Buy-on-the

This book delivers, I did not know about options prior reading, the simple and yet comprehensive presentation allows to develop a good grasp of how to use options on a conservative and solid fashion.
What he advocates (protection and enhancement) of a portfolio is well presented and plan to use his advice.
More likely will now seek more information and knowledge with more elaborated books (not sure is really needed) but the basics are here.
thank you Wolfinger

I found this book to be just what I was looking for. After a complete introduction to the topic, Mr. Wolfinger helps the novice options investor clearly understand one conservative strategy. The author is very dedicated and thorough in explaining the concepts. He makes no assumptions that the reader has previous knowledge of what he teaches, yet he is never condescending. I also appreciate the easy to read font size. The text is large enough that I can read it without my glasses! Many thanks to the author for having the patience and know-how to start a beginner from "square one". I look forward to other books on the subject by this author.

Enjoyed this book! It delivers as promised. I picked it up hoping to get a clear understanding of options and how they work. I was more than pleased, as this book provided all I was looking for, and more. The author presents material in pleasant, easy to grasp language. I now have a very clear understanding of options. The covered call writing strategy sounds good to me. I never knew it was so easy to obtain some safety for my stocks. I have already opened my options account and my broker is offering encouragement.

Wolf Matheson, a NYPD homicide detective investigates the murder of a billionnaire who dies in bizarre circumstances. Sooner rather than later, he is up against corrupt fellow officers and discovers that the body found is the tip of the iceberg. In Japan, the Black Blade Society, a kind of Yakuza-style organisation has the very latest in neural-net computers called The Hive planning their greatest operation yet. In Washington, a clandestine agency is conspiring to destroy Japan's abilities as an economic world power. Add these three elements together, throw in Wolf's love interest Chika, a Japanese girl who leads him to the Black Blade Society and helps him rediscover an ability he was taught by his Native American family in order to fight the bad guys. Like THE NINJA and all the other novels in that series, BLACK BLADE has all the necessary ingredients of a Lustbader classic - action, suspense, Oriental mysticism, sizzling sex scenes and martial arts combat scenes put well into print. Overall, a must purchase!

The characters are alive. The plot is complex and rich with detail. I found it to be a wonderful night time read. Eric Lustbader books get better each time you read it, you will notice details you haven't noticed before.

I love cheese. A world without cheese is almost unimaginable. I have never met a cheese I didn't like. It is one of the most delicious and flavorful foods on Earth, as well as one of the most versatile.

You can have cheese as an appetizer, a soup, a salad, a main course, or even as a dessert. If you should have any doubt about my somewhat sweeping declaration, you need only open this book. It contains over a hundred and fifty eclectic, mouth watering, delicious recipes, where cheese is a prime ingredient.

I came upon this book at a school auction, coupled with a lovely cheese board. I placed a silent bid on the set, and to my surprise, I was the successful bidder. I took the items home, and being a bookaholic, began perusing this book.

To my surprise, I discovered it to be much more than a cookbook, as it gives the reader precise instructions on how to buy, store, and serve just about every conceivable variety of cheese. All this information is imparted in a conversational tone, making for easy reading.

The author tells the reader how her love of cheese motivated her to start her own cheese factory, the very successful "Mozzarella Company". She also starts the reader from scratch, telling one what cheese actually is. She also gives the reader a fascinating overview on the history of cheese, as well as a chapter on cheese and nutrition.

The author goes to great lengths to describe the various types of cheese, categorizing it by texture, flavor, and country of origin. She gives tips on buying and serving cheese, as well as tips on what to do with leftover cheese. She also gives suggestions on what wine to pair with certain cheeses. For those who are ambitious and so inclined, the author even has a chapter on making your own cheese at home.

While these extras are all well and good, the recipes alone are worth investing in the book. My own personal favorites are the "Bruschetta Topped with Goat Cheese and Tomatoes", "Green Salad with Apples and Goat Cheese", "Crustless Cheddar Quiche with Onion and Bacon Topping", "Uptown Get-Down Macaroni and Cheese", "Bell Peppers Stuffed with Rice, Ricotta, and Jarlsberg", and "Carrot-Ricotta Pudding".

Of course, the recipes I like are all fairly basic and easy to put together. There are also many, more ambitious and delicious sounding recipes for those with an affinity for cooking. They reflect a variety of diverse influences. Contemporary in feel, ranging from the gastronomically creative to the traditrional, they are international in scope. There is simply something for everyone. It is not just for cheese lovers only.

The flavor of cheese can be buttery, rich, pungent, sharp, salty or delicate. Cheese is made from nutritious milk. The type of milk adds subtleties to each cheese and makes it unique. I enjoy Mozzarella made from buffalo milk. While I am hardly a Turophile (A connoisseur of cheese), I may soon become one after reading this book. "Tyro" is Greek for Cheese and "-phile" means "lover of."

If you are a border-line Turophile or are just curious about cheese, I recommend this book very highly. This is so much more than a cookbook. It is a love affair with cheese! There is a concise overview of cheesemaking, a collection of over 150 eclectic cheese-based recipes and a comprehensive list of sources for your favorite cheeses.

After working in a specialty store, I decided to try a different cheese as often as I could. I learned to love smoked Gouda, creamy Havarti with dill, Pecorino Romano from sheep's milk, blue-veined Roquefort in salad dressing, Provolone in an Italian salad, Ricotta in lasagna, and lately Mascarpone in Tiramisu. In "The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide," Paula Lambert provides many unique recipes using Mascarpone, but how is Marscarpone made? Believe it or not, there is a recipe on page 73.

Does your mind crave explanations for how cheese is made? Do you wonder about how cheese was invented? Will Paula tell you? Yes, and she will also lead you through your own discovery of cheese making

Finally, you will know the secrets of Crème Fraîche and discover how easy it is to make homemade cottage cheese. Yes, Paula Lambert is ambitious and creative. She has the heart of an artist, the soul of a chef and the spirit of a cheese artisan. "The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide" is truly filled with a passion for cooking with cheese.

Paula Lambert also loves to travel. After spending five years in Perugia, she learned to love fresh mozzarella. Her search to learn how to make fresh mozzarella resulted in the founding of "The Mozzarella Company," a cheese factory in Dallas, Texas. With the guidance of a cheese professor, Paula immersed herself in the cheesemaking process and went on to produce thirty-five different types of cheese. These cheeses are now distributed to restaurants, gourmet stores and directly to individuals throughout the United States.

Paula Lambert has become a renowned cheese maker. Her cheeses have earned over seventy awards for superior cheese flavor and consistency. In order to perfect traditional cheesemaking techniques, Paula traveled to many countries. Her enthusiasm shows how fascinating the art of cheesemaking can be.

I loved her section on Cheese Classification. She divides cheese into over 15 categories and illustrates them with common and exotic cheese varieties. Did you know that Mozzarella is classified as a Pasta Filata Cheese? I didn't either.

Paula also includes a nutritional breakdown for many cheeses, a cheese-buying guide, a list for substituting cheese by type, a list for selecting cheese by flavor and finally a list for selecting cheeses by country of origin. She includes a helpful section on mail order cheese sources, complete with Web site information, which is very thoughtful.

There are also many international cheeses you will want to try. No longer will the cheese section be a daunting place. You will go to the store with a new confidence and walk right past Velveeta Ville. You may find yourself asking for Boursin from France (a cheese flavored with herbs and garlic), Cambozola or maybe even Liederkranz. You will know the difference between a ripened aged cheese and an unripened fresh cheese. You will know how to select the freshest cheese and how to store them. When they are just little piece of leftover cheese, they can start a new life as a wonderful "fromage fort." (Cheese with garlic, cream, herbs and pepper.)

Most cooks agree: If you find one memorable recipe in a new cookbook, it is worth the price. In this cookbook, you will find so many recipes you will love! The picture of the Ricotta Pancakes with Banana-Pecan Syrup may just inspire you enough to make it the first recipe you want to try. I made them and they are delicate and almost cake-like. The heavenly sauce is a combination of pecans and bananas sautéed in butter with maple syrup. I used real maple syrup.

Most of the recipes are influenced by a prominent culture or are influenced by "fusion" cooking. The "Cheddar Cheese Grits with Roasted Garlic" is definitely Southern." The "Risotto with Asparagus and Parmigiano" reminds me of Italy. The "Ultimate Cheese Omelet" is very French. Since Paula lives in Texas, she also has a flair for using local ingredients. "Southwestern Chile-Cheese Corn Bread" is an example. Paula's recipes have a touch of sophistication and are easy-to-make gourmet treats.

Each recipe is presented on its own page, or two. You hardly ever have to turn a page to complete a recipe. The headings are bold, the headnotes are interesting, and the instructions start with a few words in a gold text, which is quite pretty. Paula's writing style is easy-to-read and her precise instructions are very helpful. The hints on decorating are wonderfully unique. I loved the dragonflies made from bell peppers on the "Savory Herbed Cheesecake." These are the types of recipes you will want to add to your kitchen repertoire. The 16 full-color photo illustrations will inspire you to go shopping for cheese.

Some of the recipes are modernized classics. "Bacon, Egg and Cheddar Scones," "Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust" and "Grilled Shrimp and Smoked Mozzarella Pizza" are good examples. Many are perfect for entertaining. "Baked Brie with Mushrooms, Walnuts, and Dried Cranberries," will be spectacular. There are soups for winter and salads for summer. I just made the Bed & Breakfast style "Bacon, Egg and Cheddar Scones." They will have you saying: "More Cheese Please!" This is truly a dreamy cookbook for all cheese lovers. Thank you Paula, you are an inspiration to us all!

this is a great book for those that love mystrey novels. When I first started reading it I wasn't too interested and a couple years later read it again and thought that it was the best book. It isn't really serious, in fact very funny. The characters in the book seem very real and after reading the book I would like to see this part of England for myself. The book is not what you would expect and niether are the chartactersin it. This book would be good for those between 13 and 90. It doesn't have much of an age catagorie, but the book might be hard to follow for younger readers. The story is about a muder 25 years old and the detective thats whats to do it gets sent on a first class cruise with an 80year old widow who seems and acts at least half her age. on the cruise ship with them is a jewelthief, a murderer, some newly weds, a pair of odd 2nd honeymooners, a murdermystery writer and a funeral parlor owner. The characters are some that you wouldn't expect. This is a very good book to buy and also read.

A sharp and satisfying mystery with a fast paced story that is both glamorous and intricately plotted. Just the right size for reading on a plane ride or on a bruise.

The plot moves along quickly and abounds with humorous touches that weave through the suspenseful story. The characters are eccentric, loving, brave, swarthy and suave. This is the first in the series of Regan Reilly mysteries and sets the tone for those that follow.

PS - snagged refers to the panyhose industry....

This should be required reading for anyone buying a used car. It tells you what to look for during the inspection and test drive, how to negotiate... it's got it all!! If you're still not convinced, check out their web page (this is how I found out about the book) which included excerpts from the book.

Dragonsinger is the second book in the Harper Hall Trilogy and is the sequel to Dragonsong. It starts right after the previous book ends, with Menolly arriving in Harper Hall a-dragonback. There she begins her musical education with the masters of music. Menolly always thought that harpers would be different and that she would fit in among them, but she finds that people are the same wherever you go. All of the other girls are jealous of her musical talents and do not want her living in their cottage. The boys insist that she has no place with them and her nine fire lizards make her stand out even more. Still, she is Masterharper Robinton's special apprentice and he seems to believe in her and to love her new songs. As Menolly struggles to find her place among the harpers of Pern she will discover much about herself, as well as the remarkable secrets about fire lizards and eventually find an honored place among the Harpers of Pern.

Even though I have enjoyed all of McCaffrey's books, the Harper Hall trilogy has always been my favorite. I first read this book when I was in junior high school and simply loved it. I have read my copy time and time again. McCaffrey has a nice, smooth writing style with great descriptions so readers will have no trouble visualizing the life on Pern. She also does a nice job of throwing in little recaps so that those who have not read Dragonflight and Dragonquest can still understand what is going on. I simply loved the world of the Harpers and think that any reader of fantasy will enjoy this enchanting series.

Interesting to find out "Dragonsinger" is the fourth book in Anne McCaffrey's Pern series because I have always thought of it as the middle volume in the Harper Hall of Pern trilogy. In "Dragonsong" we met Menolly, my favorite character in the entire Pern universe. A musical prodigy who has been forbidden by her stern father to sing or play music, Menolly runs away and ends up impressing a clutch of nine fire lizards. But Masterharper Robinton has been searching high and low for her and having found her, brings Menolly to the Harper Hall. In "Dragonsinger" Menolly begins to learn her craft as an apprentice. The Harper Hall is not sure what to make of the island girl and her singing fire lizards, but Menolly is equally astounded by her new world. Menolly is one of the most enchanting heroines in fiction, mainly because the girl has not a clue in the world that she is so talented. After just about every test she is convinced she has failed, convinced that her only friend in the world is Piemur, another one of the young apprentices, and amazed that Robinton takes any interest in her at all. But it is Menolly's encounters with the other Masters, especially Jerint the instrument maker and Domick the composer, that stand out in this tale. Oh, and there is also Journeyman Sebell, who has also taken a special interest in her. "Dragonsinger" is a fitting conclusion to the story begun in "Dragonsong," and since the "next" volume in the trilogy, "Dragondrums," really focuses more on Piemur, this is really the climax to the story of Menolly. McCaffrey's conclusion is extremely satisfying and my only serious complaint about the Pern series after "Dragonsinger" is that Menolly has been reduced to a minor supporting character. One of the nice things about these books is that they are fairly self-contained, you do not have to read all the Pern books in order for them to make sense. I would think young girls who love music would especially enjoy reading these novels.

In Dragonsong we were first introduced to Menolly. But in Dragonsong we know her as the misunderstood girl at her father's sea hold. In Dragonsinger we come to know her as the happy girl at the Harper Hall, where all the best music is. Menolly is by far the best apprentice harper in Harper Hall, which may be her biggest trouble. When everyone but another apprentice named Piemur hates her for her ease at playing even the most difficult of songs jealousy begins to be a part of her daily life.

In my opinion this is the very best of all the Pern books.

... I started out with thte harperhall trilogy and i found that AMAZING! Her style is just so good, she keeps the chapters flowing nicely into each other. And romance laced with the excitement! I spent the whole day reading Dragonsong! Well, I got hooked!

I had final exams and couldn't read as much but I finished the rest of the HarperHall trilogy right after. I started the dragonriders of pern series and Dragonflight was just plain good!

The book is about Lessa who had to hide and pretend to be a drudge when her family was murdered by Fax, a ambitious man who controlled seven holds. She came out of hiding to announce her birthright to Ruatha Hold. But she met F'lar who told her she could be a dragonrider. Thus begins a plot of romance (with F'lar of course!) and saving all of Pern. Yes, I love romance!

I have finished the next two books, Dragonquest and The White Dragon. They too are marvelous books and I plan to get those three for Christmas. They too are great with of romance (F'nor and Brekke, Jaxom and Sharra) and excitement.I have a goal to finish the rest of the Dragonriders trilogy.

I never really had a favorite author but now I can for certain say that Anne McCaffery is my favorite author! But I still don't have a favorite book yet because..... There's too many Dragonrider of Pern books to pick from!

I really hope more people will read this book...

I only got acquainted with Anne McCaffrey this year, I am affraid. My first book by this author wasn't even related in any way with the Chronicles of Pern but it introduced me to an author who has now become one of my favorites. I had heard of these series of books and heard people talking of them. Living in Portugal as I do, you cannot find books as well as you can in the United States or in England, for example, and I had to read this series in English, which I did not mind at all. But it took a lot of searching...

The fact is, it was worth it. In no time I had become an addict to this author's works and when I first read Dragonflight, I was hooked on the marvellous world Pern was and the amazing relationship between man and dragon, a relationship based on love and trust... and necessity. This is an amazing introduction to a world and a society brought to us by the imaginative mind of Anne McCaffrey.

Lessa is of the Ruatha Blood and when her Hold is conquered by the greedy High Reaches Holder Fax, she sweares vengeance. Working as a drudge, plotting the death of Fax, with a watch wher as her only friend, she grows up for ten Turns with the thought of regaining her Hold from Fax's hands. During the Dragonriders of Pern Search, she sees the opportunity to get rid, once and for all, of Fax. But instead of becoming Holder of Ruatha, she is given the choice of becoming Weyrwoman in the only Weyr left. The Dragonmen of Pern are sworn to fight Thread, the threat which plagues the wonderful world of Pern, a threat long forgotten as it has not returned. But the pass of the Red Star promises the return of the Thread, even if only F'lar, rider of Bronze Mnementh, believes the time has come. In the Weyr a last Golden Egg of a Queen lies, awaiting hatching, when Impression will be made (the total empathic connection between man and dragon), awaiting a Weyrwoman to take the place of the old and a new Queen to reborn the Dragonrider's of Pern who will need all their courage and strength to fight for the future of their world. Will Lessa and F'lar succeed when the Dragonriders have fallen into disgrace to the eyes of the Holders? When a threat is no longer perceived as existent, how can one hope to protect themselves? When hope is lost... there is a spark that will brighten and bring hope back... a spark in the hands of the Dragonriders of Pern...

I highly recommend this book, the first of a worldwilde cult of the amazing chronicles of the Dragonriders of Pern.

Elves shooting bows, dwarves built like solid stone, and wizards enchanting little creatures with magical spells. Doesn't all that fantasy stuff get kind of boring after awhile? Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Sword of Shannarah, and many others are all the same, just with different names in different places doing different things. For the first time, I have finally read a fantasy novel that is different. With unimaginable imagination, author Anne McCaffrey creates a whole world of fantasy very different from the traditional styles. With realistic descriptions, complicated twists in plots, and a great, drawing style of writing, the author takes you on a journey you'd never thought existed. With the idea of dragons and humans as the main figment of fantasy in this novel, Anne McCaffrey combines just enough modern day sci-fi with medieval fantasy to create one great novel. Combining the ideas of dragons with a modern world where planets orbiting each other cause dangers, the author creates a magical world you would've thought had never existed. Not giving too much at a time, the author slowly draws you in and slowly, things become more and more clear as you near the end of the book. Many a time I have had to slap my head and say, "Geez! How come I never thought of that?" The complicated plot makes it hard for readers to guess the story and not get any delight out of reading it and being surprised by the answers they find to the plots. Though the book has a rather weak introduction and takes a while for the reader to get completely drawn into the world of Pern and it's dragons, it doesn't take long before you are unable to put the book down again. The suspense that the author creates at the climax of this book is amazing. I read for 5 straight hours through the climax because it was simply too fantastic to put down. I just HAD to know what happened next. Like an addiction, the book just draws you back and back like a magical spell was cast on you. Anne McCaffrey makes it seem so realistic that it's as if I was there throughout this whole adventure! After reading this book, I can't stop daydreaming day after day what a life on Pern with dragons would be like!

Read this book as a civic duty. Even if you don't want to know, you need to know how utterly corrupt our government, corporations and media are.

Greg Palast is the muckraker of our times, and he's virtually exiled from America because no one will print his work. PBS won't even show the documentary illustrating how the voter rolls in Florida were tampered with before the 2000 election.

Don't dismiss Palast for being partisan in the sense of Republicans and Democrats; he dishes the dirt on the Clintons and Gore, as well as Bushes Jr. and Sr. and Tony Blair. He is, however, biased towards social justice. If you are more concerned with corporate profits than corporate responsibility, you will find this book to be rather obnoxious.

Greg Palast was at a book signing in Chicago on May 4, which this reviewer attended. He said that the centralized Florida voter database is being held up as a model for every other state to follow. Republicans take heed: Palast pretty much said that Democrats in Democratic-controlled states were just as happy to have the opportunity to monkey with their voter rolls, as Republicans are. Meanwhile we are switching to ballotless voting booths and doing away with exit polls, with no way of knowing if our votes were counted as we cast them. Draw your own conclusions folks - how long before our vaunted democracy becomes another banana republic?

Greg Palast is not your typical journalist. He doesn't varnish the truth based upon ideology, political leaning or who's paying his salary. His background as an investigator shines through in his writing. Unlike a vast majority of so-called investigative reporters, Greg does his homework by scouring sources and providing evidence, not by rewording what's already been dictated to the media.

Greg reveals what really happened in Florida. Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris fixed the election. Plain and simple. The proof is in the book....This book doesn't spare the Clintons or Gore. If you've wondered why the Democrats didn't jump on the Palast bandwagon during the election fiasco and publicize the voter purge of primarily black Democratic voters, Greg's got the answers. You may not like them.

The chapters on the WTO and IMF may bring tears to your eyes when you stop and think about what they've done in the name of progress. The wholesale destruction of economies and people seems to be the new definition of progress, with the US leading the pack. Ever really wonder why America is so despised? Here's one answer.

Media myths are destroyed in this book. Read about Walmart, Tony Blair, Pat Robertson, the Exxon/Valdez coverup, Volvo, etc. This is the most explosive and accurate portrayal of our new globalized society that you can find in America. No fluff, only substance. If you care about civilization, read the book.

I don't know what I find more disheartening, the facts that are revealed in this book or the poor sheep who have made feeble attempts to shoot down Greg Palast's efforts. There are, by far, more facts used to substantiate claims in this book than I have seen used by any journalist in America. Yet a handful of hardcore, conservative automatons will try to persuade you, without any factual support, that Greg Palast is some sort of tabloid journalist who simply pulls his "crazy" theories out of thin air. It's obvious that these folks didn't bother to actually read the book, or they are ignoring the copies of actual memos, letters, and e-mails gathered by Mr. Palast to verify his stories. I am going to assume that they did not read the book, as most of the critics focus only on the content of the first chapter, the Florida election debacle. That is just a fraction of the shameful activities that are illuminated in the book. Oh, and just so you know, Greg is not just another journalist rehashing the Florida scandal. He is regarded in the field of journalism as the man who broke the story. Like his critics, most American journalists do not possess the fortitude to break such a story. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. Read it very carefully. Decide for yourself.

Mark Mathabane's autobiography, Kaffir Boy, tells the story of his life while growing up in apartheid South Africa. A victim of segregation, poverty, and brutality, he learned how to survive under the harsh conditions of South Africa during the 1960s and 70s. The true story of this hero is one that everyone should read to try to understand the horror of life for the people of South Africa at this time.

Mark Mathabane grew up in Alexandra, a black ghetto, under the name of Johannes Mathabane. In Alexandra, there were constant police raids, gang wars, and far less than acceptable living conditions. Tiny rented shacks provided homes for families living in this area. Since his family had very little money, Mark and his siblings were forced to sleep on the concrete floor of one of these shacks and often became ill. Early in Mark's life, he had to learn about the terror of police raids. Some of these raids against blacks are described in graphic detail throughout the book. People were arrested, beaten, or even killed, just because of their race. Although fear lived with the people of Alexandra, they had to continue to live their lives. Mark's father, a person who he would have many conflicts with in life, held a low paying job which often did not pay enough money to keep the entire family fed. There would be many times where it did not seem that life would continue for Mark. Luckily, his mother and grandmother were able to find and hold jobs, which put Mark through school. Here, he accelerated in his studies and in tennis. These two things would eventually help Mark rise above his street life.

A person can be described as a hero for many reasons. Mark Mathabane, without a doubt, displayed heroism at many times throughout his life. As a young child, Mark often cared for his younger siblings when his parents could not. He accepted responsibility and did everything he could for them. He often put his brothers and sister before himself. This act shows his selflessness and willingness to help people. When Mark goes to school, he works at his studies extremely hard. He came to love reading, and wanted to learn all that he could. Even with difficult times, Mark worked his hardest at school and was always at the top of his class. Not only was this a major accomplishment for Mark, it also gave his siblings a person to look up to, and an example to follow. When there was not enough money to continue sending he and all of his siblings to school, Mark took a job and helped to pay for his family's expenses. Mark also displays his heroism at many points during his life. His selflessness, hard work, and generosity are just a few of his traits to be admired.

This novel is very well written and difficult to put down. Although at times, mostly in the beginning of the book, the descriptions of police raids and fights are extremely graphic, the words can only describe the situation - not make one live it. Living in a society where all people are equal, it is nearly impossible to comprehend the treatment bestowed upon those who lived under the apartheid in South Africa. What happened there is history, and cannot be changed or ignored. While language and description are graphic, is it important to know what happened to these people so nothing like this can ever happen again. Mark Mathabane has a gift for writing and it is very well demonstrated in his story.

Overall, this book is definitely a worthwhile read. It is one that stirs emotion and provokes thought. Mark Mathabane's life was undoubtedly difficult, but there is an immense feeling of satisfaction when closing the book. This autobiography is not only well-written and able to hold the reader's attention, it is also truly inspiring.

Kaffir Boy was an inspirational read that motivated me and has since influenced my life. My reading this book made me interested in South Africa and helping the people there. The images in this true story were horrific and make me want to change the world. I have dreamt of going to South Africa and helping ending the discrimination.

The story of a South African family and their life living through Apartheid was very deep and put my emotions into the pages I read. It covers the issues of Apartheid, laws against blacks and the personal story of a boy growing up embedded in these horrors. The boy, Mark, is a strong character with a great deal of determination to get out of South Africa and make something of himself. He sees his parents give in to the police and not stand up for themselves. He refuses to get sucked into the dismay of Apartheid and the atrocities the authorities have put them through.

Mark's grandmother helps mark through school by teaching him the things she has learned on her own and arranges for him to get the money for school supplies, books and appropriate clothing. She arranged for him to meet the family of her employers, where he eventually learned to play tennis and meets Stan Smith. Through this connection, he is able to go to America and go to college on a tennis scholarship.

This story is much more complex than the outlying shape of the plot. It leaves a scar on every reader who experiences the horrible phenomenon of Apartheid. It gives a real sense of the constant terror these people live with, the atrocities they face every day of their life and the undying dream of freedom they all share.

This is apartheid through the lucid eyes of a young, intelligent black boy. It seems more authentic perhaps because it is not seen through white lens, because although many white South Africans may have detested apartheid, they could not have felt it like the black South Africans did.

This book makes one wonder why movies like CRY FREEDOM lionized a white South African while over-looking the thousands of everyday heroes in the black community. People who lived from day to day under a system that saw them as sub-human, as unworthy of simple common decency.

The prose is fluid and immediate and the story is, thankfully, full of a pure, beautiful human anger and a keen desire to truthfully reflect a devastated people and community. Mathabane does not shy away, either, from indicting the black elite in addition to the white oppressors.

This book is an example of The System overcoming The Person. Sometimes it is impossible for that 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps' idea to work because in many ways, we can excel largely only as much as the system under which we live allows us to. Also, a system can, by depriving people of dignity, turn them, like Mathabane's father and thousands of other black men, into the Living Dead.