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Netherland

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by: Joseph O'Neill

May 06, 2008
There's a lot going on beneath the surface in Joseph O'Neill's novel "Netherland". The title is a multiple play on words: the hero being Dutch, the bonds between the principal characters playing out beneath the surface, and the setting of the New York immigrant community. This is a complex piece of literary fiction that eludes reductive analysis, so some readers (as they have done on this site) will respond to the story of the narrator's marriage, others to his association with cricket, others to his experiences as a foreigner in New York and London, and others to the 9/11 zeitgeist.

Narrated by Hans van den Broek, a Dutch commodities analyst, the novel opens with Hans learning of the death of a former acquaintance, Chuck Ramkissoon, ... Read More:

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The Unbearable Lightness of Scones: A New 44 Scotland Street Novel (44 Scotland Street 5): A New 44 Scotland Street Novel (44 Scotland Street 5)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Alexander McCall Smith

July 01, 2008
There's a lot going on beneath the surface in Joseph O'Neill's novel "Netherland". The title is a multiple play on words: the hero being Dutch, the bonds between the principal characters playing out beneath the surface, and the setting of the New York immigrant community. This is a complex piece of literary fiction that eludes reductive analysis, so some readers (as they have done on this site) will respond to the story of the narrator's marriage, others to his association with cricket, others to his experiences as a foreigner in New York and London, and others to the 9/11 zeitgeist.

Narrated by Hans van den Broek, a Dutch commodities analyst, the novel opens with Hans learning of the death of a former acquaintance, Chuck Ramkissoon, ... Read More:

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Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food: Recipes from "The F Word"

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by: Gordon Ramsay

May 03, 2007
This is the book to turn to after a long day at work, but you want something tasty for dinner.Put away the takeaway menus, almost all the dishes in this book are quicker and tastier.Not to mention a whole lot better for you.Stock up with a few essentials, follow the recipies, and you can have great food on the table, and still have time to "play".
Excellent

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The Snail and the Whale

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by: Julia Donaldson

September 03, 2004
This was an instant hit with my toddler, who was entranced by the rhymes and learned the word snail within a single read. I found myself quite moved when reading it too, especially when the snail feels small in the big beautiful world.

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The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

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by: Naomi Klein

May 01, 2008
I had not expected Klein's book to be this good. We learn a lot here about how the Chicago School of Economics (as pioneered by Milton Friedman) has been responsible for some of the most atrocious political crimes of the last 4 decades. Crimes that were committed not only against the body politic of developing nations but also the bodies of human beings tortured under dictatorships.

Everyone who doubts that America has blood on its hands for its interference in world affairs (e.g. Chile, Iran, Russia, Argentina) needs to open their eyes. Democracy and Free Markets do not go hand-in-hand as Bush and the Neo-Cons would have you believe, but quite the opposite: wherever Chicago economists have sought to imopose their brand of capitalism it has been ... Read More:

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book]

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by: Eric Carle

September 29, 1994
Fabulous story, beautifully and ingeniously illustrated.
The story of a week in the life of a caterpillar, from egg to cocoon to fully fledged butterfly, as it chomps its way through various foods in an attempt to satisfy it's insatiable appetite.
Lovely story and the visible holes the caterpillar makes in the various foods, one hole for day one, two for day two and so on, bring the story to life.
Highly recommended as a bedtime/anytime reader.

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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk (How to Help Your Child) (How to Help Your Child)

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by: Adele Faber; Elaine Mazlish

May 03, 2001
This book is excellent. Parents, who want lasting discipline, in the true sense of the word [teaching], look no further. As other reviewers have said, there is no quick fix. If that's what you are after, God help your kids!

As an author, I also found the techniques and suggestions easy to pick up and assimilate.

It is relevant for school, home and life in general.

We can't get enough of this kind of material.

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The Night Pirates

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by: Peter Harris

September 01, 2005
This is one of my and my 4 year old son's favourite books. It tells the fantastic story of Tom and a team of girl pirates who steal the front of Tom's house and use it to disguise their ship so they can steal treasure from Captain Patch and his grown up pirates.

What sets this book apart is the wonderful illustrations and the text which not only has a gentle rhyme and repetition but flows across the page using different fonts and layouts to help tell the story. for instance when the pirates run away, so do the letters.....

This book will be treasured by any boy or girl and it is particularly refreshing to find a story about girls who are not pink princessese. Buy this book - you will not be disappointed!

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Sword Song (Alfred the Great 4)

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by: Bernard Cornwell

May 06, 2008
I do agree with Barks. When is the next one going to be published? This series of books throws some light on the Dark Ages amidst high adventure. Plenty of blood and gore and a superb story with some twists to keep the reader page turning.

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Odd Hours

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by: Dean Koontz

July 01, 2008
A bit disappointed with this one. I've enjoyed all the other `Odd Thomas' books, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this one - it was just a bit flat.

I found it rather short and very single track. Nothing particularly supernatural - just a guy trying to stop a disaster while skipping over a lot of the details that I enjoy from an Odd Thomas book. Just from reading this one you can tell there is another one on the way explaining the significance of many items/people skipped over in this book. It felt like a prelude to a good story.