Bond Reviews

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "Chatelaine ... to some she seemed a seductress, to some a sorceress, but to the people of Montlimoux she was chatelaine, mistress of moonlit spires and sunlit meadows, of a sleepy contented land that time had left behind. The bewitching Countess Dominique de Bar had devoted her life to making Montlimoux a place of peace and harmony; now all her efforts were threatened by a single stranger disguised in beggar's garb. Paxton of Wynchester was a leader of men, a conqueror who knew more of war than love. He demanded Dominique's surrender, taking first her lush holdings and then her vulnerable virgin's body. But in the sweet ecstasy of their union lay an unexpected twist. which of them had been seduced, and which truly conquered? As he feel deeper under Dominique's silken spell, Paxton realized he had seriously underestimated the power of a woman's love."

I have a difficult time keeping this book on the shelf. Most everyone wants to borrow it. I work in an electro-magnetics lab and I have found that knowing bond graphs is extremely useful. This book is highly recommended.

Long out of print and never available in mass-market paperback, this book collects 13 of Bond's best stories, most of them science-fantasy. My particular favorites are "Pilgrimage" and "The Sportsman", a low-key but effective story about a riding club. Bond is a masterful story-teller, with a subtle and definite wit.

As Role Playing Game supplements go, this one has all the elements of a "must-have". Along with the Q-Manual and Basic game, this add-on shows once again the high quality of gaming materials Avalon Hill has become known for. Being the last supplement published for the highly underrated role playing game featuring the world's greatest spy, "Thrilling Locations" is one of the jewels of the collection. (As a side note, Avalon Hill was purchased by Hasbro Interactive in 1998 and it has become unclear what will happen to the James Bond 007 roleplaying franchise as the company is restructured to fit Hasbro's business model.)

If you play the James Bond roleplaying game, and particularly if you are a game master, this is an invaluable resource. One can find in-depth information about the ritzy locations and high-priced vehicles James Bond would encounter in one of his most extravagant missions in Her Majesty's Secret Service. From casinos to restaurants, yachts to jets, this book gives in-depth descriptions and game stats on the most expensive of Bond locations and vehicles. One can also find the bios and stats of the people who can afford to live such an outrageous lifestyle, or those work for them. This softcover book features color photos and the information is surprisingly accurate, as the book was written with the cooperation of the actual establishments and manufacturers it features.

"Thrilling Locations" also contains the rules and game mechanics for a host of games of chance that players may encounter in the game, including roulette, blackjack, and of course, baccarat.

After reading this very enjoyable book, one truly knows a little more about how it would feel to stand in the shoes of the man known as "Bond... James Bond."

Ruskin Bond is one of the very few authors who write not only for a living, but for the sheer pleasure of writing. His works are mostly semi-autobiographical and semi-fictional. Reading Ruskin Bond's books gives you that feeling of oneness with the author himself, while he skillfully mesmerizes you, not letting you sense the fiction in his writing. Time Stops at Shamli is a collection of simple yet compelling stories that happen in rural India. Ruskin Bond's characters are mostly ordinary men and women, who usually have a rather uneventful life. However, that does not make them less interesting in any way. The title story, Time Stops at Shamli, revloves around his adolescent love, and the other stories provide excellent variety. I can always feel that trace of subtle humor in all his stories, which is actually very difficult to embed.

I would like to recommend A TRADITION THAT HAS NO NAME to Amazon readers. The first author, Mary Belenky, is probably best-known for her co-authorship of WOMEN'S WAYS OF KNOWING, which described a model of women's development of "self, voice, and mind." TRADITION explores how presumably powerless, "voiceless" women have learned to speak out in ways that have changed their own lives and their children's lives, and have had lasting impact on their communities.

This is really three books in one. The first explores the Listening Partners project. It demonstrated that poor, isolated, and marginalized women could nevertheless support each other in significant growth and change, when brought together in community. The second examines several women-created community-based organizations that have not only improved the lives of participants, but by drawing on the ideas, talents, and persistence of their members have also contributed to social change.

The third explores how women who were either frankly excluded or subtly ignored by their local power structures supported one another to become leaders in the struggle for change. Though some of these groups had one or a few visionary women acting as the original catalysts, they are noteworthy for *not* creating hierarchical power relations. Governance, to the extent that it exists, is shared; all are welcome, all are valued, all contribute in whatever ways they can. This collaborative, affirming process enables women to think in new ways about the challenges they face.

Quoting liberally and effectively from the experiences of scores of diverse women, this book documents how individuals and communities can develop and change when women gather and share their ideas and talents--talents which many do not realize they have, until they are valued by the collective.

Anyone interested in women's issues, alternative leadership styles, or human development, or who wants to empower others, or who holds a vision of a society in which ! all have voice will want to read this elegant, stirring book.

Instead of gettting a tiny 1.8% interest with your bank. This book proves the value of the world's most popular security, and how it really is a sound, safe and tax deffered investment. Most people do not realize bonds will earn interest for thirty years after their face value and have various interest rates.

Uncommon Friends: Celebrating The Human-Animal Bond is a gentle memoir of the love shared between an animal lover and her four-legged canine and feline friends. In Uncommon Friends, Julie Adams Church reflects both on the joy of living pets and the memory of loved animals passed on. The result of these insightful commentaries and nostalgic reminisces is a moving, compelling testimony that will strike a kindred reflection in fellow animal lovers.

I like this book. It provides a good summary of a complete list of the term structure models. Best of all, it contains a consistent methodology for deriving interest rate derivatives. The forward measure technique is explained very well. However, symbols are not clear and later chapters are too "concise". I would like to see more numerical examples. Also, an inclusion of numerical methods should be helpful.

The front half of the book has Spanish words defined in English and the second half has the Spanish translation of English words. This dual reference is very useful. I used this dictionary during the four years I lived in Ecuador and in Spanish classes I have taught. What I like most about it is how it specifies the uniqueness of words to particular regions. A word unique to a particular country will have a country designation next to it. A useful tool for the multi-country traveler. It is also small (the text is quite small, but well spaced), so not at all cumbersome to carry around, yet complete enough to have what you are looking for. Additionally, there are language guides, such as verb conjugations. Overall, it's the best Spanish/English dictionary available.