The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tostada

Click here to download this recipe as a .pdf

Tempeh Dagwood Sandwich

Click here to download this recipe as a .pdf

Turkey Parmesan

Click here to download this recipe as a .pdf

More South Beach Titles:

The South Beach Diet
(Now in paperback)

The South Beach Diet Cookbook

The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide (Revised)

The last half of the book covers his three-stage plan; daily diets are mixed with recipes, some of which are from South Beach restaurant chefs. The most restrictive period lasts just two weeks, enough time to stabilize your urges and lose a few pounds; stage two adds fruits and a handful of other carbs, while stage three is meant to last the remainder of your life, with occasional lapses for white bread or birthday cake. While the diet is sound, the book could be better organized. The first half mixes scientific study with anecdote in a seemingly random way, while the mix of meal plans and recipes can be confusing. Still, the recipes are varied and tasty, and you'll never feel deprived, unless you currently happen to live by bread alone. --Jill Lightner

This year alone more than 1 million men and women in this country will suffer a heart attack or stroke. The shocking fact is that the majority of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with the medical knowledge we already possess. Yet this isn't happening. Why? Because doctors and hospitals are paid more to treat disease with invasive techniques like angioplasty and bypass surgery than to prevent it. In his most personal and passionate work yet, Dr. Arthur Agatston champions a revolution in heart disease prevention that will enable people to stay out of the hospital and off the operating table.

In Part 1 of this compelling book, he tells you why seemingly healthy people can suddenly have a heart attack and why people with great cholesterol numbers can be walking time bombs. He explains why belly fat can be an early warning sign of future heart disease and why a noninvasive heart scan can help predict your risk of heart attack. In Part 2, he presents the South Beach Heart Program, his 4-step plan for detecting, preventing, and even reversing heart disease: The 4 steps include: Heart-healthy eating, regular aerobic and core-strengthening exercise, state-of-the art diagnostic testing, and the latest heart-protective medications, as necessary. Thanks to his aggressive prevention approach, Dr. Agatston rarely sees a heart attack or stroke in his practice. Now you can benefit from the prevention strategy he uses to help his patients every day.

"What Size Is Your Cholesterol?"
An Essay by Arthur Agatston, MD

You may think that the title of this article is a mistake and that I meant to say, "What Number Is Your Cholesterol?" But the fact is that the size of your cholesterol is just as important as the total number. If that surprises you, there is a good chance that much of what you think you know about cholesterol is wrong and that what you don't know about cholesterol could be killing you.

Luckily, there are now tests that can determine the size of your cholesterol and whether it is a problem. And there are steps you can take to do something about it if it is. As I explain in The South Beach Heart Program, the earlier you know where you stand in terms of your risk for heart disease, the greater your chance of preventing a heart attack or stroke in the future.

Before I go into how you can find out the size of your cholesterol, let me give you a little background on cholesterol in general.

Continue reading "What Size Is Your Cholesterol?"

Hit the Beach

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook

The South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook

Customer Reviews:

The South Beach Heart Program.......2007-09-22

I am a Registered Nurse and believe that this book WILL save lives if people will use his program. I brought my total cholesterol down 80 points in just 3 months-in my case, using old-fashioned oatmeal and 2 tbsp. milled flaxseed EVERY morning for breakfast and THEN following the South Beach Diet for the rest of the day. (I cannot go almost completely without carbs, it doesn't work for me.)My HDLs (good) are OVER 85 and my LDLs (bad) are less than 120. Triglycerides were great, at less than 100.My doctor was so shocked, he searched my records to make sure he had not prescribed a statin medication! I hope this is not too technical and helps you.

Comprehensive.......2007-09-07

From the author/cardiologist of the popular "South Beach Diet" comes "The South Beach Heart Program" -a book designed to get and keep your heart in shape via a 4 step plan.

Step one is getting on a good diet. It should come to no surprise that the diet plan recommended is the heart healthy South Beach Diet. Step two is the exercise portion and the book recommend walking and strengthening exercises, particularly your core. The rationale here is that you can't keep your heart strong and exercise if your other muscles are weak. Step three is about getting the right tests. In other words, the earlier you get the tests, the better your chances are of preventing a heart attack or stroke. And finally, step four is getting the right medications one might need.

Good for anyone concerned about being heart healthy, I recommend this book for due to its comprehensive discussion of its subject in plain language. Also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator for readers needing help making healthy lifestyle changes. Good luck!

Enlighting.......2007-08-27

Gave me the tools to help myself. Wish I had the book twenty years ago.

The South Beach Heart Program .......2007-07-06

I thought it fell short in providing "do's and dont's" for the diet. It was a wealth of information on the diagnosis and treatment of heart desease. I was looking for step by step instructions on how to follow the diet, I did not get much information at all on the subject.

The South Beach Heart Program: The 4-Step Plan that Can Save Your Life.......2007-05-26

This is an excellent book and should be required reading for all adults and probably on an exit exam for high school students. I have bought five copies of the book and given four away to friends and family. I will probably buy a few more. This book tells the reader how to analyze the problem, measure it and deal with it.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Book
Intriguing and beguiling
Excellent Product & Prompt Delivery
No Words!
Wonderful book, all pictures but beautifully "told" story

Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book)
David Wiesner
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fiction | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General & Reference | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0618194576

Book Description

A bright, science minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share... and to keep.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Book.......2007-09-27

This book is a wordless story appropriate for children of many ages. The pages are full of beautiful illustrations that actually tell a story without having to use words. It also gives children the opportunity to use their imaginations to some degree because they are not strictly told what happens. In it, a boy finds a camera washed up on shore and develops the film. The pictures reveal underwater fantasies in large, brightly colored images.

Intriguing and beguiling.......2007-09-20

When my wife first saw this in the bookstore, she called out, nearly shouting, "Look at this." One look wouldn't do - couldn't do! The detail and clever storytelling in this book are amazing. This book belongs on the shelf of every illustrated book lover.

Excellent Product & Prompt Delivery.......2007-09-15

This item was exactly as described in the item description. It was in the original packaging and is in excellent condition. I am very satisfied and I highly recommend this seller and product to everyone. This is an excellent book by an excellent author!

No Words!.......2007-08-27

This is a beautiful book. Great pictures. But, no words. My child was very confused when there were no words to read. It does allow you, however, to expand and make up a story. But, I would have liked to know that this book had no words before I bought it!

Wonderful book, all pictures but beautifully "told" story.......2007-08-16

This book generated much discussion among my kids and myself. Because there is no text, but amazingly detailed pictures telling this story, there is much room for theory and imagination oriented discussions.

The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide (Revised): The Complete and Easy Reference for All Your Favorite Foods

Average customer rating:

Good Information
Very Helpful
South Beach Supplement
Easy to use with other cookbooks!
Handy Dandy

The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide (Revised): The Complete and Easy Reference for All Your Favorite Foods
Arthur Agatston
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Agatston, Arthur | Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1594861986
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Book Description

Based on the nation's #1 bestsellerPublished in January 2004, The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide has sold more than three million copies and has continuously topped national bestseller lists. An essential tool for success, the completely revised and updated guide will feature a new, more user-friendly format and an expanded list of foods, as well as the most up-to-the-minute new information on nutrition and healthy eating to aid the now millions of early adopters.The new edition will include:o An expanded nutritional breakdown: total carbs and net carbs, total fat and saturated fat, fiber, and sugar.o More food listings including meal replacement bars, other convenience foods, healthy fast-food menu items, and beverages.o FAQs organized by phase and designed to answer dieters' most common questions.o A foreword by Dr. Agatston detailing new research and outlining the changes to the diet.o Each food listing will now have a recommendation by phase. For example, bananas might be a food to avoid in the first 2 weeks of Phase One but will be a food to enjoy in Phase Two.

Customer Reviews:

Good Information.......2007-09-13

This book is a great reference guide, especially for beginners. It works for me.

Very Helpful.......2007-08-01

This little book is very helpful for a quick reference guide. Highly recommend to anyone on the South Beach Diet.

South Beach Supplement.......2007-07-19

Not exactly what I expected. Pretty small book, but good reference charts in there for lots of kinds of foods. A good guide for those committed to the diet for the long run.

Easy to use with other cookbooks!.......2007-06-16

This guide is fantastic for various reasons, as many have mentioned. My main use of it has been in connection with other cookbooks not specifically meant for the South Beach Diet. I love Italian food and have cooked out of "The Silver Spoon" for a long time. When I went on the South Beach Diet, though, I was terrified - no carbs meant no pasta! When I got my hands on this little guide, though, I was saved. Now I can flip through my Italian cookbooks and, in conjunction with this little volume, I can choose meals that fit my diet. Also, if I need to, I can use this book to replace some ingredients which may not be diet-friendly. A fantastic book and a definite winner!

Handy Dandy.......2007-04-11

This Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide is just the thing to leave on your kitchen counter. I do, and refer to it constantly! The first part of this little book describes the South Beach Diet. Next, an outline of how to use the Food Guide. Then the food guide itself. Easy to read, and use. This guide is a must for anyone on the South Beach Diet. And, even if you aren't, but watching your fats and carbs, it's amazingly useful. I am having greater success, and much less stress adapting to this healthy lifestyle, thanks to this guide.

Average customer rating:

Entertaining, Quick, Suspenseful Read of the Summer
Beach House - Not my favorite by a long shot
Great Book!
BY James Patterson & Peter De Jonge?
Hard to believe its a Patterson book!

The Beach House
James Patterson , and Peter De Jonge
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0316969680
Release Date: 2002-06-10

Amazon.com

There are no big surprises in The Beach House, but it's vintage Patterson, with plenty of action, villains with hearts blacker than obsidian, and a working-class hero who pulls himself up by the bootstraps. Patterson and de Jonge previously coauthored the inspirational golf romance Miracle on the 17th Green, but this new game of money, mayhem, and murder clearly suits them to a tee. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

James Patterson and Peter de Jonge's The Beach House opens with the death of a handsome townie on Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons, where being a single-digit millionaire is laughable and being poor is unthinkable.Peter Mullen is a high school dropout who parks cars at the private bashes of the superwealthy Barry and Campion Neubauer. When Peter is found dead on the beach, the Neubauers and their friends insist that he drowned, but his brother Jack, a law student who saw Peter's body, knows he was beaten to death. As Jack uncovers evidence of his brother's secret life, he begins to realize that the very rich are indeed different from the rest of us. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and Jack's patiently plotted payback for Peter's death is one that the Hamptons will not soon forget. There are no big surprises in The Beach House, but it's vintagePatterson, with plenty of action, villains with hearts blacker than obsidian,and a working-class hero who pulls himself up by the bootstraps. Patterson andde Jonge previously coauthored the inspirational golf romance Miracle on the 17th Green, butthis new game of money, mayhem, and murder clearly suits them to a tee.--Barrie Trinkle

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, Quick, Suspenseful Read of the Summer.......2007-07-27

I could not put this book down. I especially enjoyed Patterson's reference to real life scenarios and applaud his accounts in multicultural writings and versatility from music references to basketball. The book will keep you on your toes. I wish there could have been a better ending as I really liked 'Tom'. Definitely recommend it especially for the not so serious reader, like myself. I thoroughly enjoyed it and you will too.

Beach House - Not my favorite by a long shot.......2007-07-19

I just never got into this book. I'm an avid fan of James Patterson's books... I've purchased so many at airports across the country it is almost comical.

But this one never really drew my in like most others. There just wasn't enough depth to any of the characters and their relationships to each other were missing something. And the ending just did not make sense. I didn't feel there were enough clues to lead me to say "aha" at the end.

Short story - I was disappointed. I won't quit reading... just disappointed in this yarn.

Great Book!.......2007-07-11

I loved this book! I read it in a day and a half, couldnt put it down. Loved the plot-people taking the law into their own hands. highly recommend!

BY James Patterson & Peter De Jonge?.......2007-06-14

I think Patterson could have done without the help. I like Patterson's style and move-along plots. This plot however, with the autopsy on Peter's body getting passed off as a drowning-suicide, was a disappointment. The rich buy the courts, but not with the kinds of evidence the coroner presented. The ending really frosts the cake when they have their "Kangaroo Court" in the abandoned Beach house over a two-day span. Since it wasn't terrible, I can only give three stars.

J. P. Landry, author of Hazard 666

Hard to believe its a Patterson book!.......2007-06-10

What a waste of time spending that much time, then to have an ending that doesn't make sense at all!! Feel that I wasted my time and money on this one. After recently readingJudge and Jury , hard to believe its written by same person. If you want a good one, pick up Judge & Jury.

The South Beach Diet Dining Guide: Your Reference Guide to Restaurants Across America

Average customer rating:

Doesn't feel like a diet at all...
not worth it
A GUIDE
South Beach Diet is Now Even Easier!
Handy book

The South Beach Diet Dining Guide: Your Reference Guide to Restaurants Across America
Arthur Agatston
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Agatston, Arthur | Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1594863601
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide has sold nearly five million copies and has continuously topped national bestseller lists. An essential tool for success on the South Beach Diet, the guide features a user-friendly format, an expansive list of foods, FAQs organized by phase and designed to answer dieters most common questions, as well as the most up-to-the-minute information on nutrition and healthy eating. The convenient take-along size makes The South Beach Diet Good Fats/Good Carbs Guide a perfect grocery shopping companion.

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't feel like a diet at all..........2007-03-25

A supplement to the South Beach diet, this list of chain restaurants and their menus helps make the South Beach plan not feel like a diet at all

not worth it.......2007-02-07

unless you live in a big city with lots of chain restaurants it is pretty usless. Listings are by chain not food type.

A GUIDE.......2006-07-05

This is a great guide if you can stick to it. It contains over 200 pages of restaurants across the map. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Applebee's Grill and Bar and Pizza Hut just to name a few. You just have to make sure you remember what phase you are on before selecting your menu choices and this guide will let you know what food you can have in your phase. This is a good reference guide when you go out to eat. I started by taking the book with me then I just started writing down things that I might enjoy from the restaurant that I was going to. I think for long-term weight loss, you have to be mentally prepared to commit to a change of life. You should also research as many diet plans as you can, this way you can find out what works for YOU, and not what works for majority of people. You have to see yourself as a unique individual and remember; what works for someone else may not work for you. I gave this book 3 stars because unless you are clear of how the South Beach Diet works you may get frustrated with this guide.

South Beach Diet is Now Even Easier!.......2006-06-16

My husband and I gave South Beach a try, but we gave it up about a year ago. The recipes were just so time consuming and the ingredients seemed pricey. We did experience some wonderful results, though. Well, now that more microwave meals are available and meal replacement bars, as well as a 30-minute meals cookbook and this guide, we've decided to give it another try.

This guide is wonderful. It lists all of our favorite chain restaurants. We had no idea there was anything low-carb at one of our favorite mexican restuarants, but sure enough, they offer up fajitas in lettuce wraps. And even for local restaurants not listed, this book gives you ideas on what to look for on all menus. This great resource is just another way South Beach doesn't even feel like a diet.

Handy book.......2006-03-09

I love the South Beach diet since it is so similar to "normal" food that I grew up on but the restaurants are not. This guide shows you before you have to pick it from the menu what is available and what might be the best choices.

The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook: Healthy Recipes for Entertaining Family and Friends

Average customer rating:

Great Food and Still Losing Weight!
South Beach Diet over Christmas
Great Ideas for Holidays and Gatherings!
Something that FINALLY works!
Best Cookbook I Have Ever Bought!

The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook: Healthy Recipes for Entertaining Family and Friends
Arthur Agatston
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Holidays | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Agatston, Arthur | Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1594864446
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

The famed Miami Beach cardiologist who has helped millions of people worldwide to lose weight and eat healthier with his best-selling South Beach Diet books now addresses the special challenge that can undermine anyones willpowerthe irresistible lure of diet-busting dishes at festive occasions. As the more than 20 menus and 150 easy, all-new recipes in this cookbook prove, theres no need to give up favorite holiday and party dishes to stay on the South Beach Diet. Dr. Agatston explains that healthy entertaining is not a matter of deprivation, but of simply making as many good choices as possible. His new book provides those choices, putting a healthy twist on favorite entertaining meals for every occasion, whether its a family Christimas Eve dinner, a Thanksgiving feast, a Passover seder, a football fest in front of the TV, or a backyard barbeque with the neighbors.

Customer Reviews:

Great Food and Still Losing Weight!.......2007-05-22

This cook book is wonderful! Recipes are easy and taste really good. Friends have said "I thought you were on a diet" after eating a holiday or special occasion meal with us. I tell them I am still ona diet and have this wonderful cookbook with meal ideas and recipes that makes a person think otherwise!

South Beach Diet over Christmas.......2007-04-01

If you've found it hard to keep to a diet plan during Christmas or Thanksgiving, this book will solve your problems. Easy and delicious recipes based on the South Beach diet.

Great Ideas for Holidays and Gatherings!.......2007-03-15

The South Beach Diet may have revolutionized how we eat, but when it comes to entertaining, most of us fall back into old food habits. Now there's a no-brainer way to entertain, with recipes and menus that can satisfy the most skeptical guests. Really a winner, and easy to use.

Something that FINALLY works!.......2007-01-20

As long as you have the determination to "stick with it" and lose weight, this program, and this book, will make getting there a breeze! How tough can it be to stay on a diet, when you're allowed to eat all kinds of delicious, "sinful" foods??? For the first time in my life, I am 2 pounds lighter than before the holidays started; and, I didn't have to give up the joy of eating... I highly recommend this book and the program it represents. Recipes are not difficult and the results are most rewarding. Furthermore, you cannot beat the price at Amazon and the book was in my house, two days after I placed the order...

Best Cookbook I Have Ever Bought!.......2007-01-16

This is the first cookbook I have bought where I can see myself actually trying every recipe in it. Dr. Agatston has broken the book into specific holidays and events (Easter, Thanksgiving, Football parties, showers, etc.), but of course feel free to mix and match recipes based on what your preferred tastes are. The recipes that I have tried so far have been easy and delicious. The best part is at the end of every recipe, he tells you what you can prepare ahead of time, from hours before your event to days before your event. Each recipe is labeled as to which phase of the South Beach Diet it pertains, just as in his other books. This cookbook is too good to save just for holidays and parties. I'm planning on using it year-round for my family's everyday meals.

Average customer rating:

Simply Divine...and Heart-Wrenching
a character study
Back to another era
Collapsing at the bed posts...
Chesil Beach = Boring Beach

On Chesil Beach: A Novel
Ian McEwan
Manufacturer: Nan A. Talese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0385522401
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

Such is Ian McEwan's genius that, despite rambling nature walks and the naming of birds, his subject matter remains hermetically sealed in the hearts of two people.

It is 1962 when Edward and Florence, 23 and 22 respectively, marry and repair to a hotel on the Dorset coast for their honeymoon. They are both virgins, both apprehensive about what's next and in Florence's case, utterly and blindly terrified and repelled by the little she knows. Through a tense dinner in their room, because Florence has decided that the weather is not fine enough to dine on the terrace, they are attended by two local boys acting as waiters. The cameo appearances of the boys and Edward and Florence's parents and siblings serve only to underline the emotional isolation of the two principals. Florence says of herself: "...she lacked some simple mental trick that everyone else had, a mechanism so ordinary that no one ever mentioned it, an immediate sensual connection to people and events, and to her own needs and desires...."

They are on the cusp of a rather ordinary marital undertaking in differing states of readiness, willingness and ardor. McEwan says: "Where he merely suffered conventional first-night nerves, she experienced a visceral dread, a helpless disgust as palpable as seasickness." Edward, having denied himself even the release of self-pleasuring for a week, in order to be tip-top for Florence, is mentally pawing the ground. His sensitivity keeps him from being obvious, but he is getting anxious. Florence, on the other hand, knows that she is not capable of the kind of arousal that will make any of this easy. She has held Edward off for a year, and now the reckoning is upon her.

McEwan is the master of the defining moment, that place and time when, once it has taken place, nothing will ever be the same after it. It does not go well and Florence flees the room. "As she understood it, there were no words to name what had happened, there existed no shared language in which two sane adults could describe such events to each other." Edward eventually follows her and they have a poignant and painful conversation where accusations are made, ugly things are said and roads are taken from which, in the case of these two, the way back cannot be found. Late in Edward's life he realizes: "Love and patience--if only he had them both at once--would surely have seen them both through." This beautifully told sad story could have been conceived and written only by Ian McEwan. --Valerie Ryan

Book Description

A novel of remarkable depth and poignancy from one of the most acclaimed writers of our time.

It is July 1962. Florence is a talented musician who dreams of a career on the concert stage and of the perfect life she will create with Edward, an earnest young history student at University College of London, who unexpectedly wooed and won her heart. Newly married that morning, both virgins, Edward and Florence arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their worries about the wedding night to come. Edward, eager for rapture, frets over Florence’s response to his advances and nurses a private fear of failure, while Florence’s anxieties run deeper: she is overcome by sheer disgust at the idea of physical contact, but dreads disappointing her husband when they finally lie down together in the honeymoon suite.

Ian McEwan has caught with understanding and compassion the innocence of Edward and Florence at a time when marriage was presumed to be the outward sign of maturity and independence. On Chesil Beach is another masterwork from McEwan—a story of lives transformed by a gesture not made or a word not spoken.

Customer Reviews:

Simply Divine...and Heart-Wrenching.......2007-10-02

I only finished reading McEwan's diminuitive tome this morning, and my heart is still a puddle in my shoes. Not only is On Chesil Beach exquisitely written and moving, it is also a beautiful and tragic dance between conflicting dualities. Modernity vs. Tradition; Rich vs. Poor; the Said vs. the Unsaid; the Mind vs. the Body. The conflicts are palpable.

McEwan's characters Florence and Edward and his settings, whether in Dorset, London, or Oxford seem as real as can be. I found myself becoming emotionally involved in the lives and times of these people, and as though witnessing a slow motion train wreck, I wanted to reach into the fiction and mediate, shake the two lovers, and have them kiss and make-up. This is, in a nut shell, why I am only a humble reader and not a writer, because whereas I might try to polish and Disney things up, McEwan takes us on a passionate and unforgetable journey.

a character study.......2007-09-29

This is in some ways an odd little book--it seems almost as if McEwan has given us with "On Chesil Beach" a fragment from some larger piece of work. It is quite short--quite intense and detailed about the period of time dealing with the marriage at the center of it all, but almost dismissive, and certainly distant, about the subsequent lives of the husband and wife. (The epilogue seems unsatisfyingly unbalanced to me because we do not hear very much, with one exception, about what direction the young wife's emotional life took. What, if she allowed herself to make anything of it all, did she make of this experience as she aged?)

The thing I most enjoyed about the book was the tenderness with which McEwan dealt with both the newlyweds, and how beautifully fleshed out they both were. The reader therefore understands them both far better than they are able to understand each other, hampered as they are by both the limitations imposed on them by their particular family circumstances as well as the conventionality of the period. (Among other things, I think it is pretty clear that Florence has been abused by her father.) And this makes it so very painful when things go wrong, as they do. I kept thinking, as Edmund and Florence must have themselves in later years, "if only"...

There are explicit sexual scenes in the novel, but they are far from sensational in nature, and seem totally organic to the development of the characters.

If you enjoy a really character-driven novel, I think "On Chesil Beach" will please you.

Back to another era.......2007-09-22

As always, Ian McEwan's writing is amazing and this book is worth reading just for that. The story is thought-provoking and frustrating. Here are two people who have spent time together and build what you think is a relationship. They waited so long for one moment in time only to simply walk away when the moment is not as they both had hoped. You cannot believe that they would throw it all away without either party putting up any sort of fight. Maybe that is suppose to show us that they are truly not in love?

I have read several of his books now and Atonement remains my favorite but this is worth a rainy afternoon of reading.

Collapsing at the bed posts..........2007-09-21

ON CHESIL BEACH is the dispassionate love story of a young couple whose entire relationship collapses at the bed posts upon their first failed night spent as husband and wife. Edward wants to be sexually intimate with Florence only he's too inexperienced, too desperate to physically connect with her. His pumped-up passion, so it seems to him, is "mishandled" for all it takes is Florence's touch and instantly he flows flaccid. As for Florence, she's so fearful of sexual contact that she flees from his advances in a most hysterical fashion. She goes so far as to jump off the bed and vigorously remove all traces of him with a pillow case, reacting as if his sperm might burn through her skin like battery acid.

Is this exaggerated representation of sexual repression intentional? Of course. Edward and Florence come from drastically disparate backgrounds. She's cultured. He isn't. He's ardent in his desire for her. She recoils at his touch, presumably sparked by a dark encounter with her father some years before which McEwan never develops. Is this story supposed to be a sign of the times before the sexual revolution? Maybe. Or maybe it's just a sign that somewhere along the way McEwan simply confused sexism with satire.

I do recommend this book as it's beautifully written.

Chesil Beach = Boring Beach.......2007-09-19

This was so boring that I kept skipping pages at a time - which is something I never do. And, I have always been frustrated when a couple in love don't communicate - and this is a classic non-communication "love" story. Very frustrating.

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum Series #1)

Average customer rating:

Good read
Fun & entertaining reading
Fast pace, serious, but with a sprinkling of humor
Stephanie Plum series
Should be mandatory reading

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum Series #1)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312990456
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Amazon.com

Stephanie Plum is so smart, so honest, and so funny that her narrative charm could drive a documentary on termites. But this tough gal from New Jersey, an unemployed discount lingerie buyer, has a much more interesting story to tell: She has to say that her Miata has been repossessed and that she's so poor at the moment that she just drank her last bottle of beer for breakfast. She has to say that her only chance out of her present rut is her repugnant cousin Vinnie and his bail-bond business. She has to say that she blackmailed Vinnie into giving her a bail-bond recovery job worth $10,000 (for a murder suspect), even though she doesn't own a gun and has never apprehended a person in her life. And she has to say that the guy she has to get, Joe Morelli, is the same creep who charmed away her teenage virginity behind the pastry case in the Trenton bakery where she worked after school.

If that hard-luck story doesn't sound compelling enough, Stephanie's several unsuccessful attempts at pulling in Joe make a downright hilarious and suspenseful tale of murder and deceit. Along the way, several more outlandish (but unrelentingly real) characters join the story, including Benito Ramirez, a champion boxer who seems to be following Stephanie Plum wherever she goes.

Janet Evanovich shares an authentic feel for the streets of Trenton in her debut mystery (she developed her talents in a string of romance novels before creating Ms. Plum), and her tough, frank, and funny first-person narrator offers a winning mix of vulgarity and sensitivity. Evanovich is certainly among the best of the new voices to emerge in the mystery field of the 1990s. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

ONE FINE MESSWelcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family....ONE FALSE MOVEStephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. As does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water-wanted for murder....ONE FOR THE MONEYAbject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight-and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man....

Download Description

Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie's opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey. She's a product of the "burg", a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six. Now Stephanie's all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad's, doing her best to sever the world's longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler, and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case. Out of work and out of money, with her Miata repossessed and her refrigerator empty, Stephanie blackmails her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, fearless bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli is also the irresistible macho pig who took Stephanie's virginity at age sixteen and then wrote the details on the bathroom wall of Mario's Sub Shop. There's still powerful chemistry between these two, so the chase should be interesting. It could also be extremely dangerous, especially when Stephanie encounters a heavyweight title contender who likes to play rough. Benito Ramirez is known for his brutality to women. At the very least, his obsession with Stephanie complicates her manhunt and brings terror and uncertainty into her life. At worst, it could lead to murder. Witty, fresh,and full of surprises, One for the Money is among the most eagerly awaited crime novels of the season.

Customer Reviews:

Good read.......2007-09-26

The book overall was a good read...This was my 1st book that I've read from her, and I am very eager to read the 2nd book in the Stephanie Plum series...In the beginning/middle (in between) you run across slow parts, but if you keep reading and get near the end, you will not want to put the book down until your done. Plus it had an interesting ending, you suspect one person, but it turns out to be someone else which makes sense.

Fun & entertaining reading.......2007-09-12

Fast pace, serious, but with a sprinkling of humor.......2007-09-11

I have read just about all the books in the Plum series, but somehow I missed the first book. I do remember that I really enjoyed "Two for the Dough" so I started dropping hints that I wanted this book for my birthday present and low and behold I got my birthday wish. I wasn't disappointed in this book even though it had a real frightening character in the story. Still there were many scenes where I found myself laughing, i.e, the car problems and the family and many other scenes. It humorous and serious and all in all just a wonderful story.

Stephanie Plum series.......2007-09-02

I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!

Should be mandatory reading.......2007-08-19

This book was so funny I laughed out loud in several places. I bought a copy for a friend who doesn't like to read at all and she's up to number eight in the series now. The ditzy stephanie is a joy to read, but I think my favorite character is her grandmother. The whole dinner table scene had me laughing so hard I almost cried.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books