Product Description
The Best Of Sting 1984-1994 Matching folio to his greatest hits album featuring 14 songs: Fortress Around Your Heart * If I Ever Lose My Faith In You * We'll Be Together * When We Dance * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Quite useful, yet...
I find this sheetbook quite useful.Needless to say, if you don't have the album don't bother with it.However it contains some fine music and it is excellent excercise too. Still I find a repeating problem with all ofSting's sheetbooks.They all seem like adapted versions of the songs, nothow they're really played.So if you find the bass riff in the begginingof "Fields of gold" unlike the original, it is because it isoriginally played by the horn, and so on...Still, It's worth it.

excellent
excellent excellent excellent excellen ... Read more

Product Description

Life was one big act for wrestling super star Steve Borden, a.k.a. Sting. On the home front, however, his marriage faltered on the brink of failure while he took the fast track in his wrestling career--and to a radical entertainer lifestyle, including an addiction to prescription drugs. Confessing his problems to his wife was the beginning of a process that brought the prideful, self-sufficient champion to his knees. It was to be the greatest wrestling match of his life, and God was taking him to the mat.

God had been planting seeds in Borden's life from the time he entered professional wrestling--his brother and sisters's conversions and witnesses, his family's prayers, the witness of wrestler Ted Dibiasi--and the peace and joy he saw in the lives of other Christians. Now, the confrontation by his wife, whom he didn't want to lose, plus the fear of life without his two young sons, made his fame and fortune worthless. He was humbled. That was in August 1998. Sting became a new man in Christ and his marriage was restored. Today, he drops scriptures into conversation as easily and naturally as he once dropped opponents in the ring. He still loves a challenge, but where he once relied on a fluorescent face and shocking stunts, he now tackles each challenge with a firm faith in Christ alone.

Customer Reviews (13)

Lacks Information
This book lacks information, it is a very short read and not a good account of this great wrestler's career.

I'm Wanting More
Having grown up a WCW fan (and even a Jim Crockett Promtions/NWA fan), and being recently returned to The Lord's family (after nearly a "20-year detour off the path"), I wanted to read this book about how Sting made his conversion into Christianity. While this book was very moving I, also, felt that it was too short to really get to know/see how he balanced his whole persona/life of Steve Borden versus that of his wrestling character Sting; and the struggles of trying to balance the two identities without self-imploding on himself or ending up like many other professional wrestlers do. I also bought the accompanying DVD to go with this, but have yet to watch it. But for a quick read for someone who is either considering giving theirselves to The Lord or has "walked off the path" I would recommend this book (also, being a wrestling fan of the whole "Monday Night Wars" era may help). Hopefully one day Sting/Steve Borden will give us the full biography and not just the teaser that I felt this book was.

Sting: The Moment Of Truth
I would deffinately recommend this book as well asthe DVD it was awesome!!

The Main Event Of Life
Steve Borden was at the ultimate crossroads of his life.

As the character, Sting, he achieved iconic status in professional wrestling, one of a few performers who could tear the roof off of any arena in the world with his persona and signature finishing moves for victory.

But Sting couldn't assist Steve Borden on that day in August 1998, the ring makeup was off and it wasn't about the promoters & fans, it was about family. Addicted to prescription drugs and years of living a fast-lane lifestyle of a pop star, Steve Borden was on the verge of losing his wife and two young children.

It was his moment of truth.

The reader takes the journey with Steve Borden as he puts his ego aside and confronts the demons that are damaging not only his soul, but destroying the ones who love him the most.

This is a side of Steve Borden that you may not know about before picking up the book; it's how he got on his knees, raised his arms and looked up to the sky to accept the ultimate guidance in the main event of life.

Christians
This book is a great and helpful book for christians who have fallen off their path. Sting is one of my favorite wrestlers. I am very proud to say that because he is a christian. I cant wait for the movie to come out. I do believe that the book was short and sweet but I wanted it to be longer. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Stunningly Sexy
This book is actually amazingly sexy. There are about 175 pages and in those pages, 17 different erotic stories are contained. Each story contains elements of BDSM and restraint which is awesome. A lot of the stories include elements of dominance/submission as well. What's really neat about this collection is that it isn't all just hardcore BDSM. Some of the stories talk about using regular scarves as blindfolds while others take place in BDSM clubs where the main characters play in front of a crowd. A couple of the stories are even really unique with one of them being the story of an assassin that lures her targets by promises of sex and bondage. When she gets into bed with her target this time, she finds that she can't kill him because he provides her the best sex she's had all of her life. Overall, a great collection of stories that are great for solo reading and are short enough that they can be read out loud with a partner as well.

A wonderful read
A great set of short stories to stir the blood.They are best read by a partner or by you to yours.It is a great way to get in the mood or just send yourself off to dreamland with the right frame of mind.

Sexy and not sleezy
My friend bought this book for me and I thought it was going to be the usual mix of debasing women and horrible writing, stale plot lines and no back story to make it interesting but i was soooooo wrong. Each story is like a peek into a new character's mind. They are all wonderfully written and there is so much variety. There were even some surprises in the stories that made me put the book down so i could collect my thoughts. I particularly liked this book because none of the stories were frightening. Sometimes when the subject of bondage is brought up its automatically brought around to nipple clamps and weird masks and pain. None of these were like that. They had just enough bondage to be really hot and did not go overboard into the realm of scary things I do not want to think about. I finished this book over springbreak because I just could not put it down. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in or curious about erotic restraint or anyone that just wants to read wonderfully written sexy stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

book
Have loved this book for many years and was delighted to find a copy to send to a friend as a birthday gift.

THE book on Who WASPs Are
This is one of the funniest, and most accurate, books ever written on the once-dominant Anglo-Saxon Protestant culture in America. Weighted to the South (though not so much as King's Southern Ladies and Gentlemen) because of Miss King's Anglo-Southron Washington DC area up-bringing, she explores in her inimitable "pointing up" style a vast number of the details of WASPiness that are common knowledge among WASPs, at least those who are "old stock" WASPs, but utterly unknown to most Catholics (who may be Anglo-Saxon) and non-Anglo-Saxon ethnics -- even those of Northern European stock who generally "pass" as WASPs.

If any part of your family comes from the sorts of backgrounds described in the book, you will immediately recognize the types among your relatives.I found a dozen or so, which seems typical. I've given away, or lent and had not returned, probably a dozen copies of this lamentably out-of-print book over the past 20 years since I was first introduced to it by an Episcopal seminarian (how appropriate!)

One of Miss King's most seminal services for non-WASPs in this book is her (now somewhat dated) explication of the varieties of Protestantism, and particularly the fact that in many cases denominational affiliation has less to do with specific doctrine than social background and ethnicity.

I honestly believe this to be a book that every serious student of American society should read with care.

Mother of All Curmudgeons
A superb read - especially the last section on Lizzie Borden, pointing up the WASPishness of the whole thing, even unto the disgusting food (and sanitary) habits of this family, which would be enough to make anyone snap. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

A Book to Sink your Teeth into
The next time somebody says, "I don't know. I'll bite," back up slowly and tell him/her the answer. Human bites are the third most common seen in emergency rooms after dog and cat bites. People bite each other everywhere and anywhere; no place is taboo. Bites can result in stitches, infection, loss of body parts, hospitalization, or even death.

At first I was taken aback by this thick, pictureless book, but after taking a small bite of the book by reading a few chapters, I was hooked and looked forward to each reading session. Nagami's book is fascinating and easy to read. Medical terms and jargon are unavoidable, but the author's style is always engagingand understandable.

Some chapters and biters are more pertinent than others but all are interesting and edifying. I doubt I'll ever have to worry about being bitten by a Komodo dragon, or cobra, but enjoyed the chapters as much as those about mosquitoes or ticks.

This is a mainstream book with just the right amount of technical information for the casual reader; it's not a textbook for medical professionals.Perfect for a Potato Head like me.

Absolutely Fascinating!
This was a fascinating book, with each chapter detailing a different type of bite that could very likely prove fatal to humans. Many of the chapters involved creepy imagery from swarms of fire ants to fatal spider bites. Tips on bite-prevention (the largest section on dog bites) and what type of medical care to immediately pursue were easily laid out in each section. The range of topics was widespread and I was genuinely disappointed when this interesting book ended.

Ouch!!
An enjoyable book that will provide the reader with all the information they ever wanted to have on bites from spiders to donkeys!

Overreaching, but decent
There was far too much information packed into this book - it covered not only venomous bites and stings, but also parasites, bacteria, and trauma issues related to bites from various animals.This meant there was relatively little time to spend on any section of the book, and most of the information was very general, not at all in-depth.

Still, for a person interested in a general overview of all the horrible things that can happen when you're bitten by anything from a cat to a spider, this is an entertaining read.The writing style is very easy to read, and the anecdotal stories keep your interest.

I'd recommend it to anyone just casually interested in the topic, but for those who want any in-depth analysis of any one of the topics covered in the book will need to look elsewhere.

A good read - but not right before you go to bed.
This is a very well written and well documented book which discusses many stories in which people have been bitten by bugs, animals, and even humans.The first few chapters focus on the many kinds of insects that live among humans, biting them if they get the chance; including red fire ants, black widow and brown recluse spiders, scorpions and more.Other chapters focus on snake bites, jellyfish stings, parasitism by ticks, and more.Some of the chapters talk about bites from different kinds of insects, such as the tsetse fly which then transfers a protozoan which causes a horrible disease to the people which these tiny organisms infest.Many of the chapters after that focus on bites from larger animals, crocodiles, komodo dragons, rabid wild animals, ferrets, dogs, cats, horses, etc.Many of these all carry disease causing bacteria which can infest and kill the human host to which they are transferred.The final chapter focuses on humans in which the author tells stories of accidental bites which can cause in some cases life-threatening diseases; as well as purposeful bites from people wanting to inflict pain and spread deadly diseases to others out of vengeance and rage.

When I first started reading this book I thought that no scary movie could give me the chills the same way this book did when I read it at night right before going to bed.There were a couple of nights when I just lay in bed thinking about all the little creepy crawlies that could potentially come and bite me.It gave me the shudders.Then as I read about all the bacteria and diseases that could be spread by animals, even healthy animals, and that most of the diseases are preventable as long as you get your bite looked at right away I was glad to have read such an informative book.

This book is not for the faint of heart.It is not a book for light bedside reading.However, this is a very informative book with many stories of people who overcame serious bites and infections, and also many stories of those unfortunate people who very sadly passed away because of causes related to the bite they received.I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in learning more about life, and some of its pains. Although the author is a Medical Doctor and often refers to treatment of bites and prescriptions given for certain bacteria and diseases, this book is not recommended as a primary source of medical help after one has been bitten.One who has received a bite should go to a doctor to get it checked out and to receive the proper medical attention.

The author includes a glossary of terms in the end of the book, as well as a long list of references, and finally ending with an index.
... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Sting has successfully established himself as one of the most important singer-songwriters in Western popular music over the past twenty years. His affinity for collaborative work and disparate musical styles has pushed his music into an astonishing array of contexts, but no matter what the style or who the collaborator, Sting's voice always remains distinct, and this fact has earned him success amongst a correspondingly broad audience. The Words and Music of Sting subdivides Sting's life and works into rough periods of creative activity and offers a fantastic opportunity to view Sting's many stylistic changes within a coherent general framework. After analyzing Sting's musical output album by album and song by song, author Christopher Gable sums up Sting's accomplishments and places him on the continuum of influential singer-songwriters, showing how he differs and relates to other artists of the same period.

Aside from his commercial success, Sting is also interesting for the use of recurring themes in his lyrics (such as family relationships, love, war, spirituality, and work) and for his use of jazz and world music to illustrate or work against the meaning of a song.Sting's life also sheds light on his music, as his working-class roots in Newcastle, England are never far removed from his international superstardom. Throughout his life, he has been musically open-minded and inquisitive, always seeking out new styles and often incorporating them into his compositions.

Customer Reviews (3)

Stung
This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in the art and craft of songwriting.

The structure of the book is interesting and effective. The Introduction explains Sting's inclusion in the Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection and describes Sting's recent CD of lute music as the logical musical evolution of a restless artist, risk-taker, and seeker. Each chapter covers an album, starting with the Police, on through Sting's solo career. The final chapter comes full-circle again with Sting's lute CD.

The pacing is brisk throughout. Dr. Gable does not get bogged down by analyzing every song, but wherever he lands he goes deep. The songs he chooses represent recurring song-writing motifs which can be easily identified in other songs. The explanations are not overly technical, but speak in terms of mood changes and chord modulations as they relate to the lyrics.

Dr. Gable's contribution to the literature on this fascinating and complex, dare I say, musical genius called Sting is essential reading, a book for the lay reader, with scholarly bona fides.

You never knew all that went into a Sting composition!
This fine work will illuminate phrases (both lyrical and musical) within Sting's large body of work that you never noticed, or that you loved but couldn't figure out why. Dr. Gable traces the themes of family, love, dreams, and exploration and shows how Sting uses twists of phrase as well as harmonic, melodic and rythmic patterns to draw the listener into his state of mind. The book covers everything from early Police recordings through his latest works with orchestras and chant and will make you immediately put on your headphones and listen with newly enlightened ears, hearing things you never noticed or understood before.

College-level libraries strong in popular music analysis need this
Sting has successfully established himself as one of the most important singer-songwriters in Western popular music: this survey of his songs and solo and group career offers critical analysis of the extent of his works, from his performances with The Police to the structural diagrams of his songs. College-level libraries strong in popular music analysis need this.
... Read more

Product Description
Here is all the information you will ever need--no matter where you are in the world--to identify, avoid, and protect yourself against all manner of blood sucking or venomous arthropods, ranging from scorpions, spiders, ants, and bees to mites, ticks, lice, bed bugs, sand flies, biting midges, mosquitoes, and horse flies. Line drawings and representative color photographs help identify bugs accurately, and information on each bug's particular habits and habitats allows readers to minimize potentially annoying, painful, and even lethal encounters. This book is packed with helpful tips on using barriers--window-screens, bed nets, smoky coils, and proper clothing, and on choosing the right repellent for the right bug in the right place.Readers also will learn how to apply pesticides safely and effectively. Based on the best available science, this well-illustrated, crystal clear guide will be a welcome guest in any home or back yard, and an essential companion for travelers around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great outdoors
Our family loves being outdoors.Some of our best family memories are of hiking and camping.Lately though, we are being more conscious of the dangers of insect bites.What used to seem like a simple mosquito bite or tic can lead to West Nile Virus and Lime Disease.All the information floating around just makes us more afraid.We have been searching for a guide that could tell us what we needed to know- this is finally it!This book is easy to read and has all the up-to-date information.It is interesting to just sit and read if you really want to learn more on insects and disease, but if you want to look up something quick, like I usually do, it is a great resourse. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys spending time outside.The illustrations are great too.This one is definately coming along for our next hiking or camping trip!

Stop bugs
This book has it all, from how to know what's biting, how to change your house so you have less problems, to how to use insecticides and repellents. The sections on insecticides and on natural repellents were well-balanced -- they did not make claims of absolute safety or absolute danger, but they discussed the fears and doubts that people often have about those kinds of treatments. The authors attempted to give advice that would be good anywhere in the world.

Unlike a field guide, this book leads a person through all the issues that are important. It seems to be designed to be read from cover to cover by a person who knows very little about bugs. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

From one warrior to another
Jose Torres first offering takes us to the point in Ali's career after his reinstatement which include tuneup fights with Quarry, Bonavena and finally to the first fight with Frazier. Interspersed with these narratives is the life of Ali from his Golden Glove Days to the revocation of his license for refusing the draft.

What makes this book unique from all the other Ali biographies out there is that the writer was quite of a boxer himself, a former light heavyweight champion in fact. From this vantage point, he gives us a glimpse of the boxer's psyche - particularly interesting is his anatomy of the knockout punch. Whereas other biographies speak about Ali in reverential tones, Torres puts Ali to task for his bad game plan in the first Frazier fight and his penchant for playing with his opponent.

Indeed, Torres acquits himself well as a boxing writer. I wish he could have deferred writing this book for a few years so that the "Rumble in the Jungle" and the next two Frazier fights would be included.

Tremendous
This book is great for all readers and is a great biography that puts you in the mind of a writer. You will feel like you are actually there witnissing these masterfull events. ... Read more

Product Description
Some fearful-looking insects are best left alone. Others are non-threatening little creatures. But how do you tell one from another, and why are they that way anyway? This delightful book tells all about some of these insects and why we should steer clear of them or relax. All are delightfully and realistically illustrated in full-colour, and treated to the author's witty descriptions and end-verses. ... Read more

Product Description
CENTER COURT STING Trash talking leads to trouble on the basketball court.... Forward Daren McCall is quick with an insult, quick to take offense, and quick to blame anyone but himself for his troubles. So when center Lou Bettman accuses him first of bad-mouthing him, then of vandalism, Daren turns the tables and insists that Lou is out to get him. The team splits into two camps, those who believe in Daren's innocence and those who take Lou's side. The fight heats up when Daren falls victim to an outrageous act. But did Lou retaliate, as Daren suspects, or is someone else trying to teach Daren a lesson? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Excellent Book on Basketball for a child
My Grandson enjoyed this book.It is very well written and easy to read.Very nicely detailed.Thank you

The Great Basketball Book
Daren mcall,very nice and loves to play basketball. Heloves to help others. He helps out Gary and teaches him a little bit of how to play basketball. Daren and Lou get into a fight, but they get over it in the end.

They won their first game 52,45.Then Daren's neighbor wanted him to help Gary learn how to play basketball.Their next game was against the Blazers.They had won that game, but Daren didn't play well at all.The next game was against the Rebels.
If they lost that game they would be out of the playoffs.The RANGERS WON!!!They got to go to the tournament.

In the past,At the basketball court and Daren's home.

You shall never give up even if you are losing and if you are under pressure.You may never know if someone did something unless you ask them or you have proof.

I liked this book a lot;it kept me alive and I was never bored of the story.I wish all books were like this one!!!

The Great Basketball Book
Christopher,MattCenter Court Sting

Daren McCall, He is a kid that is very nice nad loves to play basketball. He loves to help others. He helps out Gary and teaches him a little bit of how to play basketball. Daren and Lou get into a fight, but they get over it in the end.

They win there first game 52,45.They didn'd play well but they did ok. Then Daren's neighbor wanted him to help their son learn how to play basketball because Daren was very good at it.
He was very rough and Gary got really mad.There next game was against the Blazers. ( they were really good )SO there coach made them practice very hard. They had won that game, but Daren didn't play well at all. Then gary's father asked Daren if he could get gary and try to tell him he was to hard and he wouldn't be as hard on him. The next game the Rangers had was against the Rebels. If they lost tht game they would be out of the playoffs. The RANGERS WON!!! They got to go to the tournament.

In the past, At the basketball Court and Darens Home.

You shall never give up even if you are losing and if you are under pressure. You may never know if someone did something unless you ask them and you have proof.

I liked this book a lot; It kept me alive and i was never bored of it.I wish all books were like this one!!

Center Court Sting Review
We give this book a five. One reason is because the characters play basketball. For example, Daren the main character doesn't know how to play basketball very well. Also, Daren's team name is the Rangers. Another reason is because it is exciting. Specifically, the Rangers keep scoring every time. Also, thatthe Rangers won most of the games. In conclusion, we recommend this book.

Center Court Sting Review
We give this book a five. One reason is because the characters play basketball. For example, Daren, the main character, doesn't know how to play basketball very well. Also, Daren's team name is the Rangers. Another reason is because it is exciting. Specifically, the Rangers keep scoring every time. Also, thatthe Rangers won most of the games. In conclusion, we recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Lady Harriet Hartley has a daring plan to save her family from a lifetime of poverty-a plan that involves her stepdaughter Anne and a rough-talking, buckskin-wearing American.

One of the best-loved authors of Regency romance. (Romance Reader)

One of the enduring names in romance. (Paperback Forum) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What a fun read!
This was a story about an American, Jason Hughes, came to England to claim his title and estate that was passed on to him from his deceased uncle.He met his aunt and cousins with a pre-determined image of an "American"--his aunt Harriet thought he was a rebel and his cousin Anne thought he was a primitive barbarian.Jason's relatives tried to mold him into a proper lord that would fit into the "ton", but story grew complicated with Anne's personal relationship with her betrothed and her close friend, in addition to the growing feeling towards her protegee.

This was a very well written story by Ms. Mansfield, it was interesting, original (this was a guy coming from America to England, instead of a hoyden from a England's country side, to be debuted in the London society), and it was funny with comparison of the two cultures; The writing was smooth, dialog witty, and feelings believable; Even the second and third characters were interesting and likable.Although, I'd like to see Ms. Mansfield gradually lighten Anne's quick temperament and stubbornness so that it wouldn't be too abrupt at the end, and also gave Anne some credit for Jason's affection.

I must also put in a word about the book cover--this edition was published in 1980 by Berkley Book, and I love the cover picture so much--It was a beautifully-dressed lady standing beside a man in a garden, who was dressed more like a Western, cow-boyish gentleman; the two characters' facial and body language sent out a perfect scenario of the book (not exactly at the location appeared in the plot, but the idea and essence was there); Definitely a refreshing change from current steaming romance novels.This is definately a classier outfit for the classy Regency romance plot.Two Thumbs Up! ... Read more

Product Description
Another thrilling adventure from Paul White based in Mvumi hospital, Tanzania. Yet again the Jungle Doctor has a battle to fight while trying to save people’s lives. Infections and disease are defeated with medicine and good hygiene but Nje – the Witchdoctor cooks the stings of Scorpions in his evil potions. Instead of bringing health and joy to his patients he brings sickness, fear and even death. However the time comes when the Witchdoctor urgently needs the help of the Jungle Doctor himself. Nje’s life depends on it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Bloody April and Plum Jam
Derek Robinson has cornered the market in military aviation novels, and according to the critics quoted on the covers of his books he is much, much more than that, somewhere between Joseph Heller and Eric Maria Remarque on the scale of military fiction. His books are scathingly funny, but they are not satires; they are well-researched and brutally realistic, but they are not somber meditations on the futility of modern war; they have action, yet they are not thrillers.

HORNET'S STING is one of his best, right up there with PIECE OF CAKE and WAR STORY. Many characters from the earlier books reappear, and as usual Mr Robinson is absolutely ruthless in his treatment of them. He knows the first rule of realistic storytelling: never place the well-being of your characters above the requirements of the plot. By the time HORNET'S STING is only halfway through, half the characters will be dead; that's just the way it was on the Western Front in 1917, when a young pilot's life expectency in the air was about twenty minutes.

There is a large cast of characters occupying Hornet Squadron. Among the more colorful are Major Cleve-Cutler the commanding officer, who regularly brews vats of homemade liquor for his pilots - the Hornet's Sting of the title; Sergeant Lacey, the eloquent pacifist clerk who runs a black market with dead pilots' cheque-books; MacKenzie, a dashing and photogenic novice pilot determined to enjoy his war; and Woolley, the jaded veteran of the earlier GOSHAWK SQUADRON. Only a few of them make it out alive.

In the end, the plot hinges on plum jam, specifically, two hundred pounds of it that have gone missing, and which the British Army wants back. Young men die in horrifying numbers, both in the trenches at Ypres and in the air, new aeroplanes and tactics are proved dangerously risky, and a Russian duke messily dispatches his would-be assassins, but what really causes trouble is that missing consignment of plum jam. The real villain in the story is not the German army, but the mindless bureaucracy that is keeping the war alive despite the efforts of everyone involved in it.

Great book, ridiculous price!!!
With "Hornet's Sting" Derek Robinson has again pulled it off. He's written a very fine book, which is exciting and hugely entertaining. Robinson knows his RFC: the men, the planes, the tactics and the strategies, and of course the dreaded adversary: the hun. He also knows his WW I: the allied infighting, the emerging importance of spin, as we would call it now: the use of propaganda and of other means for keeping up of morale at home as well as at the front. For in 1917 the allies did have a serious morale problem: the French army mutinied, after three years of horrible slaughter and the Russians backed out of the war, after having poisoned, stabbed, shot and drowned Rasputin and then deposed the tsar. The British also had to contend with rumblings in the ranks and in the population too: the strategies of generals Sir Douglas Haig and Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett (At ease, Blackadder...) cost too many lives.
Highly recommended,just as his other WW I and WW II books. IF only it would be reprinted. I read a copy of a mate of mine, but I'd like to have one myself. No problem, via Amazon, so I'm told, I can buy a used copy for $ 168,00!!!!!!! Yes, you did read correctly: ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY- EIGHT UNITED STATES DOLLARS!!!!!! Whoever is proposing offering the book at this price: you must be effing joking, mate!!!. This is scandalous, bloody outrageous racketeering!!!! Please go and stick the book up your tail-end Charlie!!!!

A First Class War Novel
Hornet's Sting, Derek Robinson's second novel in his trilogy on the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, covers the fictional "Hornet Squadron" in the period January-November 1917.This was a very rough period in the war for the British, encompassing the costly battles around Arras and Passchendaele.In Hornet's Sting, the squadron is still commanded by Major Hugh Cleve-Cutler, who took over Hornet Squadron in the previous War Story.Cutler continues his role with considerable aplomb, at one point quipping, "I wish I'd never taken this bloody silly job.The war's all right, but the people are impossible."The squadron is initially equipped with the Sopwith Pup fighters, but gradually converts to the controversial Bristol Fighter, or "Bif."Hornet's Sting is easily as good as the final volume in the trilogy, Goshawk Squadron, and it is also one of Robinson's finest efforts to date.Indeed, Hornet's Sting is one fine war novel.

The first third of the volume focuses heavily on two new members of the squadron, two Russian lieutenants sent to Hornet Squadron to learn combat tactics on the Western Front.Initially, the two officers are barely qualified to fly and the squadron spends considerable effort nurse-maiding these two.Indeed, the British chain of command orders Major Cutler to "help" the senior Russian to become an "ace," an achievement of which he is clearly incapable.Robinson's insertion of these Russian characters is actually quite interesting in depicting the changes brought on inter-Allied relations by the Russian Revolution.Eventually, in a complete reversal, Cutler is ordered to stop protecting the Russians in combat and let nature and von Richtofen) takes its course.

Throughout his novels, Robinson displays a real gift for character development that is lacking in so many other books.The readers may not like all the characters - indeed there is always at least one malignant personality in evidence - but Robinson will make even his best characters as true-to-life as possible.The squadron adjutant (Captain Brazier) and squadron clerk (Sergeant Lacey) are still in place from the previous novel, and while they are certainly not likeable, they do enliven Hornet's Sting with their unique viewpoints.At one point, Brazier fondly recalls, "I suppressed a riot once [in India].At the market place in Peshawar.And a very splendid suppression it was."On the other hand, Sergeant Lacey, who spends all his effort avoiding combat and enriching himself with petty thievery, is fully involved in the "case of the missing jam" - noting that, "the army can afford to lose millions of men, year after year.But not a few cases of strawberry jam.Jam matters."Lieutenant Paxton also returns from War Story - although he is much matured - and Robinson introduces the seemingly immortal Captain Stanley Woolley, who figures so prominently in Goshawk Squadron.

The middle third of the novel focuses heavily on the combat debut of the Bristol fighter.This aircraft, initially designed as a bomber or reconnaissance aircraft then turned into a fighter, was presented by the British High Command as giving the RFC a technological edge over their German opponents.Hornet Squadron is presented with six of the new fighters and trains intensively on them for several weeks.Unfortunately, the first combat action for the Bristol fighter was a disaster, with five of six shot down or crashed (Robinson based this on an actual incident).The affect of this disaster on the squadron is appalling and several of the "old hands" begin to deteriorate mentally when they realize how heavily the odds are stacked against them.Eventually, the "Bif" turned out to be a pretty good fighter, but the initial tactical doctrine was faulty - which shows how poor tactics can devalue a weapon system.Robinson makes his best points here about aviation doctrine in the First World War in this middle section of the book, particularly about the frightful wastefulness of the "deep offensive patrols" that squandered the lives of partly trained pilots.Robinson presents an RFC Commander - Trenchard - who prefers quantity (meaning many partly-trained pilots) over quality (taking the time to train them fully, but meaning fewer squadrons).

The final third of the book focuses on the Third Battle of Ypres and the relentless pressure placed on the squadron to support the ground troops.Both Paxton and a newcomer, the despised Mackenzie, figure prominently in this final act.Paxton crashes behind enemy lines and has considerable adventures.Mackenzie, a photogenic but bullying egomaniac, is seized upon by two American filmmakers as an excellent vehicle for presenting the glorious side of the war to the American public.Once again, Cutler is ordered to assist in the "manufacture of an ace" for public relations purposes.This final third of the volume starts to bog down a bit in subplots that have little to do with the squadron, and one senses Robinson running out of steam just as the Battle of Passchendaele is winding down.My only criticisms - and they are minor ones - are that Robinson sometimes gets carried away with minor subplots that go nowhere and that his female characters are universally annoying and detract from the characters to which they attach themselves.Indeed, Robinson always presents his female characters as overly sexually compliant (which is certainly an aviator stereotype of women) and emotionally troublesome.In Cleve-Cutler's case, his liaison with a one-legged aristocratic whore is so absurd that Robinson only compounds it by introducing a ménage a trois with an AWOL lieutenant (it's hard to believe that a straight-laced officer like Cutler would knowingly put up with an officer deserter for one second).Please, Derek Robinson, stick to aviation that you do so well and leave romance novels to other folks.Despite these distractions, Hornet's Sting is a first class war novel.

A fitting sequel to the initial work of art
I bought this after devouring Goshawk Squadron, A Piece of Cake & A Good Clean Fight.I was not disappointed and found myself hungering for more.

For any reader that desires a more realistic look at the air war of WW1 without being depressed into near suicide with the sheer futility of the actions of the whole scene, this is the book to read.

I would suggest reading Goshawk Squadron first, if only for the additional backgound.Having said that im quite confident that I would not have enjoyed this wonderful piece of work any less had this been the first of Derek Robinson's books that I picked up...

Too much like his other books, and a little stale...
Derek Robinson is a specialist in the ensemble-cast-fighter-squadron-every-one-dies-by-the-end novel.The basic plot of this genre can be summed up very simply: During a lull in the fighting, we are introduced to the individual members of a fighter squadron, with all of their quirks, conflict, and so on. A big push begins, the fighting becomes intense, and many of these characters die.Replacements come, we get to know them, and some of them die as well.One character always goes insane.At least one character falls in love (this character usually dies).At least one character survives, becoming stronger, but more cynical.The book generally ends at the height of the battle.

His best book of this type was "Piece of Cake," (set during the first twelve months of World War Two, and culminating in the Battle of Britain), which had wonderful character development and great action sequences."War Story," which involves some of the same characters as "Hornet's Sting," was also very good.Well, the action sequences of "Hornet's Sting" are terrific, but I found the character development weak this time.It feels as though Robinson is simply rehashing the old formula, and that formula appears to be going stale.

Robinson's historical research is quite good, although it always irks me that he insists on calling the squadron "Hornet Squadron."The British were never much given to painting their aircraft in the First World War, and they certainly never gave their squadrons colorful names.Numbers tended to suffice.

Other than that, it's a quick and very entertaining read.But for my money, I would stick with "Piece of Cake" and "War Story."The material is simply fresher, and better. ... Read more

Product Description
It’s with mixed motives that Karen Slocombe’s cousin Penn pays her a visit one summer Sunday. Not only does Penn want to renew contact with a relative not seen since childhood, but she is also looking for help with the disappearance of Justine, another cousin. Drew Slocombe’s reputation for unraveling such mysteries is widespread and Penn hopes he and Karen can be of assistance. Justine’s mother, Roman Millan, an avid beekeeper, claims to be unconcerned at her daughter’s disappearance. Roma’s husband, Laurie, however, believes otherwise, although he is not aware of the tangle of family secrets that led to a five-year estrangement between Roma and Justine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

superb mystery
Drew Slocombe is an undertaker who does natural burials behind his house which is situated on ten acres of land.He also has a local and national reputation as an amateur sleuth because he solved some murder investigations.Perhaps that is why his wife's cousin Penn comes to him when her cousin Justine Pereira turns up missing.Justine is living on Penn and Sheena's farm baby sitting their daughter Georgia in exchange for reduced rent and a barn to do her pottery.

Justine was supposed to meet Pen for lunch but never showed up and her search of Justine's house made her think that Justine left in a hurry.Pen becomes interested in the case and with his work assistant Maggs Beacon searches the house and finds enough evidence to report Justine's disappearance to Detective Sargent Pen Cooper.The plot thickens when Justine shows up at her mother Roma's house saying Pen kidnapped her and the body of Georgia is found in a ditch on the Renton farm.Penn disappears leaving everyone to wonder what was really going on at the Renton farm.

The protagonists from Rebecca Tope's two series come together in THE STING OF DEATH to solve a crime that leaves the policeman and the undertaker totally confused.The Rentons are a strange couple with Sheena believing her daughter was at her mother in law's house and Phillip saying he had an affair with Justine who took Georgia with her when she went camping.They are very neglectful parents but the police cast their suspicions until mother Roma comes up with a brilliant way of getting at the truth.This is one of the best mysteries Ms. Tope has ever written.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
Go into the private life of one of the greatest musicians of all times

This autobiography is one more chapter in the life of one of rock’s megastars. From the beginning pages, it is certain that this is a serious work, a painful, sincere and intense self-exploration. Sting relates details of his family life, his first years of school, the routes in which he accompanied his father to deliver milk at daybreak and even episodes that marked him for life, like finding his mother in an adulterous situation. Thus, with an admirable pace and very far from the brightness, glamour and the arrogance that many stars approach when writing about their own lives, Sting takes us through his life from childhood and adolescence and stops when he exits the group "The Police", at approximately 25 years of age.

"I had no interest in writing a traditional autobiographical recitation of everything that's ever happened to me. Instead, I found myself drawn to exploring specific moments, certain people and relationships, and particular events which still resonate powerfully for me as I try to understand the child I was, and the man I became." -Sting

Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, was born in England in 1951. He was a Spanish professor and in his beginnings played in a jazz orchestra. He founded the famous group "The Police" with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers with whom he made an extraordinary career. He has ventured into films in movies like Quadrophenia, Radio On and Dune. As a solo artist he has recorded The Dream of the Blue Turtles, Bring On the Night and Nothing Like to Sun. His social preoccupations moved him to write songs against Latin American dictatorships and the wish for solidarity between the people and countries of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Brilliant Book about a Brilliant Man!
I could not put the book down.A definate must read for Fans! But great reading even if you're not.I enjoyed every bit of it.You must read for yourself. I can't do it justice.Brilliantly written!

Review of Sting's Broken Music
The Police (and Sting) have been sitting in my top ten bands for some time now, and so I was keen to read Sting's story, maybe hoping to find some of the inspiration and meaning behind some of his songs. Some of his songs are explained I guess, and it does tell of how the Police were formed etc. I found it to be a little slow going at the start and again in other places, but it's still worth a read for Sting and Police fans definately. He also doesn't come off too arrogant I reckon, which many people accuse him of. Basically tells his life story up to the mid twenties, which includes being a teacher, a husband, father, son, teenager up to no good etc. ... Read more

Product Description
The fourth in the brilliant Art & Poetry series of books, "Shape of My Heart" marries the haunting lyrics of pop icon Sting with the mesmerizing images of Pablo Picasso to create the perfect gift of love. 25 color images.Amazon.com Review
"I know that the spades are swords of a soldier / I know thatthe clubs are weapons of war / I know that diamonds mean money forthis art / But that's not the shape of my heart." So goes the chorusof Shape of My Heart, lyrics composed and sung by GrammyAward-winning songwriter Sting. In this lovely, oversized book,Sting's words are spread across the pages and complemented withpaintings by the visionary artist Pablo Picasso. This treatment allowsfor a leisurely and thoughtful contemplation of both the poetry andthe artwork, as the words and images play with and against each other,sparking readers' imaginations. The combination is an evocative andpowerful one, perhaps because both artists are known for opening mindsand hearts--shedding fresh, revealing light on what we thought wealready understood completely. --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sting Poetry and Picasso Art
What a great blend of poetry and art.I loved both and will have on my coffee table for many years to come.

For the beginners...
It is clear that Sting loves Picasso's Art but this book is not but a small step in the very long path trought the human heart that the two atrists shared in so many points.
Just a blink: a little thing that doesn't show the glory of Sting and Picasso. Quite an artificial mirror.
Let's continue searching, we will find a much greater treasure.

Creative Collaboration
Okay, so Sting and Picasso didn't really collaborate together on this, but the combination of Sting's lovely lyrics and Picasso's abstract art results in an absolute treasure of a book.This beautiful book is a wonderful way to appreciate (or be introduced to) the work of two diverse artists.In this context, Sting's lyrics really demonstrate their worth as poetry.

Parents beware, however, that some of the art work contains some of Picasso's dark images and some nudity.It may not be something you leave on the coffee table, though it is a beautiful book.

The Art and Poetry Series is a great idea, well executed.I recommend picking up other titles in the series.

Passionate and moving
I bought this book for a friend of mine. It was a perfect mix of art and words. The Picasso's are perfect for the lyrics. I have a few of these books and they are nice for any art lvoer's collection.

He doesn't play for respect,
he plays for us all. Sting's song is a haunting, beautifully composed melody from one of the most intelligent song-writers of contemporary times; beautifully if not always ideally complemented by Picasso's artwork. Themarriage of poetry and art was slightly more successful in the case ofMatisse and Leonard Cohen (Dance Me To The End of Love), and in the case ofCummings and Chagall (May I Feel? Said He), but it is still of a very highstandard. Had I not already experienced the other two books, I wouldcertainly have believed that this was the best of its type. The layout andfont is as always, perfectly chosen, and the book is a great pleasure tolook at, like all the books in this series. It is a must-buy by anystandard, anyhow!A friend tells me that this is the song played in thefilm "Leon", so there's a film which I must watch in the future!I hope that everyone who enjoyed this book goes on to find the rest of thebooks in this sequence, and discovers what a really good combination ofwords and images can be like. ... Read more