interesting for adults and children. This book provides the reader with a true sense of who these women were. It is a wonderful book for all families, especially those with young girls and teenagers. I wish all students and teachers had access to this book. This is not just for the African-American population. American children receive too much of their learning from "acceptable history" books and the movies, both which perpetuate an inaccurate picture of much of the rest of the world. I know this book opened my eyes and expanded my view of history.』 『A magnificently illustrated tribute to black women in art and story.In Praise of Black Womenis a magnificent tribute to women in Africa and the African diaspora from the ancient past to the present. Lavishly illustrated, with text written and selected by the celebrated Guadeloupian novelist Simone Schwarz-Bart, this four-volume series celebrates remarkable women who distinguished themselves in their time and shaped the course of culture and history.
Volume 1: Ancient African Queens weaves together oral tradition, folk legends and stories, songs and poems, historical accounts, and travelers' tales from Egypt to southern Africa, from prehistory to the nineteenth century. These women rulers, warriors, and heroines include Amanirenas, the queen of Kush who battled Roman armies and defeated them at Aswan; Daurama, mother of the seven Hausa kingdoms; Amina Kulibali, founder of the Gabu dynasty in Senegal; Ana de Sousa Nzinga, who resisted the Portuguese conquest of Angola; Beatrice Kimpa Vita, a Kongo prophet burned at the stake by Christian missionaries; Nanda, mother of the famous warrior-king Shaka Zulu; and many others. These extraordinary women's stories, narrated in the style of African oral tradition, are absorbing, informative, and accessible. The abundant illustrations, many of them rare archival images, depict the diversity among Black women and make this volume a unique treasure for every art lover, every school, and every family.』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
Berkley Trade
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (OK read) 『t's chic to be geek!
If you're somebody like Shelby Chappelle, a smart, witty, pretty geek army of one, you can't just put a poster up at school and advertise for somebody to be your best friend. But now freakishly tall Becca Gallagher has moved to town, with her dragon tattoo and wild ideas. Suddenly Shelby's mad scientist father and their robot, Euphoria, seem normal. They become best friends instantly. But Becca wants to shake things up at school and look for "others of our kind"...and decides to form the Queen Geek Social Club.
The thing is, this guy Fletcher Berkowitz keeps nosing around, asking lots of questions about the Club. He's cute, and interesting, and possibly likes Shelby. Therefore, she must torture him. One good thing about being a loner: no one can break your heart.
I, like many other reviewers, had mixed feelings about this book. There were some stuff that I really liked, then there were other stuff that I disliked.
Likes:
-The whole geek club thing (was original and sounded like a cool club) -It had romance (I'm a sucker books that have romance) -Sometimes it was very funny. -It was entertaining...sometimes. -The pranks that they pulled -Shelby's robot, Euphoria ( She was more interesting that Shelby).
Dislikes:
-The characters. I had a hard time connecting with them. -The plot moved slowly. I had to put it down multiple times. -The club didn't really achieve its purpose (to allow them to make new friends...they did meet new people, but they didn't seem as if they were friends) -The main character, Shelby, got on my nerves. She was too annoying and whiny.
Overall, this was an OK book.I might read the rest of the series, but I won't expect much from them. I liked the club idea, the occasional humor, the romance, and the pranks. The rest, I disliked. It's not a book I would strongly recommend. If you want to read this series, be my guest. Just know what to expect. -Carol [...]』
(Liv's Book Reviews) 『There were some things about this book that worked and some that didn't. What worked: The characters. They were wacky and zany enough to be believable. The whole idea of starting a club for geeks is just weird enough to sound like it could fly. I'm sure something like that might actually be popular at some of our schools, right? Shelby and Becca also had some great friendship chemistry going. When they first met each other, it just kind of felt right. It really clicked for me. Even among people, I don't think that happens very often so it was great that Laura Preble was able to convey that kind of connection through prose. What didn't: The whole book was kind of slow to me. There was nothing about it that grabbed me or really made me want to keep reading. At all. And while the afore mentioned wackiness can be a good thing, I think it got rather out of hand. It sort of turned into a big free for all, anything flies, type of situation which isn't all that fun to read about. I wanted more structure and normalcy. Shelby also kind of annoyed me at points because she was so single minded. She got upset or discouraged over the littlest things, which wasn't fun to read about either. In conclusion: This was an okay book. Not superb, not horrendous, just in between. I suppose I recommend it, but really, only pick it up if you've got nothing better to read, because it won't do much for you and what book's worth reading if you're bored throughout the whole thing?』
(Only Semi-Entertaining) 『Shelby Chapelle is a geek and fine with it. She's smart and pretty and can easily get dates, but all she really wants is a Best Friend. That role is filled by the wild Becca Gallagher. Becca is also a geek and proud of it. The girls instantly bond and become best friends. But Becca is a bit more on the radical side; she wants to find "others of their kind," and thus the Queen Geek Social Club is born. The main goal of the club is to empower these geeky girls through various projects. The plans get bigger and bigger (Becca is planning to change the world), but sometimes Shelby doesn't know why she's along for the ride. It doesn't help that she's confused about a certain attractive Norwegian exchange student and another guy named Fletcher. This Queen Geek is going to have to get her brain into gear if she's going to be the most spectacular person she can be.
I have mixed reactions about The Queen Geek Social Club. This novel succeeded in being humorous and romantic. However, the characters were a bit confusing, especially when tied together with the club. One of the points of the club was to find other geeky girls so they could work together; half the time it seems like they weren't really friends. Several of the characters' motivations for hiding certain secrets were unclear. Also, sometimes main character Shelby was a mystery to me, and I thought it was strange how she just suddenly realized at the end of the novel her role in the Queen Geek Social Club and the club's role in her life. I did love the pranks and ideas that Becca came up with, and I did get some good laughs from reading this book. But the amusing comments only partially made up for the strangely constructed characters, and the result was that this novel was only mildly entertaining.
I'm not really sure if I will read the rest of this series. Girls who love funny and romantic stories may enjoy The Queen Geek Social Club. If you are looking for a book with more meaning, I would not suggest reading it.』
(The Queen Geek Social Club) 『Shelby Chapelle is in fact a geek with no friends until a new girl moves to town. Shelby quickly befriends this new girl named Becca Gallagher. Becca is a little strange and out there with her dragon tatoo and ambitios dreams which is completly the oppisite of Shelby. Shelby is use to her "normal" life with her scientist father and his home made house keeping robot named Euphoria but Becca is not satisfied. Becca ends up convincing Shelby to be the spokeswomen for the new group she wants to set up where people of "their kind" can meet. The group comes up with ideas like collecting twinkies for freakishly skinny models and ingoring boys for a day. Not only is Shelby trying to balance being a straight A student and managing The Queen Geek Social Club, she also has to deal with cute but yet annoying boy named Fletcher Berkowitz. My favorite parts of the book are when she is conversing with Fletcher. Even though this book is humoruos in parts I found this book to be quite bland. I think the main reason why I felt this way is beacuse I didn't like the charecters. I felt that Shelby was rude and mean and Becca was just too strange. I also thought that is was a bit slow. This book is a quick read and can be read in a few days I still recommend the book beacuse I feel it teaches a good lesson and becasue it was also funny and delightful in some parts. 』
(fun girl-power story) 『Shelby has always been a geek island unto herself. So when Becca-- dragon-tattooed, freakishly tall Becca-- moves to town and befriends Shelby, she's grateful. With Becca by her side, Shelby's robot housekeeper and absent-minded professor father seem normal by comparison, especially when Becca insists on looking for "others of their kind"-- by forming the Queen Geek Social Club. They have quite a bit of success, and their club gets underway quickly. It's a girls-only thing (hence the Queen Geek), but Fletcher Berkowitz keeps nosing around and asking questions. His motivation may possibly be that he likes Shelby, which of course means that she has to torture him. No one breaks a Queen Geek's heart. Shelby and friends are quirky, likeable characters that are easily identifiable. The story is a classic feel-good high school story, but the Queen Geeks and writing style make it anything but stale.』 『It's chic to be geek!
If you're somebody like Shelby Chappelle, a smart, witty, pretty geek army of one, you can't just put a poster up at school and advertise for somebody to be your best friend. But now freakishly tall Becca Gallagher has moved to town, with her dragon tattoo and wild ideas. Suddenly Shelby's madscientist father and their robot, Euphoria, seem normal. They become best friends instantly. But Becca wants to shake things up at school and look for "others of our kind"...and decides to form the Queen Geek Social Club.
The thing is, this guy Fletcher Berkowitz keeps nosing around, asking lots of questions about the Club. He's cute, and interesting, and possibly likes Shelby. Therefore, she must torture him. One good thing about being a loner: no one can break your heart.』
IPhone 3G used's review (help me find a copy of this book please) 『I have read the Moonshae trilogy by douglas niles and thought it was a brilliant trilogy. then read the first 2 books in the druidholme trilogy and found this an even more interesting set of books that I just could not put down once I started reading them. But for about 2 years now I have been trying to get the druid queen but have not had any look getting it anywhere if you can help me can u e-mail me at mage@scottsmail.com』
(Waiting for reprint) 『Well I have read the first trilogy and also the first two books in the druid home trilogy and am now waiting for Druid Queen and Ill be Happy』
(Adventure and romance.) 『Although I enjoyed the Moonshae Trilogy, I have to say that the Druidhome Trilogy is much better. I read all three books in two days, and I was wishing they were longer. Unlike other Forgotten Realms authors (most notably Ed Greenwood), Douglas Niles definitely has a well-developed plot, with a clear conflict that leads to a logical conclusion. Although the story itself is quite good, that wasn't really what kept me reading into the small hours of the night. Actually, it was the romance part of it--something which gets neglected in many other TSR novels. I found myself dying to know who Alicia would choose. All of the characters are extremely likeable (except maybe Deirdre), and I was happy to see that Newt, the fairy dragon returns in this trilogy. I highly suggest this trilogy to anyone who is a fan of the Forgotten Realms setting, and especially to those of us who wish the authors would pay more attention to developing love between their characters.』
(The Druid Queen) 『This is another fine book from Douglas. I'm at chapter 12 at the time beeing, and High King Tristian Kendrick finds himself (and the faerie dragon Newt) facing an army of Trolls and firbolgs all alone. It's compelling - have to finish this one tonight...
Anybody out there, willing to sell "Moonshae - Special Module FR2; by Douglas Niles"?』
(Waiting for the reprint) 『I have read the first trilogy ( The Moonshae Trilogy) and have gotten the first two in this trilogy but can't seem to find the last in the series. I am a serious collector and the books of the forgotten realms are my target. I have 42 in 1 time read condition and hope to complete the collection. I realize that it's going to be hard since TSR was bought out but any one that can direct me to a "source".....gimmee, gimmee, gimmee』 『In the final volume of this trilogy, the Kendrick family continues to rule the Moonshae Isles, but the era of peace is threatened by unseen forces. By the author ofDarkwalker on Moonshae.Original. 100,000 first printing.』
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Blue Q
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Fantasy, sence of humor&creativity!) 『Absolutely enthusiastic! Fantastic and unique! This little book is a special approach to the story of Queen and its members. It has a handmade design, beautiful illustrations and clever comments from the creators. It is a rare piece of art!』 『A masterpiece biography and tribute to Freddie Mercury, legendary front man of Queen. Freddie was of course one of rock's most glorious and tragic triumphs, and designer Roy Fox and illustrator Thom Lessner tell the story with tenderness and charm. Razzle-dazzle gold foil cover, too!』
IPhone 3G used's review (If you love SEP or Crusie you will love this!) 『When the heroine calls the hero Big Pants, and the hero calls the heroine Mork, watch out! Rebecca Lear is reeling from her husband's defection to a newer, younger model. Having married and had a baby young, she doesn't have any training. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Except if you count being Miss Texas at one stage. Aw, poor little rich girl! Nobody's more surprised when an upcoming senator asks her to be on his political campaign. That includes Matt Parrish, lawyer, also on the campaign. He truly considers Rebecca a complete airhead from another planet. Armed with a zillion self-help books (eg. Surviving Divorce: A Woman's Path to Starting Over) and making 3 daily positive affirmations for herself, Rebecca is Discovering Herself. Guess what? She's not a doormat, she can think (Matt gets a few surprises with this one), and she's incredibly creative. All of which Matt finds out the hard way (sorry, pun intended!). The delight in this book is watching two honest but flawed characters fall in love, with a very blurred line between comedy and psychological insight. You'll cringe and cheer for Rebecca, and groan when Matt puts his foot in his mouth again. As a bonus, you get to enjoy all the wacky secondary characters drifting around in the background. Oh, and Rebecca gets totally, humiliatingly, uninhibitedly smashed, much to Matt's delight. Does he take advantage of her? Ooooh, yessssssss...』
(Nothing compared to Material girl!) 『I was incredibly surprised at this second installment of the Lear sisters. After reading material girl, which absolutely fantastic, I was excited to read about Rebecca- who was Miss Texas in her youth and had only a divorce and a son to show for it, to only be shocked at the silly writing and dialogue as well as the shallow and meaningless relationship between Rebecca and Matt-the hero.
I would like to say this first: London is a gifted writer, she is deep without being overwhelming and funny without turning into a comedian instead of a romance writer. She has an amazing grasp of characterization and her dead-on attention to detail that go on during human dramas. But most of all her build-up between two strangers that inevitably fall in love and steamy yet touching love scenes are the main reasons why I keep buying her books.
However, everything I had just mentioned was sadly lacking in Beauty Queen. I loved Rebecca and that's all I loved about the book. Although the writing started witty and sharp, it became goofy, immature and tiresome when no shift in tone was evident. Matt, an arrogant and playboy lawyer, was the most shallow and immature hero I have ever read. You had zero empathy for the man and could not relate to his careless regard for anything but himself. Unlike Rebecca, there was hardly any build-up to his character and all you saw of him was his constant sheepish grin and arrogance. And for 80% percent of the book they were like 2 girlfriends having it out with each other instead of 2 adults that were attracted to each other. Then before you even know what hit you, Matt makes a miraculous transformation and falls in love with Rebecca. What did I miss???
In all honesty, I was left baffled that I was reading a Julia London book and the only explanation I could think of is that it was deliberate she left the second installment shallow and immature that drastically shifts from her usual style.
I hope the 3rd Lear sister gets just as an incredible story as her first sister did, and be content with the second one being a major slip up. 』
(Fun, light story) 『
Second book in the Lear Sisters trilogy.
Set in Austin, Texas, Rebecca Lear has been a daughter, a wife, a mother and a Miss Texas. Now divorced, raising her five year old son and wanting to find a job, Rebecca has no skills and no confidence. She's not getting any job offers and her prospects look bleak.
Then a state senator who's running for lieutenant governor calls and asks her to be part of his campaign. Rebecca agrees hoping to increase her "work" experience. The senator has also asked Matt Parrish, a very successful Austin lawyer. Matt agrees to join the senator's campaign to get inside knowledge for a possible run at the DA's office. Matt sincerely tries to help the underdog but his law partner wants him to take more *money* cases.
When Rebecca and Matt meet, sparks fly. Matt thinks she's an airhead (not true) and ignorant about politics (true). Rebecca thinks he's arrogant (true) and ego-driven (not true). Good story, some laugh out loud moments. I liked BEAUTY QUEEN more than the first book, MATERIAL GIRL.
』
(Second of the Lear siblings) 『In the second installment of London's update Lear trilogy, middle daughter Rebecca is recently divorced with a toddler in tow, and looking for a job to help boost her sagging confidence. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger has disastrous results, particularly when she is asked to join a political campaign, and he turns out to be one of the key strategists, a bossy trial lawyer who is exasperated that she was chosen to be on the campaign.
As she struggles to find her confidence and not be just another pretty face, Rebecca and Matt start to work side by side, and initially butt heads at every turn, but start to develop feelings for each other. Matt even spends time with her son, who cannot seem to garner any of his father's attention. Soon both discover that they don't really like the candidate they are trying to get elected.
This one is not quite up to par with the fist in the series, though it does retain the funny dialog and humorous internal musings. The initial meeting between Rebecca and Matt is priceless!』
(Had the potential for much more....) 『I loved the premise of the book, and the author clearly knows how to do humor, but I just couldn't warm up to the characters, and I didn't really believe they fell in love. They both seemed too shallow for any real depth.
I think one of my problems was the junior high language that was used with a sledge-hammer throughout the book. As in: "You are so not cool," or "Oh. My. Gawd." Both main characters, supposedly in their 30s, talk like this non-stop. A little of that thrown in for spice is fine, but a steady diet of it? It made the characters seem shallow to me.
The book also went on and on. And on. It could have been edited down by 20% or so and worked much better.』 『Three glamorous sisters live up to the last-wish demands of a dying patriarch, and compete for that elusive dream called love. This imaginative update of Shakespeare'sKing Learis a hit with the critics:』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
