Foreign-market Books

One of the world's great authors kicked off his real career with two gripping novels; this one and "Eugénie Grandet". Though it contains much 19th century melodrama and Balzac could not resist lecturing readers on life's travails and included many of those romantic soliloquies so favored in his times, PÈRE GORIOT introduces us to the Paris of that period (early 19th century) with all its color and sordid social niceties. A mock headline could read "Balzac to Readers: Paris is a Pit of Passion". As in several other Balzac novels, the title character is not necessarily the main one. In this case, the author describes the ups and downs of an ambitious youth from the sticks, Eugene de Rastignac, as he makes his way into high society, seeking his fortune. Social climbing and grabbing the attention of materialistic, idle society engrosses the lad. He learns that the clothes and carriage make the man, that whom you know is everything, and the right invitations are a must. Père Goriot is a retired pasta maker living in the same boarding house where everyone is under the thumb of the penny-pinching, nosy Madame Vauquer. The old man has two daughters who have married into the Parisian upper crust and are now ashamed of their humble origins. As Rastignac slowly discovers, through his involvement with both daughters, their father is a martyr to his own children. They manage to squander his immense fortune while shunning him completely.

An interesting combination of romanticism and cynicism like many of Balzac's novels, PÈRE GORIOT explores the different sides of passion or `loves'---Père Goriot's love of his children, Vautrin (a jovial but wily, powerful criminal boss) and his love of power, and many characters' love of money, style, and social position. Balzac, as usual, lovingly explores the many aspects of annuities, stock transfers, bonds and landed estates, on the realistic grounds that money was the focus of French society at the time. A few people in the story actually love those with whom they are involved, but such individuals are rare. It's not a Harlequin romance after all ! The novel provides a number of unexpected twists and turns and some very clever dialogues. PÈRE GORIOT is one of the best novels in Balzac's vast series of books in which he attempted to describe French society in his times. If you have never read Balzac, you should remedy that situation forthwith; he is certainly one of the greatest novelists who ever lived.

When Balzac ins't wooing me with his beautiful descriptions, his dialogue reads like a play. Some scenes are genuinely funny, and the characters are memorable. The ending is too drawn out, but very much worth the read. Short and sweet. I loved it. Quote it in your English class to earn kudos from the professor. They love Balzac.

I'm going to go ahead and ruin something for you, the potential reader, about Honoré de Balzac. It's nothing to do with plot or character, so you can rest assured that you're safe to get a fresh read from Père Goriot; instead it centers on the author himself. It's something you're going to pick up on as you read through this book.

You see, Honoré de Balzac is your best friend.

This sounds funny, I realize that, but it's the simple truth. You can feel it in the way that the man writes- He doesn't tell the story to you, so much as he explains it. It's like listening to one of those old men you find in a bar; you're so certain that you're going to laugh at him as he recounts his tale, you're so certain that when he tells you that it's a sad one, that you've heard that statement enough before to know it's a falsity...but then as things progress you begin to realize that you can trust him. You can feel the hand of Balzac on your back, guiding you forward. You begin to trust him...and it's all because he's talking to you as though you were an old friend.

Indeed, Père Goriot is a sad tale. Without giving away any more than the back of the book already does, I can say that it encompasses the tale of a man who has sacrificed of himself for his children's sake, as laid out in contrast to the story of a man who asks of his own family that they sacrifice for him. It is the study of both sides of that equation, all tied together through a boardinghouse where every boarder has a story to tell, where every turn and twist is an obstacle for some, an opportunity for others, and an escape for none. All are tied into this Paris that lives and breathes on the page.

Balzac was a character writer. He tells you about the person, all the intimate little details that seem so trivial but that build up the image of the person in your mind. You can see Vautrin, the mysterious all-knowing boarder as he watches young Rastignac, the young law student, struggle inside of himself as he wrestles his way into an unforgiving society. In the process of doing so, you watch sometimes in horror, sometimes in fascination, listening to the man deliver speech upon speech, some of which seem to bear an eerie early foreboding to Dostoevsky's `The Grand Inquisitor' for it's sheer, unflinching look at some point of society. Like that writer, Balzac builds the man, then lets him be himself on the page, summoning only those talents that are necessary in a writer to get out of the way and allow the story to tell itself.

Is this book worth reading? Absolutely. Who should read it? Anyone who enjoys a tale with action, honor, and ethical, internal struggles. There are criminal men, unscrupulous women, love affairs, dedication, a betrayal...there are all the elements of the modern novel, told in an engaging and playful style that you come to trust and respect and that, in the end, leaves you with a mighty hunger for more...

Henry Reed does a great translation as well. His afterword helps to place the novel in the series that it belongs, putting into proper perspective in Balzac's La Comedie humaine, a series of novels and stories built around Paris during a certain time period. Balzac was a very dedicated writer, putting himself to the task sometimes for hours on end (up to 18 by some accounts). His works contain in them many characters that repeat into other works, as in the two that I mentioned above (Rastignac in particular).

Bottom line: I cannot highly enough recommend this book to anyone. It is fantastic and easily enjoyable.

-LP

Balzac. Maybe it's the harsh sound of his name. Like Nietzsche or Exxon, it congers up big, tough, impenetrable. Truth is, he's none of those things. Nor is he a hopeless romantic. If Pere Goriot is an example, Balzac is simply an observer. You might not like what he sees, but it is difficult to deny its accuracy. Take the central character Pere Goriot. You can say that Balzac uses him to prove that no good deed shall go unpunished. Oft referred to as Balzac's King Lear, Goriot's troubles begin when he parcels out his fortune to his social climbing daughters; like Lear's girls, Goriot's bitches dump the old man when his money runs out. Sound familiar? Indeed, there's a lot of Shakespeare in Balzac. In King Lear, we hear "The art of necessities is strange, that can make vile things precious". Those words fit perfectly Goriot's fast learning young friend Eugene. As we see Eugene evolving from adamantine idealist to player, you can also imagine him mouthing from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale: "I am a feather for each wind that blows". So, is Balzac a cynic that sees no intrinsic good in humankind, or is saying we are merely products of our environment? Is Balzac a pessimistic Nietzsche who dismisses morality as the herd instinct in the individual? Or, is he an optimistic Helen Keller observing that tolerance is the highest result of education? You decide. But, please, please, please keep it real. For Balzac's sake, keep it real.

My French was in its infantile stages when I read this book, but opening a dictionary once, twice, or many times per page was a small price to pay for the stimulation I got from reading this book. The pure artistry of the writing not only inspired me to keep reading, but to have French as a double major. When you read this book, you are there.

I found it surprising that title character, Eugenie, had little depth and didn't leave much of an impression on the imagination. She behaves like a simple child, and while her childish behavior is touchingly described, Balzac never gives her his full attention and never brings her to life the way he does her father or even their servant Nanon. Eugenie meets Charles for the first time and falls in love with all her heart in the space of a few days. Her story is 'tragic' because her love is valueless in a society in which everyone is scrambling to increase their wealth and position - a sort free-for-all of social mobility that existed in post-Revolutionary France. But it's hard to feel the weight of this tragedy because Eugenie's emotions are very one-dimensional; she is a 'young girl swooning with love' literary cliche that the author takes for granted and does not explore. When her father, the wealthy miser, is transfixed by the sight of a few gold coins, we can feel his heart pumping and the excited blood pressurizing his veins because Balzac has done an excellent job of developing his character, but I didn't experience any such identification with Eugenie. One could argue that it was Monsieur Grandet, not Balzac, who stifled Eugenie's personality by raising her in a cloistered, oppressive enviroment. This is an idea clearly stated in the book, but I don't think it's an excuse for not allowing the reader to feel a real connection with her - it takes away from the impact.

This is the first novel I've read of Balzac's. He is a good storyteller who focuses with equal clarity on the minute and the cosmic. For example, the action of the story - if it can be said to have any - takes place over just a few days, but these days comprise the first half of the book and are painstakingly plotted and richly described. The next seven years pass like a time-lapse movie. Balzac manages this drastic change of pace without letting the air out of the story. He spends the first half of the book developing the characters and setting the story in motion then pulls away to a broader perspective that allows him to make his point without dragging us through any unecessary melodrama or billowing romantic passages. Balzac's economy and practicality in this regard show that he knows what he is doing and why he is doing it; he writes with purpose.

As far as Balzac's 'realism' goes - there are moments of vivid characterization and psychological complexity, and he paints a memorable picture of 19th century French country life - so I can see why he is credited with making strides in the direction of more modern writing. However one doesn't get the sense that realism for it's own sake is of great interest to him. In other words he is not committed to realism as a set a principles, he simply uses it to enliven his tale, which proceeds along a more conventional, parable-like path, with lots of foreshadowing and few surprises. I don't mean that in a negative way. It gives the story a comfortable fireside charm and an inviting honesty. I'm sure I will read more Balzac, but this book was flawed. I hope to find better.

If "Père Goriot" is about different kinds of love or passion, EUGENIE GRANDET is definitely about money, greed and miserliness. In the former novel, we see the title character through the eyes of a newcomer to Paris, Eugene de Rastignac. In EUGENIE GRANDET, the dominant personality, bigger than life, still extremely vivid after 175 years, is old Monsieur Grandet, former cooper turned landowner and financial speculator. Eugenie is his daughter whose fate is sealed by her miserly, grasping, scheming father and his overpowering lust for gold. A handsome young cousin from Paris appears---a dandy, the spoiled child of a rich father. We learn at once that his father's affairs have gone bad; he has committed suicide, a bankrupt. The young people fall in love during Charles' stay in the provinces at his uncle's penurious table. But, the young man must soon depart for the Indies to seek a new fortune. Meanwhile, two local families vie for Eugenie's hand--actually, only for the enormous inheritance which she shall surely receive. The old miser plays them off against each other with great skill. Eugenie refuses all their offers and even resists her domineering father, remaining loyal to her long-lost cousin at the other end of the world. When Charles returns to France, having made a new fortune in the slave trade, he promptly hooks up with a noble family from the capital, re-connecting with his old mistress as well. Eugenie is left alone, but she remains true to her pure, simple ideals, using the fortune that she eventually inherits for good works.

I think this novel is one of the most powerful and best-written studies of a single character ever written. I am talking about the miser, shrewd old M. Grandet. Eugenie and her mother are purer, psychologically less complex, marked in everything by Monsieur Grandet's drive to become ever richer. French provincial life at the time in all its dreary repetition and petty rivalries comes alive with Balzac's pen---down to the kind of door knockers they had, the low-stakes card games, the yellow wax tapers. This provincial life, the effect of stinginess on a family, the power of constant love, and above all, a fascination with money and the people who amass it, are themes that mark this most powerful novel. You may think it sounds a rather basic tale, but Balzac's writing, as ever, is powerful and fascinating. One of the great books of world literature ! Don't miss it.

A short character study by the great French master of manners and the human heart. Not to be missed!! The downfall of a miser and his daughter's attempt to make recompense.

Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) is famed for his almost 90 novels and short fiction; his addiction to coffee and his workaholic lifestyle leading to his early death. Balzac will, however, always live in the pantheon of great novelists. "Eugenie Grandet" is an early short novel penned in the 1830s.
The novel is set in provincial Saumur located in the Loire Valley. We visit a nondescript village and enter the doors of a fine home. We meet the greedy cooper/vinter the repugnant old Grandet. Unlike George Eliot's Silas Marner who is redeemed from his worship of gold by a golden haired little girl named Effie we see no such repentance in this tragic tale.
Grandet loves to count his gold coins, cheat unwary customers and treat his wife and only daughter Eugenie with disrespect. Madame Grandet dies and the Grandet's beautiful daughter Eugenie is courted by several men in the town who desire to win her fortune for themselves.
Eugenie falls in love with her Parisian cousin Charles who is the son of the bankrupt brother of old Grandet. The father kills himself due to business failures leaving Charles penniless. Eugenie gives him money without the knowledge of her father. When the old man learns of her deceit he treats her as a prisoner by forcing her to live in her room and eat bread and water. Her faithful maid Nanon manages to sneak her food.
Years pass and Charles becomes wealthy in the Indies. He is a shallow and greedy man not worthy of Eugenie's pure love. He will later wed an ugly and feckless woman in order to gain a title and more money. Money is what society revolves around says Monsieur Balzac. Eugenie later weds a man in a platonic marriage which is unhappy. She becomes a patroness of many charities in the town and supports the church with millions from her huge fortune.
This simple story is in some senses a fairy tale of a Cinderella who never was rescued from a dull life by a handsome prince charming. One wonders what Balzac would have thought about 21st century materialism and the quest of the Almighty Dollar or Franc? The book can be read in one or two sittings and is a good introduction to the oeuvre of this most prolific French master.

"The spirit, like the body, must breathe to live: it needs to take in love, from another soul, like oxygen, make it part of itself, and give it back enriched. Without that beautiful process the heart dies: it suffers from lack of air and ceases to beat."
Honore Balzac "Eugenie Grandet"

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Balzac yet, and you are a lover of classic fiction, please do yourself a favor and order this one today. It is the fourth classic of his that I have read ("Lost Illusions", "Old Goriot" & "Cousin Bette" are also amazing and definitely recommended). "Eugenie Grandet" is a relatively short, simple story, especially in comparison to his above referenced classics, but still just as majestic. This brilliant writer who influenced countless other greats - Zola, Dickens, Flaubert, Proust, Henry James, et al... - was one of the founding fathers of realism, and it's easy to see where Zola and Flaubert in particular drew most of their inspiration from.

The story takes place in early 19th century France (post Revolution) in the provincial town of Saumur where Eugenie Grandet and her parents reside. Her father, Monsieur Grandet, is a miser who is completely obsessed with gold. This stingy, little tyrant, despite his wealth, makes his poor wife and only child (Eugenie) live as if they were paupers. He is avarice and selfishness makes Dicken's Scrooge look like Paul Newman in comparison. On top of that, Grandet covets his only child equally as close as his many piles of gold that he secretly hordes.

Ergo, life for our heroine and her mother is a rather bleak one. However, all things begin to look up when her handsome, young cousin Charles suddenly arrives into town after the death of his parents. Of course sparks begin to fly and Eugenie's dormant passions are suddenly awakened for the first time. The only main obstacle in the two lover's way is of course daddy - the gluttonous, gloomy Monsieur Grandet.

I just can't say enough about Balzac's prose. If you love writers who really dig deep into their characters, then look no further than Honore. I can't think of one writer who develops his/her characters with more zeal. Like other greats (i.e. Tolstoy and Steinbeck first come to mind), Balzac is not afraid to display both the positive and negative attributes of each of his creations while at the same time not passing judgment on them. There is so much depth to all of his characters no matter how minor they are. For me personally, this is one of the most important qualities, one of the most essential ingredients to great story telling.

It just doesn't get better than Balzac folks. Passionate, descriptive, satirical at times, informative, historical, insightful, etc... etc... And perhaps most importantly - an exceptional story teller to boot! I relished every single page of this splendid short story.
Enjoy!

Lots of detail. Sometimes way too much detail. And although the characters manage to somewhat resolve themselves into individuals (at least some of the men do), the way in which they're introduced made them very hard to distinguish one from the other for the better part of the book.

The story takes place during the second empire of France, and it is a familiar one. Nana, a teenage prostitute, makes a stunning debut in the theater (Les Varietes) and soon becomes a sought after commodity. However, the power of her attraction to men proves self-destructive to all who fall under her charms. One after the other the lives of these men get caught up in the whirlwind of Nana's desire for comsumption and living, a whirlwind that leaves these men in ruination. The book is remarkable for the vivid portrait of these times and the people that brought such life to them. I absolutely loved this book.

Zola's novels follow each other: L'Assommoir, Nana and (to a lesser extent) Germinal. I read all three, and found them to be excellent! Actually, I liked Germinal the best, L'Assommoir second, and Nana not so much. Nana was worth the trouble to read, however. Her story reminded me of Anna Nicole Smith ... different time, different place, different situation; same thing. (Even their names are similar; can make one from the other!)

"Sex is like money; only too much is enough." John Updike

Emile Zola was a writer way ahead of his time, and I mean WAAAAY ahead. Talk about a salacious, racy novel! I can't imagine an American author before the mid-20th century penning such prurient prose like Zola's "Nana" which was published in 1880: "... she wished to share her last piece of pear, and held it out to Nana between her teeth, and their lips touched as they finished the fruit in a kiss." Long before Anais Nin, Holly Golightly, and yes even Paris Hilton there was Zola's "Nana" a young, gorgeous, voluptuous vixen who makes little Ms. Hilton look like a Carmelite Nun. She uses sex as her main weapon of choice to manipulate, exploit, and then eventually destroy her many suitors (and believe you me, there are many!):

"Her wish was to possess everything merely to destroy it. Never before had she felt so strongly the power of her sex."

When we are first introduced to Nana in the beginning of the story, she is employed as a comedic actress and is the talk of all of Paris for her stunning beauty and unassertive charm. However, acting is not where Nana makes all of her hard earned dough, on the contrary, she lives a queen-like existence only by openly operating as a high-class prostitute. There isn't a whole lot of plot to Nana's story, which isn't that big of a surprise when it comes to Emile Zola's style. Most of the chapters are essentially short tales describing all the different ways Nana's male conquests make complete idiots of themselves while under her spell. And trust me folks, when they do, she enjoys every second of it! Her disdain for the male sex just continues to build and build with seemingly every page turned, and despite her playful, engaging, superficial appearance to the Paris elite (which just can't seem to get enough of her); internally not only does she abhor men, she's out to destroy and also "pollute them" (as she so eloquently puts it).

There is no doubt about it, reading "Nana" was for me, quite a unique and enjoyable experience. I couldn't believe what I was reading at times, it was extremely lewd and suggestive, especially if you take into account when it was written. Zola definitely was a man with quite a lot of courage and distinctiveness, and this novel is one small example of why. He does have a tendency to be a bit long-winded and overly descriptive, but so do I, so I'm not complaining just making note of it for the rest of you out there. This is a tough book to put down once you get into it, mostly because of how humorous the story is, especially the character of Nana herself. You just can't wait to see what crazy, comical scene was awaiting her next. As much as I loathed her, I still couldn't lose interest in her story no matter how hard I tried. There is something about Nana you can't help but like and despite all of her many shortcomings and sins, you still can't help but to admire her independent and spirited nature. She was what she was, and she made no pretensions or excuses about it. She is a user who is used, a thief who is stolen from, an abuser who is abused, etc... etc...

And this is just a small peek into the life of one of the most fascinating femme's in fiction... You definitely need to pick this one up! 4.5 STARS


An important aside; one of my main (but very few) knocks about the novel is that the first chapter is tough to get through. It not only is a tad boring, but Zola introduces us to so many different characters right off the bat (ala Dostoevsky), that it's difficult to remember so many names and nicknames so quickly (if you don't have an amazing memory, then I suggest having a pad of paper and pen in hand to take notes).

The book is wonderful, of course. I found the "Britishism" in the translations to be a distraction: "bloody" this, "Old Chap, " Upon my word, old chap, etc."
That said, as I read more English translations from French, and Russian, (and other reviews of French to English novels) this seems to be a generic problem. I forget now which translation contained the "Blimey!" I don't know the solution, but it makes me wish again that I had learned French.
I would say, if you can find another translation of this fine novel, do so.

a really good book! it is difficult for me to find a book that i really enjoy reading, it needs to be really interesting. usually after a while i can't stand to have the same concepts repeated again and again. well this is a really interesting chronicle of the facts that brought to the crisis in Argentina in 2001. a lot of details on how the story unfolded and what were the responsibilities. very interesting in knowing what could happen these days with the current crisis and what could be the real- scary, consequences in our daily life. really a page turner!!!

I still haven't received this item. It's been over a month since I ordered it. This is highly inconvenient.

This book examines the economic history of Argentina from the early 20th century to 2004, with an emphasis on the time period from 1989 to 2002. The focus is on the financial sector of the economy, and how actions by the government and international financial institutions first ballooned Argentina's economy over a decade, and then collapsed it in just under 2 years. The point of view is from the top, as the book follows multiple important figures throughout this time, including officials at the IMF, officials in Argentina's government, and financial bigwigs in the US and Europe, both public and private.

The author is quite objective and impartial, and lays blame all around. The IMF gets some blame for not being more forceful in getting Argentina to change its ways. International banks and lenders get blame for contributing willingly to the financial bubble of the country. And the Argentinan government gets blame for refusing to consider floating its currency, devaluing it, or restructuring its debt before it was too late. Unfortunately, it was the citizens, mainly poor and middle class, of Argentina who took it in the pocketbooks. All in all a great book, with equal emphasis on economics, public policy, and historical analysis. I highly recommend this book.

This is a short book, easy to read and boy, does it deliver! An account of Argentina during it's economy's heyday and the fall, this book is a fascinating read. It starts off with a brief review of Argentina during the late 1800s and early 1900s but jumps right on the main topic after that. The author explains in extremely lucid prose (no finance knowledge required whatsoever) how the economy was fueled by international funds and how it went bust. Excellent examples, and written like a thriller ... 5 stars all the way!

This book seeks to understand how and why Argentina sank into financial chaos in the early 2000's. The book looks at the role of the IMF, US treasury, private markets, and the Argentinean government in the overall downfall of the country. The author writes very well about his subject and has a good understanding of international economics. The IMF is not completely vilified as it is in many of the current financial crisis's and although it shares a large amount of the blame the book hands it out equally. There is quite a bit of conspiracy theory and engaging in theories behind the IMF and Wall Street as well as the Bush administration. The author acknowledges in most cases that these are conspiracies but they did not really need to be discussed. The most interesting part of the story has to do with the role that the markets played in Argentina. It is an interesting foreshadow for the future of emerging markets and looking at the self fulfilling prophecies of debt and equity. This book deserves its credit for focusing on real issues without engaging in much ideology or theory. If you want to understand how financial markets are impacting areas overseas this is a great book to start with.

The book has good a content for a beginner. For a more advanced forex person this book is too basic, that is why I give 3 stars.

For anyone that is looking to enter the world of currency trading and investing, this book is a must-read. After reading this book, I acquired a solid basic knowledge of this area of financing. Burrell starts with the history of currency and banking, and finishes with procedures that will help you to analyze the market, as well as yourself.

The first chapters explain currency trading and the history of the banks and other financial giants that have an affect on the currency market. I felt the urge to skip these chapters due to dry subject matter and a lot of abbreviations, yet realized that this information would help me to understand how these financial giants affect the financial world. The remaining chapters involve terminology and the actual processes needed for analyzing the markets. Burrell also explains the present online trading and investing practices, as well as the pitfalls to avoid. The final chapters explain how currency trading can affect a person, and some things to consider before entering into this area of trading and investment.

Not being financially proficient, I was impressed with Burrell's writing. Her way of teaching was simple enough, yet was written respectfully as far as the level of vocabulary that he used. The information that Burrell provides is useful and to the point. This book is not for casual reading; it is meant to be studied. I would recommend this book for people wanting to learn the basics when contemplating entering the world of currency trading.

The Complete Guide to Currency Trading & Investing discusses currency trading as well as introduces the reader to currency trading products and markets. This trading guide flows seamlessly from one topic to the next. The manual on trading starts out by describing the major currency markets and electronic trading strategies. Jamaine Burrell gives an excellent description of currency trading fees. The author explains that fundamental analysis and technical trading indicators influence the currency market. A prospective customer can check the firm's regulatory record with the National Futures Association for trades based in the United States or with foreign regulatory agencies if the trader is based outside the United States.

Each currency trade is based on a pair of currencies that will be traded. The first currency is the currency bought (the bid/buy price) and the second is the currency sold or the ask price). Currency trading is a thinly-regulated, twenty-four hour international securities market. Forex is a very large foreign exchange electronic market. The National Futures Administration overseas the future markets. The role as well as the history of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Fed is described. Foreign regulators are listed and described as well as the types of currency trades that are prevalent in overseas currency markets
The guide describes Forex trading platforms and foreign exchange market conditions. The guide explains how political and economic indicators shape currency markets. The types of trades are defined and described. There are spreads, forwards, options, foreign exchange and swaps. Jamaine Burrell warns the novice currency trader against trading forwards, futures since they are not as closely regulated. These types of currency trades are most frequently associated with fraud. The Complete Guide to Currency Trading & Investing: How to Earn High Rates of Return Safely and Take Control of Your Investments

The Foreign Exchange Market is where world currencies are bought and sold, serving as the largest financial trade market in the world with an estimated $1.9 trillion generated per day. While not everyone understands the ins and outs of currency trading and investing, this complete guide will explain to readers how this economic machine works and impacts their success rate with their personal investments.

Serious investors know they must diversify their portfolio, but rarely consider currency trading. This book navigates the Foreign Exchange Market and futures markets, providing basic information for novice traders to help them notch up their investments and enjoy not just a financial gain, but an information gain, as well.

The book starts out simply addressing currently trading, including the G8, Central Banks, the International Monetary Fund and the role of currency traders. With not enough information out there on this subject, novice traders will be encouraged to find detailed information about Central Banks, ranging from how to peg the U.S. dollar to the role of the Maastricht Treaty, the Bank of Japan and foreign currency like the Euro, the Yen, the British Pound and the Swiss Franc.

Novice traders will glean valuable information about the Foreign Exchange Market and trading. They'll learn about click and deal trading, retail platforms, paper trading, micro accounts and the common forms of trading: spot trading, forwards trading, options trading and futures trading.

It's important to know the lingo involved in trading and this book shares the terms and definitions of common speak used in this field, as well as the mechanics of the Foreign Exchange Market. The appendix of this book provides pertinent and valuable information for those readers wanting to learn even more about this subject, such as Web sites and charts.

I opened this book with no idea what to expect as I was not familiar with the idea of currency trading. But in the first chapter I was provided with a detailed description of what currency trading is - trading of world currencies on the Foreign Exchange Market (Forex), the largest financial trade market in the world.

Following a brief introduction to various international currencies, I was educated as to the major financial entities that influence the market greatly, including some that were familiar to me such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In detail, the book educates readers on how the viability of the U.S. Dollar comes into play in more than 90% of all currency trading. With a true global look at the many ways currency can be traded and how one can put into place many trading avenues, its understandable how one can make a living as a currency trader. The book examines various types of trades on the Forex as well as brokers, dealers and accounts.

This would be a great reference tool for anyone with some sort of a financial background, but a little difficult to follow if you have never been exposed to the financial arena.

Me pareció muy buena la forma en que el autor explica no solo como lograr que un niño duerma sino el por qué de su técnica. El autor tambien realiza un buen trabajo distinguiendo entre niños de diferentes edades, las diferencias entre siestas y sueño durante la noche.

Great method to follow. Get the family happiness back! No more nights standing up!

I had a very hard time getting my baby to sleep and this book has helped me understand more about sleep paterns, sleeping habits and routines. If followed, the solution they give is very succesfull within a few days, but be prepared to hear a little crying.

Tal vez los padres que le han dado 5 estrellas no saben que hay tecnicas basadas en rutina y constancia para que nuestros bebes aprendan a dormir solos pero que no son tan crueles como las de este libro. Cmpre el libro como sugerencia de unos padres y el metodo me pareciO muy estricto y sin embargo estuve a punto de aplicarlo, afortunadamente no lo hice e igual no hubiera funcionado en mi hijita que sufria de colicos. El libro pone ejemplos graciosos, (verdaderos estoy segura), pero hacen ver a los papas que no dormimos bien o que no sabemos dormir a los bebes como tontos que deben aprender a disciplinar sus hijos. En los mercados anglosajones hay tecnicas y otros libros mucho mejores que estes como Tracy Hogg y sus libros "consejos de una ñiñera experta" (Baby Whisperer) que tambien inculcan disciplina y rutinas y habitos pero de una manera mas humana. Tambien esta Elizabeth Pantley NO CRY SLEEP SOLUTION , creo que en español es Dulces Sueños

Mi hijo tiene 6 meses y nosotros acudimos a este libro porque a pesar de que nos encanta dormir con el en la cama, ya habia llegado al punto que igual se levantaba cada 2 horas y no dormiamos NADA. Mi tia q es pediatra me lo recomendo y pense q seria la solucion a nuestros problema. La primera noche, casi me muero escuchado a mi hijo llorar. LLoro una hora y media y cuando al fin se durmio (cansado de llorar) yo estaba emocionalmente vuelta nada y mi esposo tb. Pasaron 2 horas y mi hijo seguia suspirando dormido. Terrible. A la tercera noche lloro 5 minutos y ya. Pensamos que toda esta tortura habia servido... Pero a la 6ta noche, empezo a llorar otra vez y desde entonces ha vuelto a llorar muchisimo.

La verdad es que por mucho q le funcione a otros papas, yo no tengo el corazon para ver a mi hijo llorar asi. Lo unico que hago durante el dia es tratar de que sea el niño mas feliz del mundo y que se sienta amado. Entonces, como puedo hacerle eso en la noche? Quizas le funcione a otros papas, pero definitivamente esto no me ha funcionado a mi. Yo pienso que si algo se siente tan tan mal, no puede ser bueno. Por lo tanto, hemos decidido buscar otra forma de que todos durmamos tranquilos, pero sin sentir rechazo alguno.

It took a while for me to get through this book, but it was worth it! It is slow going in a few spots, but for the most part is pure action/adventure with a dash of romance! I must say, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy(?). Gaultry was a likable character, once you got used to her, and very realistic. Martin was very interesting - I didn't feel like I got to know him well enough to decide whether I liked him or not. Hopefully he will feature more in the next book. The plot of the book was good and plausible (well, as plausible as you can get in fantasy) with one country, Tielmark, having split from Bissanty. Bissanty obviously wants it back and the perfect opportunity is coming - the three hundred year anniversary. Gaultry and her sister Mervion, plus the unfathomable Martin, must intervene with the evil chancellor's plans and save Tielmark before it is too late!

Many years ago, one of my favorite fantasy series was Stephen R. Donaldson's "Lord Foul's Bane" and sequels.

Around the same time, I was in college playing D&D with a group that eventually included the author of this book, Katya Reimann.

So I'm not at all surprised to have come across her books years later and find a vivid fantasy world and writing that really draws in the reader. I tore through the first book and regretted not ordering the others at the same time. (OK, I thought there was -some- risk I might not actually like it.)

As I read the book, it reminded me of the Donaldson books in the sense of a hero(ine) who evolves a power, and is faced with various moral dilemmas along the way. But the similarity pretty much ends there. The point is, if you liked Donaldson, I think you'll like this even more. If you didn't (and I know his writing has drawn some criticism), I hope you'll still give this a shot.

I'm not quite sure what drew me to this book -- I skimmed a few pages of it before buying it.

It was a little slow to get into, but once I was able to get into it, the story drew me in, and held me fast. I admire Ms. Reimann's ability to tell a compelling, and entertaining story. I have to say that I found myself gasping at times, as the plot twisted and turned.

Great read; highly recommended.

I was ~100 pages into this book when I decided to order the other 2 books in this outstanding trilogy.

The 2 lead characters (a hedgewitch & a swordsman) are very believable. 3-dimensional. Fascinating relationship between them. Dialogues so vivid that they often strike sparks. The heroine's introspective analysis of how & when to work her magic is superbly interesting. There are mysteries & foreboding & foreshadows a plenty.

It was a 5-star book all the way, until (in final 100 pages or so) the heroine and the evil twosome finally meet face to face, magic to magic.

Sadly, the 2 bad guys are so bad that I found it hard to take them seriously. They have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. They lack personality. They clobber fair maidens, break victims' ribs & teeth, snarl, skulk, & cackle with such extreme, poorly motivated cruelty that they mostly resemble the bad guys in a cartoon.

The climax was good, and the concluding scenes were grrreat - very satisfying.

I definitely want to read the 2 remaining books in this trilogy. This author knows how to weave a tale, no doubt about that. I just hope the bad guys mellow out a bit so I can rightfully disdain/hate them rather than find them pitiful & amusing.

Gaultry is a young, beautiful, spirited huntress, who has been raised by her great-aunt, a hedge-witch, on the border of Tielmaran. One day, the outer world cruelly ends her idyllic life, as a squadron of soldiers seeks to abduct her, and she finds herself a key figure in a prophecy that will bless or curse the entire realm.

Ms. Reimann creates, for the most part, a well-imagined world with some fresh touches. However, the kindest thing I can say about her telling of the story is that, this being her first novel, she shows glimmers of potential. To identify the major problems: First, the story begins, for the sake of excitement, as Gaultry and the prophecy are about to collide; consequently, the plot is over-burdened with flashbacks and info-dumps about the history of Tielmaran--information that could have been much more gracefully integrated via an earlier starting point. Second, the magic 'system' involves drawing power from the realm's gods (yet spells are called spells, not prayers), and its workings are never defined well enough to bear the crushing burden of the book's climax, which also spins out of control from Ms. Reimann's inexperienced quill. (An unfortunate example from p. 374: "There was a weird short-circuited merry-go-round through all the bodies in the circle, an unpleasantly long dance, before the Glamour-spirits were properly settled." Note that neither circuits nor merry-go-rounds are otherwise known to exist in Tielmaran.) Finally, several plot-threads are left dangling, presumably for the second and third installments.

Overall, this is worthy of a (cheap) used purchase or a library loan for undemanding fans of escapist fantasy. (Books like Green Rider by Kristen Britain and The Sword by Deborah Chester came to mind as I read this one.) However, I would certainly recommend above all of those, if one can tolerate more vivid descriptions of violence and sexual content, A Game of Thrones by George Martin; The Briar King by Greg Keyes; Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb; Rules of Ascension by David Coe; or anything by Guy Gavriel Kay (especially A Song for Arbonne and Tigana). Two stars.

First, I would like to say that I have read over 15 books from the last 2 years on forex and this book has been the easiest and most informative book that I have read. It goes thru the technical and fundamentals of forex like no other book. I have read this book 3 times and I am still learning new things. It gets right down to what you as a forex trader need to know before going live. His methods of trading will last a lifetime. I was recommended this book and now I would like to tell others. The best $45.00 I ever spent. I can't wait for his next book.

Excellent product. A must have for anyone who trades or wants to trade the Forex.

I agree with those who say Wiley does a poor job on editing and such.
The author says he submitted color charts to Wiley, and the black and white charts published by Wiley are of no value to the reader.

Fortunately, Wayne has many videos on YouTube, and they are clear and concise where this book is not. Another publisher besides Wiley may have spent some money on doing this book correctly. Wayne Mcdonell is an awesome author and forex trader.

I feel I can read it over and over and still find more insight. A lot of information displayed in such a clear manner. A must read for traders at every level!

One thing is sure: This book makes ME better trader.

All important aspects of Forex trading are explained. Not bad for 229 page book. No pages filling material.

I had problem with consistency in my trading, and this book teaches me how to get over that problem. I think that every trader, even experienced ones, can learn something from this book.

It is not absolute beginner's book, but if you know the basic things about Forex - you will be fine.

I've lived in the Rio Grande Valley (Hidalgo County, Texas) for 30 years, most of the time residing about a 20-minute drive to the Mexican border. I had taken three years of Spanish in high school before moving here from Michigan, but like many Northerners, I wasn't bilingual because of a lack of exposure to Spanish and little opportunity to practice it.

When I moved here, I made up my mind I was going to get bilingual. I watched a lot of Mexican TV stations, listened to Spanish language hit songs, watched Spanish language movies. And I interacted with a lot of people who spoke no English at all -- which forced me to speak Spanish.

And in the beginning years, I did most of it with this little gem of a dictionary in my pocket or purse. For a pocket sized dictionary I found it to be quite thorough, and was usually able to find the words I heard and didn't know.

This dictionary is not meant to be the only one for a Spanish language student. But it has a practical, comprehesive vocabulary, and includes a number of other important items about phonics in both languages. Add to that a useful listing of proverbs, expressions and idioms for both languages, and you have a gem of a resource.

I'm bilingual now, and I owe a lot of it to having this fine little book. I highly recommend it.

This is the dictionary we were recommended to buy in College Spanish. I recommend any language learner do a couple of things. First, go read How to Learn Any Language.
Ok, now that you've done that and come back to read this, here's what I recommend for you: get several dictionaries. That way you can check back and forth against the books to see the various translations provided. Then, based on all your target language reading, you can decide which word is the best, most nuanced word to use in your situation.

This dictionary routinely had the most recognized words from my readings and conversations with native speakers. It had the least argument-quotient.
It's clearly laid out and dense with words so any word you need should be in here (remember to check for conjugations, etc.).

This dictionary won't let you down.

This is a great dictionary. I used in in high school for Spanish classes. I still find great reference to it to this day.
Easy to understand, clear and concise. I highly recommend it.

I spent 2 years in Venezuela and my U of Chicago dictionary was like a constant companion. It helped me A LOT.

Sure, it doesn't have everything, but what dictionary does? None of the other S-E E-S dictionaries was comparable.

I recently bought a 4th edition when I discovered my other one was lost. I still don't want to be without "my dictionary."

--George Stancliffe

As an engineer living and working in Ecuador, I'd like to say that this is my favorite dictionary. Not only is it a "Pocket Book" (the publisher's name); hence, easy to carry; but it is complete enough to be useful in the real world. It doesn't have every word you might come across or would like to use, but I find it has the majority of words I need. I have a Colombian S-E/E-S paperback dictionary the same size as this but it doesn't have nearly the number of entries. And a big thick standard used here, Ocean, not only misses a number of words but it's layout is difficult for my North American mind to navigate. As an engineer, I like the fact that this dictionary has many technical terms; and as a logical thinker, I like the way they grouped the irregular verbs into categories. For example, the first group spells out the stem-changing variations for the verb "Pensar" (to think). Thus, when one looks up the verb "Recomendar" (to recommend), the superscript "1" appears after the word, directing the reader to Group 1 of the irregular verbs. The only problem I have with this book is that it's a bit out of date, but I see Amazon lists the 5th edition, due out in August of 2002, as a pre-pub item. I have it selected already!

Good selection for beginning Latin. I used it for 2 years and have now since gone on to Cassell's and now Lewis and Short, which are both more ample. The advantage here is that is has more words from later Latin than Cassell's, but Cassell's is much more ample when it comes to words like quo and quin (the worst thing ever!).

What does Vita bellum est mean? Life is war? Or is it vita bella est?

This dictionary is good for beginners, but more advanced Latinists must turn elsewhere. Though it covers most basic words, some common words like the verb 'minor' are curiously absent. Those seeking the meanings of hapax legomena, many post-classical and technical words, any but the commonest proper names, or etymologies, must resort to a comprehensive reference like Lewis and Short or the Oxford Latin Dictionary. The most telling flaw of this dictionary is that it does not mark hidden quantity: this is irrelevant for scansion, certainly, but is important for correct accentuation and pronunciation of vowel lengths, for those of us who actually care about speaking Latin properly. Plus, the text is riddled with typos (including one in a page header). The accidence charts at the beginning are accurate and fairly thorough, and may be useful for novices.

Considering its low price, this dictionary is worth a buy for the beginning Latinist, but should not be relied on past the intermediate level.

Book arrived promptly and in advertised condition. I am very pleased with the entire transaction.

Our daughter's Latin tutor, a Classics scholar, recommended this Latin dictionary. It is excellent.

I have used this dictionary for 15 years, and it has never let me down. What amazes me is that it is so versatile. A word would have to be pretty obscure (medieval, ecclesiastical) to not be in here. Unbeatable.