The Freedom Writers Diary: Movie-Tie-In: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

Book Description

Shocked by the teenage violence she witnessed during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, Erin Gruwell became a teacher at a high school rampant with hostility and racial intolerance. For many of these students–whose ranks included substance abusers, gang members, the homeless, and victims of abuse–Gruwell was the first person to treat them with dignity, to believe in their potential and help them see it themselves. Soon, their loyalty towards their teacher and burning enthusiasm to help end violence and intolerance became a force of its own. Inspired by reading The Diary of Anne Frank and meeting Zlata Filipovic (the eleven-year old girl who wrote of her life in Sarajevo during the civil war), the students began a joint diary of their inner-city upbringings. Told through anonymous entries to protect their identities and allow for complete candor, The Freedom Writers Diary is filled with astounding vignettes from 150 students who, like civil rights activist Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders, heard society tell them where to go–and refused to listen.

Proceeds from this book benefit the Freedom Writers Foundation, an organization set up to provide scholarships for underprivieged youth and to train teachers

Customer Reviews:

READ THIS, THEN PASS IT ON TO A FRIEND !.......2007-08-07

A close friend kept bugging me to see the movie, "Freedom Writers." Finally, we watched it one afternoon, and she was right. It's a very good movie. After seeing the movie, I came home the same day, and ordered the book. The book is a collection of diary entries by high school students in the Long Beach area of L.A., right after the Rodney King riots. Some of their true stories are horrific and all are intense. These kids, who are 14, at the beginning of the book, have to deal with abusive or neglecting parents, parents strung out on drugs, pressures to be in a gang or to lie in court to protect their own. It's a very intense book. Their teacher, Erin Gruwell, set herself the goal to teach them about tolerance and stop the cycle of violence in their lives. Amazingly, she was suceesful. This book follows the kids through their high school years, and the changes that take place in their thinking in that time.This is a great book, I couldn't put it down.

Freedom Writers.......2007-05-13

Well written, deep and touching true accounts of the students past. A truly inspiring story

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-05-05

This is the book that the movie Freedom Writers (Widescreen Edition) is based on. These are the diaries of the students put into one book.

There are no names used in the book--each diary entry has a number, so that the students could feel free to write what they wanted without knowing exactly who wrote what. Personally, I think this is a great idea because the diary entries were very open and you could tell the students wrote exactly what they felt.

THE FREEDOM WRITERS DIARY is a truly excellent book, because everything is so real and most of The Freedom Writers had to grow up at an extremely early age. Many had their innocence taken away around the age of ten. The Rodney King riots were going on and the Columbine High School event occurred during the time of the book. These high school students had seen more murder and dead bodies then most people will ever see in their entire lives.

99% of The Freedom Writers have even been shot at. This is an extremely true and eye-opening statistic. Segregation is still an issue in the United States, even though many people don't have to deal with it. This book taught me a lot about tolerance and what happens on the streets of Long Beach, California.

Reviewed by: Taylor Rector

great for teens and tweens.......2007-03-09

I bought this book for two 12 year olds to read, they are still reading and it has sparked important discussions!

AMAZING........2007-03-09

this book was apsolutly amazing. i loved it. if you have seen the movie the book is exactly like it. it is amazing if you are a teenager like myself. my dad bought this book for me for my birthday. if you havent already bought it buy it. If you havent bought it and you havent seen the movie. READ the book first then watch the movie. AMAZING!

Average customer rating:

Pure genius in form
Historical must-have for your library
Give me Liberty!
Great Introduction to the Revolutionary War
Fleming continues lively "Revolutionary" writing...

Liberty!: The American Revolution
Thomas Fleming
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Liberty! The American Revolution
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ASIN: 0670870218

Amazon.com

This first-rate volume on the American Revolution combines beautiful artwork with the lucid prose of Thomas Fleming. Although Liberty! The American Revolution accompanies a PBS documentary series, the book stands completely on its own; in fact, it presents one of the finest overviews of the conflict available in print. The bulk of the text focuses on the military aspect of the Revolution, but the political and social sides receive ample coverage as well. Colorful sidebars on the mysterious origins of the U.S. flag, the evolution of Yankee Doodle, and a history of tarring and feathering are great entertainment for curious intellects. If you are going to include only a single book on the American Revolution in your library, this is probably the one to own. And even if you already have several, Liberty! should be added to your collection.

Customer Reviews:

Pure genius in form.......2006-05-23

Thomas Fleming has written a most comprehensive overview of the American revolution. He gives us the causes, the players, the conflict and the outcome. Extremely well organized and very well written. Nicely illustrated. The seperate sidebar articles give the reader ample background on such issues as what America was like and what Americans were like during the period. He tells us about slavery. He tells us about the German soldiers hired out to the British by the varius greedy princes. He tells us about George III who was personally a wonderful human being but a political want to be despot and cunning politician but narrowmindedness ultimately proved his undoing. He really does a great job.

Really a great book on the subject. Combined with the video cassets of the same name, this book makes a great and entertaining means for obtaining a basic view of the American revolution.

Historical must-have for your library.......2006-01-30

I have never seen the documentary series on which this book is base. But, who needs to see it on TV when you have high-quality color photographs of war paintings and artifacts, not to mention an in-depth narrative on the history of the American Revolution? The book is enough, and money well spent, especially for the student in your home.

Give me Liberty!.......2004-07-05

The volume, 'Liberty! The American Revolution' by Thomas Fleming, is a companion volume to the wonderful PBS series by the same name, a six-part treatment of the period leading up to and including the American Revolution in the mid-to-late 1700s.

As Fleming shows in his text, the seeds of the American Revolution were planted long before the actual conflicts began. This was not an overnight decision on the part ofthe colonists or the British; intense negotiations and political attempts were made for years prior to the outbreak of hostilities. The colonists largely came from Britain; the leadership certainly looked to Britain for political, moral and cultural guidance, as well as primary trade and security vis-a-vis the Spanish, the French, and the Native Americans. American leaders were, by and large, British leaders too -- George Washington held a commission and fought with the British in the French and Indian War.

This was a family break-up in many ways -- Fleming's astute use of the actual words of the people of the time show the emotions that conflict, the love-hate relationship both sides embodied. The first chapter shows the beginnings of discontent on both sides, with the colonists beginning to be stressed over being ignored by the British leadership, and the British leadership, in the form of George III, newly ascended to the throne, and various high-powered ministers, feeling that the colonists were rather ungrateful toward their (so-they-considered-themselves-to-be) rightful lords.

Liberty, ironically, was what George III and his first minister, William Pitt, were all about. The Seven-Years War was won as a fight for liberty; the colonies in America and elsewhere were won over to Britain, who had a parliamentary democracy (however poorly enacted) as opposed to absolute monarchy (such as in France). So, the break-up between Britain and the American colonies becomes all the more troublesome -- not only were the opposing sides practically family, but largely believed the same things.

Fleming never makes the direct comparison, but one can get the sense of Jonathan Swift here, that the battles are fought over relatively minor things (like which side of the egg to crack) -- in the scheme of world politics then and now, the controversies were relatively slight. However, the issues of taxation, governance and respect were important, not perhaps so much for what they were, but for what they did portend as future treatment, and the colonists did not like being second-class citizens in a British-dominated world, even if, to the British leadership, being second-class British was better than being almost anything else. There was also the spectre of the Irish tyranny, perpetrated by the English, that loomed large as a possibility. Sadly, one cannot say that these fears were unjustified.

Fleming's book is intriguing, introducing sides to the conflict that one doesn't recall from grade-school and high-school civics classes -- the conflicts among the colonies themselves; the dissent among the colonies who often wanted a repair rather than a break with Britain; and the personal reflections and fears of the founding fathers and mothers (yes, there were many women involved in this process). Using diaries, correspondence, official documents and media reports of the time, Fleming weaves together a narrative history that achieves a good popular balance between historical detail and narrative reporting.

Fleming's admiration for the founding Americans, their bravery and their intelligence, is very apparent. Fleming's concern to present the British in a fair and balanced light is also apparent, and often portrayed as trying to be reasonable and responsive to many of the colonial concerns, if not always pleasant and courteous to the colonial leaders themselves. The writing is interesting and thoughtful, and done in a popular tone that gives personality to the people who figure in the events.

Fleming's final chapter looks at the aftermath of the war, and the struggle for unity as a nation. George Washington's statement that liberty could be both a blessing and curse was taken to heart -- when the Constitutional Convention met to amend the Articles of Confederation, it went far beyond its original mandate, and it was telling that not all colonies sent representatives, and not all that were sent agreed to stay through the proceedings.

The format of the book is quite nice to read -- there are pull-quotes, text boxes, full-colour pictures, drawings, maps, and charts. There are 'visual interest' items on every page, from grand paintings of conventions and major persons, to small details, such as the 'dove of peace' weathervane Washington installed at Mount Vernon prior to his depature to become President. The book is well-indexed, and matches the companion television series very well, but is also perfectly suitable as a stand-alone volume.

A great read in many ways, it makes a great gift for anyone (or to oneself) with an interest in history.

Great Introduction to the Revolutionary War.......2002-06-22

Too often our knowledge of the Revolutionary War is maimed by our simplistic grade school education. This introduction to this subject gives us a wall-to-wall view of the era. Both the British and Colonial sides of the conflict are given. In addition, the excellent illustrations and Mr. Fleming's great writing keeps us reading and looking at this book.

If you can find it and afford it, get it.

Fleming continues lively "Revolutionary" writing..........2001-12-27

I continue to be surprised with these movie "companion" books (the Civil War by Geoffrey Ward and Panther by Mario Van Peebles are other notable works). This is an excellent summary of the Revolution and, at some levels, exceeds other more celebrated accounts. We get all kinds of "context" presented with the numerous pictures and paintings as well as little "side-bars" that richly describe,among other things, life in the 13 colonies, the Liberty Bell story and the truth concerning Betsey Ross and the American Flag. Fleming's writing is good, if not a tad "dry", but some details are covered better here than in other histories (the little-known battle of Monotomny as the British are retreating from Concorde is given excellent coverage, for example...). The post-war era up to and including the development and the signing of the Constitution is remarkably detailed and, from which, I learned much. The biggest critique that I'd discuss is the almost criminal lack of maps...these types of books generally make their reputations on the inclusion of excellent battle maps (again, Ward's "Civil War" is the standard), but they are very noticably lacking here. Finally, as other reviewers have stated, this should not be viewed as a comprehensive covering of the war, but it is an excellent introduction and, notwithstanding the movie, completely stands on it's own.

The Complete Locations of Star Wars: Inside the Worlds of the Entire Star Wars Saga

Average customer rating:

Where you've always wanted to go
A great source for background information
Great visual drawings!
Hypnotic Journey into Star Wars
awesome buy for Star Wars Fanatics

The Complete Locations of Star Wars: Inside the Worlds of the Entire Star Wars Saga
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Ultimate Visual Guide to Star Wars
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Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith: The Definitive Guide to Spaceships and Vehicles

ASIN: 0756614198

Book Description

The dramatic culmination of DK's best-selling Inside the Worlds of Star Wars series, The Complete Locations of Star Wars uses breathtaking illustrations and insightful text to reveal the planets from every movie in the Star Wars saga, including the hotly anticipated Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Customer Reviews:

Where you've always wanted to go.......2007-09-03

This book is great!! I love how it approaches Star Wars as if it where real in the telling of each local or spot. It makes you feel even more apart of what's going on in the Saga and only improves the feeling of the movies for me anyways. If you've always had questions about each place you've seen on screen then this is the book for you!!

A great source for background information.......2007-08-30

The complete locations is a great source that brings all the locations together. One does not have to buy book after book of each movie to see their perspective location. As always, the schematics are detailed and will aid anyone who like to build diorhamas. I do recommend this book.

Great visual drawings!.......2007-05-18

See beyond the locations of the places where all the events take place. You can explore the little sections of what rooms are in the Jedi Temple, the routes from the pod race and more.

Hypnotic Journey into Star Wars.......2007-04-19

Star Wars fans will easily get lost in the fantasy worlds so brilliantly evoked in this book. Thousands of hours have been expended by hugely talented artists and writers to bring to life the small and large details of the Star Wars galaxy.

I'm grateful that someone in the Lucas creative hierarchy gave these artists the go-ahead to add new story exposition and perspective that was never in the movies. Fascinating new detail - did you know that Ben Kenobi had a secret basement in his house on Tatooine? Its shown here, along with what he hides in it. Did you know the Cantina in Mos Eisley was owned by a Wookie who bugs his customer's conversations? Did you know the carbonite freezing chamber in the Cloud City on Bespin was inside the gas processing vane? These and a thousand other details provide the essential Star Wars backstory and immersion craved by true fans.

This a a book to be read and examined slowly, preferably at night before sleeping, because your dreams will be of Star Wars.

awesome buy for Star Wars Fanatics.......2007-01-19

I bought this item for Christmas for my Star Wars fanatic husband. It turned out to be the hit for him and my 2 fanatic boys ages 5 and 8. They haven't stopped looking it over and discovering new trivia.

Average customer rating:

Buy two, keep one and give the other to a friend.
The ending will leave you speechless
The Great South African Novel
One of my Favorites
Excellent read!

The Power of One: A Novel
Bryce Courtenay
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
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ASIN: 034541005X
Release Date: 1996-09-29

Book Description

"Unabashedly uplifting."
THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
Set in a world torn apart, where man enslaves his fellow man and freedom remains elusive, THE POWER OF ONE is the moving story of one young man's search for the love that binds friends, the passion that binds lovers, and the realization that it takes only one to change the world. A weak and friendless boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most irrersistible force of all: the Power of One.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Buy two, keep one and give the other to a friend........2007-07-17

My favorite book of all time - and I'm a picky reader. You will become entranced in Peekay's world and never want to leave it. This should be on every person's bookshelf and handed out to every young adult.

Other advice: rent the movie first, then read the novel and you'll be able to appreciate the book more. Also, the sequel "Tandia" is good, but not as powerful as TPOO

The ending will leave you speechless.......2007-06-30

Most five year olds feel insecure and afraid in the world, but take away a child's mother, an apparently absent father, and only a black nanny to take care of the while child in South Africa and what remains will undoubtedly be a child that quickly learns to fend for himself. The question that remains is how successful will that child be? Peekay, with a strong mind and stronger heart, proves that the Power of One can be all the power one needs to succeed.

Peekay, an English child in South Africa at the start of WWII, has everything that he knows turned upside down when he is told that his mother has suffered a nervous breakdown and he must attend boarding school many miles from home. He is the youngest student by two years and is picked on mercilessly by the older children. This physical and mental abuse causes him to wet the bed which, in turn, increases his torment. Peekay uses life's earliest challenges to form the inner strength that he will need to overcome lifelong adversity. Over the years he develops a love for boxing and his goals surround the sport. He also discovers his aptitude for academics and is brought along by friends that are unique in their quirkiness as well as loyalty.

The Power of One is a moving and highly entertaining story of a boy who will not let himself fail. The novel portrays a courage and spirit of youth that defies one's expectations given the obstacles that get in the main character's way. Supporting characters are developed so that they come alive and the reader will be unable to follow Peekay's successes without a sense of pride themselves. The last twenty pages turn the book on it's head and finish with such an unexpected shock that it will leave the reader speechless. But somehow, it is a fitting ending to a thrilling journey that is difficult to put down.

The Great South African Novel.......2007-06-18

This expertly written novel tells the story of a boy whose chance meeting with a boxer leads him to focus his life on becoming the welterweight champion of the world.

The heart of the novel is the inspiring friendships he forms with the richly shaped characters that he encounters as he grows up.

The author's ability to tell a capturing story, and the smooth way he tells it, has produced a classic book well worth reading.

One of my Favorites.......2007-05-25

The Power of One is one of my favorite books of all time! You won't want to put it down until you finish!

Excellent read!.......2007-04-10

I laughed, I cried...it has made my list of books to recommend to friends.

Average customer rating:

hate it at page 40
Nothing is illuminated on the CD Version
Lovely, But Slightly Overrated
Read the Book First
Absolutely the best

Everything Is Illuminated
Jonathan Safran Foer
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Everything Is Illuminated

ASIN: 0060792175
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

The simplest thing would be to describe Everything Is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer's accomplished debut, as a novel about the Holocaust. It is, but that really fails to do justice to the sheer ambition of this book. The main story is a grimly familiar one. A young Jewish American--who just happens to be called Jonathan Safran Foer--travels to the Ukraine in the hope of finding the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. He is aided in his search by Alex Perchov, a naïve Ukrainian translator, Alex's grandfather (also called Alex), and a flatulent mongrel dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. On their journey through Eastern Europe's obliterated landscape they unearth facts about the Nazi atrocities and the extent of Ukrainian complicity that have implications for Perchov as well as Safran Foer. This narrative is not, however, recounted from (the character) Jonathan Safran Foer's perspective. It is relayed through a series of letters that Alex sends to Foer. These are written in the kind of broken Russo-English normally reserved for Bond villains or Latka from Taxi. Interspersed between these letters are fragments of a novel by Safran Foer--a wonderfully imagined, almost magical realist, account of life in the shtetl before the Nazis destroyed it. These are in turn commented on by Alex, creating an additional metafictional angle to the tale.

If all this sounds a little daunting, don't be put off; Safran Foer is an extremely funny as well as intelligent writer who combines some of the best Jewish folk yarns since Isaac Bashevis Singer with a quite heartbreaking meditation on love, friendship, and loss. --Travis Elborough, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man -- also named Jonathan Safran Foer -- sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.

By turns comic and tragic, but always passionate, wildly inventive, and touched with an indelible humanity, this debut novel is a powerful, deeply felt story of searching: for the past, family, and truth.

Customer Reviews:

hate it at page 40.......2007-07-21

I was immediately put off by Alex the narrator. Yes he has a unique voice, but the author is trying too hard to be clever with him. It might be funny for 5 pages, but not 45.

And Foer, the character, writes his "novel within the novel" about a Ukranian Jewish community that is a caricature of a community. Perhaps this is intended, but I didn't care for it. Maybe if I was intimately familiar with the culture's foibles, I would find it immediately funny. But since I'm not, I had no sympathy built up to enjoy the caricature -- to laugh with it, and not at it. And again, since it tries too hard, I couldn't even do that. And possibly I missed the author's intentions entirely -- was this part to be taken seriously but lightly, with the magical realism going on?

Maybe I haven't given it a chance, or didn't "get it", but I don't like suffering through things I don't care for these days.

Nothing is illuminated on the CD Version.......2007-07-04

I read the Recorded Books Unabridged Audio CD version of this book, and I'm convinced now that was a major mistake. Not every book translates well to the CD form. My favorites are nonfiction books such as histories and biographies. This rendition is an example of why it's frequently better to read novels in their original form, on paper. The CD form (like the movies) allows for too much interpretation.

On this CD, Alex sounded like a clown with an accent one would find in a comedy club; the history of Trachinbrod came across as pure foolishness and a waste of time, sound and space; grandfather as a bellowing maniac. I'm aware that the novel has been called brilliant and that it is highly praised by many. Perhaps on paper that is true, but I found it nearly impossible to listen to the CD.

As far as the plot is concerned I found it tortured and confusing. The holocaust story that emerges at the end is a tale of great sadness and pain but it's not enough to save the nonsensical plot and overly clever writing. I was reminded of Styron's Sophies Choice, which was a much, much better book.

If you plan to read this book, skip the CD and read the novel.

Lovely, But Slightly Overrated.......2007-07-02

I honestly loved the unconventional technique, and I wasn't that bothered by the lack of historical accuracy. I choose to think of it as a mixture of Jewish magic realism and artistic license.

Read the Book First.......2007-06-03

This is a fine book which, to enjoy to its fullest, must be read without having seen the film first. It should be said that a couple of off-hand remarks near the beginning of the book give away a major plot point of whose importance we are not yet aware. Having already seen the film, it made the book much harder (and, sadly, less enjoyable) to read. [The film itself is marvelously bittersweet, gets under your skin, and, like the book, doesn't let go. Choices must always be made in what to bring to the screen and what to leave out; good choices were made here. The film works incredibly well on its own.] I'm writing this review partially in response to the frustration expressed in an earlier review titled "Skip the book, see the movie" and to say that if you enjoy reading, please buy the book and read it before experiencing the film, as when one sees everything with the eyes first, it takes away so much of the beauty and surprise of the printed word.

Absolutely the best.......2007-05-31

This is one of the best books I have read. I loved every minute of it. The movie is excellent as well.

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)

Average customer rating:

Rise of the Horde
Excellent sequel
Easy and fun read
Good History
Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)
Christie Golden
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743471385

Book Description

Though the young Warchief Thrall ended the demon curse that had plagued his people for generations, the orcs still wrestle with the sins of their bloody past. As the rampaging Horde, they waged a number of devastating wars against their perennial enemy -- the Alliance. Yet the rage and bloodlust that drove the orcs to destroy everything in their path nearly consumed them as well.

Long ago, on the idyllic world of Draenor, the noble orc clans lived in relative peace with their enigmatic neighbors, the draenei. But the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion had other plans for both of the unsuspecting races. The demon-lord Kil'jaeden set in motion a dark chain of events that would succeed not only in eradicating the draenei, but forging the orc clans into an single, unstoppable juggernaut of hatred and destruction.

Customer Reviews:

Rise of the Horde.......2007-09-17

My feelings were somewhat mixed on this book. What I liked about it was that the author really knew his WoW background. The story presented the history of the Horde and their conflict with the Draenei in a very concise and understandable way. It was an "easy read", and there was little to no confusion about what was happening.
What I didn't care for was how particularly violent this book was. The author vividly presented the blood and guts of conflict. I'm sure that is what the author intended, but the unintentional consequence was not feeling sorry for the Orcs at all.
If you are a hard core WoW fan, this book is a must read. Just be prepared for a "D-day" like story.

Excellent sequel.......2007-09-17

This is a follow-up to Christie Golden's Lord of the Clans, also contained in Warcraft: Archive.

This tale chronicles Thrall's recording of the rise of the first Horde on the world of Draenor, otherwise known as Outlands.

I learned a lot about the dynamics of the Draenei and thigns related to WoW:TBC that I would have otherwise not know since I play Horde exclusively.

A great read that I highly reccommend.

Easy and fun read .......2007-08-13

Tells the tragic story we have all wanted to know for years and does its best to blend the Warcraft 1,2 and 3 storylines not so easy.

This book is all the more tragic because ultimatly the reader knows the ending. I thought it was great because it showed what true friends Doomhammer and Doritan were.

Everything I have come to expect froma Bilzard book.

Good History.......2007-08-09

Excellent History of how the Horde came to be the Horde. A must for all Warcraft enthusiasts

Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal .......2007-05-10

By; Anthony Michael Tuzzolo.
First of all, If you have no idea what Warcraft is then go home! This story is set in a place called Hellfire peninsula in the shattered world of Draenor. The story starts out with a young orc named Duratan, who is heir to the Frostwolf clan, befriending another orc named Orgim Doomhammer. One day, the two friends are saved by an alien race,named Draeni who befriend them and allow them to stay in their marvelous city. When they grow up a very influintial shaman named Ner'Zhul had a vision from his deceased mate who told him that the ancestors were all with an omniescent being and that he would soon get a vision from it. Ner'Zhul gets a vision from a maelevolent being named Kil' Jaedan who tells him that the Draeni are no friends, but are instead enemies. Ner'Zhul then calls a meeting between with all the clans and send them out to attack the Draeni. The only clan that is not fighting is Duratan and his Frostwolf clan.Eventualy, Ner'Zhul gets another vision from his Mate who tells him that he was listening to the wrong being and that the ancestors will no longer answer to him. Guldan, Ner'Zhuls apprentice, betrays him and tells Kil' Jaedan about how Ner'Zhul tried to reach the ancestors. Ner'Zhul, now a demoralized husk of his former self, no longer is a threat to Kil'Jaedan and Guldan is now incharge. uldan then sends an all out attack on the Draeni fortress along with some demons brought by Kil'Jaedan. Although, some of the Draeni, including their leader, Velen, escape. The Orcs homeworld is dying so they open a portal to another world were the land is greater.

Average customer rating:

Excellent book for POTC fans!!!
Behind the scenes mith Jerry Bruckheimer from Pirates of the Caribbean
Bring Me That Horizon: the Making of Pirates of the Caribbean
The Making of POTC
pirates of the caribbean's secrets!!!

Bring Me That Horizon: (Welcome Book)
Michael Singer
Manufacturer: Disney Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 142310319X
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for POTC fans!!!.......2007-08-04

This book is very informative and so colorful! The pictures are incredible and it's very entertaining to read the actors' comments on their characters and the trilogy. I'm very glad that I invested the money! Any POTC fan who loves to read about the back stories behind the characters and the storyline will LOVE this!!! I highly recommend this one!

Behind the scenes mith Jerry Bruckheimer from Pirates of the Caribbean.......2007-07-15

For every Pirates movie fan a must have. The Characters talking about things that happened during filming. You get to know them better by reading this, things that you never have read before in any other interview in magazines or on sites. Also very nice phatography by Jerry Bruckheimer. Pictures only published in this book. Whene you are reading this you get great respect for all those people who are working behind the scenes. Then you realise how huge the work is to build a set. You find very much information about how the movie comes to that what we see on the whitescreen. Enormous what a work is done to deliver these three movies for us to see. You read who created the final line "bring me that horizon" of the first movie.

Bring Me That Horizon: the Making of Pirates of the Caribbean.......2007-07-13

This is a great book and well worth the cost. The history of the making of all three movies is very interesting and the pictures are great. I highly recommend this book for any fan of the Pirates trilogy.

The Making of POTC.......2007-07-04

What a great book! The inside scoop on everything POTC -- from interviews with the cast to special effects, costumes, makeup and film locations. A must for any POTC fan!

pirates of the caribbean's secrets!!!.......2007-06-07

With all the dvd's and this book,i know and understand everything on the trilogy.If you like the making of,the secrets,the make-up and all the characters of pirates of the caribbean.......you have to get this book now.

Average customer rating:

I loved it.
2.5 stars. The author tries too hard and does not succeed in creating a masterpiece
pretentious
Watch the movie
GOOD between 3.5 and 4 stars

The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679745203
Release Date: 1993-11-30

Amazon.com

Haunting and harrowing, as beautiful as it is disturbing, The English Patient tells the story of the entanglement of four damaged lives in an Italian monastery as World War II ends. The exhausted nurse, Hana; the maimed thief, Caravaggio; the wary sapper, Kip: each is haunted by the riddle of the English patient, the nameless, burn victim who lies in an upstairs room and whose memories of passion, betrayal, and rescue illuminate this book like flashes of heat lightning. In lyrical prose informed by a poetic consciousness, Michael Ondaatje weaves these characters together, pulls them tight, then unravels the threads with unsettling acumen.

A book that binds readers of great literature, The English Patient garnered the Booker Prize for author Ondaatje. The poet and novelist has also written In the Skin of a Lion, Coming Through Slaughter and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid; two collections of poems, The Cinnamon Peeler and There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do; and a memoir, Running in the Family.

Book Description

The Booker Prize-winning novel, now a critically acclaimed major motion picture, starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe and Kristin Scott Thomas. With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II. Hana, the exhausted nurse; the maimed thief, Caravaggio; the wary sapper, Kip: each is haunted by the riddle of the English patient, the nameless, burned man who lies in an upstairs room and whose memories of passion, betrayal, and rescue illuminates this book like flashes of heat lightening.

Customer Reviews:

I loved it........2007-07-10

This book was given to me on an airplane and I read it because I had nothing else to read. I had seen the movie and thought it was OK. The book however, I absolutly loved. The movie focused primarily on the English Patient, but the book was different in that you got to know each character quite intimately. They all were in the house for different reasons and each of them had very unique and intrieging backgrounds. I was sucked in immediately. Each charachter is developed and you are able to understand who they are and why. All of their strengths and weaknesses are revealed and they are quite vulnerable. If you are someone who likes to bond with a characters and watch them develop, this book is for you.

2.5 stars. The author tries too hard and does not succeed in creating a masterpiece.......2007-04-29

Before I start I have to say that I loved the English Patient film. Minghella (director) manages to capture the beautiful romance between the characters and the stark beauty of the desert like no other director has been able to.

This book however, doesn't. Don't get me wrong. Ondaatje isn't a terrible writer. He's just not great. He tries very hard to be different (speechmarks are obviously passe?) and it shows. The English Patient novel doesn't really have any of the elements that make the movie so likeable. For starters, the book isn't coherent. It jumps everywhere. Some of the jumps are clear. Others are not. One gets the feeling that they're in there just for kicks, not for any real story-driving purpose.

Secondly...a LOT of Ondaatje's metaphors just.don't.work.

For example you have the ones that almost work:

"I don't think (Clifton) he loved the desert, but he had an affection for it that grew out of awe at our stark order, into which he wanted to fit himself - like a joyous undergraduate who respects silent behaviour in a library."

The ones that seem very high school:

"He (caravaggio) rides the boat of morphine. It races in him, imploding time and geography the way maps compress the world onto a two-dimensional sheet."

And the bewildering:

"He (Kip) knew he was now a king...it was strange to him. As if he had been handed a large suit of clothes rhat he could roll around in and whose sleeves would drag behind him."

This is not so say that Ondaatje doesn't paint some beautiful imagery as well. He does. But those instances tend to be few and far between. He also has the infuriating tendency to marr prefectly stunning imagery. For example, at the beginning of the book, he gives you this fantastic image of a young boy dancing next to a fire. Next thing you know, semen is being picked up from the sand. ?!? He does this over and over again.

I have never said this about any book/movie, but honestly, watch the movie as it is an infinitely better interpretation of the the book, than the book itself. The characters in the movie are likeable, and the story is complex and beautiful. The same, strangely, cannot be said of the book.

pretentious.......2007-03-08

English patient has some interesting characters and the plot does have some intrigue, but please, an astounding book? Not. Too many little-finger-in-the-air chardonnays for the book review set. The author's prose is like reading a college literature student's overdone ramblings, he tries way to hard to be artful with words, which is really an inconsideration to the reader. The author's ability to be creative should be secondary to his ability to communicate. A lot of the metaphors don't work, simply leaving you puzzled. This book is like going to dinner with people who can speak the same language as you, but decide they will talk in another, company be damned.

Watch the movie.......2007-02-18

While I loved the movie, the book left me dry and perplexed. Normally I prefer the book to the movie, but in this case, it was the other way around. The story jumps around a great deal and you live in the heads of Hana, Caravagio and Kip, but only graze upon those of Catherine and Almasy. If you expect to read about that great romance, better just rent the video because it's not in the book.

GOOD between 3.5 and 4 stars.......2007-02-09

I liked this book much better than the boring movie. It was beautifully written but some parts flashed back and the ending was weird but the story was lovely about 4 lives during the war and you got into some of the characters lives. His style of writing in this book and the story was much better than Anil's Ghost which I found to be boring and redundant. A good book. I've read better but I've also read much worse.

Average customer rating:

Finally!
The Art of the Pirates of the Caribbean
This is Quality
Art of Pirates of the Caribbean--THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE DONE!
Sketches and concept art

Art of Pirates of the Caribbean, The

Manufacturer: Disney Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1423103181
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Customer Reviews:

Finally!.......2007-09-17

I'm one of the artists featured in the book. I have to say this is one book that I'm proud to have my name attached. Too often "Art of" books smack of kissing up to the producers and above the line folks. This is an "art of" book that doesn't lie. It's just a bunch of art. Period. Thanks to Jon Rogers at Disney for putting this together.

The Art of the Pirates of the Caribbean.......2007-09-16

Ever wanted to see how they came they came up with the characters, settings, and more for the hit blockbuster trilogy Pirates of the Caribbean? Then you definitely should check this one out. The book is huge and bound in a beautiful leather cover. The pictures and illustrations are no less than amazing and are definitely worth the $$$ you're going to spend. So, if you are a Pirates of the Caribbean fan or just love artwork get this now!

This is Quality.......2007-09-08

This is worth owning. The prints of the artwork are very large, as compared to other 'art of' books. I would have preferred artist liner notes though.

Art of Pirates of the Caribbean--THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE DONE!.......2007-08-12

I am a big fan of "The Art of..." type books, and they are usually great fun and add to my enjoyment of the movie. "The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean", however, sets a new standard for quality in this type of book. From the faux-leather cover and binding, to the quality of the paper and the standards of the printing and color reproduction, this is the BEST book of its kind I have ever seen. Filled with fantastic art from all three movies, lavishly laid out...two page fold-out spreads; framable quality full page paintings and sketches..this book has it ALL. If you're a fan of the movies; appreciate great Pirate Art; or simply enjoy a lavishly produced movie book--BUY THIS BOOK (or as Capt. Jack would say--"Just go and steal it!")

Sketches and concept art.......2007-07-28

The Art of the Pirates of the Caribbean is a 160-page hardcover priced at a hefty $50. Although the art covers all three movies, it is mostly sketches and concept art without explanatory text or behind the scenes discussion. As such, it's good eye candy, but not much else.

This is a book you can set on the coffee table for friends to flip through. However, as a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I was ready to devour this book and came away somewhat disappointed. The drawings are a mix of black-and-white and color of the characters, ships, scenes, and such. Some of the drawings are storyboards and there are a few fold out pages.

Pirates of the Caribbean Visual Guide (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Average customer rating:

A Pirate lover's eye candy
The uncompleted visual guide to Priates of the Caribbean
Tired Of Depp and Bloom
Story of Pirates of the Caribbean movies in color
Fun and useful

Pirates of the Caribbean Visual Guide (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Richard Platt
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0756626765

Book Description

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide is packed with exciting stills from the movies and images of numerous props - from cutlasses to treasure chests. Contains spectacular Disney illustrations of Cannibal Island, the Flying Dutchman, the eerie Bayou swamp and Singapore's bustling harbour, plus a detachable double-sided poster featuring cut-away illustrations of the Black Pearl and Sao Feng's junk boat the Empress. The guide provides readers with a fascinating insight to all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies - with in-depth details about all the main characters, the magnificent ships and exotic locations. (c) 2006 Disney

Customer Reviews:

A Pirate lover's eye candy.......2007-08-26

I LOVE Dorling-Kindersly Books! There has never been a publisher that has produced better visual guides to just about everything than DK. So it comes as no surprise that their volume on the third Pirates of the Caribbean film is a joy to look at. You either like the movies--or you don't. BUT, if you like them, the fantastic visual world they created is one of the main draws. This DK volume does the usual wonderful job of putting together a beautifully photographed collection of some of the most striking images from the film. The only problem with the book is, I wish it were longer!

The uncompleted visual guide to Priates of the Caribbean.......2007-08-07

The book is very good, not only the content, but also the print. But it is still not a "complete" visual guide to Piates of the Caribbean, because the world map of the priates on the seven seas is not in the book, that make me very disappoint.

Tired Of Depp and Bloom.......2007-08-06

Another POTC item that focuses on Depp and Bloom (yawn). Geoffrey Rush is a fabulous actor and is not receiving credit he deserves for his excellent performance as Barbossa. Rush is one of the most talented actors who plays many different characters. He is not tied down to one type of character like Depp and Bloom often are. I would only recommend this book to a die-hard Bloom or Depp fan.

Story of Pirates of the Caribbean movies in color.......2007-07-15

Very nice storybook of the POTC trilogy. Full colored. The Characters and the ships with lots of details which every Pirate movie fan wants to know. For adults en growing up childeren. Much pictures and easy text.

Fun and useful.......2007-06-13

My kids have found this to be a great reference tool as they write stories or make their own "Pirates of the Caribbean" story tapes. The pictures are great too.

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