How Audiobooks Can Change The Way You Experience Literature

Audiobooks are CDs or even MP3s that permit users to listen to spoken word recordings of their favorite novels. At one time these were most commonly known as books on tape. It just does not make sense to call them that now that they can be played from an iPod or through a disc player. Though this type of media has always been popular in academic settings for people of all ages, it is now becoming a common type of "reading" for all variety of literature and all settings.

Audio books come in a few different formats. You can select the unabridged version or the abridged version. When a book is abridged it has been made shorter to make it a briefer read, and audio books are like this to shorten the recordings. Not everyone loves the abridged versions since they enjoy the story in its original glory and strength. Some say that the abridged story isn't missing much at all in terms of presenting all the major aspects of the story in proper detail.

Unabridged audiobooks are definitely the best choice among true fans of literature. These are full readings of the original text. Nothing is taken out of an unabridged version, so there is no argument about the necessity of removing details from a novel. The only real downside to unabridged audio books is the occasional extra recording costs. However, if you want to listen to the most accurate depiction of a book that is available in spoken word, then this is the route you need to take. Which version you are getting is generally displayed clearly on the front of the package.

Millions of literature lovers and casual readers alike have turned to this form of novel. It is especially popular with those who travel a lot as well as readers who may have weak eyes from age. Nearly all popular books are marketed this way now. Libraries, bookstores, music shops, as well as other retailers offer audio versions of your favorites. The newest way to get your audio books is by downloading them from the internet. Now you can upload a spoken word text directly to your MP3 player for easy access, no matter where you are.

Audiobooks are a fantastic option for busy readers who want access to their favorite pastime without having to sacrifice other parts of their life. Listen to your favorite tales from anywhere you are at anytime you choose. No matter how you decide to listen, everyone loves to be read to.

An Introduction to Downloadable Audio Books

An audio book is a recording of a reading of a text. This recording may be the full text (unabridged) or of an abridgment of a book, meaning the publisher has taken away parts of the text to shorten the recording.

Audio books are not new, rather they can be traced as far back as 1933 when J. P. Harrington started recording oral histories of Native American tribes. In the late 1970s they began to be distributed on cassette tapes. CD technology increased their popularity by making them more convenient and offering a cleaner and crisper sound. Technology has undergone another change in recent years with the advent of downloadable audio books.

Downloading and listening to audio books is a straight-forward process. In most cases, it is as simple as finding the one you want and then clicking your mouse to commence the download. Once it has finished downloading, you can then transfer it to a MP3 player, personal digital assistant (PDA) or smartphone for listening on the go. Or, you can transfer (i.e. "burn") the content to an audio CD or simply listen on your computer.

Surveys of listeners have found the most popular place to listen to books is in the car. Titles can be played on your car stereo system with CDs or by connecting your listening device (e.g. iPod) to the stereo via a FM transmitter or the AUX input.

The quality of audio available for download online can vary. When searching online look at the bit rate as it is the best pragmatic measure of quality. Put simply, the higher the bit rate, the higher the quality. Audio encoded at 32 kbp is usually more than good enough. Encoding at 64 kbps is more crisp and clear, but you need to consider the hard drive space and capacity on your listening device.

One issue to consider is Digital Rights Management (DRM). Audible and iTunes, the two largest online retailers, sell DRM-protected audio books which means the titles are embedded with usage limitations. If you dislike DRM and want more DRM-free content made available the best thing you can do is support companies that sell DRM-free media such as eMusic and We Read 4 You.

If you're interested in trying audio books, a good place to start is a free site such as BooksShouldBeFree.com or a large retailer such as Audible.com which offers a free trial.

To read more about this topic visit Audio Book Downloads, a blog which can has a simple mission: to help you find the very best downloadable audio books available on the internet.

The Bestselling Authors of the 1950's

People love to read books by best-selling authors. Once an author makes it onto the top selling list it seems that they will make it on the list at least once again. Just who are the authors who made it onto the annual Top Ten Hardcover Book List for the 1950's?

Using the Top Ten Books of each year in the 1950's as calculated by Publisher's Weekly, here are the authors who made it onto the list more than once.

Francis Parkinson Keyes was at the top of the Best Selling List more than any other author in the 1950's. Her first book on the list was Joy Street in 1950. Her other books on the list were Steamboat Gothic (1952, The Royal Box (1954), Blue Camelia (1957), and Victorine (1958).

What is fascinating about Keyes (rhymes with skies) is that she published at least 60 books starting with The Old Gray Homestead in 1919. Her historical novels gradually showed her increasing interest in the Roman Catholic religion. Keyes husband was a former Governor of New Hampshire and served in the US Senate for 25 years of their married life.

She published 10 other books during the 1950's that did not make it onto the Top Ten List for that year. One of the reasons that she might have been on the best-selling list so many times is that she may have been the author who wrote the most books!

Daphne du Maurier had 3 books that showed up on the Top Ten Best selling List of the 1950's. In 1952 My Cousin Rachel was a best-selling book that was later made into a movie and a serial TV movie. In 1954 Mary Anne was on the top of the charts followed by The Scapegoat in 1957. The Scapegoat was also made into a movie.

Daphne wrote over 25 other books and had 3 other books published during the 50's, all of those books being collections of short stories. Her first book was published in 1931 and her last one was published in 1980.

Edna Ferber had 2 books on the list, and both books were made into block buster movies. Giant (1952) was made into movie starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. This was the movie that James Dean was filming when he died. Ice Palace (1958) was credited for helping Alaska achieve statehood.

Ferber wrote at least 32 books including several that were made into musicals. Giant and Ice Palace were 2 of the last 3 books that she published.

Francoise Sagan was a French author who wrote her first book, Bonjour Tristesse (1955) while on a break from school. Her second book followed closely in 1956 with A Certain Smile. Both books were made into movies. Sagan wrote 20 other novels and 3 short story collections. She was also a playwright with 9 plays to her credit.

Frank Yerby had four books on the top-selling list in the 1950's. Only one - The Saracen Blade (1952) - was adapted to film. The others were Floodtides (1950), A Woman Called Fancy (1951), and Benton's Row (1954). Yerby was the first African American to write a best-selling novel and to have a book purchased for screen adaption. He wrote at least 33 novels and had 11 books published in the 1950's.

Herman Wouk wrote one of the books that was on the best-seller list for a long time - The Caine Mutiny (1951). That book was adapted into a highly rated movie starring Humphrey Bogart. His other book that appeared on the top of the list was Marjorie Morningstar in 1954. That book was also adapted and starred Gene Kelley and Natalie Woods.

Wouk is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of over twenty works. He won a Pulitzer Prize for The Caine Mutiny.

John O'Hara has two books on the top list the first being Ten North Frederick (1955) followed by From the Terrace (1958). Both books were adapted to film. Ten North Frederick starred Gary Cooper and From the Terrace starred Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

His writing credits include at least 20 novels, two screenplays, two plays, and several newspaper and magazine columns and articles.

Kay Thompson was a children's author whose books sold enough to make it to the top of the Fiction Best Selling List. Her books are about Eloise, a six-year-old who lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York with her mother and her nanny. Eloise (1956), Eloise in Paris (1957), and Eloise at Christmastime (1958) were all at the top of the list. Eloise at Christmastime has been made into a TV Movie while Eloise in Paris will be released in 2012. Thompson was the godmother of Liza Minelli, and it is said that these books are based on her antics.

Battle Cry (1953) and Exodus (1959) were best selling books for Leon M. Uris. Both books were adapted to film. Battle Cry was based on his experiences during WWII. Uris actually helped write the screen play for the movie that was more popular with viewers than the critics. It is said that Uris sold the movie rights to Exodus so he could foot the bill for his research into the novel.

Mika Walteri is a Finnish writer whose books have been translated into more than 30 languages. The Adventurer (1950) and The Wanderer (1951) were his first two books on the best selling list for the 50's. The Egyptian (1954) was adapted to film and Marlon Brando was considered for the lead. After he turned it down it eventually went to a newcomer.

Patrick Dennis hit comic payday when he wrote the novel Auntie Mame (1955). This successful novel was followed up with Around the World With Auntie Mame in 1958. Patrick Dennis is a pen name for Edward Everett Tanner who based his novel on his own Aunt Marion. The book was adapted and the film starred Rosalind Russel in a hilarious film.

Robert Ruark's novel Something of Value rose to the best-selling list in 1955. This novel is about the Mau Mau rising in colonial Kenya and the movie starred Rock Hudson and Sidney Poiter. In 1959 he also published Poor No More and that was on the top of the book list too. He wrote three other books during the 1950's that were published, but did not make it to the top 10 books of the year.

Taylor Caldwell wrote over 40 novels. Eight of her works were published during the 1950's with two making them to the best-selling list for a year: Never Victorious, Never Defeated (1954) and Dear and Glorious Physician (1959). Dear and Glorious Physician is being adapted to film in 2012.

The Silver Chalice (1952-53), The Tontine (1955), and Below the Salt (1957) were all written by Thomas B. Costain. The Silver Chalice was made into a movie starring Paul Newman. This was his first starring role, and he has since apologized for being in the movie because he felt it was bad.

Find out more about the plots of these books in Books Into Movies

Linda Reavill enjoys writing about movies and books. You can check out other reviews at http://revybaby.hubpages.com/.

Review of Nevada Barr's Burn

Anna Pigeon, a ranger for the National Park Service, is in post-Katrina New Orleans visiting a friend and wondering about one of her friend's tenants. Like any law enforcement official she is never truly on vacation and her curiosity finds her in the middle of an organization that caters to the sickest of criminals, the pedophile. Putting both her relationship with her husband and her job with the park service on the line, she plunges into this ugly world of child abusers.

This is the sixteenth book in the Anna Pigeon mystery series. I often have difficultly with the flow of Barr's writing style and find myself rereading a line to make sure I understand it correctly. At other times she can be almost poetic. However, it is the descriptions of the national park surroundings that are the main draw to her books. Her last attempt at writing about an urban park in Liberty Falling was one of my least favorite of her books in this series, but in New Orleans she has learned to stretch her writing abilities to a new level. My husband commented that he thought Burn was her finest mystery book to date.

Once again Anna is in an urban setting and meets an interesting, wounded character, much like she did in Hard Truth with the wheelchair bound mountaineer. Anna continues to make an effort to come out of her hibernating, nature-loving world and become more involved with other humans. Her observations on humanity are presented in the same way she describes any other animal behavior. I often feel that in her eyes humans, more than any other animal, have the most to account for when it comes to how they treat their own.

Some people may be surprised at the dark nature of the crimes in the book. It is not for the young or for those who like cozies. But in spite of the uncomfortable subject matter, I applaud and appreciate Barr's growing abilities to draw more complex characters, to use more dialogue and to be more descriptive in her language. She still leaves us wanting to know more about Anna and what makes her tick and for all these reasons, I recommend Burn. If you have never read her, you may want to go back to the beginning in Track of the Cat and get better acquainted not only with Anna Pigeon, but with the beauties that lie in our national parks.

Copyright 2011 by Linda K. Murdock, the author of Mystery Lover's Puzzle Book, Crosswords with Clues from Your Favorite Mystery Series. Her book is a mini-anthology that includes reviews of 29 award-winning writers, who do mystery series. A check-off list of all the series' titles, along with a puzzle for each series, are included. See a sample crossword and learn more at http://bellwetherbooks.com

Ex Back System Review

Ex Back System written by Brian Bold and launched on January 01, 2010, is a special-purpose guidebook addressed to dating beginners and aimed at helping them endure post-breakup stage. The book reveals step-by-step strategy of actions meant to get your ex back. The author has built up the Ex Back System plot using four "rehabilitation boxes" - Recession, Reconstruction, Reconnection, and Reconciliation. The newbies are sure to get a thorough and precise instruction set on what should and what should not be done when break up is already an inevitable reality.

Ex Back System reviews the first reaction to the breakup news as a vital point for starting building up your further movements. In order to reach the desired aim you must be strong, steady and reasonable and avoid momentary impulses for which you'll be regretting later. The author doesn't approve of pressing or aggressive behaviour. He is also very convincing in talking you out of the "dumped victim" role. Your moaning is more likely to erase all the chances of ever getting her back. Instead, Bold recommends taking a time out. In a clear and readable style the author explains how to direct your forces into rebuilding the "mistaken" part of yourself and become a better person.

The book also refers to one of the most "popular" reasons of being suddenly told by your girlfriend it's over. What's the decent way to behave when you found your girlfriend dating another man? How to act with no harm to your dignity and self respect? And what are the most effective tools to sweep the rival off your way and win your ex back? Answers to these questions can be found in another chapter of the Ex Back System.

The beginning of the book is very good. The content is comparatively weak closer to the end. However, let's get a clearer idea about cons and pros of this product in a brief Ex Back System review.

THE BAD

The practical part described in the second half is a little bit conservative and out-of-date. Bold offers a long and persistent way of rational negotiations that would result to the reunion with your ex in their positive outcome. This approach is hardly to be practiced widely but still can be useful for those preferring the old style.

THE GOOD

The first half of the book contains excellent advice on what should not be done when encountering a breakup. It clearly explains the techniques of self-improvement you should follow to appear to your ex in a new light and make her re-estimate your relationship.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The first chapters of the book offer a truly good piece of advice. Especially beginners will pick up lots of useful ways to get their ex back in no time. As to the second part, it's a little bit outdated for the followers of modern lifestyle, yet can be appreciated by guys who prefer to surpass sharp angles and choose the longer but safer way.

Have a look at more Ex Back System Review in DatingSkillsReview.com. Read a thorough analysis of all the parts of the book in a detailed Ex Back System editor review.

To walk the right way you must take the right start. Download the Fast Track Manual here and discover how you can succeed with women in months, not years!

100 Years of Solitude: A Book That Brings You 100 Years of Life

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 years of Solitude (Spanish: Cien años de soledad) is a very complex book. This is actually what makes the book really interesting for us to read. The complexity lays on the various problems it describes, the time of the story that lasts from 1st until 7th generation, the various conflicts of feeling, the magical realness that makes us wonder if the story is about magic or reality, the unpredictability of the story, and the puzzle that only can be answered at the very end of the story.

This novel, whose writer won Nobel Prize in 1982, is exactly wonderful. It consists of both tragedy and comedy that make you laugh in one page and cry in another. In one way many plots and scenes are really real, but if you think about them deeply, it will feel weird and impossible. The most entertaining about this book is that it has many never-ending, surprising weirdness such as the ascending of Remedios, blood that can move miles and become somewhat 'warning' of someone's death, and a man that is followed by butterflies everywhere he goes.

100 years of solitude is an epic story which tells us about the founding of Macondo by Jose Arcadio Buendia, his wife Ursula Iguaran, and other 19 families. Macondo lies in the great swaps surrounded by mountains and coasts. At the beginning of the story, Macondo is a very happy village, like what Gabriel describes, "it was a truly happy village where no one was over 30 years of age and where no one has died".

As time goes by, many things happen--tragedy and comedy, laugh and cry, birth and death. The story begins from the 1st generation of the Buendias, Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula Iguaran; through the 2nd generation, Jose Arcadio, Col. Aureliano Buendia, and Amaranta; through the 3rd generation, Arcadio, Aureliano Jose, and 17 Aurelianos; through the 4th generation, Remedios The Beauty, the twins Aureliano Segundo and Jose Arcadio Segundo; through the 5th generation, Jose Arcadio (II), Renata Remedios (Meme), and Amaranta Ursula; through the 6th generation, Aureliano Babilonia (Aureliano (II)), until the final, Aureliano (III) as the 7th generation.

In more than 100 years, the people of Macondo have witnessed many huge happenings, starting from the arrival of gypsies (one of whom is Melquiades, a person who finally becomes the friend of the Buendias), the civil war commanded by Col. Aureliano Buendia, the arrival of the gringos who build banana company, the arrival of railroad, telephone, and electricity, the arrival of unexpected plagues and natural calamities, until the last, the 'taifoon' which brings an end to the village that lives in solitude for 100 years.

In Columbia, where the story takes place, machismo or excessive masculinity plays a great role in the society. Machismo has made some discrimination towards women. According to Leyson (2001), machismo gives great value on female virginity. Other repressions towards women, especially for sex liberation, are Western culture and Christianity (Roman Chatolic). Gabriel shows in his novel how machismo has held the society very strongly, especially in ideology towards virginity of women as the assessment of moral value. He tries to break the ideology by giving 'sexual liberation' to women.

Here, sexual liberation seems to be the symbol of freedom. The sexual strength of Pilar Ternera also symbolizes the power of women. This novel, not like any other epic stories, has a woman, a very progressive woman, as the hero. And her name is Ursula Iguaran. Maybe Gabriel is a feminist, I do not know. But still, however free women are in expressing their sexual desire; they are still the ones who get bad effect of this. Col. Aureliano Buendia who has 17 children with 17 one-night-stand women is never considered a bad guy or a whore, while Pilar Ternera who sleep with guys is called a bitch.

I read this book a couple of months ago and since I opened the 1st page, I could not stop until I read the last line of the story. One sentence that I like and I think is unforgettable from the story is 'The 1st in line is tied to a tree and the last is being eaten by ants'. The sentence is simple but magical, I think. One thing that I realized very late is that Gabriel Garcia Marquez is also one of the names of minor characters in the novel. Talking about my most favorite character, of course it is Melquiades. Subjectively, it is because he ever goes to one place in Indonesia (If you want to know, just read the book by yourself). Also, he is such a key of the story, the missing piece of a very huge puzzle of life. I just can give you one suggestion: read this book and spend your one-hundred-year life to finish it!

'How to Train Your Dragon' Characters - Differences Between the Movie and the Books

"How to Train Your Dragon" the movie is a completely different beast to the series of books of the same name. In fact, with a few name changes they would be almost unrecognisable as related. The plots are substantially different, though the movie could possibly operate as a much earlier prequel to the books if the names were changed.

There are characters who appear in the movie but not in the books vice versa. There are also characters who are substantially different in the movie to their original incarnations.

Characters who appear for the first time in the movie

Astrid Hofferson is Hiccup's love interest and primary sidekick. She essentially replaces both Camicazi and Fishlegs from the books, although Fishlegs does appear in the movie.

Ruffnut is Tuffnut's fraternal twin and provides the welcome addition of another female character in the movie. Initially she is not fond of Hiccup, but as his skills improve she becomes quite a fan and even begins to flirt with him, until Astrid stops her.

Important characters who appear in the books but not the movies

There are actually a lot of characters who only appear in the books, as you would expect given there are several books and only one movie. Some of the important ones are:

Camicazi is a Bog Burgler and doesn't appear until the third book, How to Speak Dragonese, when she is captured along with Hiccup and Fishlegs by the Romans, and helps Hiccup engineer the final part of their escape. She then becomes Hiccups's main helpmate in the fourth book, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, as Fishlegs is at home sick. She is replaced by Astrid as the main female character in the movie.

Dogs Breath the Duhbrain is Snotlout's main offsider in the books but doesn't appear in the movie.

Characters who are changed for the movie

Fishlegs is hiccups best friend in the books. He is weedy and asthmatic and just as unpopular with the bigger boys as Hiccup. In the movie he is chubbier and bigger than Hiccup and is accepted okay by the other teenagers. He is just a minor character, effectively replaced by Astrid as Hiccups's main offsider.

Toothless is Hiccup's hunting dragon in the books, which means he would not be big enough to ride even if he were full size. As it is he is the smallest hunting dragon anyone has ever seen. He is an emerald green Garden Dragon (as in 'garden variety'). In the movie he is the rare Night Fury, a jet black dragon who is big enough to carry Hiccup and Astrid together on his back while flying.

Teach Yourself How To Make Sophisticated Wire Art Jewelry

If you've been looking to increase your wire wrapping skills as of late, Weave, Wrap Coil by Jodi Bombadier is the right book for you. This book, Creating Artisan Jewelry: Weave, Wrap, Coil will surely offer an element of sophistication and grace to any wire wrapper's jewelry. The author can also help teach you how to do simple wire weaving, an added and unexpected bonus found in this book.

Jodi starts out explaining her own path into wire wrapping and what factors played a part in her draw to wire jewelry. After reading the next section, Fundamentals of Wire, you'll be able to move onto the books' projects easily. Next, Jodi explains the very few simple tools you'll need to get yourself started making wire jewelry. If you want to learn how to weave wire, the Techniques section will provide you with five simple and easy weaving patterns to choose from. For anyone wanting to enhance their wire working skills, this section is a real bonus to have included.

Next is where the book starts to get into its' actual projects. Almost anyone could find a project here to match and/or stretch their own skill levels. The beginner projects total nine and has three earrings, one pendant, two rings, two bracelets and a basket weave cuff included. This cuff is particularly appealing. While a simple project, it's gracefully designed and quite elegant. See the end wires to appreciate her lovely design sense and how beautifully she finishes the ends off.

Nine more interesting (and some challenging) projects can be found in the Intermediate projects section. A diverse, varied selection of projects is located here as well.

A pleasing assortment of advanced projects intended for the more skilled or experienced art wire jeweler is available in the last section of Creating Artisan Jewelry: Weave, Wrap, Coil. There are a total of seven projects in this section: rings, bracelets, pendants and one cuff. If you've ever wanted to learn simple ways to weave wire, you'll be pleased to find those projects included here, too.

Weave, Wrap, Coil: Creating Artisan Jewelry by Jodi Bombadier is an impressive book with its twenty-five projects for all levels of skill and interest. You'll find many of the book's projects having twenty or more step-by-step instructions and you'll also find that there are very detailed illustrations in this book. The layout of the book is quite well done in addition. Adding to the fact that this book has numerous excellent projects, Jodi adds her beautiful, elegant and sophisticated design sensibilities to a craft that often lacks exactly that. This is a very nicely done book indeed.

Lisa Van Herik is an art jeweler and author of Make Wire Beads and Fiberwire Beads and Jewelry. She maintains two websites: http://www.beadifferent.com/ where you can join the mailing list to receive free wire jewelry tutorials, and www.bestwirejewelrymakingbooks.weebly.com where you can find more great jewelery making book reviews.

E-Books and Printed Books, Which Are Better?

A new paper book weighs a ton; actually, if it's successful, it weighs a good deal more than that. I checked it out with a novel; at 396 grams, if that book sells 1,000,000 copies, it weighs 436.5 tons without any packaging.

These days, books are marketed worldwide, if you are involved in it, believe me, even sending out review copies, you notice the postage cost! Now that you have noticed it, I need say no more about the energy cost and green issues, without even mentioning printing or redistribution and storage.

Last year my wife and I finally took action over the piles of books lurking in practically every room of the house. No matter how many bookcases you buy it seems they are never enough; this time we went for the 'nuclear' option, we had an entire wall of a study area lined with bookshelves. The building of this was a little short of the stuff of divorce; where we live, not only would reliable cabinet makers charge more than storage could justify, but they are pretty much unavailable. After redesigning the wall to come within the competence of the help we did have, I must admit, it looks pretty good - would you believe it is already full?

Perhaps, as a private person, you ignore the cost of the books you buy. Just take a moment to calculate all you have spent over the years, it is bound to come to very many thousands of dollars, pounds or any other currency. Believe me, schools, businesses and libraries are well aware of this cost.

So books are an extravagance - but they look nice, there is a pride of possession, think of the private collections you find in great houses. Very well, take a look at the books on the shelves of private collections in great houses. Would you really want to read them? Check for yourself: in England you can see any number of private collections in National Trust properties, the bookcases may be locked, but would you really want to read the average three-volume Victorian novel, or the Army List for 1910, or a book of 'natural history' written in 1840? Forgive the choice of words; books do have a limited shelf-life.

So what is the choice? Actually a very good one. You can read PDF (portable document format) reliably on any computer, even a 'palmtop', there is Sony and Kindle and Apple with their respective formats. These can take indexing and cross-referencing to new dimensions using hyperlinks. You can copy and paste. Ah yes, but these are not 'proper books', with pages you have to turn. For that reason we have e-Book readers, those companies I mentioned obviously see the potential, giving us an object, like a book, but which can display any page you like of more books than you could ever read. You can, quite literally, put a major book collection in your pocket.

As the major corporations do their market research, we will have the feel, the size colour, weight, size of print and appearance of our choice. Better than a book.

Ah yes, but what about the cost of the e-Book reader? How many books would you have to buy to make it cheaper to buy the same books in an 'e' format along with the reader? Depending on the books you buy, that number may be no more than around a dozen.

Having absolutely no connection with the makers of e-Books, but finally having woken up from my habit of a lifetime, I offer these few thoughts, along with the embarrassment that I still own so many physical books I do not know what to do with them.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Pulp Fiction Style

Meet "Fanner Marston" a petty thief who as an adult masters his own craft but goes completely mad! With his vicious greed and slavering lust for power, he alone of 40 men survives a blistering trek through the desert to find the magical city of Parva. Legend has it a great secret awaits that could give him absolute control over the universe. However, the key to all power is not what he expected!

This classic story was written by author L. Ron Hubbard in 1943 in the pulp fiction magazine "Science Fiction Stories. He along with other great writers such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Lester Dent, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and many others, were pioneers in their field in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, far flung adventures and more.

The era of the pulps is unique for at least two reasons; a) it was a time of the great depression where people were very much in need of something that could take them on adventures they would not otherwise experience and b) discoveries in science and physics were expanding at a rapid rate giving the creative minds of writers a whole new genre of fantastic futuristic and wildly colorful characters to entertain their readers with. There was so much new material to work with that the above mentioned writers led the way in how to get the job done influencing future budding writers.

The pulp fiction era that lasted up to the early 1950s produced characters such as "Tarzan of the Apes, the space adventures of Buck Rogers, Conan the Barbarian and the Avengers." When Hollywood was in full swing, these pulp fiction classics were the ideal stories to put up on the big screen immortalizing these characters forever.

Pulp fiction writers who created space stories and characters were a unique breed of writers due to the fact that space travel did not occur until the 1960s. The idea of space travel up until then was there, but it was just that, an idea! It takes a creative mind indeed to develop an entire story with believable characters and situations and completely capture the imagination of the reader. Cosmic adventure at its best!

Fantasy is somewhat of a different animal than science fiction in that science fiction has some element of a believable truth, it is in the realm of possibility where as in fantasy, anything goes. Fantasy can encompass space fiction, but for the most part it has wildly unique characters such as fairies, elves, trolls, swamp creatures and such.

Life today moves at a much faster pace. Many are hard pressed to squeeze reading a book into their busy schedules. For those in that situation, they are in luck! Audio books have been experiencing a rebirth and many of these classic science fiction/fantasy stories are now making its way to back the general public. Whether on a cd, mp3 player or even an ipod, these classic stories are worth experiencing not only for the pulp fiction generation but our newest generation.

Fred Duckworth is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning through audio books on cd collections from http://www.goldenagestories.com. Galaxy Press Publishing, publisher of "The Golden Age Stories" and all genres of pulp fiction stories and novels, offers a convenient subscription service, so you never have to miss an issue. It's a pulp fiction lover's dream!


If you could be anyone who would you be? Would you want to be that person or would you want to be as you are but in the other person's body? This begs an answer from the age old human problem of "is the grass really greener on the other side?"

In the Pulp Fiction fantasy novel "If I Were You" published in 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly, the circus midget Little Tom Little, unhappy about his short stature and being a side show attraction, comes face to face with this issue. When the mysterious and sometimes frightening professor dies Tom is bequeathed his ancient set of books on black magic and discovers the spell the professor assigned to him, the ability to jump from body to body. Tom is bewildered as to why the professor chose him and just as stunned to find out it was because he was the only person who could make fun of him without the fear of retaliation.

With his new found power he wastes no time trying it out, jumping from body to body. His admiration and desire to be like the tall imposing men of stature such as the ringmaster, leads him down a path of unexpected danger when he lands in the body of the big cat trainer. Tom's fear of the large savage cats overwhelms him as he quickly realizes his need for height may lead to a gruesome and untimely death.

"If I Were You," was one of four Pulp Fiction fantasy novels written by New York Times best selling author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 40s. There is a richness and believability to the story with unexpected twist and turns that keep you guessing to the very end. Although Hubbard was well versed in the genre of fantasy, he was equally versed in science fiction, mystery, air and sea adventures and westerns.

Fantasy novels really took root during the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction in the late 1920s where many authors made an indelible mark on the industry such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Lester Dent and L Ron Hubbard, giving readers a much needed respite from the daily rigors of life.

In the Pulp Fiction era, readers would pick up the weekly dime novels and pass them along to family and friends or just throw them out when done. Today we can experience a broader form of story telling with not only novels but e-books, movies and television and audio-books.

Galaxy Press publishing has released the audio-book version of "If I Were You" featuring Nancy Cartwright (yes the voice of Bart Simpson but noticeably different from that character). It also stars Lynsey Bartilson, Corey Burton, Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, Jennifer Darling, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Phil Proctor and Tait Ruppert. This production is packed with music and cinema-quality sound effects, putting you right into the heart of the story. The commute to work can be an adventure indeed!

Hubbard has a keen eye and unique ability to create a kaleidoscope of colorful characters and this book is just a fun read!

Fred Duckworth is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning through audio books on cd collections from http://www.goldenagestories.com. Galaxy Press Publishing, publisher of "The Golden Age Stories" and all genres of pulp fiction stories and novels, offers a convenient subscription service, so you never have to miss an issue. It's a pulp fiction lover's dream!

If I Were You! A Fantasy Story

If you could be anyone who would you be? Would you want to be that person or would you want to be as you are but in the other person's body? This begs an answer from the age old human problem of "is the grass really greener on the other side?"

In the Pulp Fiction fantasy novel "If I Were You" published in 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly, the circus midget Little Tom Little, unhappy about his short stature and being a side show attraction, comes face to face with this issue. When the mysterious and sometimes frightening professor dies Tom is bequeathed his ancient set of books on black magic and discovers the spell the professor assigned to him, the ability to jump from body to body. Tom is bewildered as to why the professor chose him and just as stunned to find out it was because he was the only person who could make fun of him without the fear of retaliation.

With his new found power he wastes no time trying it out, jumping from body to body. His admiration and desire to be like the tall imposing men of stature such as the ringmaster, leads him down a path of unexpected danger when he lands in the body of the big cat trainer. Tom's fear of the large savage cats overwhelms him as he quickly realizes his need for height may lead to a gruesome and untimely death.

"If I Were You," was one of four Pulp Fiction fantasy novels written by New York Times best selling author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 40s. There is a richness and believability to the story with unexpected twist and turns that keep you guessing to the very end. Although Hubbard was well versed in the genre of fantasy, he was equally versed in science fiction, mystery, air and sea adventures and westerns.

Fantasy novels really took root during the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction in the late 1920s where many authors made an indelible mark on the industry such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Lester Dent and L Ron Hubbard, giving readers a much needed respite from the daily rigors of life.

In the Pulp Fiction era, readers would pick up the weekly dime novels and pass them along to family and friends or just throw them out when done. Today we can experience a broader form of story telling with not only novels but e-books, movies and television and audio-books.

Galaxy Press publishing has released the audio-book version of "If I Were You" featuring Nancy Cartwright (yes the voice of Bart Simpson but noticeably different from that character). It also stars Lynsey Bartilson, Corey Burton, Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, Jennifer Darling, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Phil Proctor and Tait Ruppert. This production is packed with music and cinema-quality sound effects, putting you right into the heart of the story. The commute to work can be an adventure indeed!

Hubbard has a keen eye and unique ability to create a kaleidoscope of colorful characters and this book is just a fun read!

Fred Duckworth is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning through audio books on cd collections from http://www.goldenagestories.com. Galaxy Press Publishing, publisher of "The Golden Age Stories" and all genres of pulp fiction stories and novels, offers a convenient subscription service, so you never have to miss an issue. It's a pulp fiction lover's dream!

Review of The Game by Neil Strauss

The tactics found in Neil Strauss' controversial book The Game, it turns out, can be used in every aspect of one's life to enhance it. While there are admittedly many "tricks" that Strauss outlines that are tailored towards mate seduction, many of the core values of the book seem to be seduction on a wider scale. Seduction can be used not only to pick up girls, but to sell yourself in business or control conversations that may be difficult. You can "seduce," so to speak, an interview to go your way by using some of the same tactics found in the book. The same can be said about business meetings as well. In fact, the art of seduction can be used in almost all aspects of life and can open doors that you never thought might be open.

As an example, the book introduces the "3 second rule", in which a pickup artist must approach a girl within 3 seconds of seeing them. Why? Because the longer one waits to approach a girl, the more they allow their internal voice to talk them out of it, particularly if the girl is "out of your league." By forcing yourself to approach a girl within 3 seconds, there is no time to second guess yourself, and you come off as more confident and aggressive. In the same manner, though not approaching girls, you can use the 3 second rule in every aspect of life. By not allowing your internal voice to discourage you from meeting a client or approaching someone for a job, you are not allowing yourself to be less confident. You come off as more confident by default, which is always important to clients and interviewers. You become more of an "alpha male," which is never a bad thing.

Another example is the books insistence in conversation that you hold eye contact. Though a relatively simple rule, you would be surprised at how much a person might avoid keeping eye contact. By maintaining eye contact in casual or business settings, you, once again, come off as more confident and are more likely to be taken seriously.

Though the book is ultimately about seduction and picking up girls, the core of seduction (confidence) can be used in every day life. Though people may find Strauss and his online community sickening, it would be beneficial to give the book a quick read through to see, if nothing else, aspects of seduction you might be able to use in your every day.

Best Astrology Book

When going to an astrologer to have your chart read, one must consider several facts before consulting an astrologer. What kind of system does the astrologer uses, what is his or her qualification and time of practice, and most importantly was the astrologer taught by a guru or are they book read? Why is that it's important for an astrologer to be looking at the 'right' charts? The study of right charts will give the most accurate prediction for the client. There is not just one 'birth chart' in astrology, rather many birth charts for every aspect of life. If you want to know about your career, there is a separate chart from the main birth chart. If you want to know about marriage, there is a separate chart. If you want to know about kids, there is also a separate chart. The main birth chart acts as the receiver of a signal, like television for example.

The Divisional chart, which talk about different aspects of life, act like the signal going into the receiver of the television. What good is a television if the single is not there? These are the questions that are asked and answered in the astrology book: Astrology @ The Speed of Light, by Kapiel Raaj. He not only answers some of the most basic questions of astrology, but he dives into the secrets and the Masonic history of astrology which has been a foundation of not just the eastern side of the world, but has been in the DNA of United States since George Washington Era, who was one of the biggest followers of astrology and numerology, through which he crated 'Freemasons'. This is one astrology book you'll ever need. Inside this book the master of astrology doesn't just go into the ABCD technique of astrology, but by the end of the book, you yourself will be an expert at reading charts of not just your own, but anyone you come across.

Astrology is not just about the sun sign, but it's far more advance and deeper than that. Astrology dives into moon sign, nine planetary signs, aspects, degrees, including 27 constellations that differentiate each person's fate even though they might be born just seconds apart. These are the minuet details that are shown in inside the book. Even when it comes to Numerology name change, the author shows how to change your name, but most importantly how to bring about the energy of the new name so it can break the energy of the old name that has been with you and will continue to be with you for rest of your life, even with the new name in place.

But there are remedies you can perform to bring the positive energy of the new name. There are so many misconceptions on astrology, signs, and meaning that most people just ignore this divine science. The meaning of signs have also changed throughout time, for example: Libra is not a woman holding a balancer, rather, a man holding a balancer while walking in the market as a 'business men', so Libra is not a sign of balance, but a sing of business, or businessmen.

To learn more about Vedic astrology or to get more information on astrology books, visit the author's site. You can also check out astrology @ the speed of light, one of my favorite pick for best astrology book, visit the author's site.

What Do They Reveal In "Banish Tonsil Stones"?

Tonsil stones or tonsilloliths are small calcified formations around the tonsils. They are primarily composed of calcium along with other elements and minerals in smaller proportions. While they are not a health risk per se, they do present a very nasty problem and that is bad breath. Thus it is important to take care of them at the earliest for a confident and pleasant personality. The sooner you banish the tonsil stones, the better the results will be for your personal and social life. An all natural solution is proposed by the Banish Tonsil Stones eBook and I will summarize it below. The eBook outlines the causes of these stones and the methods through which they can be managed.

The stones are composed of debris which accumulates and calcifies over a long period of time. Initially they may be composed of only dead cells and mucus but with time attract other particles like food remains. Over time these collections become calcified into small irregular shaped hard masses. The areas where these stones are formed make a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria secrete chemicals which mix with other substances inside the throat to cause halitosis or bad breath.

These tonsil stones are a nuisance. They can sometimes be removed as easily as expectorating the throat in short bursts. If they are located further inside, a cotton swab dipped in Listerine or hydrogen peroxide can be used to scrap away the formations. Curretage and surgery are other options but these are usually employed when the formations are further down the throat and their occurrence is frequent. It is generally helpful to gargle daily with mild warm water to prevent the formation of these stones. A lot of herbal treatments are professed for tonsilloliths but none has been certified to work on a large majority of patients.

There is no known cause of tonsil stones. Several studies have suggested that adhering to a clean and healthy diet composed of plenty of green vegetables and fruits helps in preventing the recurrence of tonsil stones. Keeping the mouth clean of food remains and preventing frequent nasal problems also helps in keeping the problem at bay.

People use a lot of mints and mouth fresheners to keep the problem of bad breath under wraps when they should try and get rid of the root cause. While other things may make your breath unbearable to people, tonsilloliths is one of the most frequent cause. Considering they are easy to manage than most of the other medical problems, it is interesting to note that few people have any idea that they even have a problem specially due to the fact that these stones do not present any other problems most of the time.

If you are interested in knowing more about how to effectively prevent these stones and to take care of them once and for all, take a look at the Banish Tonsil Stones guide and you will see that using a simple natural approach you can restore your confidence.

Addictive Book Series

Have you ever read a book that left you hungry for the next title in the series? Or anxiously anticipating and counting down to the release of a new title? These are addictive books- books that you simply can't put down once you start reading the first page! What makes a book series so addictive? Here's our two-cents' worth of bestselling book series.

Mind-Blowing Plots

Every bestselling novel must have an exciting and sustainable plot that engages the readers thoroughly throughout the book series. Usually, book titles in a series are based on the same concept but with different emphasis to demonstrate progression in the storyline. For example, The Hunger Games trilogy revolves around a strong plot that has attracted countless readers and received positive critical reviews. Based on a dystopic world with an authoritarian government, children are forced to represent their district as tributes in the Hunger Games, where they fight to survive. As the death toll increases, only one winner will remain. This thrilling concept is truly a perfect start for an excellent plot that attracts readers of all ages.

Has it ended? What's Next?

After faithfully finishing one title, the ending of the novel sometimes is left open-ended with many unanswered questions, leaving room for imagination for the readers to anticipate the next title in the series. In Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter series, Book 3), readers are left wondering what is to happen to Sirius Black after escaping from prison and Harry Potter after learning about the truth behind his parents' deaths. The suspense left off from the 3rd book then creates excitement for the 4th book, which has another open-ended ending that creates more excitement for the 5th book... And the cycle continues.

Characters You Just Can't Part With

In every "addictive" book series, there are often characters that you simply just want to see more of throughout the novel. Take for instance the anguish experienced by fans of the star-crossed Twilight saga lovers Bella and Edward when the pair was torn apart over and over again. Or the sympathy that readers felt for Greg in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid as he struggled with his middle school problems. Growing to love the book's characters, readers then become more motivated to find out more about their favourite characters by reading on in the series.

For Aspiring Novelists...

Bestselling book series usually encompass a perfect mix of characters, plot and quality writing that effectively engages readers in the storyline. It is no wonder why these novels have gathered such a strong fan base for the novels. Aspiring novelists who hope to launch a series one day should certainly consider these points when aiming to write an "addictive" book series that will be popular with readers.

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Is It Possible to Rent Books for The Kindle?

Imagine it's a Sunday afternoon and you're wearing your pajamas, watching TV. Suddenly, you remember about that paper that's due tomorrow morning at 7 a.m., and you haven't even read the book you're supposed to write about. What to do? Your school's already closed and every library in the city won't open till eight in the morning. You need the book, and you need it now. This is where renting books for your Kindle would come in handy.

What an idea: getting easy and fast access to books that you only need (or want) to read once. Your problem gets solved in ten minutes, and your paper should be done before you reach your deadline. The question expressed in the title is an easy one: in fact, at the time it is not possible to rent books for the Kindle.

Nevertheless, the question suggested seeks to answer a much more complicated issue: what would happen if it were, indeed, possible? Taking it to the next level, what if other users had the possibility to loan you their books and charge you for them? This would open a huge gate for virtual transactions without you having to move from your couch. The problem is: who holds the key for this gate? And moreover, could it be closed? Even if this sounds like a great idea and lots of Kindle users would approve right away, how to avoid copyright issues? Or on a more practical level: how much could you charge for lending a book? How much would you pay for renting a book for just a couple of hours? If in regular libraries we have a cute old librarian -probably named Agatha or Eugenia- lending us books and reminding us to bring it back at the end of the week, who would replace her job at a virtual loan? Although it's not an easy task to work out, it's definitely something that Kindle users should think about.

Nevertheless, not everything is pretty and pink. Even if it is a known fact that the world is now trying to be a synonym of "progress" and "development", it's not true that everything is pointing in the same direction. In fact, if today we come up with a way to rent books on Kindle, most likely tomorrow there will be an easier and cheaper way to do it.

Truth be told, the people who have access to any kind of public library is still a majority, in opposition of those who own a Kindle and can buy -let alone rent- books daily. Having this in mind, would it be worth the while creating a superstructure of imaginary books that people may or may not rent in the future? In terms of economy, it's certainly not simple. Anyhow, the idea is not entirely crazy. If we are thinking about this possibility, even with its problems, it's because we imagine it could happen. Even if it's not easy, it is at least conceivable.

What Really Happened In Roswell, New Mexico?

Who hasn't heard of the Roswell crash? I think most people have, unless you're from another planet. If you were from another planet, I think you would know exactly what happened. Many ideas and theories have been circulating, along with an enormous amount of books, most all of which revolve around the theory that a UFO crashed at Roswell that night. Michael Heiser & Nick Redfern don't think a UFO crashed that night. The idea they are putting forth in their books is an alternative as to what happened in Roswell, New Mexico on July the 2nd, 1947. After reading their books on this subject, I just have to let people know there could be another possibility.

The books I am referring to are "The Facade" by Michael S. Heiser and "Body Snatchers in the Desert" by Nick Redfern; both available from Amazon.

I was a little surprised when I first read these different theories in their books, but after doing some extensive research on these possibilities, it begins to make total sense (at least to me).

In their eye opening books, it seems these conclusions can be drawn. Was the Roswell incident a failed "Operation Paperclip" secret op gone terrible wrong? Was it some kind of horrible accident? Was the U.S. really working hand in hand with the Nazi's & the Japanese? Remember, this was only two years after the war had ended. Was there really a saucer that crashed, or was it perhaps a form of the all-wing Ho 2-29 Horton wing, first created by the Horton brothers (Walter and Reimer) in Germany? Or was it one of the many saucer shaped crafts the Germans had been working on. The RAAF (Roswell Army Air Force) had said on the first day there was a "flying saucer" recovered, but the very next day, we are told it was a weather balloon. Could it have been both? We know the Japanese had the Fugo balloon program, in which they were testing high altitude balloons.

What about the "Alien Bodies" that were supposedly recovered? Could they have been just victims of a horrible experiment conducted by the Nazi's & the Japanese? Have you heard of the Japanese" Unit 731"? Michael Heiser has this to say about the unit. "Japan's Unit 731 - One of the more infamous atrocity mills of WW II. Unit 731 was an officially sanctioned and funded bioweapons program / facility headquartered in Harbin, Manchuria. Headed by Shiro Ishii, Unit 731 has become synonymous with human experimentation for those who know of its existence. Experiments on human beings (or "logs" as they were referred to) involving live human vivisection, effects of frostbite, high altitude pressurization exposure to bioweapons, flamethrowers, and explosives were routine. These experiments included U.S. POWs. This Unit was the potential source of the bioweapons to be used for the Fugo balloon project." Wow! Amazing!

It seems they could have been using Asian Mongoloid, or Progeria children, or other misfits, so they could test the effects of the human body when it is exposed to high altitude, freezing temperatures & nuclear radiation without protective suits or oxygen. Have you heard of NEPA? NEPA, which stands for (Nuclear Energy for Propulsion Aircraft) was a program the military was using to develop nuclear energy for aircraft. One of the drawbacks was that in the use of human occupants, they would be exposed to the nuclear radiation, because they had not found sufficient materials to block the radiation. So they had to find some "willing" human occupants to use. There are some documents stating they used inmates in U.S. jails & mental institutions. All of these things Nick Redfern brings out in his book, "Body Snatchers in the Desert."

All of this and more comes to light in these remarkable books. They are well worth the read.

Or do you still believe it was real Aliens? Are they so advanced that they could traverse the universe and maybe even travel through wormholes, dodging asteroids on occasion, and yet the first thing they do when they arrive here on earth is to crash their space ship? Wouldn't you think something seems a bit odd about this? I bet they won't be getting any scouting missions any time soon. (Obviously not, because they are now dead.)

Think for a minute, if you had been a young soldier 18 to 22 years old, asked to get your gear together and head out into the desert to retrieve a crashed UFO. When you got there, what you see is a chaotic scene with bodies lying on the ground next to some kind of craft. What would you think? It's a very dark night, the bodies are mangled, but what you manage to see is a large head on a small body, with very large round eyes, in some kind of strange suit. You might actually think they were Aliens from another planet. Or they could be the aforementioned misfits, Progeria & Mongoloid children.

Once you have read these two books, I think you might come away with another view of what happened on July the 2nd, 1947. I have always believed that the truth is indeed stranger than fiction. I think deep within ourselves, we all want to believe in Aliens from outer space. We want them to come here & help us out of the mess that we've gotten into. I don't think that will happen, at least not in that sense.

Michael Heiser & Nick Redfern don't think an Alien spacecraft crashed in the desert of New Mexico on that fateful day. Neither do I. Something more sinister & closer to home happened. Nick Redfern says in his book the military was doing something they weren't suppose to be doing. They had a bad accident, so they had to find a way to hide what happened. Hence, the military concocted the UFO flying saucer story.

Read their books with an open mind, not a mind already made up, not wanting to be confused by the facts. Have we as Americans been brainwashed by Hollywood into believing Aliens exist and are out to get us? Ever since the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" back in the 50's to modern movies of today, the theme is always the same. What is that theme? Aliens are bad, they want to kill us! Look at "Independence Day", "Skyline", and a host of other Sci-Fi movies. I don't think it even enters into the head of most people, that, (as Eisenhower called them, "The Military Industrial Complex;") they would be so diabolical & sinister as to try and pull something off like that.

Did they? You make up your own mind. I highly recommend these two authors.

The Sari Shop by Rupa Bajwa

Rupa Bajwa's "The Sari Shop" set in the little city of Amritsar captures evocatively, the social atmosphere of small-town India. Her narrative encapsulates the spirit of the sari-shop environment with its spirited, intimate, interaction between shop personnel and regular patrons. In the background, the rustling silk, soft cotton and shiny synthetic saris reach out to us so realistically that we long to hold and caress them in our hands. Apart from that, the unplumbed pathos of Ramchand, an assistant in Sevak Sari Shop, whose world revolves around selling saris to the women customers, deadens our heart with sorrow. Ramchand's life and his isolation in the indifferent world are effortlessly carved out in fine detail. Is it surprising then, we are drawn to empathize with his empty, monotonous existence?

Ramachand's loss of his doting parents at a tender age is very moving. He is forced into menial work by his uncle who grabbed his inheritance. His desire to master English language is noteworthy, as it is rekindled one day, when he is sent to display sarees for the trousseau of a wealthy man's daughter. Suddenly, his life seems to acquire a purpose as he meticulously sets about learning new English words from "Radiant Essays" and "A Complete Writer" assisted by an old Oxford English dictionary. As he reads, he seems to grasp the meaning of his life and the avidity of life around him. It was a sad moment, when he began to understand the pathos of the underdog and the aggression of the conqueror; in this case the one on top of the social hierarchy. The transformation in Ramachand is to make him humane to the hurts of society and the woes of the secondary sex, women. Kamala, the wife of another sari shop assistant Chander, inadvertently opens his eyes to the double standards lived by men in the patriarchal society. At the end of it, Ramachand realizes the futility of trying to turn the system around and instead, finds comfort in lapsing into his routine existence. Our journey is outward with Ramachand, into the stagnant, oppressive social system and inward with him into his suffocating, futile ruminations. I could only throw up my hands in utter despair, at the futility of it all, when nothing materialized. I wished that Ramachand would have persevered.

The characterization in the novel I feel is pertinent to the trivial rivalries that seethe beneath the surface of life lived by petty traders and class-conscious, middle-class wives. The wives of rich industrialists with their empty lives and the educated class with their snobbish intellectualism, is skillfully caricatured. The lives of the lower middle class, their resigned acceptance of poverty, their escape into filmi world and their aspirations to higher things through English speaking jobs, brought a lump into my throat due to the streak of desperation that intertwined hope.

I found wonderfully comical moments in the novel as, when Hari, another shop assistant imitates the portly shop owner or when Ramachand sneaks into the wealthy wedding reception to taste the forty desserts set out on the table or his surprise when he sees all the women customers and the sarees from the shop on them. The laugh aloud moments are, when I took in the spiteful chatter of the ladies on a saree buying spree or observe Ramachand's sensual day dreams revolving around Sudha, the young wife of his landlord or see him ticking off his shop manager in a perfectly structured droll English or view his attempts to combat his smelly feet with lemon juice. It is laughter mixed with pathos, when I glimpsed Rina interviewing Ramachand to exploit his naïve, comical appeal in her debut novel, while Ramachand imagines himself as suave with Rina.

Is it not utter duplicity of the world where law exists for the rich while the poor timidly accept injustice? The brutal rape of Kamala, the involvement of the rich Guptas, the apathy of the educated, articulate and empowered Mrs Sachadeva, the police who pocket the bribe and punish the victim, the anguish of Ramachand who is just a bystander, left a lasting impression on me. Ramachand's new found perception, battles to bring some order into the skewered justice system in the society. His sanity rightfully takes a beating, withdraws into insanity with the intensity of its demoralization and returns to the present deceitful world to maintain its status quo. I honestly salute Ramachand's efforts, even though brief, to challenge the social hierarchical system of rich and poor.

Ramachand's attempts to imbue his life with some imagination and beauty by buying English books and trying to educate himself is very moving. At that particular moment, I recalled the mania of the Indians for the English language and their use of it as a benchmark to judge a person's knowledge and place in community. I believe, the novel is very perceptive in giving a social commentary of the society which reflects the existentialist torment of every human creature. At the same time, there is a fine balance between reality and expectation, as the incongruities of life is deftly woven into the story,

I found the novel darkly humorous as it effortlessly drew me into the lives of the characters as they go about their business of living. I feel, without our volition we can empathize with Kamala or Ramachand or sneer at the hollowness of Rina or Mrs Sachadeva. It may not possible for us to break out of our boundaries or change the world around us but sometimes it is necessary to just try and understand ourselves and our life. The novel definitely does that. Kudos to Bajwa for her sensitive effort...

Geetha Kariappa is a research scholar with her area of interest being "Feminist Criticism." She is actively involved in the field of Education and Softskills as a teacher and a trainer. She loves reading fiction, short stories and books on travel. She has written literary articles for many literary journals.

Women In The Business World

In Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You're Worth, Mika Brzezinski borrows from her experiences as co-host of a morning talk show and interviews a wide range of professional women such as director Nora Ephron, Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, and broadcaster Joy Behar about their experiences in moving up in their careers. Knowing Your Value also blends personal stories with the latest research about women in the workplace. The end result is a brutally honest and witty exploration of the roadblocks and pitfalls that are unique to women. Brzezinsky provides an in-depth look at how professional women achieve recognition and financial success in an unbalanced workforce that often overlooks their worth.

Humanitarian Greg Mortenson chronicles his attempt to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban's backyard in an astonishing and uplifting story, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time. Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer, completed a treacherous climb of Pakistan's K2 and became inspired when he encountered impoverished mountain villagers. He promised to build them a school and over the course of the next ten years he stood by his promise and built fifty-five schools, providing balanced education especially for girls in one of the most dangerous and isolated regions in the world.

How to Shop for Free: Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing is the perfect book for women who love to shop smart by spending less and getting more. Famous for her shopping tips featured in the Boston Globe, Kathy Spencer shows women how to find the best savings, combine them with in-store promotions and store credit to get almost anything for free. Spencer guides readers through popular stores such as Target, Kohls, and Walgreens and explains the best ways to maximize savings. This smart and sassy book will have you literally shopping for free!

Any woman who has her sights set on getting ahead in the corporate world should read Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers by Lois P. Frankel, PhD. Frankel reveals why some women soar ahead in their careers while other women fail to move forward at all. She lists 101 behaviors that women learn as young girls that sabotage their careers as adults. In this guide, she helps women eliminate such unconscious mistakes and offers valuable tips that can be seamlessly incorporated into social and business skills. Frankel posits that once these behaviors are taken care of, a powerful woman will emerge-one who is likely to occupy the corner office.

Renowned financial advisor David Bach has shown women of all ages how to take control of their financial future after they read Smart Women Finish Rich. Bach guides you through a nine-step program that provides you with the tools to spend wisely, establish security, and align money with your values. Whether you're working with a large inheritance or a couple dollars a week, this book will provide valuable information about long-term investments, tips on teaching your children about money, and new ways to attract greater wealth in your life.

Unabridged Vs Abridged Audio Books - Which Would You Prefer?

Audio books come in two distinct forms - unabridged and abridged. To put it in simple words, unabridged audio books are basically complete recorded versions of the original novel, whereas abridged audio books consist of only the most important parts of the book.

In unabridged audio books, the narrator reads out every single word from the original novel. As it is a complete novel, it is obviously pretty lengthy. These audio novels are intended for people who wish to listen to every single word of the book and have time and patience to sit around and listen to it. As we all know, listening to so many spoken pages would take up a lot of time, which is why reading unabridged audio novels is rather time-consuming. If you are the sort of person who scans through books, rest-assured that unabridged audio novels are not meant for you.

Abridged audio books on the other hand merely consist of the most noteworthy parts of the novel. What this means is that descriptions, subplots and wordy scenes are all left out and only the main plot of the book is recorded. Obviously, you do not need as much time to listen to abridged audio novels.

Costs of unabridged and abridged audio titles

Unabridged audio titles are a little expensive in the CD form as quite a few disks are required to record them. Obviously, if you order these over the internet, you would additionally need to pay the mailing costs. The production cost involved in the production of unabridged audio novels is higher too because the narrator needs to be paid more as s/he has to speak more in the recording. But in their MP3 format, the price difference between unabridged and abridged audio titles is less obvious.

Your personal preference

The issue of the listener's preference simply cannot be ignored. Audio book listeners largely prefer listening to every single word written by the author. This is a major reason behind the popularity of unabridged audio titles. Moreover, authors usually do not permit the production of abridged versions of their books as it might tarnish the quality of their work. However, the produced audio novels usually have "approved by the author" recorded on to them to show that the author has consented to the production of these audio titles. Both unabridged and abridged versions are particularly good for visual impaired individuals as well as those with reading disabilities.

Watching the Detectives on Europe Train Holidays

Europe train holidays have long been associated with the glamour of the classical age of rail travel; an era which coincided with the days of the great fictional detectives. Since Agatha Christie's seminal murder mystery 'Murder on the Orient Express', glamorous European rail travel has been a hallmark of detectives across the ages. There have been several fictional detectives aside from Christie's Poirot who have been associated with the intrigue and glamour of Europe, and you would be forgiven for imagining you might bump into one of these mysterious and dynamic figures at any moment on your Europe train holidays.

Sherlock Holmes

The most famous literary detective to have ever picked up a magnifying glass and worn a deerstalker (except for the fact that he does neither in Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories and novels!), Sherlock Holmes will forever be associated with the fog and clip-clopping carriages of Victorian London. However, the Great Detective's cases often included a strong hint of the glamour of Europe train holidays, such as the first short story, A Scandal in Bohemia, featuring a visit from the King of Bohemia. Another famous story, 'The Final Problem', featured a pseudo-train holiday as Holmes and his stalwart companion flee across Europe by train to evade the clutches of villainous Professor Moriarty.

Brother Cadfael

While Ellis Peters' detective, Brother Cadfael, is known in his stories for his travels around Europe, you would never really have crossed his path on any Europe train holidays - the stories are set firmly in Medieval England, in the first half of the 12th century. However, travel is an integral part of the Brother Cadfael stories, as the character is established as having been a wanderer in his youth - a fact often landing the Benedictine monk and herbalist in trouble with other characters.

Inspector Clouseau

While many detectives often embody competence and glamour with their remarkable mental prowess, one detective might raise a very different reaction if you were to meet him on your Europe train holidays. Inspector Clouseau, created by Blake Edwards (and notably brought to life onscreen by Peter Sellers) is often depicted as a bumbling and incompetent member of the French Police, who nonetheless solves his cases through blind luck. His clumsiness and stupidity are often played for laughs, inducing homicidal rage in his superior, Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Europe train holidays will often take in the sights, sounds, and bustling culture of Paris, and for every famous detective such as Poirot who springs to mind, you may also be reminded of investigators like Clouseau on your journey.

Anna Copeland is the Marketing Manager for The Danube Express, which specialises in Europe train holidays. The Danube Express has a range of exclusive Europe train holidays travelling across countries like Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

4 Top Reads for a Holiday in Crete

If you're taking a holiday walking in Crete you're likely to be in need of some rest and relaxation in the evenings; why not take one of the many books set in Crete with you and immerse yourself even more deeply into the Cretan way of life?

Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis

Perhaps the most famous Crete-based book of all, Zorba the Greek has become a classic of Greek literature. Published in 1946, the novel was adapted into a film in 1964, leading to even greater success. Zorba the Greek is the tale of a young intellectual from mainland Greece who is pushed into action after a friend leaves to help ethnic Greeks who are being persecuted in the Caucasus. The book is the ideal first book choice for those walking in Crete to gain an insight into the fascinating history of the island and its surrounds.

The intellectual narrator plans to set off for Crete with dreams of re-opening a coal mine and involving himself in the world of the working class. Before leaving for the island he meets the mysterious, lascivious and passionate Alexis Zorba, and quickly becomes convinced to employ him as a foreman. On the island they follow different passions - the narrator reading Dante and Zorba indulging in his more animal passions. Once the mine opens their different approaches to life clash and the narrator begins to reassess his philosophies on life.

The Colossus of Maroussi, by Henry Miller

While much of this book is set in mainland Greece, it is still a great addition to the reading list for those walking in Crete. Miller's prose perfectly complements his natural sense of an outsider in a foreign society. The text is a semi-autobiographical account of Miller's travels in Greece with his friend Lawrence Durrell.

The Island, by Victoria Hislop

For those walking in Crete looking for a more contemporary author, Victoria Hislop's 2005 debut The Island should be ideal. The book won numerous awards on its release and has been adapted into the most expensive Greek TV series in history. The tale recounts the story of a teenager who develops in an interest in her family's past - a subject about which she knows very little. She travels to Crete to see where her mother was born and is gradually presented with the sad history of the area.

You are Here, by Steve Horsfall

Described in reviews as the ideal holiday book, You are Here is the perfect romp for those walking in Crete looking for a lighter read full of feel-good scenes. The story follows four thirty-somethings who, fearing the onset of middle-age, set off in pursuit of the opposite sex on the island.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us walking in Crete to see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 65 different countries.

3 Great Summer Reads!

Summer reads are always top on my list for vacation plans.

Sure, it is great to visit the heritage sites, travel to the shores of lake and ocean; but, there is something special about settling down in a comfortable spot with a cool drink and an interesting book.

Fiction writers have a knack for taking us to haunting locations, introducing us to memorable characters facing conflicts in the now and then. Authors, Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher have a particular talent for this.

Kearsley, takes the route of historical romance in The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden. From page one in her books, she invites the reader to journey with present-day characters who somehow have a connection to the past. No spoilers here but, if you like stories that have a time element to them, you will not be disappointed. You will, also, grasp the historical settings in myriad details included by Kearsley who was nominated for the 2009 RITA awards plus a more recent win of the 2010 Readers' Choice Historical Fiction Award.

Both Kearsley books take the reader to British settings in the present and past. The Winter Sea delves into Scottish history in the Eighteenth Century with its political turmoil connecting to the present in Kearsley's romantic fiction. In The Rose Garden, the American main character Eva is drawn to Cornwall for reasons explained in the story. The magic of Cornwall comes through in this novel, definitely a great respite on a rainy day!

My third recommendation is a novel from the 80s, award winning Rosamunde Pilcher's book The Shell Seekers. This best-selling novel is, also, a captivating read from start to finish as it traces the story of Penelope Keeling and her family through 20th century decades of troubled war-time years, summer days at the beach, a Greek island, Scotland's Edinburgh and Penelope's own country cottage in a small British village.

Pilcher's portrayal of Penelope's youth, as an only child growing up with a talented artist father and loving beautiful mother are intertwined with segments of Penelope's own marriage and lives of her grown up children. This novel has been translated into a movie version,starring Angela Lansbury; however, if you want to savour the whole story, read this book.

By the way, upon rereading The Shell Seekers, it has stood the test of time! You may even want to check out Rosamunde Pilcher's other novels and short stories.

These works of fiction by Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher are definitely the type of books you want to add to your vacation supplies. They will provide a great get-a-way to be sure!

Buying Books And Specialist Bookstores

The variety and range of books available is forever increasing, and for book readers this is great news. Both online bookstores and the traditional walk in bookshops are now offering variety and selection, that was hard to find as little as 10-15 years ago. Especially before the internet really opened the gateway to worldwide shopping. You can now order from around the world more easily than ever before, and hunt down the books you always wanted!

But even now with so much variety, sometimes there are books you may not be able to easily find. If you have an interest in buying books in one particular area or genre, or you are simply after a one-off book on a specific subject, a specialty bookstore may just be what you need! Specialty bookstores are just as the name suggests, specialists in a particular area of bookselling.

Some examples of a specialty bookstore include:

- A bookstore that only sells books on one subject. e.g. 'Military Books', or even a sub-specialty like 'Unit History Military Books' or 'Military Biographies' or 'Military Reference'.

- Or may specialize in 'The History of Country' e.g: Australian History.

- Or sells books on all subjects, but only offers books that are considered 'antique'.

- Or offers limited edition and signed books.

- Or niche market books, (books you may not find in a general bookstore).

- Or books only from one popular author, or publisher.

- Or today, even just e-books, not paper copies.

These are just examples only, and you may find a combination of the above. But in general, specialist booksellers do not try to cover all markets, and prefer to narrow down their range in the hope to provide a service to a particular and specific book buyer &/or market.

Like many booksellers, specialist bookshops may also combine New & Secondhand books in their range. This is a bonus for niche or rare book collectors, as a large selection of the rare and hard to find books are usually out of print, and now only available used and secondhand. You will also have a bookseller who spends their day around a specific subject, or interest. That is great if the interest is also yours, as you can easily ask for recommendations from someone who shares that same interest. You could also ask if they offer a rare book search, if so, you will have an experienced pair of eyes looking out for your wanted books! Many bookshops offer this service of course, it is not unique, but specialist booksellers, from dealing with publishers, authors and Customers in the same field everyday, may have a few extra places to look, that others may not be aware of.

Regardless of your interest, there are sure to be specialty bookshops that cater to you, either online or off.

With the increasing presence of the internet in today's world, more and more bookstores, and specialist bookstores are popping up everywhere, and for today's readers it can only get better, and thankfully so!

Award-Winning Author Bertrice Small

Background of Bertrice Small

Bertrice Small is an award-winning American novelist who was born in Manhattan and has lived on eastern Long Island for 35 years. The New York Times bestselling author has written 50 novels, among which most of them belong to the genre of historical romance. Small has also written several well-received novels in the genres of fantasy romance and erotic contemporary.

The outstanding and talented author has also received many awards for her novels, such as Outstanding Historical Romance Series, Best Historical Romance and Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy. Recently, in 2008, Small was recognized as a Pioneer of Romance by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her significant literary works and contributions to the genre. A few years earlier in 2004, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine.

Besides achieving great success in the literary world with her outstanding novels, Bertrice Small is also highly recognised in the community as a member of various literary organizations, such as The Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America.

Popular and Bestselling Novels

Small has written numerous novel series that have clinched spots in bestselling novel lists. Her first novel series was "Leslie Family Saga Series" which was published in 1978. Subsequently, Small also wrote many popular novel series like the "O'Malley Family Saga Series", "Skye's Legacy Series" and the "Friarsgate Inheritance Saga Series". The "O'Malley Family Saga Series" has captivated the hearts of many fans, telling the tales of the fascinating adventures of the Irish protagonist Skye O'Malley and her involvement in royal conflicts, passionate pursuits and bold encounters. Readers will truly enjoy this novel as they flip page after page, relishing the excitement in the novel.

In 2010, Small has released new titles for her novel series, such as "Passionate Pleasures" (Book 5 of "Channel Pleasures Series"), "The Border Vixen" (Book 5 of "The Border Chronicles") and "Crown of Destiny" (Book 6 of "World of Hetar" Series).

Small has also written single titles, each with a unique concept, plot and storyline, such as "The Kadin", "Love Wild and Fair" and "A Moment in Time", which are also popular among fans.

Besides working on her own individual novels and series, Small has collaborated with other authors to produce several anthologies as well.

Upcoming books

Small will be releasing new titles in late 2011, "Guilty Pleasures" (Book 6 of "Channel Pleasures Series") and "Bond of Passion" (Book 6 of "The Border Chronicles").

Advocate of Acmamall.com. Acmamall.com is an international online store selling over a million book titles offering free shipping to Singapore and Malaysia orders. Acmamall.com is committed to providing Safe, Trustworthy and Convenient online retail services for all her customers. To find out more about Acmamall.com, visit www.acmamall.com

Pulp Fiction's "The Falcon Killer"

Originally published in 1939 this story takes place in the Orient where "The Falcon Killer, (Tzun Kai)," is really Bill Gaylord, China's war ace fighter pilot.

Born to American parents but being raised in Peking, Gaylord finds himself in a foster home when both his parents lose their life during a violent Boxer uprising. He suffers a second major blow when his foster family is slaughtered during wartime. Such tragedy at a tender age was enough to harden his soul and give him nerves of steel. This gives him the edge he needs to take on the enemy Japanese war planes, of which he intends to blast as many as he can out of the skies.

He soon finds himself embroiled in events that send him in search of a Japanese spy whose treachery could spell disaster, a disaster so huge that if he does not find and defeat this man, an entire ancient Chinese kingdom could be lost to the land of the rising sun.

This is one of the many pulp fiction stories L. Ron Hubbard wrote from the late 1920s to the 1950s. What I love about this book and many of the other stories he has written, is that he brings a sense of realism to his characters, story line, and exotic locals that depict the era of that time. His extensive travels around the globe have served him well as a writer. Here is a quote from him that I think is so true:

"In writing an adventure story a writer has to know that he is adventuring for a lot of people who cannot. The writer has to take them here and there about the globe and show them excitement and love and realism. As long as that writer is living the part of an adventurer when he is hammering the keys, he is succeeding with his story. Adventuring is a state of mind. If you adventure through life, you have a good chance to be a success on paper. Adventure doesn't mean globe-trotting, exactly, and it doesn't mean great deeds. Adventuring is like art. You have to live it to make it real."

That, I think, sums it up very well. In this story, "The Falcon Killer," the aerial battles are spectacular and the intrigue and narrow escapes keep you guessing. Gaylord has another ace up his sleeve, a tattoo of a half dragon, which has a meaning only the Chinese know. It is the twist you did not see coming!

Whether you are a pulp fiction fan or just beginning your adventure with these books, I think you will not be disappointed. These stories written seventy, eighty to ninety years ago give you a unique perspective of the flavor of that time. Many great writers came from the pulp fiction era such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Raymond Chandler, Lester Dent, H.P. Love craft and L. Ron Hubbard to name a few.

Enjoy your adventures reading through the wonderful stories from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction!

Fred Duckworth is working to reintroduce Stories From the Golden Age, a line of 80 books and multi-cast, unabridged audio books, featuring 153 stories written by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 1940s, using his own and any of the 15 pen names he used. To view the trailer of "Spy Killer" click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqUD5tiTZo&feature=youtu.be

Books To Strengthen Your Marriage

There are many wonderful books out there with steps and tips on how to improve, enhance and keep the freshness and beauty of your marriage alive. Gary Chapman writes The 5 Languages of Love, a book that seeks to unlock the secrets of what makes a marriage happy and what makes it work. His main point is that unhappiness comes from the speaking of a variety of love languages that get crossed in the works. For example, words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch are all different languages identified in the book and explained, so that people can understand what their spouses are saying even when they aren't exactly saying it. This will help you decode the various kinds of communication, gestures, and languages present in a marriage and when you become savvy about all of them, it will overall improve your relationship.

The 7 Principles for Making a Marriage Work is a book by John Gottman who discusses the various things that form an emotionally intelligent couple. By using some signs of a troubled marriage as well as many studies conducted in his love labs, he disproves many divorce myths and demonstrates problems with clear examples that can help you relate to the situation. Including many checklists and quizzes, this is an interactive way to learn about marriage and the various ways of communication.

Emerson Eggerichs writes Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs. Using biblical research as well as some psychological founding, this author works an argument that emphasizes the importance of unconditional love and respect for one another so that people can really enjoy the benefits of marriage as expected by the heavens. Basically he urges that the communication code between married peoples be cracked so that there as understood grounding between the two and a shared communicative bond. This is a great book for getting closer to your spouse and learning the basics of communication.

Haywood Smith writes The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law, a book written by a Southern woman about mother-in-laws all over the world. With a humorous style, she captures the spirit of mothers in law and packs it rich with advice and sayings and observations that make it a great gift for a newlywed or for someone's mother as they watch their child embark into the world of marriage. Though a more humorous and light hearted book, it might contain some things that can create a strong bond between a mother and the person her child marries.

Elizabeth Gilbert's book Committed, Is all about an author who debates whether or not to marry her boyfriend and thus studies the evolution of marriage. Though there is not much of a story, it does have a strong voice as well as some observations of marriage in other cultures that can enhance the perspective of a person seeking to begin a journey of wedded bliss and happiness. Also, she uses personal stories of her mother and grandmother, which help cast light on some of the ways in which marriage has changed over the years in a variety of ways, particularly in regards to women.

Beaver Street by Robert Rosen: Entertaining and Insightful

Have you ever wondered how the porn industry grosses more than $10 Billion a year? Do you want to know how the incredible Hulk, X-man and Spider-Man were behind it? Robert Rosen's Beaver Street- A history of Modern pornography will provide answer to all your questions. Rosen unveils all the secrets of the lucrative, politically harassed porn industry in his book. He was in the gutters of porn industry for sixteen years and witnessed all the ups and downs of the industry, from its phone sex age to the Traci Lord's scandal, to Reagan's anti-obscenity campaign to the free internet porn that puts the business of men's magazine at risk. Beaver Street is both entertaining and insightful.

Robert Rosen gained international recognition with Nowhere Man, the biography of Lennon's last days. He had spent around twenty years as a copywriter, editor, publisher and photographer in the pornography industry. He worked for the adult magazine High Society that invented phone sex. He had initiated the latest phase in the historical association of sex, money and technology. The end of dial a porn would be the beginning of the free pornography book in the internet.

In Beaver Street, Robert Rosen gives a glimpse of the infamous Traci Lords Scandal. In the history of porn, the intervening years are the most turbulent and chaotic. Rosen was there at the core of its dark hour- Traci Lord's scandal. Traci Lords, the former child porn star's entire pornographic works from the age fifteen to eighteen became illegal. The resulting moral and legal crusades would see Rosen and hundreds of his colleagues staring prison. However, Rosen gives a reply in his book Beaver Street. Rosen's critique is rooted on the question exploitation. He explains that Traci Lord had agreed that she used a fake birth certificate to get a passport and used that passport to obtain a fake driver's license. Both identification pieces prove that she was of legal age, when she worked in the porn industry. Rosen's Beaver Street offers a vivid glimpse at the other side of the coin.

Rosen' Beaver Street comprises of the picture of normal professionals, who try to make ends meet in odd circumstances. His book explains how numerous journalists, publishers and photographers are expected to score a living beneath the aggressive inquiry of the FBI and criticisms by feminists like Andrea Dworkin.

Beaver Street also describes about an exceptional American workplace which is full of cynics, drug addicts, perverts and tyrants. He explains how the owners are getting richer, while he and his colleagues work hard to meet the demands of ensuring millions who want something new every week to masturbate. Beaver Street has more entertaining and valuable information that elevates its level more than the average porn journal. Rosen unveils the masks of the porn profiteers and explains how some unbelievable events have rocked his entire career. He says that he has written this book, as he wanted to understand the entire psychic effect of having spent 16 years in XXX.