tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78888739348745195812026-05-19T04:26:20.341-07:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-72854186658382218162015-06-21T15:56:00.000-07:002015-06-21T15:56:00.396-07:00 <P><STRONG>About Reading Lists</STRONG></P><P>When skimming through various book recommendations, I wonder if they are not misused resources. As plenty others, though my reading time is limited, I usually choose books with a degree of randomness. And yet, how would our reading lists look, if our purpose was to be represented by the books read? How about pursuing a balance between achieving knowledge and dedicating time?</P><P>The mind is our utmost valuable instrument. Its evolution is our responsibility. Learn how to develop and expand it or draw away to comfort zones and be devoured by inutility.</P><P>For this purpose, the ultimate accessible method of expanding the mind beyond its limits is reading. Books immerse into unexplored, marvelous worlds and facilitate life changing encounters.</P><P>Of course, explorers are responsible. At the beginning, readers will penetrate only what subjectivity allows them. Books mirror minds, they offer, but it is up to the adventurers to be conscious of what they perceive.</P><P>To conclude, below are listed coordinates for choosing books, for picking the essential from an overwhelming diversity, a subjective recommendation of types of books to read.</P><P><STRONG>1. Plays</STRONG></P><P>Communion and connection are distinct characteristic for theater. That is to say, behind the stories presented in plays there are topics meant to be debated. The quest is one for the spiritual, philosophical and psychological meaning behind actions. In that regard, plays are unclogging mechanisms. Furthermore, they enlighten the reader on the importance of detail.</P><P>For those misjudging that reading theater is not worthwhile, on account that they were put off by poor mise-en-scenes, it can only be underlined that theater should not be tainted by offbeat visions. Without doubt, theater emits, presents and provokes.</P><P>Secondly, there are, of course, scores of novels made into films or series, but plays offer an enhanced perception of reading and being a spectator. In other words, they offer the opportunity of first hand experiencing a book, of observing people from our imagination take live in front of us.</P><P>Indeed, it is the opportunity to compare what our mind creates with others' creations. In fact, it is looking at fantasies come true. To conclude, it is the form of reading that involves directly and immerses completely.</P><P><STRONG>2. Classics</STRONG></P><P>The classic is a book that always had an audience. A majority agrees on the fact that it expands limits. It has, thus, a universal language and proved value.</P><P>What makes a book so engaging?</P><P>The classic can answer a variety of questions about life. Even more, it is rare for valuable ideas to be dressed in accessible, thrilling stories that urge readers to follow until the end, and yet, do not concede on intelligence, but leave the reader with the feeling that they have not grasped all there is to be fathomed.</P><P>Therefore, it is our privilege to have access to the complex labor of creative minds. There is no need to be intimidated by classic books, all there is demanded is to be thrilled by their presence and to relish the opportunity of figuring them out. In conclusion, classic books are rare, constructed from expensive materials, and remarkably wise.</P><P>It is amazing that they are so accessible. One might even ask - as a pun - why, with such available, free resources, is the human race not more evolved?</P><P><STRONG>3. Poetry</STRONG></P><P>Poetry is the form of literature likely to induce dream states, reading poetry is allowing the mind to play. Poetry is mysterious, it is something to decipher, it expands thought processes. To put it another way, when reading poetry language and grammar skills, along with logic skills, improve.</P><P>When people didn't have the words to express what they felt or what they needed to say, they found new ways to use available vocabulary. I delight in how "fathom" meant "to encircle with ones arms" and after that it went to describe "to understand after much thought" or how "to sulk" comes from the old English word "solcen" that means lazy. Poetry also expands words to suit expanding worlds. Maybe in our attempts to understand what the future will be, utopias and dystopias should be bypass and the best of poetry should be elucidated.</P><P>Undoubtedly poetry is affordable luxury, a higher standard of human language, it enriches and compensates. When life is not consistent, read nonsensical limericks. When life is too complicated read haiku. When life is banal read Shakespeare.</P><P><STRONG>4. National Literature</STRONG></P><P>Coming out of a familiar place, out of the womb, so to speak, is required in order to grow and develop, but the history and contemporaneity of those familiar places connect us with ourselves. National books are relevant for that slice of our lives.</P><P>They are means of keeping contact with our roots, of finding out what our peers think and of what they think about.</P><P>Without doubt, a true discoverer searches in universal and in particular. There is plenty to learn when the familiar is observed through new lenses. It makes us more conscious of our perceptions on life, if that is something that needs to be adjusted or changed. The stories told by us to ourselves should not satisfy. Reading national books sets out what familiar is and that familiar also needs explaining, that growing is not complete until it includes learning about home, that maps are needed in order to arrive there.</P><P>Indeed, our first experiences take place at home, they form us, build strength or mark weaknesses and shape points of view. National books enable the comparison of the points of view of others with our own. They reveal what is relevant to our individual structure and that cannot be obtained from other sources. Reading national books might expose amazing facts that were ignored, important ones, thrilling ones or briefly, that we ignored.</P><P><STRONG>5. Books for Surviving and for Expanding Horizons</STRONG></P><P>Our development might be blocked at certain moments, but out there exist books on how to overcome difficult situations. My own list includes anxiety, introversion, extroversion, self-concept, creativity, security, love. Survival is a skill and books are an appropriate instrument for sharpening it.</P><P>Books for expanding horizons are different from the ones needed for survival due to the fact that you could live without them, but they are worth the investment. Books about music, to better understand it, to read about your favorite bands, to explore genres you thought were inaccessible. Books about economy, to learn what goes on behind the scenes, how to invest, how others succeeded or failed. Photography books, art books, books about movies, books about perfume, cookbooks.</P><P>Certainly, in order to see beyond limits help is needed. Expanding the mind implies expanding our understanding, being better prepared to face problems. In physical training there is such a notion as "muscle memory". A muscle will get accustomed to certain exercises and as such the performance results will not be the same as in the beginning when the body was learning and getting accustomed. That is why performing diverse routines and switching between training formats is recommended for obtaining the best results.</P><P>In the same way, reading is training on different levels of existence. Reading is exercising the mind in new directions, in unfamiliar ones, growing, experiencing new ways to live, progressing in useful areas, discovering the utility of areas ignored before.</P><P><STRONG>List Extensions</STRONG></P><P>Firstly the genre book - this is something that appeals to each owns taste. To name a few - mystery, thriller, romance, detective, hard boiled. Secondly, books that can be read at every age. I am convinced that children books, fantasy books and graphic novels should always be on reading lists, for the sheer pleasure of going on adventures. Choose wisely, avoid the banal and the overexposed and have oodles of fun. Thirdly, the humorous book, as a source of relief, of power and a brighter view on life. Fourthly, for connecting with the world, the contemporary book.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9016163" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-10852271148354968032015-06-21T14:09:00.000-07:002015-06-21T14:09:00.036-07:00 <P>Folktales provide great insight into specific cultures. We often find enjoyment reading our own folktales to our children but tales from different cultures provide us with a greater understanding of other kinds of lifestyles. "Two Old Women" is powerful story written by Velma Wallis about a Gwich'in band of Alaskan Athabaskans. It is a story about two aging women and traditional Athabaskan practices, but it incorporates universal themes of survival and motivation.</P><P>The story follows Ch'idzigyaak and Sa' as they face the cruel fate of being abandoned by their own people. The lack of food forces the chief to make the decision to abandon the two old women. Thus, Ch'idzigyaak and Sa' begin their journey of physical, emotional, and psychological endurance. They travel across the land fending for themselves finding they had more strength than they thought possible.</P><P>They started as a couple of old women who would complain a lot while doing little work, but they transform into two successful and strong survivors. At the end of the story, they reunite with their tribe. The meeting is shaky at the start, but the women eventually forgive their people for abandoning them and share their bounty with their less successful family and friends.</P><P>Throughout the story, we learn much about the Gwich'in culture. Ch'idzigyaak and Sa' recount their childhood and discuss roles within their families. We learn that the Gwich'in have distinct jobs designated to females and males, there are female and male gender roles and specified times when males and females should marry and have children, the Gwich'in view of aging is varied and changing, and there are distinct cultural values among the Gwich'in.</P><P>The distinct cultural values among the Gwich'in are shown in the themes of the story. These women toiled and survived through hardship and eventually found a happy ending. It shows how the Gwich'in value strength, both physical and mental. This story was likely created to inspire others to be strong and endure through hard times because it is possible even for a couple of old women. The Gwich'in also value their people. The women were abandoned by their band but forgave them since they have a deep connection with their people. They share certain understandings and a way of living.</P><P>Two Old Women is an amazing story full of the Gwich'in culture. It shows many examples of how they lived and what they believe. But the story is great because it not only provides us with cultural information. It is a story about people on an incredible journey who transform themselves. People of all cultures can learn a lesson from these two old women.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9018889" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-46925891396241288162015-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:002015-06-21T12:51:00.288-07:00 <P>Emily St. John Mandel is a contemporary Canadian author living in the United States. In "Station Eleven", her fourth and latest novel (published in 2014), she starts, with calm and paced language, by describing an unusual night at the theater. The instant impression is that of watching a thrilling, fine-crafted TV series: how the author introduces the setting and the characters, the way the writing focuses on one character next another one in a large cast, induces a perception of movement, action and familiarity.</P><P>In this novel a woman in her 20s, an actress in the "Traveling Symphony", journeys from one settlement to the next in a post-pandemic America, 20 years after the world stopped functioning, after the Georgia flu killed 99,6% of the population. Therefore the remaining people survive without electricity, in new, adapted ways, in disparate settlements. They broke through lack of resources, lack of civilization and violence.</P><P>The young woman is Kirsten Raymonde, who in the dramatic scene opening the novel is a child actor playing one of King Lear's daughters. Somewhat neglected by her parents, that promote her as an actress, Kirsten spends much of her time at the theater. That night, when "King Lear" plays in Toronto, the actor in the main role, Arthur Leander, a superstar, but also her friend, dies onstage. Jeevan Chaudhary, former paparazzi, current paramedic trainee, tries in vain to save him, and the same night the flu strikes the world, starting its destruction.</P><P>There are threads connecting all the characters: Arthur Leander was the biggest influence in young Kirsten's life, Jeevan Chaudhary had an influence on his, they both changed Miranda Carroll's, author of the comic book "Dr. Eleven", book that Kirsten ends growing up with. The unwinding of this ball of threads is "Station Eleven"'s body. The narrative moves back and forth from Kirsten and her current extended family to familiar characters from the past, their lives and struggles.</P><P>If that is the body, "Station Eleven"s soul has to be the world seen through art and recuperated by art. The "Traveling Symphony" plays only Shakespearean theater, sings and tries to retrieve members it left and to gather pieces of a former world. Quotes from Sartre: "Hell is other people" and from "Star Trek": "Survival is insufficient" are their motto. Furthermore the two volumes of "Dr. Eleven" define Kirsten's life.</P><P>But "Station Eleven" is also a hip novel. In one of the settlements, the "Symphony" encounters a prophet, one of the multiple existing in that world. This meeting will be a violent one and his link with Kirsten's life randomly deep.</P><P>Members of the "Traveling Symphony" disappear, they passed through the prophet's settlement, a child he wants as wife ran away with them, yet the prophet's stealth mastery should confuse us: "Is it something supernatural?", who knows what happens in this new world...</P><P>In a nutshell the book offers also adventures, fights, love plots, but found somewhere in the background, somehow necessary in a world supposed to be violent, and the fact that they are serving a purpose, renders them not completely satisfactory.</P><P>These are young people's adventures combined with a lady's (Miranda's in "Dr. Eleven") view of the world and this mix just floats. At the heart of the novel there is a perceivable philosophy, but no major mysteries and behind a world - a breathing, pulsating world - there should be an ocean of connections and truths.The writing is memorable in its details - lost thoughts, lost remarks, haphazard inquiries in someones lost life and pain. I almost wish "Station Eleven" would be just that: random lost profound connections with no attempt of visibility. I read somewhere that this book would adapt successfully into a movie, perhaps it would generate a successful TV series, but I shouldn't have felt that this goal exists.</P><P>Science fiction and dystopia run together with the American metropolitan way of life, in a novel that is clean and enjoyable, easy to appreciate or admire, but difficult to believe and trust. The secrets it guards offer explanations, but are not world building and in a novel that treats the subject of world change, that is difficult to understand.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9048829" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-81522821587150492522015-06-21T11:34:00.000-07:002015-06-21T11:34:00.382-07:00 <P>In ancient Greece tragedy was a mean of presenting before the community social, moral and religious issues that inspired need of debate. The Greeks did not believe in holy commandments to live by, instead they used as guidelines heroes and their lives.</P><P>Therefore generation after generation myths took new meanings, each revision providing a new twist or emphasizing a different idea.</P><P><STRONG>The Myth of Orestes</STRONG></P><P>In "The flies" (1943) Jean-Paul Sartre (21 June 1905 - 15 April 1980) retells, in his turn, the story of Orestes.</P><P>These are the main facts from the original story:</P><P>In Argos, ancient Greek city, queen Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, murder king Agamemnon, her husband. By this crime she revenges his sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia, meant to persuade the gods to help end, in his favor, the 10 year lasting Trojan war.</P><P>However when their son Orestes returns home years later, he reunites with Electra, his sister, and avenges Agamemnon. But that sets in motion the Furies or Erinyes, gods of vengeance, that hunt him down, until goddess Athena comes to his rescue.</P><P><STRONG>What Are The Flies?</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>1. The flies shift the focus.</STRONG></P><P>In Sartre's retelling of the myth, Orestes returns to Argos, meets his sister, they avenge their father, the Furies - giant pesky flies - hunt them both, but no gods come to their rescue. On the contrary Jupiter, described as god of flies and death - actually Zeus from Greek mythology, divides them until Electra abandons their cause and Orestes assumes his destiny of wanderer king of flies, without country or subjects.</P><P>It all goes metaphysical: we read this story<STRONG>,</STRONG> then analyze ourselves and wonder what is it all about. Sartrely done. But we wonder at our own risk, the results may be depressing.</P><P><STRONG>There's No Way Out Of Here</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>2. The flies define Argos and its citizens.</STRONG></P><P>In the beginning of the play Argos is a lazy town lingering under the sun. But as it withstood silent at its king's murder and accepted his killers as rulers, Argos had to be punished: the gods (that is Jupiter, no other god gets involved) sent in the flies. Now the town has a pestilence appearance and even its inhabitants resemble insects in the way they look and act - spineless, bendable, fearful creatures.</P><P>As Jupiter predetermines that argosians are weak and easily corrupted, we wonder if this town actually had any choice? Even Orestes's actions are not destined to save anybody, maybe not even to avenge his father. Initially he would have gladly given up, but Electra is his catalyst: he needs her to be his family, he needs to be worthy of her so he acts violently.</P><P><STRONG>When You Come In You're In For Good</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>3. Everyone is a fly actually.</STRONG></P><P>In this morbid, awful town Electra is the only one that comes across as beautiful and alive. But only as long as she stands against Aegisthus and her mother she appears grand and courageous. When she herself takes the road of murder the beauty dissipates, fear and confusion lurk in, in the end she is just a beautiful fly.</P><P>Aegisthus is also an interesting figure, he has under control this strange town, using their superstition, inventing macabre holidays. A character that is sad in his knowledge of human nature and welcomes death.</P><P>Before killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, Orestes ponders and concludes that accepting and moving on is being week. In consequence he chooses a descending way into the town and towards his sister. He is one that can define what is wrong but wants acceptance into a family.</P><P><STRONG>There Was No Promise Made</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>4. This is about a king of the flies.</STRONG></P><P>Orestes choices should bring him and Electra and the town closer, but as the furies hunt them and Jupiter judges them, he faces the reality that his fall was greater than he anticipated: Electra shows him no love and the argosians try to kill him.</P><P>In the end Orestes refuses Jupiter as god, assumes the killings and exits the town as king of the flies.</P><P>A literary parallel makes itself available: In William Golding's book "Lord of the flies", written in 1954, the lord of the flies was the head of a pig stalled on a stick as an offering to "the beast". But the beast was actually the violence rising up in children stranded on an island. Golding took the image of flies and used it to illustrate the superficiality of human institutional systems. Humans have a violent nature and there is no escape from that. It might be also of importance that lord of the flies is another name for the devil.</P><P>Both books were written in times when the world reminded itself what war and its consequences were, but as Golding's novel is about a world that fell from reason and lost its ways, Sartre's play is about a world that never acquired reason to begin with.</P><P>*3 subtitles used were inspired by "There's no way out of here", song by David Gilmour</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9029212" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-43404608948850356502015-06-21T09:59:00.000-07:002015-06-21T09:59:00.293-07:00 <P><STRONG>Revenge! Faster, Kill, Kill!</STRONG></P><P>Aeschylus (525-455 BC) retells a story first made popular by Homer. What develops in "Oresteia"'s three tragedies - "Agamemnon", "The Libation Bearers" and "The Eumenides" could be the plot of "Revenge! Faster, kill, kill!", but behind all this, philosophical questions peek out.</P><P>Beyond stories told in ancient tragedies there are topics that were of interest and dispute in community. The Greeks did not believe in holy commandments to live by, they used the lives of their heroes as guidelines. Therefore myths were just stories that, depending on the storyteller, could have a different emphasis.</P><P>Aeschylus had the genius of serving philosophy and psychology in a thrilling way. At the core, these three plays dwell on the problems of the cycle of violence and conflict resolution.</P><P><STRONG>1. Conflict Equals Pain, But Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough To Stop It.</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>It begins with "Agamemnon".</STRONG></P><P>In the first play - "Agamemnon" - the focus is on the sad state of Argos - powerful Greek city - and its citizens. People are miserable, they believe that the sources of their misery is the Trojan war that began 10 years before, when war terminates and king Agamemnon returns, order will prevail.</P><P>But Queen Clytemnestra has superior knowledge: that the real source of pain is Agamemnon and his damned family. She wants to punish the death of their daughter Iphigenia (sacrificed by Agamemnon to gods in order to win the war). Agamemnon, and his war slave Cassandra, must die and then she will rule over a world of order and love, as in the course of these 10 years she took Aegisthus - cousin and enemy of Agamemnon - as lover.</P><P>She commits the murders and Argos can only lament powerless.</P><P><STRONG>2. People Can Search For Salvation Outside Themselves, But By Perpetuating Sin, Redemption Remains Undisclosed.</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>Here comes the sun?</STRONG></P><P>The second play "The Libation Bearers" takes us into a city where suffering increased: unpunished murders and unlawful ruling brought on somber times. There is no salvation in this corrupted place, hope lies in the return of Orestes, the heir, he must avenge his father's death.</P><P>Orestes belongs to the city but was an outsider to the crimes committed, he spent his childhood away from home, in consequence he should be the sane, clean bringer of order. The reality though, reveals a confused hero. Apollo, his sister Electra, his friend Pylade and citizens, bury his first reaction of hesitation: they assure him that killing his mother will restore the order and Orestes trusts them.</P><P>Though Electra appears shortly, she plays a special role, she is the important libation bearer, secretly bringing offerings to the memory of her father and in honor of gods. Caught between duty towards father and the weakness of her position - being tolerated in her own home - she pleads for justice.</P><P>Orestes avenges his father, but as the city rejoices, Furies, gods of vengeance and vendetta, hunt him.</P><P><STRONG>3. People Can Not Survive Alone.</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>Finding Redemption.</STRONG></P><P>In the last play - "The Eumenides" - Argos is at last a free city, but standing alone, awaiting for its ruler.</P><P>Orestes left home in search of salvation: Apollo protects him, but he still pays for the murder he committed as the Furies keep him in a continuous hustle. Contact with humans decreases his pain but cannot redeem him. Only the intervention of another higher authority - goddess Athena, will finish this conflict.</P><P>There are two sides and Athena could take the side of either one: fight off the vengeance gods or rally with them. Instead of this traditional resolution of conflict, Athena calls on the Athenians to judge Orestes. They cannot decide if he was wrong or right and free him. Athena also convinces the Furies to change their ways and protect humans, they change into The Eumenides, spirits of reason and democracy.</P><P><STRONG>4. The suggestion for Greek citizens was that they shouldn't be Orestes, Clytemnestra or Electra, they should not take justice into their own hands, but instead they should solve conflicts through law and justice.</STRONG></P><P>Aeschylus lived in violent times, he thought in battles against the Persians, his work, of remarkable poetic intensity, is thus a search for meaning and the right ways to resolve conflicts.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9029230" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-76255495277578572772015-06-21T08:27:00.000-07:002015-06-21T08:27:00.083-07:00 <P>Ivan Goncharov was not a citizen of the 20th or 21st century, in which the importance of ambition and willpower was, and is, a quotidian idea, he lived in 19th century Russia, known for its particular, non-western way of life. Starting from this data, how accidental it appears - to a naive reader as myself - that Oblomov, his fourth novel and one of his greater ones, is contemporaneous in its psychology.</P><P>Oblomov is the story of the eponymous character, a life's tableau resembling a neglected garden, one in desolation. The novel depicts how and perhaps why, a life can bear little fruit. It is not an appealing sight, still it is an invitation to the reader to brace him/herself, illuminate a story and pay attention to his/her own ways.</P><P>As a reading experience, Oblomov is a pleasure: clear style, easily perceivable actions and emotions, the author writes as if to determine that ideas break through; only as an emotional experience Oblomov might not be pleasant.</P><P>This is a four-part novel: in the first one Goncharov describes how the sheltered noble of 31 years, spends a normal day at his house in St. Petersburg - a nightmarish slumber ensues.</P><P>How can a perfectly peaceful day develop comparable to an awful dream? In a foggy perception of time, Oblomov wakes up and falls back asleep, plans than looses train of thought, wants, however accomplishes not, is affected yet senseless. And through all this his mind judges, he is a judging and fantasizing machine.</P><P>His entourage is one of either blase or ferocious characters and his solace is in the remembrance of an idyllic childhood that formed him. Oblomovka, his home and estate, is a character in its own right, there, when Oblomov was a child, people lived the same day in a loop, without terrible effort or investment. It was a sort of heaven on earth. Yet Oblomov shies from living there, Oblomovka remains a far away destination.</P><P>True defeat is giving up on dreams. For Oblomov the road to that denouement passes through keeping dreams remote and perfect. This man never summons the courage to attain them, he chooses to keep the fantasy of a blessed life as married man, living on his estate, just that - a perfect fantasy. By not acting and pursuing this ideal, Oblomv in reality gives up.</P><P>To this hopeless man fate provided as friend his perfect antonym, Stolz. The rich, industrious friend drags him back into society, applying stimulating and energizing actions. Goncharov presents the differences in upbringing that shaped Stolz: independence and early risk taking. To all Stolzs efforts, Oblomov opposes the voice of his inner critic: there is no utility in acting, other people live meaningless lives that he has no taste for. Also on the opposite pole, when comparing himself to Stolz, he obviously finds himself lacking.</P><P>Is this inner critic truthful? Yes, of course, Oblomov is lucid, never lies to himself, the danger of listening to his own reasoning though, is that it keeps him in a state of inaction, paralyzed. Oblomov is not willing to fail, so he never acts.</P><P>What else could wake this man up? Perhaps love? Love arrives in Oblomovs life as a blossom that has no lasting power, due, again, to his own perception. Feelings flower and he right away feels they wither, of course he trusts his perception and pays it forward to his love interest, the inexperienced Olga. He would rather give up than live through a deception.</P><P>Love is a summer of blessings and intense, at times troublesome emotions. After that, in the third part of the novel, the practicalities of life find Oblomov not measuring up, he can not put into practice plans, even rumors of marriage scare him, he postpones and postpones until Olga gives up on him.</P><P>Goncharov gives in the fourth part of the novel the reply to Oblomovs model of thinking and acting: years later, we find Olga and Stolz married, she is approaching Oblomovs age when the novel started and a state of nervousness, something resembling fear overcomes her. To this, Stolz has the perfect answer: one must respect and endure doubts and sorrow, they are friends come to alert us to pay attention to our lives.</P><P>Oblomov suffers after losing Olga, nevertheless has his ways of comfort and his pleasures, lives through trails and tribulations sustained by Stolz and leaves in the world a child; his life was brief and had its moments of sweetness, however, by not taking action, it withered away.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9062197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-92071269257922021592015-06-21T06:44:00.001-07:002015-06-21T06:44:29.344-07:00 <P>The best mystery novels, whether told by a first person or a third person, can read and feel very different from one another indeed. It all depends on the perspective of the narrator... his or her point of view.</P><P>Many authors have wrestled with how to convey their books, and whom they should incorporate to relate their story. Although there are other choices, it often comes down to using first or third person narrators' points of view. Choosing between the two makes for a weighty decision for the author.</P><P>In this brief article the perspective of the first and third narrator will be discussed.</P><P>If the narrator is one of the main characters, first person, the author is challenged by the fact that this character must be present in all scenes, have plausible access and knowledge to the information and descriptions that he or she imparts, and must often relate what others have told him/her, not what he/ she experienced themselves.The first person narrator in the best crime novels that I've read is always in the present, even when relating something that happened long ago.</P><P>There is also the element that the first person narrator doesn't know what another character's motivations are unless that person tells them. The narrator works more from his / her own perceptions, misperceptions, and hearsay when it comes to knowing and understanding others' actions. Therefore,( and it is the fascinating aspect of first person narration in a top mystery book that I like most), we the reader are brought inside the narrator's head and are made to guess, judge, and discern right along with him/her why other characters do what they do, and what their actions may lead them to do.. Readers can become very engaged in knowing intimately what the narrator is going through... I find my perspective of choice is that of the first person when it comes to reading the short story genre.</P><P>On the other hand, the third person perspective is by far the method most often used to convey good mystery books. The narrator writes of others lives, not of his/her self,( they, them, she, him etc..) and is able to present a perfect perspective in every scene in the book, because the perspective is that of the proverbial fly on the wall. The best seat in the house.</P><P>The writers are free to allow their narrator to relate, comment and experience what all the other characters' motivations are. They are all knowing.. Whether the narrator is sharing the protagonist's complicated, dark past, or relating what thoughts and feelings drive each and every character in the novel, the third person narrator has unlimited access, full knowledge and a bit of righteousness perhaps. This makes it much easier for the writer to set up scenes and have characters interact with one another.</P><P>The added bonus to the third person point of view is that, if written well, the narrator's expertise and mastery as to what all the characters know and what motivates them to do the things they do, is seldom questioned by the reader. It's a given in the best crime fiction, or in any other form of fiction for that matter, that the narrator knows what he/she is talking about... even though the third person narrator is an observer, never in the action him/herself.</P><P>There have been great mystery books written that have incorporated both points of narrative view, but the writer must be very careful in utilizing this change in perspective not to lose continuity, plausibility, and the reader as well.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/9027760" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-60643191190088040482011-07-31T09:10:00.000-07:002015-06-21T06:37:07.321-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Today we are talking with Daniel Hill, author of Which One Are You?,<br /> an explosive book revealing various types of people that commit crimes, use drugs, are violent gang members, and some that find their path through faith out of this dark world. Thank you, Daniel, for spending some time with us.<br /> <strong>PBR: You seem to be one of the lucky ones to have been so close to all of this mayhem but to emerge with a family. Tell us a bit about when you were growing up. Did you ever think things would turn out for you the way they have?</strong><br /> DH: I was actually raised up in a normal household with both of my parents, even though sometimes I did not act like it. Growing up I did get into a lot of trouble but nothing like what you have read about in my stories but I did see a lot of different things growing up since my father was a pastor, the places I went, who I kicked it with and doing things I shouldn't have done. I did see how bad people were struggling in life and how some of my friends and family started off on the same track as me but choose different paths. This isn't saying that I started off right it just seem like down the road God took a hold of me and made me do right well at least better LOL!!! I guess I was kind of like the two separate paths but without the wife and kids!<br /> I also had good friends who use to take me out of town named, Wayne and Melvin, to see college life which made you want to leave your town or city and do better because once you see college life or something difference it makes you realize that there is more out there than where you are from. This means you have more options in life then doing the same thing or mess that you always do or the same job everybody is doing that you do not want. Then I also have a friend who is more like a brother to me name Jerome who made sure I did not do all the things I wanted to do! If you know what I mean! I never thought I would grow up to be a teacher and write a book. I always thought I was going to be some type of hustler or business man dealing with cars, rims, or money because that was all I wanted. I was always trying to sell something such as clothes, two ways, CDs, movies, etc. I use to even pick up the loose change at the house and put it in my piggy bank, even though half the time it was change from off the table. LOL! Man! My father use to get upset! LOL!!<br /> <strong>PBR: How was your family structured and who played a major role in raising you?</strong> <br />DH: We were a normal preacher family I guess you know one good kid and one bad kid, which was me LOL!!! I also have another brother and sister by my father too. I guess there were a couple of people who played a major role in my life growing up my father who is deceased now, being my coach as a child in sports, my mother always watching her pray at night and working hard, and my grandmother who also has passed but meant everything to me and loved me no matter what I did and always made me laugh. Then also my church family who always made sure I ate well and never missed out on anything if my parents weren't around. I almost forgot my cousin Bi in my adult life who always told me never to judge anybody because we are just human and we constantly making mistakes, whenever I wanted to go off on someone.<br /> <strong>PBR: When did you decide to write this book, and how long did it take you to complete?</strong> <br />DH: I wrote this story in college when I did not have anything!!! LOL!!! I remember that my mom wanted to make sure that I graduated so she told me that my last year of school I couldn't work and need to focus on graduating. I remember I was staying with my friend Dezy in a one bedroom apartment sleeping on a futon a nice one though. LOL!!! I remember we did have anything but food, no cable, no money because my mom's money was going to my grandmother because she was sick in the hospital. Then also this was the time when I started trying to do better in college, my sixth year and no I didn't get a master, just took a long time, I was a dedicated student. My friend and I just said to each other "well if we can't do anything we might as well study or get a hobby. So I decided to draw something for ten to fifteen minutes, and then practice my keyboard which broke after a week, and then write a story. I would sit there for about 10 minutes and let my mind wonder until something hit me and then started writing until I got it all off my mind. It would take me about 45 minutes to an hour, maybe a little more. I did this every day. I guess you wondering why I only have 19 stories and there are more days than that in a semester HUH!!! It's because we got cable. LOL!!! This all happened back in 2006 I was unable to find someone to edit it or get it published until 2011.<br /> <strong>PBR: "If you knew then what you know now," what would you do differently?</strong> <br />DH: The main thing that I would have done growing up was study. When I was growing up all I ever wanted to do was kick it. I remember me and my friends use to see who could get the lowest test grade. LOL - so stupid back then. I even remember putting abacada on 1 of my ACT test because I came in to late. But it paid off because now I have to pay back student loans while my friends who received scholarships get their whole check. Yeah I was the smart one huh!!! LOL!!! $250 a month, give it up for the genius LOL!!!<br /> <strong>PBR: You invite people to contact you in your book. Have many people reached out to you? Can you please tell us about some of these situations?</strong> <br />DH: I haven't really promoted my book since I published it. I was planning on promoting once I finished teaching this year but 3 days after I got out of school my father died and had to go back home for a couple of weeks. Then came back my friends grandmother died and kicked it with him and my other friends sister died, plus I have been helping out friends and family with different stuff so I really haven't even had a summer or time to promote. But I hope it will all change with your program and plus I'm trying to help certain small business grow for free. But I would love to hear from people and how it changed their lives.<br /> <strong>PRB: You certainly have a talent for communicating to a group of people that might otherwise go unseen. What do you plan on doing in the near future? Do you have any plans for additional books?</strong> <br />DH: I really don't even know or even worry about the future I just take it day by day. I do want to help people out so I pray God allows this book to do well so I can keep my promises to me and him about if I ever got rich or wealthy.<br /> <strong>PBR: You make a point to thank readers for reading your book. I wish to thank you for your time today.</strong><br /> DH: No! Thank you for allowing me to be promoted through your company and for being so personal about everything. A lot of people do not do it this way anymore and that's one reason I think many people are lost.<br /> Reviewed by: Gary R. Sorkin<br /> Gary R. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/<br /> <br /> <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6453203" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-78223951109873949602011-07-31T07:44:00.000-07:002011-07-31T07:44:00.380-07:00 <P>If you're feeling bereft having finished your book, it can be hard to know where to turn for advice on your next read. If your friends and family members are anything like mine, they'll be keen to foist books on you that you must</EM> read - but it can be embarrassing to admit you hated the book that changed their life (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho springs to mind), and aggrieving to realise how much valuable reading time you've lost wading through dross. Going it alone and simply stacking your trolley with whatever books are on Tesco's 3 for 2 offer tends to yield similarly unsatisfying results. Here are a few suggestions for places to try for recommendations that will hit your literary spot.</P><P><STRONG>1. Online tools </STRONG>There are a number of online tools for generating book recommendations. They generally don't have a huge pool of books to draw from, and are quite limited in scope. Whichbook has a number of categories that allow you to set your reading preferences on certain scales: e.g. 'Happy' - 'Sad'. It's a bit simplistic, but its kind of fun to play with: I experimented with setting the preferences to maximise both 'Disgusting' and 'Lots of sex', and it yielded Filth - Irvine Welsh, and American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis, so I suppose it works after a fashion.</P><P><STRONG>2. Book blogs </STRONG>These days the Internet is awash with book geeks blogging about their latest reads. Some are eclectic, based on an individual's reading patterns, others are genre-specific. There are so many that it should be relatively easy to find kindred spirits, particularly if you're into genre fiction.</P><P><STRONG>3. Book reviews in the papers </STRONG>It sounds obvious, but reviews in the press can be a reliable source of recommendations. The best way to use papers is to find a publication or reviewer whose opinions you respect and check it regularly to see what's getting hyped. Lots of review sections have twitter accounts (try @GuardianBooks) so you can get regular recommendations this way.</P><P><STRONG>4. Major book awards </STRONG>For example The Costa Book awards, The Man Booker Prize, The Nobel prize for Literature. This can be good for picking up brilliant established authors. However, it's best not to get too obsessive with this one - I had a friend who decided to work his way backwards chronologically reading a work by the Nobel prize-winner from each year. I'm not sure how far he got, but the prospect of ploughing through the lectures on Swedish medieval farming history by Carl Gustaf Verner von Heidenstam (Nobel Prize winner 1916) would be enough to send me running back to Richard and Judy's book club.</P><P><STRONG>5. Amazon.com recommendations </STRONG>Generally I find online store recommendations annoying, but if you do buy lots of books this way then they can be useful once they've been tweaked a bit. They are best for telling you the certain books that 'everyone' has read, and getting said book into your hands quicksharp - if you're still cringing at the memory of being the only one at your book club meeting who hadn't read Life of Pi.</P><P><STRONG>6. Literary festivals and events </STRONG>To take your bookwormery to the next level, check out festivals and events showcasing upcoming and established authors' work. Besides the big literary festivals Hay, Cheltenham and Edinburgh, there are numerous one-off events at bookshops that are sometimes free, and it's fun to hear people read their work.</P><P><STRONG>7. Local independent bookshops</STRONG> In my opinion there's no substitute for heading to your local indie bookshop for a browse. Unlike in Tesco's, the staff will be real enthusiasts and more than happy to help you out with some recommendations.</P><P>For your next read, you might like to try Honest Publishing, for fiction and non-fiction by unique writers neglected by the mainstream.<BR>http://www.honestpublishing.com/independent/books/</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6440800" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-76597644293424442682011-07-31T06:02:00.000-07:002011-07-31T06:02:01.216-07:00 <P>At the tender age of sixteen I was introduced to a band called Rush. The Canadian trio filled my ears as well as my soul and to this day Rush still rocks my world. Unfortunately, after the tour to support their album, Test for Echo, ended on July 4, 1997, the band disappeared. Rumors spread that one of the trio had cancer while others heard they simply broke up.</P><P>In 2002 the explanation about the band's hiatus was finally revealed to the world and the truth was exposed. Neil Peart, Rush's King of Kings drummers, lost his nineteen-year-old daughter to a car accident on August 10, 1997 and his common-law wife went into a deep depression and died of cancer ten months later.</P><P>So, on a rainy, late summer morning on August 20, 1998, just two months after his wife's funeral, without any reason to carry on and having no interests in his work or his life, the drummer of drummers secured his home, revved up his BMW R1100GS motorcycle and rode down the driveway of what used to be a happy home. He didn't know where he was going, but he would let his bike lead the way.</P><P>For fourteen months, Neil ventured 55,000 miles of highways and byways from eastern Canada to the American west coast and Mexico. All the while, keeping a journal of everything he experienced.</P><P>When he finally placed the kickstand down on his bike in early autumn of 1999, he began piecing together the notes from his journal and titled the book to describe how he felt about himself. Thus, Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road was born.</P><P>This book will warm the hearts of Neil's long-time fans as well as anyone who wants to read a sad, yet uplifting story. While Neil details out the events of his travel, he sprinkles in the memories of his once-happy life. By the time you finish the book, the entire picture is before you-and you understand.</P><P>Neil divides his piece into two books: Book One is titled Riding the Healing Road, which specifically records every rain drop and winding turn he experiences on his journey. Book Two Homeward Angel, On The Fly is peppered with his reflection and his determination to look and move forward.</P><P>The author brings humor and intimacies into the book and allows the reader to watch the dissection of his spirit, his mind, heart, and his "little baby soul." Neil introduces us to his best friend, Brutus, and his alter ego, Ellwood, which is actually his middle name. We also become acquainted with Carrie Nuttall, the woman who was "... the answer to a prayer I hadn't dared to voice, or even dream" and on September 9, 2000 became his wife.</P><P>The only frustration I had with the book is the amount of unnecessary detail to ad nauseam. I found myself many times in frustration screaming "GET ON WITH IT" and would rifle through pages of description-overkill of a rock or how the wine tasted on his tongue.</P><P>Many words the author uses such as nadir, majordomo, euphoniously, gelid, and vicissitudes were so unfamiliar to me that I found myself looking to Webster for clarification. The extremity of pointless detail became so exhausting that it took me quite a while to get through the book. I found his writing style arrogant and vain.</P><P>I've labeled Neil a narcissistic wordsmith as I now realize how much he loves his words. It is very clear to me after reading this book and listening to his lyrics for the past thirty years that he wants his readers and listeners to know just how much he loves his words and how well he can put a plethora of complicated words together to invoke a simple meaning.</P><P>Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, although frustrating and sometimes exhausting, is a must read for any Rush fan, rocker, or those who like a complicated read with a good ending. Delightful and fun, yet heartbreaking, this book will not only give you a new outlook on life, but will motivate you to buy a motorcycle and "Take off to the Great White North."</P><P>Tracey L. Brackett is the owner of The Feather Walker Customized Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Feather Walker offers creative writing, proofreading, editing, resumes, ghostwriting, article writing, brochures, and flyers at affordable prices. For more information, please visit http://www.thefeatherwalker.com/. Tracey also is a member of the writing team for Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. Please visit WITS at http://www.writersinthesky.com/.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6442313" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-31018518131163569972011-07-31T04:26:00.000-07:002011-07-31T04:27:36.373-07:00 <P>A like minded group of people meeting together once in a while and discussing a title or titles is what a book club essentially does. The literary world reveres the famous and their members for their criticism that can influence purchases and set up the general success or failure of a book launch. However readers may or may not be too overwhelmed by their opinion thinking it to be biased and or simply the opinion of a group of people. Taste and preferences are personal things and though they are shaped by culture and upbringing to some extent; but they are mostly personal traits that are developed inherently over the years.</P><P>These clubs are an amalgamation of minds that meet and discuss books. Since the members may come from all walks of life, it is an ideal location for meting new people and socializing with others. It also offers an exchange of ideas among the members and a healthy discussion on a wide range of issues outside the purview of literary works.</P><P>These can be either single-title where all the members have read a particular title and are discussing about it or multi title, where people meeting may have read different titles at the same time. Single title clubs are essentially ones where everybody must have decided to read a particular title and then meet to discuss the title. This is generally a new title. Small clubs are traditionally deprived of a wide spectrum views because of the lack of sizable members. It is hard to get good members and have them participate whenever the members meet, because of their previous engagements.</P><P>These clubs often provide suggestions for titles to be read by people. These suggestions are important for not only popularizing the book but also giving instant recognition to the author. A suggested title will have immediate attention of its members and also the general reading public.</P><P>Several book clubs have their website where a reader can go on to check the suggested readings. Due to the advent of the internet, online book clubs have also come up. They are available round the clock and have the advantage of a sheer number of books that are available to read. These clubs also offer books for sale and special discounts are offered to readers who buy several books during the year.</P><P>Book clubs can be an important medium to promote a book, as you can be assured of getting highly motivated traffic here.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6448657" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-86770814306758167562011-07-13T14:06:00.000-07:002011-07-13T14:06:00.787-07:00 <P>We all want it; cheap audio books, but nobody wants to pay the same for their audio books as for their normal paperback book. It seems reasonable that when there is no physical copy of the book to print, the book would be cheaper to buy. Well this is wrong. Most companies try to lure you in with free books, free trials, gifts and all other sorts of teasers. The problem is you almost always have to subscribe to a membership with your credit card. The first month is free, but the second month you pay double. When you try to cancel it all kinds of barricades are thrown up to prevent you from canceling.</P><P>Here is my solution. There are a lot of free books around. Not the big corp ones, but the true free audio books. These are books that have no copyrights anymore because of their age. After 50 years the copyrights to a book expire and everyone is free to do with it what they want.</P><P>You can Google it. But most sellers do not show up because they are buried by spammy "review" sites of affiliates. The most affiliates are from Audible. This is an Amazon company and one of the giants in the audio book market. Don't apply for trial memberships because they will be almost impossible to cancel. Instead buy without the membership. Yes they are by far not as cheap as with a membership, but you won't get trapped in paperwork and other hassles.</P><P>If you are not shy to leave your house you could also visit your local book store. Most of the times they have sales of cheap books on CD. The upside to books on a CD instead of buying it online, is that you never lose the files. My computer recently crashed and all the data on my hard drive was lost. If I had audio CD's instead of MP3s there wouldn't have been any problem.</P><P>Cheap Audio Books do exist. You just need to know where to look for them. Try to use forums to ask people where they buy their books instead of Googling it. If you know somebody who listens to books ask them where they got it. Make sure you try a few companies first before you apply for a lifelong membership.</P><P>Make sure you follow these guidelines and you will have a life long supply of ahead.</P><P>If you like audio books and you want a list of audio book companies to compare. Take a look on my website with Cheap Audio Books. But remember to not fall in the corporate traps...</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6399539" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-81973699593468142482011-07-13T12:27:00.000-07:002011-07-13T12:28:57.807-07:00 <P>Page One: Inside the New York Times and the Future of Journalism</P><P>Edited by David Folkenflik</P><P>Can print journalists be objective about the future of news? Page One attempts to answer this question in 17 essays and interviews with respected and well-known writers from various positions in newspaper and public affairs worldwide.</P><P>David Folkenflik, NPR's award-winning media correspondent based in New York City, edits the book.</P><P>The project was originally a documentary film shown at Sundance in January 2011. At the core of the film is a story told by journalists in the business representing different generations. David Carr, a former drug addict, is out of central casting as an eccentric, old school, gravely voiced reporter. On the other side of the proverbial desk is Brian Stelter who epitomizes the model of a fresh faced, new media journalist.</P><P>The essays contained in the book cover the global challenge of how will newspapers and professional journalism survive in the age of the digital demon Websites like WikiLeaks, Gawker, Politico, and the Huffington Post.</P><P>For a reporter, a job at the New York Times equaled being admitted to Harvard University. The romance of the New York Times held forth until 2007 as things began to change. After the paper moved into its resplendent and high-tech new home across town, even the Times could no longer hold off the advance of a changing landscape and stuttering economy.</P><P>Kate Novack and Andrew Rossi created this idea for a film project. Novack and Rossi are husband-and-wife documentary filmmakers. An earlier film by this team is "Eat This New York," about friends trying to start a restaurant in Brooklyn.</P><P>Each essay reveals, and offers solutions, to the various ailments of the newspaper business. Some take on the Internet as the insect that infected journalism and caused it to wither away.</P><P>The history of the newspaper business is filled with stories of deals gone bad, buyouts, massive firings and questionable business decisions about what is news and what people want or will read.</P><P>James O'Shea is the former managing editor of the Chicago Tribune and then the editor of the Los Angeles Times. In his essay, he chronicles the calamitous events when the Tribune Company of Chicago acquired Times Mirror Company of Los Angeles.</P><P>O'Shea calls it the "Deal from Hell," as the arrangement emptied the Times of nearly 50 percent of its news staff and changed the editorial style from one of hard news to cotton candy.</P><P>He is emphatic that it is not the Internet that was not the cause of declining readership but the reaction of those who are in charge. O'Shea said, "The lack of investment, greed, incompetence, corruption, hypocrisy, and downright arrogance of people who put their interests ahead of the public's," as the reason newspapers are having problems.</P><P>Others, such as the piece by Jennifer 8. Lee, taught the paper how to embrace the electronic frontier and see it as a way to flourish as it never could before by creating a new arm for its staff to explore; the blog.</P><P>Chapter Eight by Evan Smith, former editor and president of Texas Monthly, writes about a growing anecdote to the threatened loss of real investigative journalism, which are the grant and donation supported nonprofits. These entities are creating a new business model: public news organizations.</P><P>In this chapter Smith describes these organizations as the saving credible journalism in a world of one sided and un-vetted opinion.</P><P>The mission of nonprofit and nonpartisan journalism is to disseminate the product, investigative reporting, to news agencies for free. They can afford to do this as large grants, foundations and contributions fund the newsrooms. The idea is to keep good journalism alive and good journalists employed.</P><P>The first of this new breed is ProPublica in New York followed by the Texas Tribune out of Austin and the Bay Citizen in San Francisco. It is a model being emulated around the country.</P><P>The Associated Press is expanding on its own model to distribute content from nonprofit news organizations to newspapers around the world. Investigative News Network, another nonprofit, has 51 members of news organizations also producing investigative journalism available to newspapers and other outlets.</P><P>The manuscript/script is thorough, thoughtful, and exceptionally well written. Each essay offers another wrinkle in the evolutionary saga about the fate of newsprint. All of the authors, including Alan Rusbridger, Editor in Chief of The Guardian newspaper and executive editor of its sister Sunday paper, the Observer, and Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, have something of value to bring to the story.</P><P>For those interested in the status of how news is being analyzed and delivered, Page One is a most encompassing volume on the issue of the future of journalism and newspapers. Highly recommended.</P><P>Geri Spieler is the author of, "Taking Aim At The President: The Remarkable Story of the Woman Who Shot at Gerald Ford," Palgrave Macmillan. to read about Sara Jane Moore and her tangled life from a loving home in Charleston, West Virginia to the radical underground of 1970's San Francisco http://www.gerispieler.com/</P><P>Journalist, author, freelancer and commentator, Spieler applies her investigative research skiils to finding the truth behind hype and blather that has obliterated clear thinking.</P><P>She is a former investigative reporter and has written for the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle. She was a research director for Gartner and is an award winning public speaker and past president of the San Francisco/Peninsula California Writers Club.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6416995" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-38863121591952322822011-07-06T03:43:00.000-07:002011-07-06T03:43:00.630-07:00 <P>Arbor Books (arborbooks.com), a backbone of the independent publishing movement for more than a decade, has compiled a list of some of its favorite titles to help consumers get right to the good stuff this holiday season.</P><P>This brief list of suggestions is a fun way to highlight some of the best books produced by the independent presses --and a way to help consumers sort through the thousands of titles released each year.</P><P>This year's list includes children's books, wealth-building books, personal memoirs and holiday-specific titles, and covers the entire family when it comes to genres and reading levels. According to Arbor Books, this list gives the whole family something to look forward to.</P><P>The independent publishers on the recommended reading list for this holiday season hail from around the country. The authors come from around the world. Just as the independents in the music, film, theater and art industries forge new paths, making available works and titles that would not be available to consumers otherwise, so do these independents in the publishing field, and Arbor Books ghostwriting and publishing services is proud of each and every one of them.</P><P>Below is the list of Arbor Books' picks for the best of the holiday season:</P><P>1. Self-Help</P><P>Susan Bosscawen, Blueprint Your Future: Creating Powerful Personal and Career Results through Alignment (ISBN: 0615273912)</P><P>Raymond Salcido, LCSW, Chaos to Balance-A Life Changing Strategy (ISBN: 0-9822302-0-6)</P><P>2. Children's Fiction</P><P>Jolie Vanier, Puwaii Adventures With Joliea & Friends...The Adventures Continue (ISBN: 0-9822341-1-2)</P><P>Shannon Bates, Yes! You Can! An Iknowicant Tale (ISBN: 0-9821509-0-3)</P><P>3. Business/Personal Finance</P><P>Santiago Maggi, Investment Strategies for Uncertain Markets (ISBN: 0615325815)</P><P>David Schumacher, PhD and Steve Dexter, Buy & Hold Forever: How to Build Wealth for the 21st Century (ISBN: 0-9701162-6-8)</P><P>4. Personal Memoirs</P><P>Judy Joseph Hamlin, From Riches to Happiness: A Semi-Autobiography by an Enlightened Orange County Woman (ISBN: 0615310362)</P><P>5. Business Memoirs</P><P>Michael J. Ellis, The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella (ISBN: 0-9822402-0-1)</P><P>6. Business/Management</P><P>Debi Brown, It's All in the Delivery: How to Move Mountains Without Crushing the Villagers (ISBN: 978-0-9812098-0-7)</P><P>7. History</P><P>Barbara Schwartz, Mercy, Mandates, Merger (ISBN: 978-0-615-28720-1)</P><P>8. Religion</P><P>Catherine Walters, The Hand of God: A Message of Faith and Love (ISBN: 0-9818658-6-0)</P><P>9. Mystery</P><P>Rick Ward, The Lawmaker (ISBN: 0-9823564-0-4)</P><P>Christine Whitehead, Tell Me When It Hurts (ISBN: 0-9822946-0-3)</P><P>10. General Fiction</P><P>Ryan O'Reilly, To Nourish and Consume (ISBN: 0-9794128-1-1)</P><P>11. Thrillers</P><P>Rick Ward, Blood-Stained Justice (ISBN: 0-9823564-4-7)</P><P>12. Science Fiction/Fantasy</P><P>Timothy A. Bramlett, Sharkey and the Parallel Universe (ISBN: 0-9796444-2-9)</P><P>13. Medical/Health</P><P>Dr. Vikki Petersen and Dr. Richard Petersen, The Gluten Effect: How "Innocent" Wheat Is Ruining Your Health (ISBN: 0-9822711-0-7)</P><P>Dr. David Siroospour, MD, FACS, Spinal Surgery Myths: A Surgeon's Personal Experience With Back Surgery (ISBN: 0-9823362-0-9)</P><P>14. Family/Parenting</P><P>Armen G. Ketchedjian, MD, Will It Hurt? A Parent's Practical Guide to Children's Surgery (ISBN: 0-9815373-0-8)</P><P>Kay Mixson Jenkins, Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson's Disease to a Child (ISBN: 0-9819129-0-7)</P><P>All of these books are available on Amazon.com, where millions of holiday shoppers are searching for just the right books to give to friends, spouses or relatives.</P><P>As the country begins a period of economic and spiritual renewal, Arbor Books feels it's a pleasure to be a part of a movement of small presses and independent publishers. The people in this field, with their optimism and vision, are the future of publishing as they break the stranglehold of the larger, traditional publishing houses.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/3467737" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-14701666341290125142011-07-06T02:26:00.000-07:002011-07-06T02:26:00.683-07:00 <P><B>Best Tips are Given by 'How to Race pigeons - True Racing Secrets Revealed'</B></P><P>If other pigeon racing teams are constantly winning all the accolades, then it's time that you did something about it. There must be something different that these fanciers are doing, that you haven't got quite right. If you are feeling the pain of the losses, then you should get 'How to Race pigeons - True Racing Secrets Revealed'.</P><P>This book gives easy and simple ways of making the racing pigeons into champion racing pigeons. With money back guarantee, this is the best book on the block. Knowledge of the sport is the key to the success. It's important to learn how the best birds can be chosen, what should be the nutrition and dietary regime for the birds, how they should be trained and how to understand the breeding pairs.</P><P>To become a great fancier that knows all about its racing birds experience is required. This is what the book gives you - experience. The book gives the fancier information and expertise that they can use to enhance the performance of the racing pigeons. This includes</P>Building the right loft, that takes into consideration the minimum space requirements for the birds. This ensures that each of the birds have ample space for feeding and keeping in top most shape.How to place the nest boxes, which will ensure that the birds are eager to return to their mates and win the racesHow to turn the noise into a good thing rather than treating it as a nuisance is also shown by the eBook.How to control the inbreeding, that will further the chance of raising prize winners. However, the inbreeding needs to be controlled else it can become counteractive.How to ensure that the birds mate and solve the problems if some birds just don't want to mate.How to make sure that the racing birds laid their eggs with hard and strong shells.Keeping a track of the weaning schedule and how to start the training for the young racing pigeons.<P>With so many insider trips and secrets reveled, the book should probably be worth hundreds of dollars if not more, especially since a fancier can stand to win as much as US$25,000 or 20,000 Pounds using this information. But that's the surprise package, the book costs only US$27 and further bonus materials such as breeding records, feeding chart, training records, race roster and race records. Now is the time to buy it if you want to really make your racing pigeons win.</P><P>For more review about pigeon racing visit http://www.racerpigeonsinfo.com/. It has great reviews for even better products! There is a ton of information waiting for you there. Don't miss out on the sweet deals that are happening there!</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6369436" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-89767902915135389632011-07-06T00:38:00.000-07:002011-07-06T00:38:01.063-07:00 <P>The majority of modern day's avid readers each have a preference in regards to book genres. Most have their one type of book that they are passionate about, sincerely devoted to that particular book genre, idea, or even author. They choose their reading material meticulously, keeping within the safe and soothing boundaries of what they like. Of what they know. What good can it do for the psyche and the soul to take a step beyond, outside of the comfort zone? Could it perhaps direct the reader towards becoming a more well rounded individual?</P><P>Exploring different book genres can unlock the mind and heart to welcome new knowledge, innovative possibilities, and even self discovery and gratification. A dedicated mystery reader could open a book about war, or blur the lines a bit less and choose a nonfiction account of an unsolved murder. Just as the nonfiction reader who has extensive knowledge of history or production, may perhaps choose to explore a story from the fantasy genre, therefore opening the doors to a new world, exercising the senses and strengthening the imagination. Someone who typically leans toward horror or suspense may find unexpected enjoyment from a humorous story or a book on world travel. Readers who frequent the bestsellers rack when they are looking to buy books could stroll around the store; something from uncharted territory is bound to catch their eye. It's part of the beauty that is words in print - the ideas, the voices, and the endless choices.</P><P>New book genres and subgenres are emerging, offering us more guidance in weighing out our options and making our choices. In a chaotic world, there are some things we cannot choose, however the book in your hand when the day unwinds... the world that exists within that binding is a choice that is always yours. Expanding your horizons and exploring new book genres can prove beneficial to potentially any reader. When a guest in your home looks at your book shelf, they should see the many sides of your character, and if you've edged your way out from behind your previous boundaries, they'll even learn a few things about you that they never knew before.</P><P>Go to http://bookgenres.com/ for books of all genres!</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/5928616" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-87496184436588128642011-07-05T23:32:00.000-07:002011-07-05T23:32:00.196-07:00 <P>Have you ever read a book that left you hungry for the next title in the series? Or anxiously anticipating and counting down to the release of a new title? These are addictive books- books that you simply can't put down once you start reading the first page! What makes a book series so addictive? Here's our two-cents' worth of bestselling book series.</P><P><STRONG>Mind-Blowing Plots</EM></STRONG></P><P>Every bestselling novel must have an exciting and sustainable plot that engages the readers thoroughly throughout the book series. Usually, book titles in a series are based on the same concept but with different emphasis to demonstrate progression in the storyline. For example, The Hunger Games trilogy revolves around a strong plot that has attracted countless readers and received positive critical reviews. Based on a dystopic world with an authoritarian government, children are forced to represent their district as tributes in the Hunger Games, where they fight to survive. As the death toll increases, only one winner will remain. This thrilling concept is truly a perfect start for an excellent plot that attracts readers of all ages.</P><P><STRONG>Has it ended? What's Next?</EM></STRONG></P><P>After faithfully finishing one title, the ending of the novel sometimes is left open-ended with many unanswered questions, leaving room for imagination for the readers to anticipate the next title in the series. In Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter series, Book 3), readers are left wondering what is to happen to Sirius Black after escaping from prison and Harry Potter after learning about the truth behind his parents' deaths. The suspense left off from the 3rd book then creates excitement for the 4th book, which has another open-ended ending that creates more excitement for the 5th book... And the cycle continues.</P><P><STRONG>Characters You Just Can't Part With</EM></STRONG></P><P>In every "addictive" book series, there are often characters that you simply just want to see more of throughout the novel. Take for instance the anguish experienced by fans of the star-crossed Twilight saga lovers Bella and Edward when the pair was torn apart over and over again. Or the sympathy that readers felt for Greg in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid as he struggled with his middle school problems. Growing to love the book's characters, readers then become more motivated to find out more about their favourite characters by reading on in the series.</P><P><STRONG>For Aspiring Novelists...</EM></STRONG></P><P>Bestselling book series usually encompass a perfect mix of characters, plot and quality writing that effectively engages readers in the storyline. It is no wonder why these novels have gathered such a strong fan base for the novels. Aspiring novelists who hope to launch a series one day should certainly consider these points when aiming to write an "addictive" book series that will be popular with readers.</P><P>This article is sponsored by Acmamall.com. Acmamall.com is an international online store selling over a million book titles offering free shipping to Singapore and Malaysia orders. Acmamall.com is committed to providing Safe, Trustworthy and Convenient online retail services for all her customers. To find out more about Acmamall.com, visit http://www.acmamall.com/.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6300520" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-50035565025613081452011-07-05T22:26:00.000-07:002011-07-05T22:26:01.020-07:00 <P>During the pulp fiction era, the 1920s to the 1950s, writers churned out stories from all genres, such as fantasy, science fiction, romance, hard boiled detective, spicy detective, westerns, air and sea adventures and tales from the orient etc. "All Frontiers are Jealous" falls into the category of "far flung adventure," something that was dear to the heart of L. Ron Hubbard.</P><P>Hubbard was quotes as saying, "Adventuring is a state of mind. If you adventure through life, you have a good chance to be a success on paper." I think this is so true. In his story, "All Frontiers are Jealous," you experience the flavor of the country and its people and adventuring is an understatement!</P><P>The story, originally published in June of 1937, takes place in Africa in the south west portion of the Sudan. American engineer, Dan Courtney, is attempting to survey the route of the Sudan railway in its first attempt to connect major cities together. If surveying through the harsh jungle is not tough enough, he soon finds himself in tremendous danger. Of course there is an alluring American woman involved whom he must save from the terrifyingly fierce "Dinka Tribe." (An ethnic group believed to be some of the tallest men in all of Africa, who herd cattle during the warm dry season and grow grains in the rainy season.) Not much was known about these people in the early nineteen hundreds other than they were fiercely protective of their people and lands.</P><P>In true Hubbard style, he creatively weaves the story from an avenue you believe the story is going, and then he throws a curve ball you did not see coming. In this story, as if Courtney wasn't already in deep trouble, in his attempt to save the girl, he inadvertently kills a "Diamond Cop," who is part of an international police force that fights the lucrative but dangerous diamond smuggling business.</P><P>The pulp fiction era, (named such because of the cheap pulp paper they were printed on) had its own unique style but remains a great read none-the-less. Galaxy Press Publishing in addition to recreating the books in their original format and illustrations has produced the audio book version of "All Frontiers are Jealous."</P><P>In reading the book you create in your own mind how the characters may look and sound but the audio book gives a whole new experience with the story. The full-cast audio version is professionally done with cinematic quality sound effects and music. The voice talents of Richard Rocco, R.F. Daley, Christina Huntington, Jim Meskimen, Enn Reitel and Thomas Silcott, all give their characters the realism and life that carries the story right to the very end. It's refreshing to have the options of reading or listening to the stories.</P><P>This book is one of sixteen far flung adventure novels that Hubbard wrote but by no means his only style. He contributed stories in most of the genres of that time period but I found this particular book a fun read! I also learned a little history of Africa that I may not have known if not for the book. Check it out!</P><P>Fred Duckworth is working to reintroduce Stories from the Golden Age, a line of 80 books and multi-cast, unabridged audio books, featuring 153 stories written by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 1940s. Click here to view the "Spy Killer trailer; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqUD5tiTZo&feature=youtu.be</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6366198" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-84796795702671397232011-07-05T20:51:00.000-07:002011-07-05T20:51:00.658-07:00 <P>If you're taking a holiday walking in Crete you're likely to be in need of some rest and relaxation in the evenings; why not take one of the many books set in Crete with you and immerse yourself even more deeply into the Cretan way of life?</P><P><STRONG>Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis</STRONG></P><P>Perhaps the most famous Crete-based book of all, Zorba the Greek has become a classic of Greek literature. Published in 1946, the novel was adapted into a film in 1964, leading to even greater success. Zorba the Greek is the tale of a young intellectual from mainland Greece who is pushed into action after a friend leaves to help ethnic Greeks who are being persecuted in the Caucasus. The book is the ideal first book choice for those walking in Crete to gain an insight into the fascinating history of the island and its surrounds.</P><P>The intellectual narrator plans to set off for Crete with dreams of re-opening a coal mine and involving himself in the world of the working class. Before leaving for the island he meets the mysterious, lascivious and passionate Alexis Zorba, and quickly becomes convinced to employ him as a foreman. On the island they follow different passions - the narrator reading Dante and Zorba indulging in his more animal passions. Once the mine opens their different approaches to life clash and the narrator begins to reassess his philosophies on life.</P><P><STRONG>The Colossus of Maroussi, by Henry Miller</STRONG></P><P>While much of this book is set in mainland Greece, it is still a great addition to the reading list for those walking in Crete. Miller's prose perfectly complements his natural sense of an outsider in a foreign society. The text is a semi-autobiographical account of Miller's travels in Greece with his friend Lawrence Durrell.</P><P><STRONG>The Island, by Victoria Hislop</STRONG></P><P>For those walking in Crete looking for a more contemporary author, Victoria Hislop's 2005 debut The Island should be ideal. The book won numerous awards on its release and has been adapted into the most expensive Greek TV series in history. The tale recounts the story of a teenager who develops in an interest in her family's past - a subject about which she knows very little. She travels to Crete to see where her mother was born and is gradually presented with the sad history of the area.</P><P><STRONG>You are Here, by Steve Horsfall</STRONG></P><P>Described in reviews as the ideal holiday book, You are Here is the perfect romp for those walking in Crete looking for a lighter read full of feel-good scenes. The story follows four thirty-somethings who, fearing the onset of middle-age, set off in pursuit of the opposite sex on the island.</P><P>Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us walking in Crete to see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 65 different countries.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6316694" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-59599901735364467222011-07-05T19:51:00.000-07:002011-07-05T19:51:00.588-07:00 <P>Summer reads are always top on my list for vacation plans.</P><P>Sure, it is great to visit the heritage sites, travel to the shores of lake and ocean; but, there is something special about settling down in a comfortable spot with a cool drink and an interesting book.</P><P>Fiction writers have a knack for taking us to haunting locations, introducing us to memorable characters facing conflicts in the now and then. Authors, Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher have a particular talent for this.</P><P>Kearsley, takes the route of historical romance in The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden. From page one in her books, she invites the reader to journey with present-day characters who somehow have a connection to the past. No spoilers here but, if you like stories that have a time element to them, you will not be disappointed. You will, also, grasp the historical settings in myriad details included by Kearsley who was nominated for the 2009 RITA awards plus a more recent win of the 2010 Readers' Choice Historical Fiction Award.</P><P>Both Kearsley books take the reader to British settings in the present and past. The Winter Sea delves into Scottish history in the Eighteenth Century with its political turmoil connecting to the present in Kearsley's romantic fiction. In The Rose Garden, the American main character Eva is drawn to Cornwall for reasons explained in the story. The magic of Cornwall comes through in this novel, definitely a great respite on a rainy day!</P><P>My third recommendation is a novel from the 80s, award winning Rosamunde Pilcher's book The Shell Seekers. This best-selling novel is, also, a captivating read from start to finish as it traces the story of Penelope Keeling and her family through 20th century decades of troubled war-time years, summer days at the beach, a Greek island, Scotland's Edinburgh and Penelope's own country cottage in a small British village.</P><P>Pilcher's portrayal of Penelope's youth, as an only child growing up with a talented artist father and loving beautiful mother are intertwined with segments of Penelope's own marriage and lives of her grown up children. This novel has been translated into a movie version,starring Angela Lansbury; however, if you want to savour the whole story, read this book.</P><P>By the way, upon rereading The Shell Seekers, it has stood the test of time! You may even want to check out Rosamunde Pilcher's other novels and short stories.</P><P>These works of fiction by Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher are definitely the type of books you want to add to your vacation supplies. They will provide a great get-a-way to be sure!</P><P>Patricia Anne McGoldrick is a poet, writer, and freelance reviewer. <BR>Author website: http://www.patricia-anne-mcgoldrick.com/<BR>Blog: http://pmpoetwriter.blogspot.com/</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6314297" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-51276328425001249392011-07-05T18:10:00.000-07:002011-07-05T18:10:00.344-07:00 <P>Imagine it's a Sunday afternoon and you're wearing your pajamas, watching TV. Suddenly, you remember about that paper that's due tomorrow morning at 7 a.m., and you haven't even read the book you're supposed to write about. What to do? Your school's already closed and every library in the city won't open till eight in the morning. You need the book, and you need it now. This is where renting books for your Kindle would come in handy.</P><P>What an idea: getting easy and fast access to books that you only need (or want) to read once. Your problem gets solved in ten minutes, and your paper should be done before you reach your deadline. The question expressed in the title is an easy one: in fact, at the time it is not possible to rent books for the Kindle.</P><P>Nevertheless, the question suggested seeks to answer a much more complicated issue: what would happen if it were, indeed, possible? Taking it to the next level, what if other users had the possibility to loan you their books and charge you for them? This would open a huge gate for virtual transactions without you having to move from your couch. The problem is: who holds the key for this gate? And moreover, could it be closed? Even if this sounds like a great idea and lots of Kindle users would approve right away, how to avoid copyright issues? Or on a more practical level: how much could you charge for lending a book? How much would you pay for renting a book for just a couple of hours? If in regular libraries we have a cute old librarian -probably named Agatha or Eugenia- lending us books and reminding us to bring it back at the end of the week, who would replace her job at a virtual loan? Although it's not an easy task to work out, it's definitely something that Kindle users should think about.</P><P>Nevertheless, not everything is pretty and pink. Even if it is a known fact that the world is now trying to be a synonym of "progress" and "development", it's not true that everything is pointing in the same direction. In fact, if today we come up with a way to rent books on Kindle, most likely tomorrow there will be an easier and cheaper way to do it.</P><P>Truth be told, the people who have access to any kind of public library is still a majority, in opposition of those who own a Kindle and can buy -let alone rent- books daily. Having this in mind, would it be worth the while creating a superstructure of imaginary books that people may or may not rent in the future? In terms of economy, it's certainly not simple. Anyhow, the idea is not entirely crazy. If we are thinking about this possibility, even with its problems, it's because we imagine it could happen. Even if it's not easy, it is at least conceivable.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6305236" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-44256650415137387782011-07-05T16:10:00.000-07:002011-07-05T16:10:00.578-07:00 <P>Is Mike Dillard worth listening to? Do his crazy techniques on attraction Marketing actually work? Why is this guy a household name among the network marketing community? Should you bother jumping on the bandwagon and follow what this Insane Genius is preaching? Or are Mike's techniques all just a big scam to line his own pockets?</P><P>I am going to put this as clear and concise as I possibly can: Mike Dillard is an absolute Genius. He has put into words what so many people are lacking in their careers as Network Marketers. Its funny, I watched a video on YouTube not too long ago that had someone explaining why they no longer promoted Mike Dillard and magnetic sponsoring. The basic concept behind it was that He wanted to create his own brand, and his own list rather than furthering Mike's. Mike Dillard's teachings have revolutionized thousands of people's network marketing businesses. There is nothing wrong with promoting someone else that is a leader in the industry. However, this individual was very right about something; if you are only building Mike Dillard's list, and not your own, you are making a grave mistake!</P><P>I don't care if I build Mike Dillard's list. I think he is a great man, and a brilliant leader. Building your own list is the most important thing, but leveraging the strength of industry legends can help you do that, and it can increase the amount of money you are making. In fact, the "Tribe Concept" </EM>of network Marketing is all about coming together to Syndicate each other's information. Some people don't want to share other peoples information on Facebook or Twitter because they think they might "Lose Leads."</EM></P><P>The opposite is actually true. As we share others content, and they do the same for us, it actually furthers everyone's credibility.</EM> Edification is one of the most important pillars of our MLM business. We edify up-line, and they in turn edify down-line. It is one of the keys that creates credibility. Also, we edify leaders, and when we become one, they in turn edify us. If I started railing on Mike Dillard, Randy Gage, Eric Worre, Jeff Olsen, or any of the other industry giants, what do you think they would have to say about me when somebody asked?</P><P>I will gladly promote any leader</EM> or trainer that will truly help people build their network marketing business. I am a great leader, but there are greater men that have paved the way for my success and prosperity, and in that I thank them, edify them, and encourage all to do the same.</P><P>I don't care if you ever promote magnetic sponsoring or not, but there are some things you should understand about the book. The concepts that Mike teaches are absolutely brilliant; he helps people to understand how to have the philosophies that can make you the hunted instead of the hunter(in terms of prospecting, this is a good thing). </EM></P><P>Outside of the valuable training that the book provides, there is another benefit to owning a copy of "Magnetic Sponsoring." </EM>Purchasing the book automatically enrolls the buyer into Mike's affiliate program. If people want to refer others to the book, it can pay for the cost of purchasing it, and even provide a profit.</P><P>Honestly, as with any training course, I highly doubt anyone will resonate with every one of Mike's philosophies. As with any great program, it is important to apply the shopping cart technique when reading, so you can gather the nuggets of information that are going to be valuable to you personally. This book definitely has enough nuggets for it to be worth your time.</P><P>Aki Wood is a Network Marketing Maverick, and is a student of the industry. If you are looking to have more success in your business, you should register for his 100% Free "No Bull" Marketing Bootcamp.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/5940229" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-69977488382133589892011-07-05T15:04:00.000-07:002011-07-05T15:04:00.560-07:00 <P><STRONG>Background of Bertrice Small</EM></STRONG></P><P>Bertrice Small is an award-winning American novelist who was born in Manhattan and has lived on eastern Long Island for 35 years. The New York Times bestselling author has written 50 novels, among which most of them belong to the genre of historical romance. Small has also written several well-received novels in the genres of fantasy romance and erotic contemporary.</P><P>The outstanding and talented author has also received many awards for her novels, such as Outstanding Historical Romance Series, Best Historical Romance and Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy. Recently, in 2008, Small was recognized as a Pioneer of Romance by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her significant literary works and contributions to the genre. A few years earlier in 2004, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine.</P><P>Besides achieving great success in the literary world with her outstanding novels, Bertrice Small is also highly recognised in the community as a member of various literary organizations, such as The Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America.</P><P><STRONG>Popular and Bestselling Novels</EM></STRONG></P><P>Small has written numerous novel series that have clinched spots in bestselling novel lists. Her first novel series was "Leslie Family Saga Series" which was published in 1978. Subsequently, Small also wrote many popular novel series like the "O'Malley Family Saga Series", "Skye's Legacy Series" and the "Friarsgate Inheritance Saga Series". The "O'Malley Family Saga Series" has captivated the hearts of many fans, telling the tales of the fascinating adventures of the Irish protagonist Skye O'Malley and her involvement in royal conflicts, passionate pursuits and bold encounters. Readers will truly enjoy this novel as they flip page after page, relishing the excitement in the novel.</P><P>In 2010, Small has released new titles for her novel series, such as "Passionate Pleasures" (Book 5 of "Channel Pleasures Series"), "The Border Vixen" (Book 5 of "The Border Chronicles") and "Crown of Destiny" (Book 6 of "World of Hetar" Series).</P><P>Small has also written single titles, each with a unique concept, plot and storyline, such as "The Kadin", "Love Wild and Fair" and "A Moment in Time", which are also popular among fans.</P><P>Besides working on her own individual novels and series, Small has collaborated with other authors to produce several anthologies as well.</P><P><STRONG>Upcoming books</EM></STRONG></P><P>Small will be releasing new titles in late 2011, "Guilty Pleasures" (Book 6 of "Channel Pleasures Series") and "Bond of Passion" (Book 6 of "The Border Chronicles").</P><P>Advocate of Acmamall.com. Acmamall.com is an international online store selling over a million book titles offering free shipping to Singapore and Malaysia orders. Acmamall.com is committed to providing Safe, Trustworthy and Convenient online retail services for all her customers. To find out more about Acmamall.com, visit http://www.acmamall.com/</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6328696" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-83988941020762646402011-07-05T13:32:00.000-07:002011-07-05T13:32:00.577-07:00 <P>Professor Richard Dawkins denounces God existence with a bibliographic mass from numerous scientists, theologians, and philosophers. In his second major effort to promote atheism, he again denigrates humanity's limp toward theism. Based on bias, opinion, and idiosyncratic diversity, he pens a non-sustaining apologetic for his long-held promotion of disbelief.</P><P>Notwithstanding a great grasp of language, the eminent academician attempts to evaluate an idiom lying far outside his field of expertise. This is not Dawkins' first expedition into the Bible's profuse and puzzling cabala (code). In THE ANCESTOR'S TALE, he leads readers on an intriguing journey from origins of life to evolutionary development within bio-diversity. Dichotomizing science and religion, he states the obvious in science logic: "Where science scores over alternative worldviews is that we know our uncertainty, we can often measure its magnitude, and we work optimistically to reduce it." The observation reeks of logic; yet, in the area of metaphysics, Richard Dawkins forsakes logic to promote unconditional rejection of traditional religion's iconolatry (worship of images or icons). His failure to intercept first century etymologic transformation and convention's interpretative stagnation is revealing: "From a strictly cladistic (phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary histories of organism groups, bw) point of view, however, the vertebrate/invertebrate distinction is an odd one, nearly as unnatural as the ancient Jewish classification of humanity into themselves and 'gentiles' (literally everybody else, bw)." Here, Dawkins strays from science into religion's linguistic trap; for, as is already proven in recent research, 'everybody else' is a capitulation to tradition's 'gentile' rationale!</P><P>Early on, in THE GOD DELUSION, Richard Dawkins defines 'perception of reason' as an 'evaluation of thought'; at the same time, he attempts prejudiced opinion as an evaluation of fact: i.e., "I believe God does not exist; therefore, if Einstein and other scientists voice like sentiments, then, it must be so.' In Ben Winter philosophy, two such premises cannot produce a related fact. They can lead only to another opinion. Such is not grounded in syllogistic reasoning. Logic must separate the wheat and chaff of evidence and desire from its synecdoche storehouse and thus earn a place in syllogistic standing.</P><P>Proof of argumentation lies neither in discipline tidbits nor in discipline creeds, but rather in the legal-historical immutability of biblical context. Only proof or un-proof found in Bible interior is liable to the efficacy of theism or atheism. Dawkins addresses many shades of belief: theism, deism, agnosticism, and atheism: each holding its own obligation to linguistic limits and not to casual acceptance. Quoting many theorists, thinkers, and philosophers, he fails to include a quote from the renowned Immanuel Kant: "No man has the intellect to deny another man's God."</P><P>Dawkins' book is more about cultural inheritance, than proof-positiveness of atheism or factual dismissal of theism. Of either, proof is noticeably absent. But if you like an intellectual read, you might like this book. This critique author challenges either atheist or theist to further debate on the strictness and limits of Bible language and to further investigate syllogistic accountability.</P><P>Ben Winter, particles physicist, Bible scholar, and author of "THE GREAT DECEPTION: Symbols And Numbers Clarified," reveals there 'is' something new under the sun -- that is, for modern Bible students, addressing a correctness of language and true intent of the major Bible topics: solves Bible mysteries, defines Gog and Magog, reveals Daniel He-goat's surprising identity, daring to number the all important Ten Ages. Sign up for FREE book critiques at http://www.winterbriar.com/ and view more articles in blog format at http://blog.thegreatdeception.net/.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/5769446" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888873934874519581.post-58842379709909135122011-07-05T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-05T12:18:00.211-07:00 <P>There are times while reading <STRONG>Blood, Bone, & Butter</STRONG> by Gabrielle Hamilton that I find myself smiling from the simple pleasure of her prose. A good writer can tell you how she makes pasta. A great writer makes you want to dust the flour off your hands once she has finished telling you how she</EM> makes pasta. Gabrielle Hamilton is a great writer.</P><P>The opening pages of Blood, Bone, & Butter </EM>paint an achingly beautiful portrait of an ideal life lived with the perfect family that you know it will go terribly wrong in short order. And when it does go pear shaped, there is a great sense of loss. I wanted, really</EM> wanted, that perfect vision of living the good life to carry on for a little while longer. But that is not what this book is about, that is just the fantasy of what was, like Bambi before his Mom dies. The end of innocence is the beginning of the story.</P><P>And there are a lot of stumbles and rambles and pointless meanderings in this 291 page story of one of the best female</EM> chefs in NYC. (She is waiting for the day when she is one of the best chefs.) But like the odd and off topic chapters in Moby Dick, I didn't really mind most of it, as I find the author's company charming and her word choices and descriptions always visceral and engaging.</P><P>One of the interesting discussion is the fact that women chefs are still something of an oddity in the rarefied world of cooking. This strikes me as odd, since I grew up watching the flamboyant Julie Child and the flaming Graham Kerr. The idea that being a chef is one of the last strongholds of Real Men in America was something of shock when I read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential</EM>-I guess somethings never change. This is kind of like hearing that being a Hair Dresser is the last job for Real Men in America.</P><P>Hey, didn't the 19th Amendment pass in like 1919 or something? Just wondering.</P><P>More than anything else it brings out my latent desires to cook-to do more than whip up the occasional familiar meal, to make something grand and unusual like the great meals that Gabrielle plans and prepares with those rare and wonderful ingredients that don't seem to exist outside the small world where she lives and moves.</P><P>It is funny to read her loving descriptions of unusual and exotic foods, and then have her immediately berate the whole food movement as nothing more than a bunch of morons on both sides of the transaction ruining fresh produce markets with their self righteous views of food.</P><P>Gabrielle Hamilton is a chef/author/mother/wife/lesbian/nutso/feminist and she puts her years of college writing classes to good use. She has honed her sentences to brilliance, but like many other great technicians of the English language, she tends to focus of the trees at the expense of the forest. The overall story is a mishmash of random recollections that are loosely tied together in chronological order with food as a central theme. The most jarring bit is when we jump from Gabriellia being a poor schmuck working as a catering cook to being a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and sitting on a panel at The Culinary Institute of America. The transition from her looking at an unrented restaurant to being a celebrity chef appears instantaneous. Her move from lesbian to married with children also seems to happen in the blink of an eye.</P><P>Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chefends without any real resolutions to the many issues brought up in the last third of the book. We are left feeling that Gabrielle's greatest accomplishment in life is not being a great chef, but in having the courage to trim a few tree branches. It was still a great read, I just wish it had a bit more structure.</P><P>As a portrait photographer I found the author's photo to be a bit odd. Gabrielle Hamilton is standing barefooted behind a house holding an industrial tray of tomatoes. It's an awkward pose and it makes my shoulders and back hurt to look at it. It's one those author's photos I look at and think-you know, I could have taken a better portrait.</P><br /><p><a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6369700" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0