Book-to-market

THIS BOOK IS THE MOST PRACTICAL, SIMPLEST GUIDE FOR EVERY ONE WHO INTENDS TO WRITE

Wow! There is more practical learning available per ounce of these books than *any* other music books I have seen. I had to take my time, but I sure learned a lot! Unbelievably inexpensive for what you get, too!

Book #1 is all about rhythm, and starts with whole and quarter notes. One chapter I particularly liked was the one on how to be a conductor. It was both fun and helped me feel the rhythm better. There are practice sections or "workshops" at the end of each chapter, and many of the examples are Christian songs.

All three books follow the same meritous style. Book 2 walks you through composing a melody, and book 3 crowns it all with techniques for creating harmony!

Excellent! I highly recommend these books. For me, it was time and money very well spent!

This is a fantastic book and it is too bad it is no longer in print. Excellent explaination of how things work in the stock world, and how to make handsome returns on your money. Logically presented with good explainations of the processes.

Friendly tone book with especially helpful case studies in the last third of the book. An easy read even for folks who dislike details. Speaks to a wide range audience as information interestingly applies to rank beginners, but holds your interest with the case studies even if you are a seasoned investor.

This book was SO helpful; perusing it made me the best Italian speaker of my fellow travelers. This book gives the travel essentials, unlike other series. Really useful phrases!

This book is Merriman's fourth book in a series of comprehensive volumes in the Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing series:
Volume I. Cycles and Patterns in Indexes
Volume II. Geocosmic Correlations to Investment Cycles
Volume III. Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles
Volume IV. Solar/Lunar Correlations to Short-Term Trading Reversals
Volume V. Technical Tools and Trading Cycles (not yet completed)

As is the case with his previous volumes II and III, the reader unfamiliar with astrology will have difficulty in understanding the book. Many of the astrological terms are neither clearly defined, nor explained as to their importance. Those readers familiar with astrology will have no such problems. Readers unfamiliar with astrology and the financial markets, should first read Merriman's 60-page basic primer "Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing."

Volume IV is a 241-page paperback (8.5" x 11"). Very few researchers and market analysts have the stamina, knowledge, time, and skill to write one ground-breaking book on the markets. Merriman has accomplished that feat four times over, and he is not done yet, with a fifth volume underway.

As I expected, Merriman has produced exhaustive research on the correlation of geocosmic signatures with high and low points in three equities markets. The book's hypothesis is that short-term traders can take advantage of specific reversal dates during the year that can be identified by using specific solar/lunar combinations. Most researchers who have found statistically valid correlations of data to stock prices that can be used for profitable trading, tend to keep it to themselves, and not share it with the public. Merriman has taken the opposite road and shares his years of research with all of us. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us (short-term traders) to give his findings serious consideration. Any edge that we can get in the markets is something that should be examined and put to the test.

Merriman's reviews 60 years of DJIA price data coupled with all the Sun-Moon combinations. He also reviews similar combinations with almost two decades of data for the Nasdaq composite and the Japanese Nikkei index. He focuses on determining the important reversal dates ( one or three day time bands a few times a year) - 4% or more changes in value -- for specific Sun-Moon combinations. Traders can get ready to act on these reversal points with minimal risk. Traders who use the QQQs, SPYs, and DIAs, as well as futures and options can benefit from Merriman's identification of these timeframes.

Merriman found that certain lunar cycles and certain Sun-Moon signs correlate consistently with tradable highs and lows in the financial markets, and identifies them. At the end of the book, Merriman has a chapter devoted to a short-term trading methodology that clearly spells out the 16 steps required to take advantage of the key reversal dates. He covers a few intraday technical indicators with his 16-step methodology, and then shows a detailed example.

In summary, this book is another significant contribution in the area of timing the market -with specific emphasis on using solar/lunar correlations to identify high probability key reversal dates. For those readers with a solid understanding of these subject areas, the usefulness of this book is apparent. For other readers who feel that the material presented is useful, but cannot fully understand it to use it, then consider Merriman's other services that include newsletters, seminars, software, annual forecasts and reports ... In conclusion, Merriman continues to add significant value to short-term trader's ability to profit from identifiable and profitable market situations. Those who take the time to study his work will find a new tool to use.

The only reason I read this book is because I had already bought it. Save your money, it's not a keeper. It's a Fantasy written with too many modern romance moments that just kill the atmosphere. Not at all dark or sensual, just annoying. Too bad I can't give it zero stars.

Heir to the Shadows, the second of the Black Jewels trilogy, successful sequel to Daughter of the Blood. In some ways it improves upon the first book. Highly enjoyable to any lover of fantasy books.

This second installment takes place just after the events of the first book. After escaping the "uncles," everyone is weary and battered from the ordeal, especially Jaenelle. The book revolves around Saetan, his sons, and Jaenelle's friends from all over Kaeleer trying to help Jaenelle recover from her emotional trauma and get her ready to take her place as Queen.

This, in and of itself, causes some problems. Firstly, there is never a sense that the plot is going anywhere, just day-to-day life of Jaenelle's adopted family with little direction. The SaDiablo household, however, is far from ordinary, and that alone makes things interesting. One major complaint of mine are the villains. Hekatah in particular is one of the cheesiest villains I've seen. In nearly every scene she's in, she flirts with some male conspirator or other, spilling out the latest version of her "master plan" to overthrow her arch nemesis (Saetan) and gain control of the realms. I swear, all she needs is a sinister evil cackle and a trite phrase like "the world will soon be mine" and she could be in a comic book.

Most of the conflicts in the book are the result of Hekatah carrying out her evil schemes---after giving you every last detail of it in a previous chapter---and Jaenelle and her friends dealing with the aftermath of said schemes. It feels like Bishop writes these "villain scenes" just to remind you that her villains are still in the book and to throw some conflict into an otherwise conflict-deprived story.

Aside from that, there are some improvements in this book over the last one. Firstly, Heir to the Shadows is easier to get into that Daughter of the Blood due to less back story about the characters and more tame subject matter. The book retains its dark, sensual edge. It just employs less shock value than before. There are lots of lighter moments in this book too. I truly watching the various characters interact with Jaenelle. It comes to the point that whenever Jaenelle walks into the room (and is in a good mood), you know she's going to say something incredible and you'll be treated to some delightfully light-hearted dialogue.

All in all, Heir to the Shadows is a worthy continuation of the Black Jewels trilogy, though not without faults. Lack of direction, poor villains, and blatant abuse of the "destiny" plot device drags the book down, but it is so well written that I doubt you'll mind too much.

I do not like to give plot away, so I will tell you only that this book starts where the other one (Daughter of the Blood) left off. It has a few more pages but once you start reading, you will not want to stop. If you have not read any other reviews, please note that this book is the second in a trilogy and you will be hopelessly lost if you do not start at the beginning with book one.

Jaenelle or Witch (Dreams made flesh) has been seriously harmed mind and body at the end of book one. Her protectors take her away to some place safe where she can heal but it literally takes years for her to get it together. After she wakes up- she is lost- her body has grown around her but her emotions have not caught up. She has endured so much with still more to come. She is forced to make choices that will change the Blood forever.

I never thought I would fall in love characters with the names Saeten, Daemon, Lucivar and want to go live in a place called Hell just to meet them. (LOL) The characters are complex, rich with detail and emotion. The kindred are introduced more fully in this book as the reader is informed that there are animals, mythical and well known, that are also part of the Blood realm. Anne Bishop is excellent at character development. I have not had a book draw me in the way this one did in a very long time.

It is very easy to slip into this book and feel like you are part of it. At the end of the first book, there was a point where I got chills and became quite emotionally bound to the welfare of the main character.The second book has repeated that sensation. I was so glad I orderd the last two books together so I would not have to wait to find out what happens.

This is a complex book but a truly easy and delightful read for people who have been burned out on the same old formula we have been getting fed lately from the bestsellers list. I absolutely recommend it and thank the author for sharing her imagination.

Stop what you are doing and go get this book. Don't walk- RUN! Then marvel at this trilogy and hold a mental vigil for a fourth book.

A Summer To Die is a very sad book, but it was great. 13 year old Meg envies her older sister, Molly, who is beautiful, practically perfect, and has a great boyfriend. One night Molly gets really sick and tells Meg to get their parents. Molly is rushed to the hospital and Meg feels as though it was all her fault. Finally Molly comes home from the hospital, but still can't go back to school, but she seems to be getting better, until one morning Meg got mad Molly was still in bed at 11 o'clock and when Molly goes to get out of bed, Meg sees something is wrong again. Molly asks that Meg not say anything about it, but she does and Molly is sent back to the hospital. Toward the end of the book Meg realizes that Molly isn't going to be coming home. Will Meg be able to tell her sister that she cares? Read the book to find out. This is a wonderful book I am sure you will like it!

A SUMMER TO DIE was one of the best books I have ever read. This book has had a big impact on my life and it has made me look at some people in a very different way. It has also made me treat others with respect, ecspecially my family more than anything, even if they aren't your favorite person/people in the world. You should respect family more than anyone or anything because family comes first! Blood is thicker than water! In this book, thirt-teen year-old Meg enivies her sister, Molly because she has everything Meg wants! She has beauty, boyfriends all the time, and gets all the attention. Sometimes, Meg even gets mad at Molly becuase she is so pretty. But when Molly starts getting very sick, Meg realizes she didn't know what she had until she was loosing it. In the end, Molly died of a very sick disease called leukemia. Meg was terribly upset but she had to move on and remember the good times they spent together. In this book, I feel the author wanted everyone to learn that we should all respect who and what we have because you never what your going to lose or when your going to lose it!

This was a great book when I read it in 4th grade and it still is. I love the meaning behind the book. I would recommend it to all middle school girls.

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series is certainly derivative. A young scullion with dreams of grandeur finds himself embroiled in an epic struggle to save the land of Osten Ard from the dreaded Storm King... Stop me if you've heard this before. Even so, "The Dragon Bone Chair" (book one in the so-called four book 'trilogy'), was a compelling return to the undying genre of high fantasy, and fueled my interest in the series that ultimately lead me to the second offering, "The Stone of Farewell" - a book that was slow, ponderous, and anti-climactic. "To Green Angel Tower: Part 1" is an improvement over the middle volume, but might have been equally disappointing were it not for the later chapters.

This book moves at a glacial pace that's unfortunate. If you found "The Stone of Farewell" to be unexciting, but you've decided to persevere, then the first portion of this follow-up will have you second guessing your decision. Very little happens of any consequence, and many subplots are pointlessly integrated into a story that sometimes forgets its true goal, and its true nemesis. One particular adventure, which sees some of our heroes rescuing a friend from an insect-like menace, is overwrought, overlong, and underwhelming. Though this "side quest," so to speak, does have a minute connection to the Storm King at the heart of the story, it's thin at best and serves as nothing if not filler. This is but one example of Williams' divergence from what's important, and what keeps his readers... well, reading.

Passionless as the first chunk of this thickset tome is, it finally recaptures the urgency of book one as it progresses into the latter chapters - and it's a very welcome thing, because the world of Osten Ard is a beautifully conceived and richly textured place, and the threat of the Storm King is suitably menacing and ominous. Even better, many of the novel's characters grow into maturity (literally as well as figuratively). Eolair, who before seemed like just another waste of space, comes into his own as a living, breathing, and ultimately likable character. Miriamele stops behaving as a spoiled brat, and actually begins to grow into a woman. The main character, Simon, even gets a bit more relatable, though I still cannot help but wish someone else was the hero of the story. Even knighted, he still behaves as a naïve, whiny child. Still, Jiriki, Aditu, Binabik, and Isgrimnur are as likable as ever, and Camaris takes a pleasant turn as well - even if he displays an implausible recovery from that which plagues him.

As a whole, the negatives and positives make "To Green Angel Tower: Part 1" a decent read, and nothing more. Too often this is a bit of a 'skimmer,' where you can leap and bound over several paragraphs and miss absolutely nothing of significance. Then again, as you progress things improve so dramatically that you'll want to pour over each and every word. Despite suffering from too much filler, and sometimes too little character building, this belongs to a series that could have been a classic were it not for its poor, uneven pacing. Still, the series is good and surprisingly well-written, and stands out in an overcrowded genre. If the dull moments ultimately lead to the joy of the exciting ones, then I say it's worth the price.

To Green Angel Tower is a terrific ending to a great fantasy series. I read Fantasy novels religiously, and I can tell you that Tolkien himself would have been proud to have written this. Sure, it's derivative in its way. It's even almost predictable. But the characters are so engaging (and for ANY Fantasy to work, characters, and not setting, must come first) you won't care. The only other work I've read in the last decade that compares is Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay. In this novel (split into two books for the paperback version - it's just so thick) Simon the scullion boy becomes a man, Princess Miriamele comfronts her father, King Elias, and his evil, and the monk Cadrach reveals his secrets. With a cast of hundreds, this series is as sweeping as any Doctor Zhivago or Gone With The Wind. In fact, it would be easier to compare this work to those, rather than Lord of the Rings. People who aren't fans of Fantasy would actually do better to pick this series up FIRST, before LOTR. Yes, you heard me correctly. LOTR is the greatest Fantasy work ever written, but more people could actually relate to the themes of MST. Everyone grows up, and there are not many stories about Rites of Passage that are as good as this one. If you are a Fantasy fan and haven't read this series, you're missing out. Read and enjoy.

This whole series is so amazing. Unlike some popular fantasy series out now like the Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn never misses a step. Actually, throughout the series it just keeps picking up steam and getting better and better. The characters are so amazing and real. The world is fully realized and detailed. The plot has so many twists and turns yet you never get lost in the threads. In this the first part of the final book, you can see many of the threads that Williams has introduced begin to come together. Many fantasy books get bogged down with too much magic, too many superheroes, and too many unbelievable events and it starts to lose its authenticity. Not so with this series. When the fantasy elements are introduced, they are truly fantastic since they are not so commonplace you feel like you are playing D&D. Overall this is one of the greatest fantasy series ever written.

"So You Want To Be A Wizard" is the beginning of an exciting and tantalizing series where wizardry and life in the city are a little too close for comfort. Nita, an intelligent but physically unendowed 13-year-old, finds refuge in the kid's section of the library after a particularly bad beating by a group of school bullies - and finds a book that not only tells her that there *is* magic but how to get it, why to get it, and how to use it.

Kit, a 12-year-old Hispanic boy with school troubles similar to hers, teams up with her in a wizardly Ordeal to gain their powers. Shifted "sideways" into an alternate Manhattan, they discover both their wizardly talents and find friends in each other.

I originally read first High Wizardry (the last books in the series), then Deep Wizardry (the second book) and then this, before going on to A Wizard Abroad. I also enjoyed her Feline Wizards series, of which only two books are in print so far. However, other YA readers may not: they are on an adult reading level and you need to appreciate this.

I also recommend other books (most of these are fantasy) by Patricia Wrede (her Dragons series, "Dealing with Dragons", "Talking with Dragons", etc), the Unicorn series by Tamora Pierce ("Black Unicorn", "Red Unicorn"), the "Hero and the Crown" and "The Blue Sword" by Robin McKinley.

All of these books, including (especially!) So You Want To Be A Wizard have strong female protagonists. I am, after all, a 13-year-old girl and really dislike the knight-in-shining-armour- rescues-the-damsel-in-distress stuff.

I believe you will really enjoy So You Want to Be A Wizard. Either buy it here or ask for it at a library. Interlibrary Loan works really well!

Enjoy!

I have read almost every fantasy and sci-fi book that I can find and this was one of the best. It's about a girl named Nita (Juanita) who's having a hard time at school and takes refuge in the library to avoid getting clobbered. There she finds a book titled 'so you want to be a wizard' that tells her about her potential to be a one. She thinks it's all a joke but she reads it anyway. Nita, a hispanic boy named Kit, and a white hole named Fred that they picked up try to open a world gate to get Nita's pen back and have their plans go horribly wrong. Flung into a different dimension for fiddling with the world gate they have to battle the Lone Power and his oddly deranged machines to escape. I'm in 7th grade and I have lent this book to all my friends and even the ones who don't like to read love it. If you like fantasy and/or science fiction then this is definetly the book to read.

As a young adult librarian, I try to read as many books for that audience as I can. I happened across "So You Want to Be a Wizard" and decided to read it. Being a great fan of fantasy, I am very familiar with the typical epic tale that takes thousands of pages to reach its conclusion. This novel has many of those great epic characteristics (references to creation/creator(s), the choosing of ordinary-seeming young people to be saviors of the universe, the battle between good and evil, etc.), yet manages to tell the complete story in less than 400 pages.

The novel is about two junior high students, Nita and Kit, and what befalls them when they attempt to use their new-found wizard abilities to locate Nita's stolen pen. In the process they meet a white hole, who they nickname Fred (a white hole being the opposite of a black hole - a black hole absorbs things; a white hole emits things). It turns out that Nita's pen is in an alternate New York City, where cars, elevators, door locks, and other mechanical objects are all self-aware - and vicious. The landmarks and buildings of New York City are very integral to the setting of this novel. Natives of the city would really appreciate this.

Despite the inclusion of a universe-threatening battle between good and evil, there is a lot of humor in this book. Fred's difficulties in adapting to the planet earth were particularly amusing. In my opinion this is an excellent fantasy novel. I came to care for the characters very much. Not many novels make me both laugh and cry, but this one did.