SANTA CRUISE, by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

The Royal Mermaid is setting forth on her maiden voyage, filled with 400 passengers who received free passage due to good works they performed during the preceding months of the year. Sounds like a cruise made in heaven, right? Perhaps, but then again perhaps not. Not when there's a mystery afoot.Private detective Regan Reilly and her husband Jack, head of the Major Case Squad of New York City, along with Regan's parents --- Nora, a respected mystery writer, and Luke Reilly --- have all joined recent lottery winner and amateur sleuth Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy as guests on the cruise as a result of Alvirah's charitable contributions.Even before the officially christened "Santa Cruise" can commence, however, things have gone awry. There's been a mix-up on the guest list, and it seems that the ship is a room short of being able to accommodate all of the guests. Cabin assignments are juggled, though, and soon enough everyone is settled satisfactorily in their rooms. Everyone, that is, except for two stowaways.Tony "Bull's-Eye" Pinto, a crime boss, and Barron Highbridge, a white-collar criminal who bilked the unsuspecting out of a fortune, are both using the Santa Cruise as their means to flee the country and therefore avoid punishment for their crimes. When their room is suddenly given to Alvirah and Willy, things take a turn for the worse.Part of what makes the Santa Cruise merry is the 10 Santas who are to dress in costume and mingle with the guests, but even the Clauses aren't feeling the holiday spirit. Especially when two of the costumes go missing and no one knows where they went or what it means.Along with the usual activities available on a cruise, there is to be a special memorial service for the deceased mother of Commodore Randolph Weed, the owner of the ship. He intends to dispose of his mother's ashes at sea, but even that doesn't go quite as planned. Bad publicity and scandal cast serious doubt as to whether or not the Commodore made a wise investment in purchasing and refurbishing the ancient ship known as the Royal Mermaid.In their fourth holiday mystery, Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, have written a fun book with an interesting cast of characters. The other "do-gooders of the year" are a unique and special bunch who lightens the novel's serious mood. As may be expected, the mystery is solved by the end of the book in a climactic way, and all of the charming characters play a part in it. This is a fast read, and you won't want to put it down until you know whodunit!

THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne.

I had never watched an entire episode of Oprah until her program on The Secret. In the promo for the show, Oprah announced that the program would present "the secret" to making more money, losing weight, finding the love of your life, and achieving job success. Who could resist hearing more about such a claim, especially when it is made by the most influential woman in America and touted as the key to all her success? Apparently I wasn't alone. After the show, Oprah's website was overwhelmed, emails poured in, and within hours The Secret had become the best-selling book in the nation.
A week later, while unpacking in a hotel room, I powered up the TV. Oprah and two guests from the week before appeared on the screen, effusive about the transforming power of The Secret. Her website called the episode, "A follow-up to the show everybody is talking about!"
People are not only talking about The Secret, they are buying it. I am writing this review in a Barnes & Noble bookstore, and this particular branch has completely sold out of the book—again. Only two days ago—so I am told—a storewide announcement assured a horde of anxious shoppers that another large shipment of the book had arrived and would be brought to the sales floor momentarily. Readers quickly grabbed every copy. Almost impossibly, The Secret is even outselling (at this writing) the final Harry Potter book. And if that weren't enough, the audio edition of the book follows these two as the nation's number-three seller.
The Australian author of The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, introduces the book by admitting, "A year ago, my life had collapsed around me" (p. ix). Through searching for answers in a variety of books new and old, she began to trace what she believed was a common thread in them all. She dubbed it the "Great Secret—The Secret to Life" (p. ix).
Byrne became convinced that this was the key to explaining the success of "the greatest people in history" (p. ix). As she started practicing this secret, Byrne says that her life immediately began to change in ways nothing short of miraculous. She decided to make a video called The Secret to share her discoveries with others. In March of 2006 it was released on the Internet, but soon went to DVD. By late autumn, the phenomenal success of the video placed it on two episodes of Larry King Live. Shortly after, two of the teachers featured on The Secret were guests on Ellen Degeneres' daily TV show. Before Christmas, The Secret DVD had spun off a book by the same title which Oprah Winfrey catapulted to the top of the charts in February of 2007.
The essence of The Secret is "the law of attraction." According to Byrne and the twenty-nine co-contributors whom she quotes extensively, everything in the Universe (which is always capitalized and usually synonymous for "God") vibrates on a particular frequency. When you think in harmony with the frequency of something, you attract it to you. If you think about wealth, you will receive wealth. If you think instead about your debt, you will receive more debt. You attract what you think about; your thoughts determine your destiny.
Byrne restates the law of attraction in various ways: "Nothing [good or bad] can come into your experience unless you summon it through persistent thoughts" (p. 28). "Your thoughts are the primary cause of everything" (p. 33). "Your current reality or your current life is a result of the thoughts you have been thinking" (p. 71). According to the product description on the DVD, "This is The Secret to everything—the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted.
Byrne promises with ironclad certainty: "There isn't a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. . . . The Secret can give you whatever you want" (p. xi). By it "you will come to know how you can have, be, or do anything you want" (p. xii).
In the final analysis, The Secret is nothing more than Name It-Claim It, Positive-Confession, Prosperity Theology (without God and the Bible), built on a foundation of New Age self-deification. In other words, the book is just another version of what some TV preachers have taught for decades, namely, if you will sustain the right thoughts, words, and feelings, you will receive whatever you want. But The Secret adds this important twist: your thoughts can bring anything into your life because you are god.

SLASH, by Slash with Anthony Bozza.

From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll
He was born in England but reared in L.A., surrounded by the leading artists of the day amidst the vibrant hotbed of music and culture that was the early seventies. Slash spent his adolescence on the streets of Hollywood, discovering drugs, drinking, rock music, and girls, all while achieving notable status as a BMX rider. But everything changed in his world the day he first held the beat-up one-string guitar his grandmother had discarded in a closet.
The instrument became his voice and it triggered a lifelong passion that made everything else irrelevant. As soon as he could string chords and a solo together, Slash wanted to be in a band and sought out friends with similar interests. His closest friend, Steven Adler, proved to be a conspirator for the long haul. As hairmetal bands exploded onto the L.A. scene and topped the charts, Slash sought his niche and a band that suited his raw and gritty sensibility.
He found salvation in the form of four young men of equal mind: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, and Duff McKagan. Together they became Guns N' Roses, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time. Dirty, volatile, and as authentic as the streets that weaned them, they fought their way to the top with groundbreaking albums such as the iconic Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.
Here, for the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the band came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they survived themselves, and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. This is a window onto the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a seat on the roller-coaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock 'n' roll machines, always on the edge of self-destruction, even at the pinnacle of its success. This is a candid recollection and reflection of Slash's friendships past and present, from easygoing Izzy to ever-steady Duff to wild-child Steven and complicated Axl.
It is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N' Roses journeyed to the top, Slash battled his demons, escaping the overwhelming reality with women, heroin, coke, crack, vodka, and whatever else came along.
He survived it all: lawsuits, rehab, riots, notoriety, debauchery, and destruction, and ultimately found his creative evolution. From Slash's Snakepit to his current band, the massively successful Velvet Revolver, Slash found an even keel by sticking to his guns.
Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend, inspires: it's funny, honest, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.

Superman The Day of Earth Died

In the year 2014, the remaining heroes fight against Khyber's forces. Jimmy and Luthor suit up and join the Parasite in the battle. On the way out, Parasite asks Lois to call him Clark, but she refuses again.
Watching the view screen, Lois sees Parasite begin to lose his power before falling to one of Khyber's soldiers. Lois' tearfully says goodbye to Clark. Luthor's defenses begin to push back the invaders, when Khyber suddenly appears. Luthor starts to attack him, when Superman reappears.
Superman grabs Khyber and forces him above the clouds and into the sunlight. He tells the villain that he spent years trapped at the Earth's core before he could absorb enough energy to break free. They battle in the sky and Superman gets the upper hand. When he is about to deliver the killing blow he hesitates, and Khyber takes advantage to finish the Man of Steel.
Suddenly Sirocco flies up and impales Khyber. Below, Khyber's forces all drop dead. They thought it would finally be over, but the fighting continues. Three years later Lex dies in battle. They bury him next to Superman.
Years later the survivors live off Luthor's stockpiles, but gradually their numbers dwindle. In 2045 Lois dies and Jimmy buries her next to Clark. Eleven years later, Jimmy writes his final journal entry, having not seen another human since Lois died.
In the present, Arion explains to Superman that civilizations need to rise and fall, and the longer he delays the fall, the worse it will eventually be. In order for mankind to survive, Superman must let civilization be destroyed.

The Simpsons Library Of Wisdom: Comic Book Guy's Book Of Pop Culture

A family member (who obviously knows me too well) recently gave me this book as a gift. It turned out to be both a wonderful trip down memory lane (and my present...and probable future...) and a rather shocking revelation as to how much of a geek I really am, as I closely identified with much of what was in the book, as far as even noticing the Dr Who references, even though I have never seen the show. I had no idea I was so well versed in pop culture. I'm a little disturbed by what I have learnt about myself through reading this book.The Simpsons Library Of Wisdom: Comic Book Guy's Book Of Pop Culture takes the reader deep into the life and mindset of Comic Book Guy, the proprietor of The Android's Dungeon And Baseball Cards in Springfield.Topics covered include comics, science fiction and fantasy, the Internet, fantasy gaming, baseball-card conventions, wrestling, film culture, and the all-important novelty T-shirt (and underwear). He provides an essential guide for those fanboys wanting to achieve successful romantic encounters (theoretically), a lesson in the anatomy of Tuberosum broyhilleus rotundomus: the great American couch potato (subject showcased: Homer Simpson), and a guide to comic-book retailing and putting the competition out of business. You will learn, from his personal experiences and professional expertise, how to survive conventions (a handy guide to the essential backpack is included) and how to keep and store your collection, amongst other things.The book is so well written that I could actually hear the voice of Comic Book Guy (who is voiced by Hank Azaria) as I read Comic Book Guy's dialogue boxes. His trademark sarcasm and sense of superiority shines through and the illustrations beautifully capture his inner emotions, from the nervous single geek ready for a romantic night out to the frozen-in-awe (occasionally) fanboy experiencing a brush with greatness (Stan Lee, William Shatner and Adam West, amongst others).I hope to see a second edition, or a sequel, to this book in the future as, although it was faily comprehensive in most respects, to my disappointment certain aspects of popular culture were glossed over, such as collectable toys - although collectable food (eew!) was covered rather comprehensively - costumes, and films, and there was absolutely no reference to LEGO (and there should be!).This book makes for a great gift, either for yourself or for the geek in your life, as well as for fans of The Simpsons, although other titles in the series, which include The Bart Book, The Homer Book, and The Ralph Wiggum Book, may be more accessible to these fans.

THE THREE SNOW BEARS, written and illustrated by Jan Brett

This charming new picture book by Jan Brett, is an adaption on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
An Inuit girl, Aloo-ki, is out with her dog team on the ice flows when she becomes separated from her dogs. While looking for them she stumbles across the biggest igloo she has ever seen and decides to investigate. The bears have just stepped out for a stroll while baby bear's breakfast cools down. Like Goldilocks, Aloo-ki tries out the bears things until they arrive home and find her asleep! A beautiful story with Jan Brett's distinctive illustrative style. A must read for all who love the classic version

SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

If you can't take one more day of self-loathing, you're ready to hear the truth: You cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth every day and expect to lose weight.
Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are your new smart-mouthed girlfriends who won't mince words and will finally tell you the truth about what you're feeding yourself. And they'll guide you on making intelligent and educated decisions about food. They may be bitches, but they are skinny bitches. And you'll be one too-after you get with the program and start eating right.
Rory Freedman, a former agent for Ford Models, is a self-taught know-it-all.
Kim Barnouin is a former model who holds a Masters of Science degree in Holistic Nutrition.
They have successfully counseled models, actors, athletes, and other professionals using the Skinny Bitch method. They both live in Los Angeles.

STAR WARS POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, by Matthew Reinhart

Perfect gift idea for fans, no matter what their ageRobert Sabuda and his protégé, Matthew Reinhart, have brought pop-up books back into the mainstream, not only as concept and novelty books for very young children but as genuine works of art and engineering. Their wonderful creations attract readers of all ages, and many a Sabuda/Reinhart project has found its way to coffee tables alongside glossy art books. Reinhart's latest solo effort, STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, is another such project that will find an audience not only among young readers but also among aficionados of paper engineering and, most importantly, nostalgic adult fans of the Star Wars franchise who will revel in this volume, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film. Reinhart, like many adults his age, was raised on the Star Wars mythology, and his knowledge of and appreciation for the Star Wars universe is apparent through the details he integrates into his paper creations, as well as in his dedication "to the visionary artists of STAR WARS, who fashioned a wondrous, distant galaxy with words, paint, clay, sound, and celluloid, inspiring generations of young artists around the world." The text itself is rich, dense, detailed and filled with the facts, figures and history of the fantastic world George Lucas created. The book focuses primarily on the characters and events of the three original Star Wars movies, although certain elements of the mythology do come from Episodes 1-3. Topics for the two-page spreads include the geography of the galaxy, discussions of the galaxy's social and political structures, descriptions of vehicles, the history of conflicts between the Rebels and the Empire, and Luke Skywalker's story. Since this is more of an encyclopedic guide rather than a storybook, the text does not focus on any single storyline or tell a unified narrative. Instead, it assumes its readers already know the films' plotlines and fills in the details on everything from the origins of the criminal underworld to the technical specifications of R2-D2 and C-3PO. The design of STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY will be familiar to fans of Reinhart's and Sabuda's other projects, particularly the Encyclopedia Prehistorica series. Each two-page spread consists of a large pop-up feature at its center (examples include the Millennium Falcon and a menacing Darth Vader mask), as well as several smaller, text-heavy foldout "mini books" on a certain theme, each of which may also contain one or more smaller pop-up constructions. These nested "books within a book" result in an unusually rich, interactive reading experience that will keep fans young and old poring over the pages for hours. The advertised highlights of the illustrations are Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker's working lightsabers, which turn on when their mini-books are opened. As Yoda would say, though, "Patient you must be" --- the lightsabers in my review copy took a good 10-15 seconds to light up after the page was opened. STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is a tour de Force --- the perfect gift idea for fans, no matter what their age.