http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/MrsRJ Mon, 19 May 2008 17:49:45 GMT Reviews by MrsRJ http://www.viewpoints.com/27-dresses-review-fe7f2 If you love the idea of "love," this cute, funny and syrupy sweet concoction is a real treat. I have to admit I didn't expect a great deal from this movie, seeing as how the main theme is so similar to several recent "chick flick hits." However, this familiar formula was definitely enhanced by a strong cast, with Katherine Heigl delivering a command performance. — — As with most light and lively films the title pretty much defines the movie, or at least sets the mood... The lovable, but somehow never "loved" Jane is the epitome of the old saying "always a bridesmaid, never a bride." The typical bridesmaid puts the ugly dress into a yard sale immediately following the happy day, but not Jane. She has kept each and every one -- over the years, she has accumulated quite a collection, theme weddings, underwater weddings, goth weddings, etc., and the dresses hold a special place in her heart, as well as, in the over-stuffed closet of her NY... Mon, 19 May 2008 17:49:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/27-dresses-review-fe7f2 MrsRJ 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Gladiator-Days%3A-Anatomy-of-a-Prison-Murder-review-a03b2 Oh my goodness - this documentary removes any doubt about the effectiveness of our current justice system. Gladiator Days: Anatomy of A Prison Murder, documents the journey of an HBO film crews journey various maximum security facilities in the US. During their visits, the crew conducted interviews with guards, inmates and prosecutors - there are several familiar clips shown at the beginning - (the CA yard wars, riots, guard brutality, etc.). These clips are used to frame and prepare the viewer for the main topic, which is the death of an inmate inside Central Utah Prison at Gunnison, Utah.  Disturbing and difficult to watch this is an important film that exposes prison for what it truly is - hell on earth -- where you are just as likely to be beaten or raped as you are to receive a letter from home. — — Unlike many documentaries, GDAPM provides the back-story, telling how each of the players in... Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:37:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Gladiator-Days%3A-Anatomy-of-a-Prison-Murder-review-a03b2 MrsRJ 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Timothy-Hallinan-A-Nail-Through-the-Heart-Books-review-40cb4 A Nail Through the Heart — by Timothy Hallinan Poke Rafferty is a character that all suspense lovers will know by name after June 2007. With "A Nail Through The Heart" being the first of a Bangkok based series from Timothy Hallinan, there is much to be excited about! Unlike many of today's best sellers, Hallinan holds nothing back! From the first chapter, this is a fast paced, thrilling journey filled with mystery and intrigue. To say this is one of those books that is hard to put down would be the understatement of the century. Hallinan has delivered a summer blockbuster, that will no doubt have fans lining up at book stores from the Far East to New York City. — Wanting nothing more than a normal life with Rose and Miaow, Poke finds that trying to do the right thing has slowly initiated him into a world he would never have knowingly chosen to visit. Rose, the beautiful Thai woman he loves dearly and hopes to marry, is struggling with her own inner demons.... Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:15:34 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Timothy-Hallinan-A-Nail-Through-the-Heart-Books-review-40cb4 MrsRJ 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Gymboree-Play-and-Learn-1001-Fun-Activities-for-Your-Baby-and-Child-review-ab82 "Learn through play with Gymboree books" — Play & Learn concentrates on key areas of development through age appropriate activities which enhance motor skills, problem solving, coordination, language skills and encourage individual creativity and imagination. 1001 activities for children from birth to age five provides ideas for parents to connect with their children at every stage, helps build a strong sense of self and fosters a positive attitude towards learning. — The first thing I noticed was the sturdy cover, the colorful tab-style layout, with the age clearly marked on the center tab, which makes finding the exact section you're looking for a breeze. The book is filled with gorgeous pictures of children at every stage, brilliant art work and lots and lots of color. At the beginning of each age change (0+, 3mo+, 6mo+, etc.) the authors have written an introduction page that includes a set of four milestones, displayed in color-coded boxes, giving parents a heads-up... Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:19:33 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Gymboree-Play-and-Learn-1001-Fun-Activities-for-Your-Baby-and-Child-review-ab82 MrsRJ 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Ivy-Chronicles-review-f00d5 "We get by with a little help from our friends" has never been portrayed with such an ingenious mixture of passion, humor and what could only be defined as sheer female empowerment. Author Karen Quinn takes us inside one woman's journey from the top, to the bottom and back to the top again. — Ivy Ames...devoted wife and loving mother of two, was living "the good life." With a combined annual income of two million plus, the Ames' family had all the luxuries and perks of the social elite. Eight months ago, Ivy's husband, Cadmon, lost his job and instead of cutting back on expenditures, they continued to revel in the lavish lifestyle they had grown so accustomed too.  On a typical, all too hectic morning, Ivy had barely managed to get herself to the bank on-time, when she is caught off guard by a note summoning her to the boss' office. You could have knocked her over with a feather when she heard him say "human resources has your package, a car will take you... Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:56:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Ivy-Chronicles-review-f00d5 MrsRJ 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/James-Patterson-Double-Cross-review-c36f4 Double Cross by James Patterson — (Alex Cross novel) — — — Patterson has a unique gift for making you feel all the joys and pains experienced by Cross, who is one of the best protagonists of the suspense thriller genre. Reuniting fans with beloved, as well as, despised characters, while continuing to press the boundaries, Patterson shines brighter than ever in this hard hitting double header!  Self-imposed retirement, a gorgeous new girlfriend and a quiet romantic camping trip, what could possibly go wrong? Well, when Alex Cross is around the answer is an unequivocal-anything and everything! Hot romance is quickly cooled when Bree is ordered to return to DC after the very public murder of famed author Tess Olsen. Dubbed the "Audience Killer," for his propensity for attention, this psychopath seems to have no fear of being discovered, growing more brazen and arrogant with each successive murder. He thrives on the media attention his dastardly deeds afford... Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:30:56 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/James-Patterson-Double-Cross-review-c36f4 MrsRJ 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Matala-review-f2453 According to mythology, Zeus raped the princess Europa on the small island of Matala, so it is the ideal setting for Holden's dark, erotic, noir-thriller. Filled with tough, cynical characters, Matala is a short, crisp read that demonstrates the sharp contrast between the haves and have nots. The line between sensuality and violence often blurs, melding the two into a shapeless, symbolic raping of innocence that changes both the con and the mark at the very core of their being.A combination graduation-birthday gift from her parents, this six week, guided tour of all the famous European sites was a painfully boring journey for Darcy Arlene. A napping chaperon provided the perfect opportunity to sneak away from the Hotel Abitazione and experience the "real city." Walking through Rome she makes her way onto a bridge, spanning the Tiber, where she encounters an attractive young man who seems oddly familiar. An innocent introduction, leads to dinner, where the two continue to talk like old... Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:58:33 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Matala-review-f2453 MrsRJ 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Diana-Raab-Reginas-Closet-Finding-My-Grandmothers-Secret-Journal-review-a4d73 Wow! What an incredible story. It's rare for this reviewer to "rave" or to liter my opinions with complimentary adjectives and yet, I have been exposed to a book that absolutely demands both...Regina's Closet: finding my grandmother's secret journal is a hauntingly beautiful story of two women, Diana Raab and her beloved Grandmother, Regina Klein. You will smile and cry. You will be shocked and astounded, the narrative is filled with such raw emotion that it reaches out from the pages and touches the reader in a very tangible way. — Author, Diana Raab shares her grandmother's journal, which follows her difficult and frightening experiences in war torn Poland, events of World War I, witnessing the Russian invasion, atrocities committed by soldiers, the death of her mother in the cholera epidemic, the cramped trains evacuees spent weeks riding only to arrive in cities where the natives did not want them and had no reservations about expressing such in the most hurtful of ways.... Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:52:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Diana-Raab-Reginas-Closet-Finding-My-Grandmothers-Secret-Journal-review-a4d73 MrsRJ 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kip-Gayden-Miscarriage-of-Justice-review-ab135 Miscarriage of Justice — by Kip Gayden — — Miscarriage of Justice is based on the actual events surrounding a 1913's love triangle gone horribly and irrevocably wrong. Kip Gayden has delivered an impressive novel that is as exciting as the crime and verdict were shocking. — Anna and Walter Dotson were prominent members of the small Tennessee community of Gallatin. Walter, in addition to being a very successful physician, was active in numerous community activities, Masonic Lodge, church bible study and city orchestra leader, and he also had political aspirations. While Walter was attending various groups and meetings, his wife, Anna, was home with her two children. There's a pointed change in the marriage after Anna miscarries their third child, all the romance and intimacy the couple had once shared was drained from the relationship. As time and time again Walter rejects his wife's attempts to rekindle the romantic fires, she is left feeling lonely and... Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:38:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kip-Gayden-Miscarriage-of-Justice-review-ab135 MrsRJ 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Terrorism-and-the-Illuminati-A-Three-Thousand-Year-History-review-e2314 Covering a wide array of hot-button, often polarizing subjects such as Zionism, Nazism, radical terrorists factions, and where each fits into this highly controversial picture. Livingstone has delivered an important, albeit highly subjective book that's part history, part ideology/theology and part conspiracy theory. Terrorism and the Illuminati is an in-depth view of secret societies, terrorism and present day conflicts, from the perspective that all are interconnected, related and fueling each other, thus propelling the world towards a "clash of civilizations." — Terrorism and the Illuminati traces and connects individual groups such as the Holy Grail, Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and many others. Lords, legends, myths and elite bloodlines, when analyzed independently appear insignificant and are easily ignored. However, when the dots are connected, a very different picture beings to come into focus. According to like-minded individuals, keeping these connections broken... Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:31:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Terrorism-and-the-Illuminati-A-Three-Thousand-Year-History-review-e2314 MrsRJ 3