Book Description
There's no better way to learn a test's structure than from the inside—and the 1.2 million students taking the ACT need look no further than this official guide! Packed with tips, strategies, and plenty of subject review, it's the only real guide to the ACT
Customer Reviews:
This is the only source for real test questions.......2007-08-15
This book is the only source for real test questions. There are several knock offs but this is the one and only real deal. College Prep Coach, the premier test company in the country, uses this guide exclusively in its course. If you are serious about ACT test prep this book is a must have item.
If you buy one review guide this should be it........2007-06-25
Prepared by the organization that writes the ACT. As a teacher who helps prep students for the college admissions tests, I know what most students are willing to do. Hours of study and review over a long period of time may be the ideal, but it is an unrealistic ask of most teenagers. Their most efficient use of time is to take practice tests and then look over the problems missed. This book has real questions direct from the source combined with good explanations of all answers. The overall review sections are short and to the point. Students may take practice tests one section at a time to avoid burnout (but must understand why they missed each question). A few hours spent preparing with this method will raise scores, probability of admission to certain schools and the amount of scholarship money a student is likely to earn.
The Best ACT Practice Book...Practice, not Instruction.......2007-05-13
The ACT is quickly becoming an equal competitor to the SAT college entrance exam. Accordingly, the test prep industry is growing up around this relative newcomer-turned-regular on the admissions scene.
This book, published by the ACT organization--the makers of the test--is a fantastic resource for any student or teacher working on test preparation. But, in all honesty it is only worth the [...](a pretty reasonable price) because of the three real practice tests included inside. The rest of the book...the introduction, the strategies, and even the question answer explanations...have been done better by other organizations. It's no slight to the ACT company, but they simply did not choose to share the best strategies to beat their own test.
Still, this book contains the only published real ACTs, and all other companies cannot match their faithfulness to the test (some companies unfortunately are very, very far off). Similarity and accuracy are essential for practicing, because the format, style, and difficulty level of practice problems can vary immensely. Since the best way to practice for the test is to work out real problems, this book is a must-have resource for any student or instructor.
Hopefully the ACT will publish some more tests soon. In the meantime, you can also try and get a hold of their free "Preparing for the ACT" guide which comes out every fall. Each one contains a full practice test, so try and get your hands on them. Good luck practicing!
[...]
okay if you don't already know this stuff this book won't teach it to you.......2007-05-07
this book is good if you have an idea as to what it is you are doing ie...remeber this stuff from hs some topics i remembered vaguely and this book doesn't spoon feed you anything you should already know it just basically let you know what to expect...gives you an idea thank god i got it from amazon b/c i wouldn't haven't bought it from barnes and nobles at the price they are selling it for !!!
Reviewing for the ACT with Students.......2007-04-11
I am a high school math teacher and I purchased multiple copies of this book to use as a review for my students in after school review sessions for the ACT. I believe that all of the students who worked with me in these sessions will perform significantly better on the ACT than they otherwise might have.
Book Description
CIA operative Mitch Rapp follows a trail of contract killers leading directly to the heart of our nation's capital in New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn's eighth explosive thriller.
It's a gorgeous autumn day in Georgetown. The Democratic candidates for president and vice president of the United States are dutifully glad-handing voters and the media outside a grand estate where a national security conference has just been held, bringing together the world's greatest minds to discuss the issues that are threatening the country. It's American politicking at its best. That's when all hell breaks loose.
When presidential candidate Josh Alexander's motorcade is ambushed by a group of terrorists, the nation is thrown into turmoil. Two weeks following the attack, Alexander is carried to victory by a sympathy vote, but his assailants have not been found. On the surface it appears to be the work of al-Qaeda, despite the tremendous job that the U.S. and her allies have done eliminating terrorist cells within the heart of America. While the FBI and the rest of the government begin scouring the world for jihadists, CIA director Irene Kennedy and Special Agent Skip McMahon are presented with classified information so toxic that they consider destroying it altogether, as it contains intelligence pointing to some of the most powerful players in Washington.
Enter Mitch Rapp, the one man reckless enough to follow the evidence to its explosive conclusion. His journey takes him through the shadowy world of contract killers, into the darkest corners of the globe, and eventually back to Washington, where the fragile pillars of power are shaken to their core.
Customer Reviews:
Weakest of Flynn's Novels.......2007-09-17
I have enjoyed Flynn's novels since Term Limits, but I hate to admit that I think this was his weakest moment. The story seemed to be put together too fast, and the characters would appear extremely one dimensional if a reader had not read the previous Mitch Rapp novels. Here, Rapp appears as a stereotypical gung-ho "do things my way" agent with little or no thought process. While he was always anti-politician, Flynn drills it into the reader's head at every opportunity.
While the twist of who the terrorists are is a nice departure, the bad guys also did not have much depth. Of course Flynn always makes his politicians the most unsavory characters, (and in his previous efforts it is usually enjoyable) but the characters in Act of Treason are way too cookie cutter, even for Flynn.
The ending sealed the deal for me, which I thought extremely unrealistic and a fantastic departure of the usual rationalism Flynn evokes; the ending seemed to be the least thought out segment of the book. Disappointing.
Another Great Mitch Rapp Novel.......2007-09-03
Vince Flynn has done it again with another amazing Mitch Rapp Novel. Act of Treason like the other's would make a great movie, however it would be too realistic and cause the American people to truly see how corrupt our own government really is. Thanks Vince Flynn
Rapp is the man!.......2007-08-31
You see a news story involving a corrupt politician, known terrorist, or murderer getting candy-coated treatment - your immediate thought is "why can't someone just take this guy out back and deal with him?". If you sometimes have the itch to skip the formalities and skip straight to the "justice" in due process, then Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp is a man need to know.
I picked up the first book in this series a couple of years ago and have since waited for new releases with the same anticipation I used to have for Tom Clancy to share the latest Jack Ryan/John Clark exploits. Who knows at this point whether Clancy will ever give us another in that series, but in the meantime the Rapp character is filling a void for me. Flynn's writing is crisp and fast-moving, allows you to put yourself in Rapp's shoes and thought process and, as noted, satisfies your internal need to sometimes "just deal with the problem". Compared to Clancy's characters, Rapp is definitely more Clark, and Flynn skips the multi-layered plots and techno-thriller language and moves straight to the action. The closest character comparison I see for Rapp is Jack Bauer on "24", which probably explains why Flynn has been involved on story-line development for recent seasons of "24". I could easily see Flynn's efforts one day turning into a series of Rapp movies in the Bourne vein - interestingly, there now seems to be some chatter about doing just that.
For me, Flynn is one of the few writers who make me say "just one more chapter" before hitting the sack or taking care of chores. I think "Act of Treason" is another solid effort in the Rapp series and very satisfying for a Rapp devotee, but will be much more enjoyable to a new Flynn reader if you go back and pick the series up from the beginning to see how the character has been developed over the first seven books (see FAQ's at [...] for the chronological order).
Keeps moving.......2007-08-28
Corridors of Power as seen from the third cubicle on the left.
Nice simplistic plot and characters. Good guys are good, bad guys are evil, sexually perverted, and probably vote Democrat. No ambiguity. Good guys get to kill the bad guys, exercising god-like powers of assassination. That evil NY Times gets its comeuppance too.
Really, its good because Flynn is a good writer. Even his filler, descriptions of DC neighborhoods, thoughts and bios of irrelevant characters, etc. are unobtrusive, I even read a few.
First, but probably not the last of the series I will read.
best one yet: a good ending.......2007-08-16
I feel like Flynn has matured in this book. The plot was more complex and the story had more turns than his previous ones. I have always been let down a bit by the endings of his book, until now, finding the endings a bit trite. This was a high paced, addictive book without a lame ending.
A lot of the book focuses on Irene Kennedy. The role she places at the end of the book was a suprise, but it was poetic justice.
Amazon.com
Noam Chomsky is considered the father of modern linguistics. In this richly detailed criticism of American foreign policy, he seeks to redefine many of the terms commonly used in the ongoing American war on terrorism. Surveying U.S. actions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Turkey, the Far East and elsewhere over the past half a century along with the modern American war in Iraq, Chomsky indicates that America is just as much a terrorist state as any other government or rogue organization. George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq drew worldwide criticism, in part because it seemed to present a new philosophy of pre-emptive war and an appearance of global empire building. But according to Chomsky, such has been the operating philosophy of American foreign policy for decades. Opponents of the Bush administration's tactics consistently point out how the American government supported Saddam Hussein for many years prior to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait (pictures of Donald Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand are easy to come by) as a means of pointing out how the United States is happy to fund despots when it's in American interests. But Chomsky, armed with extensive historical notation, takes this notion further, arguing how the repression of other nations' citizenry is, in fact, the very reason Americans support certain foreign leaders. The charges made throughout the book are severe, as are the dire consequences he posits if current trends are not reversed, and Chomsky is no more likely to make friends or gain supporters from the mainstream now than he's ever been. But Hegemony or Survival is relatively dispassionate. Instead of relying on camp or shock value or personal attacks as some of his contemporaries have done, Chomsky drives his well-supported points steadily forward in an earnest and highly readable style. --John Moe
Book Description
"Reading Chomsky today is sobering and instructive . . . He is a global phenomenon . . . perhaps the most widely read voice on foreign policy on the planet." The New York Times Book ReviewAn immediate national bestseller, Hegemony or Survival demonstrates how, for more than half a century the United States has been pursuing a grand imperial strategy with the aim of staking out the globe. Our leaders have shown themselves willing-as in the Cuban missile crisis-to follow the dream of dominance no matter how high the risks. World-renowned intellectual Noam Chomsky investigates how we came to this perilous moment and why our rulers are willing to jeopardize the future of our species.With the striking logic that is his trademark, Chomsky tracks the U.S. government's aggressive pursuit of "full spectrum dominance" and vividly lays out how the most recent manifestations of the politics of global control-from unilateralism to the dismantling of international agreements to state terrorism-cohere in a drive for hegemony that ultimately threatens our existence. Lucidly written, thoroughly documented, and featuring a new afterword by the author, Hegemony or Survival is a definitive statement from one of today's most influential thinkers.
Download Description
The United States is in the process of staking out not just the globe but the last unarmed spot in our neighborhood-the heavens-as a militarized sphere of influence. Our earth and its skies are, for the Bush administration, the final frontiers of imperial control. In Hegemony or Survival, Noam Chomsky investigates how we came to this moment, what kind of peril we find ourselves in, and why our rulers are willing to jeopardize the future of our species.
Customer Reviews:
Connect the dots?.......2007-09-13
This material is not easy to digest in two ways. First, there are so many facts and figures that after a while your head begins to spin. I listened to it twice in succession just for that reason. Secondly, it's difficult to believe that your country's political leaders could possibly be saying one thing and doing another. Aren't we, the US, always the "good guys"? Don't we always do things the right way, "the American way"? Maybe that is a problem. Perhaps other nations want to do things their own way.
If you wonder why so much of the world dislikes or even hates the US, then this book will offer bountiful explanations, dating back to probably the Monroe Doctrine in the first part of the nineteenth century. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Chomsky's conclusions is up to you, but to refute him you will have a lot of offered facts to overcome.
Previous reviewers have labeled him a communist, or at the least, a communist sympathizer. I didn't get that impression. He just doesn't like American interventionist foreign policy which supposedly is leading to a New World Order, with the US the undisputed leader. And a lot of other people in the world think the same way and don't like it either.
If even a small portion of what he writes is true, it's a sad situation in my eyes. But if you consider the facts and connect the dots...where does it lead? Make up your own mind.
Dr. Chomsky.......2007-09-10
The most insightful look at the past 60 some odd years of american foreign policy, it's consequences and possible motives. A thouroughly researched and meticulously catalogued breakdown of the views and voices that have been there every step of the way, the voices that are usualy silenced and swallowed up by the historical accounts of the victors.
Chomsky poses the compelling question of our time.......2007-08-28
Other reviews have covered, at length, the perceived pros and cons of Chomsky's critique of American foreign policy in general and of the war in Iraq in particular, and I will reveal from the outset that my conclusions on these topics are simliar to Chomsky's in many respects. The incredible value of this book, however, is that seeks to address the question of human survival within the context of American foreign policy.
Although Chomsky does not delve deeply into the topic of the pending petroleum crisis, it, as well as other questions regarding the future of industrial civilization, is never too far beneath the surface. According to geologists of the Hubbard school, the world has reached or will soon reach a point of peak oil production after which the ability of global production to meet demand will inevitably decline, leading to a global crisis of unprecedented proportions. To the extent that U.S. policy continues along the lines of exerting hegemonic control over what is left as opposed to engaging in principled and collective effort towards creating a more equitable post-petroleum global economy, it certainly does lead us towards destruction or at the very least, a nightmarish Hobbesian existence in which human lives will indeed be "nasty, brutish and short".
One may choose to agree or disagree with many of Chomsky's arguments. However, for any thinking person who is conversant with history and who has an interest in social justice for all and not just for some, Chomsky drives home a number of points that are practically unassailable:
1. U.S. foreign policy, like the policies of great powers before it, have rarely been predicated on the publicly espoused principles of democracy, equality and freedom, but in the pursuit of its elite's interests, often to the detriment of the environment, democracy itself, and of the well-being of working and oppressed people around the world as well as within the United States. The unprecedented ability of modern man to destroy not only each other, but the very environment that makes sustainable existence on Earth possible however, dictates that unlike any empire or imperial age before it, the consequences of American policy are truly global in scope, and they may prove to be beyond any conceivable ability of repair.
2. The phenomenon of "globalizaton", in practice, has benefited, for the most part, only the financial elites and the military and technocratic elements whose services are necessary to maintain the system. For the rest of humanity, globalization has come to mean a nightmare of economic and cultural disruption and dislocation on a global scale. It is interesting to note that with the advent of globalization, the gap between the rich and poor has increased significantly, not only on a global scale but within the individual economies of the wealthiest nations as well. Lenin's "aristocracy of labor" is shrinking as we speak!
3. Despite the fact that the U.S. can justifiably be seen as the world's only military superpower, its attempts to exert unilateral control over the dwindling energy resources of the Middle East (and by extension of the rest of the world) will increasingly lead it into escalating conflict with other nations and peoples, resulting not only in its own moral, political and economic bankruptcy, but potentially in the destruction of civilization as we know it.
4. Only by understanding the nature of the current situation and organizing to change course can Americans and other people around the world prevent this continuing descent into madness.
Regardless of one's ideological inclination, "Hegemony or Survival" should provoke readers to serious thought on these matters, and for that Professor Chomsky should be thanked and applauded.
Another mandatory reading for those who wish to understand the world. .......2007-07-27
The writing has Chomsky's typical laser-like clarity. The facts are abundant and irrefutable. The arguments are powerful and inescapable. A refreshing break from all the propaganda and indoctrination that cover the landscape.
disturbing revelations.......2007-07-05
I hated how the book made me feel but it gets 5 stars for its brutal edification - as I'm sure was his intent.
Whatever your politics are, and regardless of whether you dislike or disbelieve Chomsky's conclusions, the facts laid out in this book speak disturbingly for themselves. Our government consistently pays lip service to supporting and promoting democracy but apparently has a nasty track record to the contrary. I would sincerely rather that not be true but there it is in the historical record. As stated by another reviewer, his facts are correct.
I could only read this book a little at a time. I would get too angry and have to set it aside for a few days until I could handle some more ugly truth.
I always thought Bush's statement that the terrorists "hate us because of our freedoms" did not quite ring true. In light of our government's actions reported in this book, the statement becomes absurdly transparent misinformation.
At least now we know the REAL reasons why they hate us.
SG
Average customer rating:
- Malicious Minnesotan madmen
- Non stop thriller
- Excellent non-stop mystery
- Tempted to give this 5 stars
- A great plot
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Prior Bad Acts
Tami Hoag
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ASIN: 055358359X
Release Date: 2007-02-27 |
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with a thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you’ll never forget and follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil.
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl’s prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry—and puts the judge in grave danger.
When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis’s top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn’t far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straightforward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped—snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of
Prior Bad Acts.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with a thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you’ll never forget and follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil.
PRIOR BAD ACTS
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl’s prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry–and puts the judge in grave danger.
When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis’s top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn’t far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straightforward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped–snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Malicious Minnesotan madmen.......2007-09-27
Not bad, a decent amount of action, suspense and character development. No one part of the book drags. The plot twist regarding the original triple-murderer was pretty much expected, it was just a question of who. I found Karl Dahl , the main bad guy, to be a little unbelievable. SPOILER ALERT. To be a near-homeless social misfit who's then able to pull off various evasions, disguises, ruses, murders and kidnappings -- well it just strains belief a bit.
Although I was hardly surprised, I still didn't much like the fact that the author badmouths what is a crucial weapon in a prosecutor's arsenal, the introduction into evidence of the accused's prior bad acts. The law has a fiction that a person's prior bad acts shouldn't be used in the case at bar, but fortunately over time common sense has whittled this down to basically any prior bad act can be used if it's not introduced just to show propensity (and that's why we now have civil commitment hearings, to get that propensity evidence in anyhow -- Hendricks v. Kansas.). Most likely Ms Hoag is one of those tender souls who would move us toward having every defendant at bar considered to be a legal virgin.
Non stop thriller.......2007-09-10
I got Prior Bad Acts as soon as I finished Dust To Dust, having had fallen in love with the characters, Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska. If you're a fan of Kovac/Liska from prior books Ashes to Ashes and Dust to dust, then this is a must read. I thought this one was the best though.
Prior Bad Acts is not only a page turner, plot and execution wise, it gives more insight into these two fascinating characters and more of their story wrapped in a very well done, fast paced thriller. I did figure out the villain before the end, but Ms. Hoag always manages to keep shred of doubt hovering around none the less. There are several who could be it.
I did like the development of the relationship between Carry Moore and Kovac, which was not overdone, and which was a nice diversion from all the debauchery in the main story line. I really like the Judge Carry Moore character as well, very tough, straight forward, confident, and yet, vulnerable, which seems to be a trade mark female character for Hoag's later mystery/thriller books.
There is a tendency towards graphic violence in this novel, but I didn't mind that and didn't find it to be gratuitous. I will probably re-read this one again because I was reading it very fast to keep up with my desire to know what was going to happen next.
Excellent non-stop mystery.......2007-08-17
Judge Carey Moore is a stickler for fairness, sometimes going beyond the point where she should. When a drifter, Karl Dahl, goes on trial for a heinous triple murder, Judge Moore makes a very un-popular decision. A decision that would change and shape the future of Judge Moore, Karl Dahl, the prosecuting attorney Chris Logan, and the defense attorney Kenny Scott. Judge Moore's husband David did not help much either since he always had a case of what I call "me-ite-us!" when everything is turned around for him to be in the forefront.
Detective Sam Kovac got into the act when Judge Moore was attacked in the parking garage where she was knocked down, battered, and finally lost consciousness when her head was banged into the concrete. Regardless of how Sam felt about the judicial decision the judge had made, this attack was not right. Kovac's partner, Nikki Liska, is a rough, tough woman who will tackle anyone or anything. They got along very well, but had their disagreements as any normal people do. But they worked terrifically together, sometimes thinking as one. Kovac took Judge Moore home from the hospital knowing that she was in danger and needed protection, even if she would not give in to that thought. The judge's husband was useless; this was not about HIM!
Any of the authorities and attorneys that visited the scene of the original murders felt so strange knowing what had occurred where they now stood. Two small children and their mother were brutally killed in this house. How could anyone do this? This Karl Dahl must be a terribly brutal man who is not human. Naturally everyone made him guilty before a trial. In prison Dahl had to be kept separate from other inmates since they all knew what he was charged with.
As time went on, Detective Kovac was never very far from Judge Moore. She was supposed to stay home due to her injuries and the threat against her but she sometimes snuck out, driving the police crazy. Another cop, Stan Dempsey was a sort of a rogue cop whose actions were not always trusted by his fellow officers. But he had to delve into the murders also despite Kovac and Liska's concern. When Karl Dahl escaped things got even dicier. Kovac kept a closer eye on the judge, and the reader can sense he is becoming closer to her in other ways too.
Prior Bad Acts continues to pick up steam and roars along at a fast and furious pace. Naturally the reader guesses what will occur next and usually is wrong. Tami Hoag does not disappoint her faithful readers with this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly from cover to cover. It is a "do not put down" book that I loved. Tami Hoag can bring these detectives back easily in any future books. She has bred a good duo.
Tempted to give this 5 stars.......2007-08-11
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag earns an easy 4 star rating from me. There were some interesting characters you could really relate to and care about. There were characters you could simply detest. There were plenty of red herrings to throw you off the right track as you tried to guess the killer. I, in fact, did guess the killer but it was none the less quite an amazing revelation the way it was handled. I have read several books by Tami Hoag and most are very good. I loved the two detectives, Kovac and Liska. There's a pair that are dedicated to their work and get their jobs done. I still miss Amanda Savard though, but that's another isssue. Lots of great vllains and a fast-paced plot make this an easy one to recommend. If I hadn't guessed the killer correctly, it would have been 5 stars for sure.
A great plot.......2007-07-04
Tammy Hoag knows how to plot a novel. This story has so many twists and turns that you will be absorbed from the first chapter. I gave the book 4 stars based soley on the plot. Why not five? Two things: The subject matter lacks originality. A killer on the loose, cops working an investigaton. It's all pretty standard, Law-and-Order type stuff. Also, Tammy Hoag's prose could be better. She uses a lot of weak descriptors and doesn't paint much of an image for her characters or scenes. But despite these shortcomings, the novel works because of the PLOT. It is outstanding. She starts off with an assault on the judge and a prison break. But she doesn't stop there. She keeps piling it on, giving the characters more and more obstacles to overcome. It's very well done and holds your interest until the end.
Book Description
The Princeton Review realizes that scoring high on the ACT is very different from earning straight A’s in school. We don't try to teach you everything there is to know about algebra or science reasoning–only the strategies and information you’ll need to get your highest score. In Cracking the ACT, we’ll teach you how to
·Use our test-taking techniques to raise your score
·Test your knowledge with review questions for each topic covered
·Ace the English Test by learning how to spot errors in sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation
·Turn complex algebra into simple arithmetic
·Score higher on reading comprehension and science reasoning problems by learning to zero in on main ideas, topic sentences, and key words
·Employ our preparation strategies to write a strong essay on the ACT Writing Test
This book includes 2 full-length ACT practice exams. All of our practice questions are just like those you’ll see on the actual exam, and we explain how to answer every question.
Customer Reviews:
This book is great in most areas.......2007-08-20
I wanted this book so that I could assure myself that I know what I am doing when the ACT comes around this spring. Upon receiving this book, I began looking through the English, Science, Math, Writing, and Reading, and I was struck by how bad the reading and writing portions were. The Reading section uses a very strange process of reading questions and finding key words, then skimming the text to underline the words, then summarizing paragraphs by reading so quickly your mind can't understand it, and finally answering the questions after this long process. The only problem is that you never really read the passage, and when it comes to the questions on the passage as a whole, you have no idea what the passage is about. They then tell you to skip them and, if you run out of time, guess. If you are trying to improve your score, guessing on a large number of questions becuase you never really read the passage is not going to do one any good. After this section, I went through the writing portion of this book and was struck by the terrible example essay that they use as a good standard for an essay. It appearred as though they were trying to patronize a high school student. The structure was juvenile, the wording immature, and the overall imact less than desirable. I would, however, suggest this book as a great help on the englih, math, and science portions (hence my rating of three out of five).
Excellent.......2007-08-09
I bought this book in combination with the kaplan book, and this book seems great. The english section seems much better in this version because it tells you types of errors you will see along with what you need to know (and what you don't need to know). The answer explanations are pretty in-depth, which is what I enjoy the most.
Princeton Review - A Win!.......2007-06-26
I began studying for this test only one week before (I know, I know). I managed to page through most of the book and take the practise tests (which by the way were more difficult than the actual test), scoring 28s and 29s (with low scores of 20).
However, come test day I convinced myself that I could do better. Afterwards, I felt that I performed about the same as when I took the practises. A few weeks later, my result was a score of 32! (English: 35, Math: 30, Reading: 32, Science: 29)
What helped me the most was PR's advice on approaching the science section. When I took their practise tests I was scoring 23s and 20s in the science section, and it was significantly decreasing my composite score. Therefore, with the help of their science section techniques I received a score of 29(!) on the June ACT.
I would use this book again if I were to retake the test.
Good ADvantage.......2007-06-12
The comprehensive material and timed tests made us feel like we had an advantage this second time we took the ACT. Felt like the real thing.
Followup.......2007-05-30
I wrote the "Kid's Review" below. I got a 31. Don't think that this was solely due to the book alone. I would have gotten a 33, but the Reading Section Review of this book was absolutely worthless. It doesn't help whatsoever on the exam. For me, it would have been better to just read the passages instead of "skimming" them as PR suggests.
Book Description
In this national bestseller, acclaimed, award-winning psychologist Dr. David Walsh explains exactly what happens to the human brain on the path from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. Revealing the latest scientific findings in easy-to-understand terms, Dr. Walsh shows why moodiness, quickness to anger and to take risks, miscommunication, fatigue, territoriality, and other familiar teenage behavior problems are so common -- all are linked to physical changes and growth in the adolescent brain.
Why Do They Act That Way? is the first book to explain the changes in teens' brains and show parents how to use this information to understand, communicate with, and stay connected to their kids. Through real-life stories, Dr. Walsh makes sense of teenagers' many mystifying, annoying, and even outright dangerous behavioral difficulties and provides realistic solutions for dealing with everyday as well as severe challenges. Dr. Walsh's techniques include, among others: sample dialogues that help teens and parents talk civilly and constructively with each other, behavioral contracts, and Parental Survival Kits that provide practical advice for dealing with issues like curfews, disrespectful language and actions, and bullying. With this arsenal of strategies, parents can help their kids learn to control impulses, manage erratic behavior, cope with their changing bodies, and, in effect, develop a second brain.
Customer Reviews:
Why Do They Act That Way?: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen.......2007-01-18
We have found this book to be extremely helpful. Raising a teenager is an amazing experience and it helps to have some expert, non partial advice that is backed by research. We especially appreciated the fact that the author does not offer excuses, but helps everyone remain responsible for their behavior, including parents. It was so helpful for us that we bought it as a gift for two different families that are raising teenagers. It was passed on to us by another family that is raising teenagers. Parents are looking for sound instruction. This book provides great insight to what is really going on inside those mysterious heads.
Why do They Act This Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain and Your Teen.......2006-10-29
David Walsh is very readable, has a strong sense of humor necessary to deal with the teen psyche, and speaks well to frustrated parents about why their kids do what they do, and how to look at from their perspective and then deal with it more effectively. It's a fun read.
Excellent ---A Must Have for ALL parents.......2005-11-04
Dr. Walsh must have known my son. I felt like he wrote this book for my family. His explanations were easily understood and very insightful, but, not an excuse for the teen's behavior. It was hard at times to put the book down. I really wish my parents had read this book.
Thank YOU, Dr. Walsh. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
M. Weedman, Merritt Island, FL
A must for an parent of an adolescent.......2005-07-19
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it in two sittings. There were so many good and funny examples of real life situations that as a parent of a teenager, one can relate to all too well.
The author is well informed and the information about the human brain development is critical to understanding how to connect and deal with you teenager.
Highly recommend to all.
Interesting, enlightening, and useful.......2005-07-17
I was a hard sell when given this book. I was concerned that it was going to offer One Big Excuse for sorry teen-age behavior. I was already seeing the headlines: Teen Not Guilty; It wasn't his fault; His PFC made him do it!
Instead, I learned a great deal from this book. I wish the science had been there years ago. Besides getting a peek into the seemingly unfathomable teen-age brain, Walsh gave valuable information about how to handle the problems that come up as a result of the difficult transition known as adolescence. I see this information not so much as an excuse for poor behavior as it is a guide to lead people away from it. I recommend this book to teachers or anyone who has a child younger than 25!
Book Description
During the annual Pickle Fest, Abby's boyfriend Marco inexplicably disappears for a day. When he returns, he's the main suspect in the death of a clown. It seems the cops have found Snuggles pushing up water-spurting daisies-and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles's house. Although Marco is still a mystery to her, Abby knows he's innocent. Now she has to find a way to prove it.
Customer Reviews:
Blooming Fantastic!.......2007-09-01
Snuggles the Clown has been murdered!
But worst of all Abby Knight's boyfriend - tough guy bar owner, ex-cop, and private eye, Marco Salvare - has been accused of the murder. Now Abby has to pull out of the stops with her team of flower shop amateur snoops to find out the real deal before Marco ends up in the clink for good! Or before Marco's ex-flame ignites an old love torch!
ACTS OF VIOLETS is the fifth entry in author Kate Collins's delightful amateur sleuth series. The heroine is Abby Knight, a college drop out turned flower shop owner. Although Bloomers isn't exactly the Batcave and her two employees (Grace and Lottie) aren't exactly Robin and Alfred, Abby has managed to solve four previous cases involving murder.
As always, despite the fact that murder is involved, the books tone is kept light and just left of wacky. Abby puts me in mind of Janet Evanovitch's New Jersey bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. Like Stephanie, Abby has a strange family that won't stay out of her business or personal life. Her mother is an artist who creates the most awful statues ever imagined.
In this book, Abby also has to confront Mama Salvare, Marco's pushy mother, and the power struggle between the two women is fun to watch and realistic.
Abby wouldn't ever have been involved in the murder if her boyfriend hadn't tried to take up for her against the clown. During the local Pickle Fest (a truly huge homegrown affair filled with traditions), Snuggles ends up threatening Abby after a near-mishap because she's always had a fear of clowns. Marco can't leave things alone, though, and slips off to have a quiet word with the clown.
Before everything is said and done, Snuggles is dead and even Marco's cop buddies agree that he's the prime candidate for a lead suspect. Throw in the fact that Marco had trouble with the clown while he was back on the force, and you've got a long-standing feud that might just put Marco in prison.
Abby can't have that. She hasn't quite figured out what to do with Marco (and knows even less with his mom on the scene), but she doesn't want him locked away forever either. She also doesn't want Marco's old girlfriend Trina granted any conjugal visits.
I've read earlier books in the series and enjoyed them. Abby Knight is usually a delightful heroine, full of spunk and off-the-wall ideas. Plus, it's funny to watch her start to meddle in something even after she's decided not to. But in this book Abby seems less confident than she ever has. Collins errs on the side of making Abby too much of a worrywart to amp up the stakes in the book. They were just fine without all the additional fretting.
I love the series' ancillary characters. Colm, cool Grace is - literally -grace under fire. Nothing ruffles her fathers or catches her off-stride, no matter what the world-shattering-event. Lottie - with her gigantic sons to double-down as workhorses and bodyguards - is as humorous and insightful as always.
ACTS OF VIOLETS is another fine addition to what looks like will be a long-lived series in the cozy mystery field. My wife and I both read the books and enjoy them a lot. We're looking for it to Kate Collins's next book, A ROSE FROM THE DEAD, coming out in December 2007.
Introducing Mama Salvare.......2007-05-10
Book 5 in the series - the annual pickle fest, a mean clown, and Mama Salvare. The rest of the usual characters return, along with a few new ones. Abby's always had a fear of clowns, and when she is accosted by one at the pickle fest, Marco steps in. Then the clown turns up dead .. and Marco is the lead suspect. Can Abby save him?
Light and pretty fast paced........2007-05-07
A fun mystery. I enjoyed the book. It was the first I've read in this series and the main character was a little slow to warm up to but after we became aquainted I enjoyed it.
Best one yet!.......2007-04-15
I really like this series and love the style of Kate Collins' writing. Very witty and entertaining read. Can't wait for the next installment!
Good Cozy Mystery.......2007-03-29
When Snuggles the clown is murdered and Abby's boyfriend, hunky ex-cop Marco is the chief suspect because he was the last one seen leaving Snuggle's house, Marco asks Abby to help find the real killer. Even though she's solved some murder cases in the past, Abby is very nervous about solving this one - if she fails, Marco could go to jail. But it won't be easy, when he was a cop Marco had a run in with Snuggles (Dennis Ryson) that resulted in Marco leaving the police force. Marco also had a fist fight with Snuggles shortly before he was murdered. Abby knows that she has to work fast, Marco is the only suspect and even some of his cop friends are afraid he may be guilty. While Abby is convinced that Marco is innocent, she worries because he is keeping secrets from her: what exactly is his relationship with the attractive Trina who was threatened by Ryson and why doesn't he want her to meet his mother? As Abby gets closer to the truth her own life is in danger.
While not the best book in Kate Collins Flower Shop Mystery series, "Acts of Violets" is still a good cozy mystery. Abby's an endearing heroine willing to investigate the murder even though she is full of self-doubt. In fact, my one complaint about this book is that Abby is not as strong as usual, she is full of doubts and insecure about her relationship with Marco. She also has a propensity for unbuttoning her top button on her blouse to show off her ample cleavage, something I don't remember her doing in other books. Other characters are well developed and readers will learn more about Marco just as Abby does. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book including a pickle parade; Abby's mother's latest art project; a funny scene in a diner; and the scene (and it's aftermath) when Abby finally does meet Marco's mother. The humor does go a bit too far - a character's lisp becomes distracting and is a bit cruel. The mystery itself is well done, although there aren't a lot of suspects. The outcome of Abby's confrontation with the murderer is neatly foreshadowed at the beginning of the book which is a nice bit of writing by Collins.
"Act of Violets" is a good cozy mystery.
Book Description
Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart? Why the parade of public figures unable to own up when they screw up? Why the endless marital quarrels over who is right? Why can we see hypocrisy in others but not in ourselves? Are we all liars? Or do we really believe the stories we tell?
Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. When we make mistakes, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong.
Backed by years of research and delivered in lively, energetic prose, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-deception—how it works, the harm it can cause, and how we can overcome it.
Customer Reviews:
Insights that sting.......2007-10-06
I'm in two book clubs...and to my delight, both of them (operating independently) have chosen MISTAKES WERE MADE as the next book.
It's terrific -- charmingly written and full of perceptive insights. But it is also sobering. It would surely be a hoot to watch as Tavris and Aronson depict the power of self-justification to enable people to make complete fools of themselves....that is, it would be fun if the bell didn't toll very loudly for you and me as well. Happily, the authors give some sound advice about how to escape from the traps that cognitive dissonance sets for us, such as "confirmation bias" -- listening to what you agree with and finding ways to dismiss the rest.
Go read it.
Has some good points but..........2007-10-02
Makes some valid points, but the primary purpose of this book in my opinion is to bash conservatives and their views. Examples of poor liberal decisions are few. I would assume liberals make mistakes too... If you are looking for something that gives good analysis without the severe leftward slant look elsewhere.
Why people rationalize and justify obviously bad actions.......2007-09-23
After hearing a NPR interview with Carol Travis, I sought out this book and was delighted with it. With ample basis in scholarly research, it was solid and had practical applications in my own life.
I have often been fascinated with why seemingly good people commit poor actions, and then go to great lengths to rationalize and justify their actions, at the expense of and to the detriment of others. Politicians and bureaucrats are those from whom I expect this.
But when it enters your own life, your interest in understanding the basis for it becomes necessary and vital in your own well-being.
The concept of cognitive dissonance and how it drives people to distort their perception of reality, so that the difference between their ideals and their behavior goes away, enters our daily lives. Of course, the problem with this is it reinforces the behavior that caused the dissonance in the first place, and it starts you down a road of deceipt and lies built upon more lies. Having lived the nightmare of being subjected to a "cognitive dissonant" of the nth degree, Travis assisted me in opening my eyes.
The political discussions by Travis will, no doubt, displease conservative readers, and was brave on her part to tackle. This book is strong and I highly recommend it.
The authors make a dry subject come alive!.......2007-09-14
Renowned social psychologists Carol Travis and Elliot
Aronson have written a truly fascinating book, MISTAKES
WERE MADE (BUT NOT BY ME). . . its subtitle made me want
to read it even more: WHY WE JUSTIFY FOOLISH BELIEFS,
BAD DECISIONS AND HURTFUL ACTS because I have long observed
this tendency--even in my own life.
The authors make what could be a dry subject come alive
by the use of many examples . . . in addition, I liked how
they incorporated much research--cited in nearly 40 pages
of endnotes--but made it come alive via a lively writing style.
When they explained how our memories tell more about
what we believe now than what really happened then, I had
to laugh . . . and recall the story of how I once took Risa,
my daughter, to my first home . . . from there, I proceeded
to take her to my elementary school, which I could have
sworn was nearly a mile away . . . in reality, it turned out
to be less than two short blocks away!
MISTAKES WERE MADE further shows how couples can
break out of the "he said,she said" spiral of blame and
defensiveness, and perhaps most importantly, how all of
us can learn to own up and let go of the need to be right.
There were many memorable passages in the book; among
those that most caught my attention were the following:
* The same DNA that exonerates an innocent person can be used
to identify the guilty one, but this rarely happens. Of all the convictions
the Innocence Project has succeeded in overturning so far, there
is not a single instance in which the police later tried to find the
actual perpetrator of the crime. The police and prosecutors just
close the books on the case completely, as if to obliterate its
silent accusation of the mistake they made.
* De Klerk, who had been elected president in 1989, knew that a
violent revolution was all but inevitable. The fight against
apartheid was escalating; sanctions imposed by other countries
were having a significant impact on the nation's economy;
supporters of the banned African National Congress were
becoming increasingly violent, killing and torturing people whom
they believed were collaborating with the white regime. De Klerk
could have tightened the noose by instituting even more repressive
policies in the desperate hope of preserving white power. Instead,
he revoked the ban on the ANC and freed Mandela from the prison
in which he had spent twenty-seven years. For this part, Mandela
could have found entirely legitimate. Instead, he relinquished
anger for the sake of the goal to which he had devoted his life.
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with
your enemy," said Mandela. "Then he becomes your partner." In
1993, both men shared the Nobel Peace Prize, and the following
year Mandela was elected president of South Africa.
* Making mistakes is central to the education of budding scientists
and artists of all kinds, who must have the freedom to experiment,
try this idea, flop, try another idea, take a risk, be willing to get the
wrong answer. One classic example, once taught to American
schoolchildren and still on many inspirational Web sites in various
versions, is Thomas Edison's reply to his assistant (or to a reporter),
who was lamenting Edison's ten thousand experimental failures in
his effort to create the first incandescent light bulb. "I have not failed,"
he told the assistant (or reporter). "I successfully discovered 10,000
elements that don't work." Most American children, however, denied
the freedom to noodle around, experiment, and be wrong in ten ways,
let alone ten thousand. The focus on constant testing, which grew
out of reasonable desire to measure and standardize children's
accomplishments, has intensified their fear of failure. It is
certainly important for children to learn to succeed; but it is just
as important for them to learn not to fear failure. When children or
adults fear failure, they fear risk. They can't afford to be wrong.
That said, you won't go wrong by reading MISTAKES WERE
MADE . . . I was so impressed by it that I now plan to get
copies of the book for many of my colleagues at my college,
in that they will be able to relate to much of it . . . so will you.
Understanding and motivation.......2007-09-09
This is an extremely readable, perceptive and important book. It explains clearly and undoubtedly accurately how many people think and act.
I bought book after reading a friend's copy, just so I could reread it and make notes all over it.
Book Description
“It’s hard to imagine any American reading this book and not seeing his country in a new, and deeply troubling, light.”—The New York Times Book Review
The United States has repeatedly asserted its right to intervene militarily against “failed states” around the globe. In this much-anticipated follow-up to his international bestseller Hegemony or Survival, Noam Chomsky turns the tables, showing how the United States itself shares features with other failed states—suffering from a severe “democratic deficit,” eschewing domestic and international law, and adopting policies that increasingly endanger its own citizens and the world. Exploring the latest developments in U.S. foreign and domestic policy, Chomsky reveals Washington’s plans to further militarize the planet, greatly increasing the risks of nuclear war. He also assesses the dangerous consequences of the occupation of Iraq; documents Washington’s self-exemption from international norms, including the Geneva conventions and the Kyoto Protocol; and examines how the U.S. electoral system is designed to eliminate genuine political alternatives, impeding any meaningful democracy.
Forceful, lucid, and meticulously documented, Failed States offers a comprehensive analysis of a global superpower that has long claimed the right to reshape other nations while its own democratic institutions are in severe crisis. Systematically dismantling the United States’ pretense of being the world’s arbiter of democracy, Failed States is Chomsky’s most focused—and urgent—critique to date.
Customer Reviews:
Very good analysis of the catastrophic U.S. foreign policy.......2007-09-19
This is my first Chomsky book. It is quite clear he is an academic and able to say the same thing in different ways (at least through out the first half of the book) but the context is nevertheless good and important- as a nation, we are "bullies" and it is ok for us to break laws but not for everyone else. He gives specific examples like treaties that have been violated and UN resolutions that we vetoed and violated too in order to protect and pursue our national security interests. And given the new generation of politicians- neoliberals and neoconservatives- it is nothing new when it comes to the Iraq War- It's all in the name of national security. We really don't care about democracy in the Middle East only that our thirst for oil is met.
The second part of the the book he clarifies the context and the meaning of the failed states. He delineates several examples after World War II in which we meddled into foreign country affairs and created "failed states"- from countries in Central America, South America, and the Middle East. Now because of our corrupt, immoral, and greedy influence, we are now more than ever looking like a failed state.
I thought he made several very good points but it was nothing new to me given that I have already read various books relating to U.S. foreign policy already. The only criticism I had was that it seemed redundant at times. Overall though, very good and recommended.
The bias of a Chompsky.......2007-09-10
Mr. Chompsky never fails me. Whenever I want to read something that makes me dislike America, I can count on Noam. His failure to be honest in this book is apparent from about page 5 onward. His positive reviews are pretty much canned and produced by the Jim Jomes style followers he courts on college campuses. I give this book only 2 stars. One star because he uses a few big words and another star because in actually writing a book and marketing it, he is contributing to capitalism. Other than that, his rhetoric is tedous.
FAILED STATES: THE ABUSE OF POWER AND THE ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY.......2007-08-31
THIS WELL-RESPECTED AUTHOR HAS DONE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A GREAT FAVOR WITH THIS EASILY READ, WELL DOCUMENTED BOOK. TO ADMIT THAT WE, AS AMERICANS, HAVE INDULGED IN AND ALLOWED SUCH ABUSES OF POWER IS HUMILIATING. BUT WITH THIS AWARENESS, THERE IS HOPE WE CAN CHANGE COURSE AND MOVE AWAY FROM BEING A "FAILED STATE."
Great.......2007-08-06
Well researched, well thought out. Another fine book. I will use it with my history students.
an uneasy reality.......2007-07-21
Reading Chomsky is like being sprayed in the face with a garden hose. Just as there is no question that you are now soaking wet, there is no question about what our country has become. Noam Chomsky is an excellent author who manages to get his point across with a good dose of truth and factual evidence. There is no denying what he says and it makes you fear the path our nation's leaders have chosen despite the wishes of the citizens. The author demonstrates a real need for change and gives you ideas on how to effect those changes. A quick read loaded with fact and not all that preachy. A good book to be sure.
Book Description
How do you recover the past when it was never yours to lose?
Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her beloved, widowed father, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiance, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as Delia plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall...until a policeman knocks on her door, revealing a secret about herself that changes the world as she knows it -- and threatens to jeopardize her future. With Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult explores how life -- as we know it -- might not turn out the way we imagined; how the people we've loved and trusted can suddenly change before our very eyes; how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat. Once again, Picoult handles an astonishing and timely topic with under-standing, insight, and compassion.
Download Description
"New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her ability to tap into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she explores what happens when a young woman's past -- a past she didn't even know she had -- catches up to her just in time to threaten her future. Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiancé, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as Delia plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall. And then a policeman knocks on her door, revealing a secret that changes the world as she knows it. In shock and confusion, Delia must sift through the truth -- even when it jeopardizes her life and the lives of those she loves. What happens when you learn you are not who you thought you were? When the people you've loved and trusted suddenly change before your eyes? When getting your deepest wish means giving up what you've always taken for granted? Vanishing Acts explores how life -- as we know it -- might not turn out the way we imagined; how doing the right thing could mean doing the wrong thing; how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat. Once again, Jodi Picoult handles a difficult and timely topic with understanding, insight, and compassion. "
Customer Reviews:
Whoa!.......2007-09-26
Delia has endured the surprise of her life after she finds out about her father and what he has done. She also starts to realize what kind of mother she wants to be. With all the discoveries that she makes around the time she found out about what her father did, she comes to a realization about the relationship she is in with Eric, her husband. This story walks you through the bumps of the road that Delia travels down in the hardships of her life.
This book is really bad. .......2007-09-20
Don't waste your money. It is the worst book I have read in a long time.
My first Picoult.......2007-09-01
It has been a long time since a book made me cry. This book made me cry 3 times. It is a good read.
Let's just say I'm glad this wasn't my first Picoult.......2007-08-11
After trudging through the first 260 pages I had to stop reading. I didn't think I could stand another 150 pages of it, especially when she has many others that are a lot better.
I'm not sure what, exactly, bothered me so much. More of a combination of things, really. The font changes from character to character, every scene that Ruthann was in, maybe even the entire plot. Once they got to Arizona, I felt it got worse. If there had been less Ruthann, less Southwest, and maybe more of the legal aspects, I would have enjoyed it more. Then again...maybe that's exactly what happens in the next 150 pages.
Just as bad as those awful made-for-TV movies that are "based on a true story".......2007-08-11
"Vanishing Acts" blows chunks. It is a really, really terrible book. The only redeeming quality about it is that the basic premise of the story is interesting: A 32-year-old woman discovers that her father kidnapped her from her mother at the age of four and has been lying to her ever since. However, author Jodie Picoult took an idea that could have led to a great book and instead let it all fall to crap.
Here are some of the biggest gripes I have about this book:
1. The whole kidnapping revelation happens very quickly, and Delia, the woman who was kidnapped by her father at a young age, really seems to take the news pretty well. She cries for about five minutes, scampers up a tree, and then says: "Okay, let's go see Dad and jail and figure out how to help him." Talk about a relatively mild reaction!
2. I was also baffled by the way the kidnapping plot was finally uncovered. Delia and her father lived under the guise of their new identities for 28 years, and no one ever batted an eyelash. However, Delia's best friend Fitz decides to Google Delia's name one night, and BAM! He finds a link to an old newspaper article and figures everything out instantly. I have a hard time believing it would be that easy.
3. Three words: Native American mysticism. What the heck was all THAT about?! The entire subplot was so random and completely pointless.
4. I was also irritated by the whole Delia/Fitz/Eric love triangle. It was completely overplayed and obvious right from the start whom Delia would end up with in the end. The Eric/Elise parallel alcoholism story was also way overdone.
5. Five words: Andrew roughing it in prison. Enough said. Those chapters were especially painful to weed through.
6. What was up with the tender Andrew/Elise forgiveness scene right before the jury reached its verdict? I don't care if Elise was a raging alcoholic or not: She should have been really pissed off that her daughter was kidnapped by her ex-husband, and not have been so quick to forgive him. That was so unrealistic!
7. Finally, Picoult must sincerely believe that her readers are solely comprised of a group of two-year-old mentally challenged alien children, because she dumbs down to her audience on so many occasions. All of the parallels, symbols and elements of foreshadowing are so incredibly obvious, but what really annoys me is the fact that the book is typeset in five or six different fonts to distinguish between the characters when the narration shuffles around. Does Picoult really think we're so stupid that we can't figure it out for ourselves?! It's really not that difficult, and some of the fonts are nearly impossible to read (especially Fitz's, which is set in this god-awful Impact Bold type). Ugh!
I'm very sad that I wasted so much time reading this stupid book. The only other book by Picoult I've read is "My Sister's Keeper," which was much better than "Vanishing Acts," although it still has that annoying font thing going on. Unfortunately, I have one more Picoult novel sitting in my bookcase: I've never read it, and hopefully I never will!
The moral of the story: I'm sorry, but Jodi Picoult kind of sucks. Go fetch yourself a real book.
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