IPhone 3G used's review (Interesting Insight) 『This is one of two books given to Lady Diana Spencer as she stepped into the confines of her royal life. She chose to throw it aside and that's a pity. I think she, as well as any other reader, would gain much insight into the Royal family as well as a clearer understanding of this beautiful princess and queen who is in many ways, a fore-runner of Diana herself. This is a well-written, readable biography and not a ponderous academic bore.』
(You should read this if you are at all interested in royalty) 『While the book is somewhat slow at times, if you are at all interested in the history of the British royal family, then you should read it. This woman was probably the original Princess Diana as far as beauty and popularity go.』
Kakaku：50 saved$0.50
Blog based Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (fun book!) 『I wasn't sure if I would like this book, but I really did. The main character is rather quirky and reminded me of myself at times. I read it while at the beach and my husband kept asking me what was so funny. :)』
(Not exactly "Coffee, Tea or Me". but still entertaining) 『I guess I expected a modern version of "Coffee, Tea or Me", so in that regard I was a bit disappointed. As a Delta million miler and platinum member, I really wanted to read about her altercation with Delta, but again there was not much there. Obviously the terms of her agreement must have placed a limit on what she could disclose. I thought the blog format was a bit tedious to read - blogs are OK when read in real time, but a year's worth is a bit much.
The good part is that the author came across as a very genuine person that you couldn't help but like, and I could identify with many of her travel experiences.』
(inquiring minds want to know) 『Hi all. I really enjoyed reading this book. If you've ever wondered like I have about the life and goings on behind the scenes of flight crews, the people who do the real work minus the pilots then this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down it was so incredibly interesting. It was like reading a diary. I only wish I could have been in on the ground floor of the blog.』
(QUITE AN EXPERIENCE!) 『Wow! This book is AWESOME! For someone who never reads books, I COULD NOT STOP once I started. I got the book in the mail on a Monday and was finished by Tuesday afternoon. When you are reading this book, you feel like you are right there with her along the way. This Book will literally make you laugh and cry. Ellen Simonetti did a fantastic job telling the reader the true side of being in the airline industry. A+++ JOB!
The book came in at the perfect time. I was having my own problems, but picked this book up, and it literally did help me. It made me realize that I am not the only person on this earth with problems, and she is just an everyday person that has helped so many people by making this book. So please, do yourself a favor and buy this book. I promise you will not be disappointed.』
(Wonderful, entertaining read) 『I have become a blogger thanks for Ellen Simonetti, aka Queen of Sky. Her tales of life as a flight attendant gave me chuckles reading it online, and now in this book, I enjoyed her tales once more. This is proof that "It's sure different up here." I know some relatives and friends who are or were flight attendants, and I have a great deal of respect for this profession. I certainly respect Ellen and her work, and take my hat off to her for her honest, yet entertaining account in "Diary of a Dysfunctional Flight Attendant: The Queen of Sky Blog." Reading of catching commuter flights to and from "Bustling Base City," bidding for flights, working flights to various destinations in Latin America and Europe, and interesting layovers may make some readers wish they weren't flight attendants, but others may be intrigued enough to give it a go. You certainly get a wonderful ride with Ellen working the cabin, so to speak. I found it just about impossible to put down. Put yourself in the upright position, seat belt on, tray table up, and enjoy your read!』 『The world's FIRST novel in blog format, this daring and ground-breaking self-published book brings the internet phenomenon of blogging to the traditional publishing world. In the process, a new and exciting genre is born--a genre that allows everyone (even the technologically challenged) to experience the addictive voyeurism of this hip new medium.
The novel is based on author Ellen Simonetti's controversial true story, which made headlines around the world and caused an international debate about the limits of free speech. It follows the online ramblings of "Queen of Sky," the alter ego of Elena Guaio, a fun-loving, light-hearted and slightly dysfunctional flight attendant for "Anonymous International Airlines." Elena's blog quickly becomes her trusted confidant, which she uses as a release and a tool to sort through the numerous ups and downs of her life.
As the months go by, Elena writes more and more candidly about the irritations of her job. She eventually even decides to post pictures of herself on her blog--pictures in her flight attendant uniform. The result of this seemingly innocent act throws her life into complete disarray. And a struggle of David and Goliath proportions ensues.
With entry titles like "Where's the Glamour," "The Trip from Hell," and "The Joys of Commuting," The Queen of Sky Blog is a realistic and humorous portrayal of a twenty-something single flight attendant just trying to find her way in the Technology Age.
The style of the book is in keeping with the feel of Simonetti's original blog: quirky, frank, and un-politically correct.
IPhone 3G used's review (Good!) 『This historical novel about Marie Antoinette is very enjoyable. I picked up the book being interested in Marie Antoinette and looking to find out more about her life. The book follows her from the time her wedding to Louis XVI is announced to her death. It is well written with a good pace. It shows well the different sides of her personality and how while she was obviously disconnected from the reality, at the end of her life she remained a humble yet proud person.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to familiarize themselves with the life of Marie Antoinette and who look for a historically acurate yet enterntaining account of her life.』
(Excellent read and wonderful gateway into European History Studies) 『I read this book while still a student of Advanced Level European History. I swear I learnt more European History in this and other similar titles, than I did in the class room. The novels were exciting, factual and more engaging than any history class. Thank you Ms Plaidy for keeping the fires of interest burning.』
(Are the most tragic figures the only ones remembered?) 『Poor Marie Antoinette! She was the wrong person in the wrong place in the wrong time. She grew up in the virtuous court of the Hapsburgs and married into that of scandalous France. There, she found a shy husband, admirers, but mostly enemies. Eventually, the King died, and she and Louis became rulers of France. The people were ready to admire the new king and queen, especially when the new rulers declared France would be great. Fueled by power hungry men and women, the people's love soon turned to hate as the people' became poorer and the aristocracy followed Marie Antoinette's lead and became more extravagant. She didn't understand how her foolishness would lead to downfall until it was too late. Things spiraled out of control, and before they knew it, the royal family was prisoners in the hands of their own subjects. And everyone knows the fate of Marie Antoinette after this: the guillotine.
While I was reading this book, I was impatient to finish it, because I wanted to read another one. Even under these circumstances, Jean Plaidy's work never ceased to lose its richness. She is a great author, even to the impatient reader.』
IPhone 3G used's review (The Best) 『 This was the best of the three. What a ride. Action and humor is a hard combination to do and Paul Kidd is the best at it. This is the end of the best fantasy trilogy that I have ever read. 』
(Wizards, DO MORE!!!!) 『Paul Kidd has written 3 really enjoyable books. I looked forward to each one, and was really disappointed when I learned that there was not going to be a fourth. Write to Wizards and demand more!』
(No one messes with the Fairy!) 『A little stereotypical with a stoic Ranger, a soldered old guy (usually a dwarf in most books) but in this case a wolverine, the kid (read apprentice / pupil), the unlikely good beast-a sphinx and the comic relief. What makes it work so well in the Queen of the Demonweb Pits is when these characters are grouped together they are a hoot and the silly banter is first rate. They stumble from one misadventure to another all the while saving the world.
The Justicar, a ruthless ranger with a haunted past.... aren't they all, carries a sentient sword that preaches chivalry. To top it off, he wears an animated, fire breathing, hellhound pelt named -of all things Cinders- that can spell and doesn't like to get wet. ...something about smelling like a wet dog
Comic relief comes in the abbreviated but pert form of Escalla, a Fairy whose self proclamation of having the cutest bottom in all the land and penchant for slinky attire strikes a contradictory visual to her rough and tumble, kleptomaniac actions. I won't even go into the fact that she keeps several bottles of giantism around for those "special moments" between her and her man.
Add to the mix Enid the sphinx, Henry the sidekick, Polk the former human now a wolverine and a stir in decent nemesis like Lolth, the Demon Queem of Spider and this is a fun filled adventure!
If you like the genera this is a must. 』
(Enjoyable, action+humor--but predictable) 『Justicar, Henry, Enid (a sphinx), Escalla (a fairy), and Polk (a warrior turned badger) have defeated Lolth, Drow queen of the spiders, but they cannot kill her in any but her own plane. And now she is out for revenge, spending millions of spiders, drow wizards, trolls, and undead to destroy their planet. With only the talent and magic that they have learned, they must face a dark elf-turned god, her minions, and two enemies Lolth has pulled from their nightmares.
QUEEN OF THE DEMONWEB PITS combines continual adventure and action with humorous dialogue and characters. All of the four main heros, and especially Escalla, have their humorous sides as well as their warrior/mage powers. Polk, the ultra-serious chronicler/badger puts the entire adventure genre in perspective with his frequent advice that they take on unbeatable god-class enemies head-on with no strategy except glorious battle (needless to say, the other characters know better and at least attempt a bit of maneuver).
Readers of the genre will find QUEEN OF THE DEMON PITS to be somewhat predictable, but will certainly find it an enjoyable read.』
(Wildly exciting) 『The spider goddess Lolth burns for revenge, and she yearns for conquest. The Justicar and his fairie companion Escalla humiliated her, and destroyed her body on Oerth. Now is the time for revenge: to bring all of Oerth to heel, and destroy Escalla and the Justicar. So now, the Justicar and his companions must avoid the deadly opponents that Lolth has placed on their trail, and thwart her plans to destroy their entire world.
I must admit that I had trouble taking this book seriously at first: a ruthless ranger in love with a thong-wearing fairie? However, Paul Kidd succeeds in weaving a story that is wildly exciting and mildly funny. When I picked it up, I did not realize that this book was part of a series, the cover does not tell you that it is. Fortunately, though, this book functions quite well as a stand-alone story. So, the bottom line is that I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you.』
『
Revisiting classic adventures has been extremely successful.Queen of the Demonweb Pitswas one of the most popular adventures ever created for theDungeons&Dragonsgame. This novelization appeals to those who have played through the adventure, as well as to those who have an interest in drow elves--one of the most popular races in the game.
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
HarperCollins
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Awesome book!) 『This book is really good, one of the best I have read. I recommend it along with reading the first two: The Thief and The Queen of Attolia first.』
(Excellent) 『This is the first book of the series I have read. Despite the fact that it is the third one I had no trouble inserting myself into the plot. Megan Turner has done a fine job here. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation for a deep plot and well thought out and believable characters.』
(Courtesy of Teens Read Too) 『THE KING OF ATTOLIA marks the third book that follows Megan Whalen Turner's mischievous and dangerous hero, Eugenides, who is known to his friends as Gen. While returning readers may be disappointed that this installment is not narrated by the roguish master thief (the story is primarily told by a young guard named Costis), they will appreciate the returning cast of characters. Newcomers to the series shouldn't be too confused, though everyone should probably read this book twice to get all the political intrigue.
The book picks up with the former Thief of Eddis, Gen, now the newly crowned king of Attolia, except no one is taking him seriously, not even himself. The people of Attolia are furious with "the goat foot" who stole their beloved queen, and humiliating the king has become a national pastime. Poor Eugenides has found snakes in his bed, sand in his food, and has been attacked by the palace dogs, but isn't willing to enforce his authority. His court thinks he's an oaf and a pushover, and an unwilling king is a serious detriment as Attolia faces a war with the Mede Empire.
When Costis, a young idealistic member of the Queen's Guard, makes the mistake of showing his dislike for the king, he thinks he gets a fate worse than death; Eugenides promotes him to a lieutenant and makes him his personal guard. Though being the king's scapegoat is no easy trip, Costis soon realizes the difficulties Eugenides faces as a foreign sovereign in a hostile court. All the characters are tested in THE KING OF ATTOLIA as various forces vie for political power.
This book was a joy to read. Megan Whalen Turner gives the reader rich descriptions of both the sumptuous Attolian palace and its many inhabitants. The novel seems even more plot-based than her previous two books. It twists and turns around the topics of espionage, assassination, and diplomacy. While a reader can still make sense of the story without reading THE THIEF or THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA, this book is a special treat for returning fans. One of the surprising things for me was how the wonderfully charismatic and clever Gen is transformed into a clumsy idiot under the prejudiced eyes of Costis. Turner hints at the drawbacks of underestimating people without being moralistic. I have waited over six years to read this novel and I'm delighted that it leaves plenty of room for future stories.
Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang』
(A Modern Classic!) 『This book is a modern classic to be treasured! It is fantasy, but seems almost to take place in Greece in an alternate world, which i believe is what the author intended. The characters are so rich and likable: Costis with his serious dedication to his country, Eugenides (known earlier as Gen) with his love for both making mischief and the queen, Attolia (also known as Irene) with her sharp tongue and clever hindsight, and too many others to mention. The relationships between the characters are also fascinating. In my opinion, it is the best of the three books, and while, however, it *could* stand alone, i tried reading it about three times without getting into it, but when i read The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, i immediately was absorbed into this book.』
(Clever and Cunning, The Thief is King) 『No one said marriage is easy. The one between Eugenides, the spy/thief of Eddis and his sworn enemy the queen of Attolia seemed doomed from the start, a marriage of political convenience, imposed on Attolia by its rival kingdom. For how could the thief possibly love the queen responsible for the loss of his hand?
But Eugenides is anything but predictable and has married the queen for love, even if by doing so he must leave his beloved Eddis behind.
As the third book in this excellent series starts, Eugenides is stranded in the Attolian palace. Ridiculed by the Attolian courtesans, despised by the Queen guards and his own attendants, he endures their daily pranks, pretending to be a guileless idiot while weaving a web of intrigue to gain his queen's heart and bring his enemies to their knees. If only he lives long enough.
Cleverly plotted and beautiful written, the story moves at a fast pace to a satisfying conclusion that answers many questions while posing new ones,
Is the Queen pregnant as her fainting may suggest? Where is Sophos, the heir of Sounis? Would he marry the Queen of Eddis? Would the political situation in a not distant future set Eugenides against his cousin, the queen of Eddis?
The only thing I know for sure is that I'm impatiently waiting for the King's return. 』 『
By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making.
Then he drags a naive young guard into the center of the political maelstrom. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but his contempt for Eugenides slowly turns to grudging respect. Though struggling against his fate, the newly crowned king is much more than he appears. Soon the corrupt Attolian court will learn that its subtle and dangerous intrigue is no match for Eugenides.
IPhone 3G used's review (A fabulous work on superstar queens) 『Although this book was published many years ago, most of the queens in it are still at the top of any list of drag superstars. There is much more information on the drag superstars than one usually can find,for example, who tucks and who doesn't. The discussion of drag culture is very interesting. This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the drag scene in NYC.』
(Fabulous Drag) 『This is a fabulous book. It has some of the prettiest queens I have even seen. They have style and attitude, and everything the best queens are made of. Highly recommended』
(The smartest book about drag I've ever read.) 『Fleisher has expertly combined the descriptive rigor of an ethnographer, the wry enthusiasm of a seasoned tour guide and the empathetic heart of an old friend to paint a deeply revealing portrait of not only an extraordinary demi-monde, but also of its bizarre relationship to the world at large. He also wisely leaves plenty of room for the queens to relate their own experiences and ideas, while gently guiding both them and the reader to look beyond the hoary canards that characterize almost all discussions by and about drag. The portraits are lovely, the format clever and the final result is illuminating, hilarious and very humane. Read it.』
(Informative) 『An informative guide to NY's TVs. Profiles section features such TVs as Charles Busch and Lypsinka. First part of book explains drag culture. Creative layout.
Book could have used a few more pics and should have included how to contact the TVs mentioned since many are mini-celebs.』
『An entertaining journey inside the glittering drag world of New York City provides interviews with RuPaul, Lypsinka, and other notable drag queens as they reveal the secrets of Manhattan's turbulent and glamorous popular culture. Original.』
Kakaku：2399 saved$23.99
BiblioLife
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Brooding brood) 『Now,I have read quite a few "weird" tales in my time,from R.W.Chambers,HPL to Merrit or even H.H.Ewers-but this story,presented in a very fine manner,is one of the best and weirdst weird tales I have ever read.It combines locality,with horror and thus takes us from a secret chamber-tomb in an old english castle,to a horrible egyptian pyramid,from London to Cairo and back-and this whole quest is vividly imaginative,lurid and enchanting in its sheer strangeness.Though Ward could write things of no quality at all,like his "The Blue Monkey",where a good seting is incinerated almost the very second it is established-and the only other solution to the "mystery",which we get,is not only anticlimatic,but also boring and it is a shame-the sting of the pit, the strange barman monkey statue,these all could equal for a great story-but Ward chose a horrible one,with litle imagination,a murder mystery with a false,suposd and uterly untrue un-natural element.It is on of the most horrible letdowns,like reading "Eggs of the Silver Moon",or beter yt,having to wade through all the four lovey-dovey french fin de siecile bohemian scene set tales in the end of Robert W. Chambers' "King in yellow",praying endlessly for something strange to happen-this is exactely what a reader,after readign "Brood of the witch queen" will think after digesting "the blue Monkey"-the very notion of a comparison between "The Brood" and "The King in yellow" must showcase its qualities-yet for all its magnificence,its sole point of resurection from obscurity is being mentioned in a by-line with two other works,Marsh' "The Beetle" and Bliss' "The Door of the Unreal" as being spawned from Dracula by Lovecraft in "Suprnatural horror in litrature" (thats not fully true,though,for "The Beetle" came out just the same year as the Stoker tale and even outselled it then,having 15 editions in 16 years) th very by-the-way means of mentioning the tale are themselves prophtic of the novels status-while enjoying popularity with a selct few,it is virtualy unknown and overshaded by Ward's "yellow peril" novels,which, however cant hope to match this tale.This book doesnt get discused , not even on the internet,its like trying to find an etext of such wonderfull-sounding stories like "The Mine of the Desert" by David J. Footman (dealing ,suposedly,with a degenerate peoples descended from roman slaves living in a pit in the sahara) or "Supernatural Tales" by James Platt-its just not there,though it SHOULD (both tales being Public Domain-ed for decades),just like there should be more radily acessible editions of Hanns Heinz Ewers novels.
My only gripe with the novel is slight,but towards the end,the horrid elemental,described,or hinted as utterly menacing is defeated in a very anti-climatic way-by throwing wax balls to melt on the rooms curtains.
Other then that,the whole novel atains peaks of strangeness only seldomly reached or surpassed in modern literature.』
(Period Occult Fiction, Inspiration for Indiana Jones.) 『"It was a bat, a fairly large one and a clot of blood marked the place where its head had been." The most gripping adventure story I've read in some time. More thrilling than the Indiana Jones movies; If Spielberg hasn't carefully studied this, he should! I especially liked the circa 1918 view of the occult sciences, and their practitioners. Rohmer creates a consistent and creepy supernatural world.
Rohmer's works are mysteriously absent from my entire county library system, but are thankfully back in print.』
(Sax Rohmer high melodrama) 『Another galloping art deco era blood curdling thriller a la Sax Rohmer. Rohmer is usually always a fun read, there are a few clunkers (see my review for the "Green Eyes of Bast"), but the Fu Manchu and the other "yellow peril" novels are delightful period pieces of adventure for those not so politically correct to let it stand in the way of a good story. Often the men are British moral prigs (no other word captures this quality-sorry). Fighting like any stout&bold Englishman, the dark ancient Egyptian demonic forces unleashed by a depraved antiquarian in this work.
Rohmer is a master of creating atmosphere&environment in his books. A contemporary of Rohmer's who fits the same bill is Algernon Blackwood. I assure you that Rohmer is as good as most "Mystery" series offerings on PBS. If the above appeals to you on some level- then "Brood of the Witch Queen" is your cup of tea.』
(Good, but ending is abrupt) 『Good pulp adventure story that spans from the homes of London's elite to the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Contains many vivid and exciting scenes. What begins as a murder mystery turns into the hunt for a diabolical villian with supernatural powers. Fans of the Indiana Jones movies, and of the recent remake of "The Mummy", would probably like this book. The only thing that spoilt the fun for me was the abrupt ending. But, it's still worth reading.』
(That's one brooding witch queen!) 『Sax Rohmer is one of my guilty pleasures. He may not be politically correct, but he really knew how to pack atmosphere and suspense into what were essentially written movie serials. The Fu Manchu stories are great fun, but his absolute best is 'Witch Queen'. A friend told me years ago that this was the scariest book he had ever read and I have to agree with him. This is easily the eeriest book I have ever read. And when the characters start crawling around in the pyramid of Meydum...well! The claustrophgobia goes up by a factor of ten. If you want a great scary read (and want to know where the inspiration for Indiana Jones probably came from) please, don't be put off by what may sound like a silly title - buy the book, put your feet up and scare yourself senseless!』 『The strange deeds of Antony Ferrara, as herein related, are intended to illustrate certain phases of Sorcery as it was formerly practised (according to numerous records) not only in Ancient Egypt but also in Europe, during the Middle Ages. In no case do the powers attributed to him exceed those which are claimed for a fully equipped Adept.』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
TokyoPop
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (More fun Shojo Drama!) 『Honestly, my fiance loved this series. Typical Shojo drama. There is a Princess, this is a mysterious world and a lot of Manga drama!! It is a very good series if you are fans of The Twelve Kingdoms, Vampire Knight,or Wild Ones!』
(Finally getting somewhere) 『I like this series....but it dragged on alot in the previous volumes. finally it really picks up and explains Phantasmas history. Although sometimes the author leaves out stuff and leaves you confused. But I guess thats just the authors style of writing. N-E-Ways this volume isn't as funny as the others because Yuna only appears briefly. It leaves you feeling like something dark is about to unfold...』 『The mystery behind Phantasma's long history of eternal spring, determined by the power of the Queen's love, begins to unravel--with Hemel's shocking explanation of the background behind Reino's birth! Through this, Phantasma and Yuna learn that one must be sacrificed at the expense of the other. As Reino's transformation as the Lord of Darkness nears, what will happen in this tragic tale?』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
