Book Description
Shooting Elvis is a highly charged, action packed thriller about a California good girl gone bad. Cute, blond Mary Alice Baker takes pictures of toddlers for a living, loves her mother, and is willing to inure the wrath of her violent father by photographing him in all his drunken, abusive glory. But on one life-altering day, Mary delivers a briefcase to a stranger at LAX for her Harley-driving boyfriend. When it explodes and levels a terminal, Mary becomes an accidental terrorist and transforms herself into Nina Zero - punk fugitive, thief, and private eye. Her quest to discover who set her up and why drives this fiercely intense narrative to its explosive ending.
Customer Reviews:
"I knew the gun was evil, an extension of the male desire to kill something just by willing it to happen.".......2006-05-03
Shooting Elvis is wild out-of-control thriller about a woman who is set up by her sexy no-good boyfriend. At first glance Mary was a good girl working as a photographers assistance. Her taste for rough trade in boyfriends ends up making her a fugitive from the law. As a result, her good-girl veneer cracks to release the angry violent law-breaker within.
Mary turns into Nina Zero, an edgy photographer whose photos hang at a local museum while she is out shooting bad guys and getting tortured. This is an enthralling and sexy tale of a falsely accused fugitive trying to solve the mystery before she is taken to jail.
Eversz is a competent writer with a taste for Hollywood gothic and an ability to build interesting if twisted characters.
"What I wanted most was a new life. I got it." .......2006-03-14
Robert M. Eversz's protagonist, Mary Alice Baker, a.k.a. Nina Zero, introduces herself to the reader even before this suspense/thriller/mystery begins. The subtitle of the novel, supposedly her memoir which she wrote from prison, is "Confession of An Accidental Terrorist;" Copyright 1995; and then she penned her given name as the author. The confession is, of course, "Shooting Elvis," the explanation so desired by her very concerned mother who anxiously awaits the details of her offspring's short but impressive criminal career.
Mary Alice was once a law abiding, blonde, blue-eyed, talented twenty-plus year-old who photographed children for a living at Hansel and Gretel's Baby Photo Studio. She and her family - Mom, Pop and oldest brother Ray - lived in a blue collar community, a small town that never "amounted to much," just over the hills from L.A. The town's motto, "Small Towns Are Smile Towns."
Mary Alice did not smile much. Her father is an abusive alcoholic, prone to violence, and her mother, passive, loving, has taken everything he dished out over the years. Her daughter cannot understand why. I wrote above that Mary Alice is talented and this talent lies in her artistic sensibility which she expresses through the eye of the camera - obviously not the kind of work she turns out for Hansel and Gretel! Her photographic vocation is a bone of contention with Mr. Baker. "The idea I took photos to understand the world and myself made him suspicious, like maybe I was too stupid to understand that the world is a straightforward place where you have to work hard and support yourself and your family and then relax a little after, and art is for people who don't have to work for a living and unnecessary to guys like him, unless you consider television or action pictures art."
Wrex, Mary Alice's biker boyfriend, a real loser, persuades her to do a favor for him. After much effort on his part, she finally agrees to take his package, (contents unknown), to the airport and exchange it with a total stranger for another package, (contents unknown) - for the sum of $200. Mary Alice probably would have done it for free, eventually, with enough nagging. However, she spontaneously stated her fee, initially, to get Wrex off her back. She was shocked when he accepted and paid her upfront, especially since he was always broke. Obviously, her decision to help Wrex is a disastrous mistake. One could ask why Mary Alice, an intelligent young woman, does the favor, but then there would be no plot...right? This lack of believability is a major weakness in the storyline.
So, our girl drives to the airport, recognizes her contact, makes the exchange and barely escapes the subsequent violent explosion with her life. Now she is wanted by the LAPD and FBI for blowing up Los Angeles International. Some pretty scary underworld characters are looking for her also, as well as for the package she received and still has in her possession .
What's a girl to do? Mary Alice reinvents herself as ebony-haired Goth, Nina Zero, and winds up hanging out with LA's pseudo alienated, anti-intellectual, anti-art, artistic subculture, which views her as a photographer doing "explosive new work." There's her new roommate Billy b, a manic, driven, narcissistic artist whose giant paintings of famous folks, especially Elvis, represent the ultimate in American kitsch. And roomy number two - Cass, is an out of work screenwriter and all around retro punk.
Determined to discover what is behind the crimes she has become involved in, feisty Nina hooks up with the least reputable PIs in the city to learn the ropes of sleuthdom. These guys are the only ones who will hire her. Soon on the run from just about everyone, including her new "friends," Nina begins to discover the answers she seeks - most of them ludicrous. Warning! There is lots of mindless violence here - none of it particularly pertinent. Lots of action, little substance.
I would have put "Shooting Elvis" down at about page 100 except for the character of Mary Alice/Nina, who is fantastic. When Robert Eversz writes about her and her dysfunctional family he turns out some excellent prose. The story is told through a first person narrative, Nina's. Her take on most events is fascinating - she can't help some of the ridiculous scenarios the author involves her in. Some of the other minor characters, like the artists, are also quite good. Eversz really needs to work on his plot and subplots, however. These are weak. An intelligent lady like Nina needs an equally intelligent storyline to move around in...and readers enjoy meaningful plots with purpose too.
Worth reading as the introductory piece in the Nina Zero series, which I hope improves.
JANA
An interesting new protagonist.......2005-04-06
Mary/Nina is a product of her environment and the company she keeps. But she's also a tough survivor with a wry outlook on life. You can't help but like her. The action is fast-paced and certainly depicts the unglamorous side of Los Angeles. I shall keep following the trials and tribulations of Nina.
From Mary To Nina.......2004-05-27
SHOOTING ELVIS is an action thriller, but it has an unusual twist at the start that separates it from many other thrillers. This unusual feature is that the very first thing we are told is that Mary Baker is telling us the story from her prison cell. Given that the bulk of the book is about her attempts to hide from the FBI and the police, we know from the start that she is ultimately unsuccessful. But as we are to learn, success or failure can be a very subjective thing.
Mary Baker should have known better than to trust Wrex. Her unshaven, tattooed, Harley-riding boyfriend with his ripped jeans and red bandanna was hardly convincing when he pleaded with her to deliver a package to someone waiting at L.A. International Airport. The package turns out to be a briefcase and moments after she has delivered it to a man with a foreign accent, the briefcase explodes killing the man and ensuring that pandemonium breaks out. In return for the briefcase, she has been given a heavy case which she manages to get to her car amid the confusion and then makes herself scarce.
After taking a little time to recover from the excitement at the airport, Mary soon realises that it won't be long before the police or the FBI come looking for her, so she decides to change her appearance and go into hiding. Before she gets a chance to leave though, she is visited by a couple of look-alike foreign agent-types who want to get their hands on the case she picked up from the airport. It's a visit from which she barely escapes and understands that her need to hide will be important to her health as well as to her freedom.
So Mary reinvents herself as Nina Zero, a retro punk drop-out, used to surviving the harsh street life. She finds herself a couple of room-mates who are suitably off-beat while providing adequate cover. Billy b is a driven artist intent on producing the ultimate American kitsch symbol and Cass is an out of work screenwriter waiting for her big break to come along. They each discover that the answer to what they are looking for may have walked into their laps in the form of the fugitive Mary and prepare themselves for fame or fortune on the back of her notoriety.
Meanwhile, Mary (as Nina) divides her time between trying to break into the artistic photography scene and joining a detective agency. The first has always been a far off, unattainable dream while the second is her way of solving some of the mysteries brought about by her new role as criminal-in-hiding.
First and foremost, this is an entertaining thriller dealing primarily with a cat and mouse chase story, but it's told with a humorously droll delivery. But it's also an examination of the way the experience has affected Mary. She starts out as an ordinary young woman leading a reasonably normal uneventful life. She allowed herself to be pushed around by her father and boyfriend, lacking the courage to stick up for herself. By the end of the book, although she's in a lot more trouble, she's a changed woman and has come out of the ordeal a mentally stronger person. It's this character development that I thought gave the story tremendous depth, unexpectedly so.
Robert Eversz has managed to keep the tone of the novel light even though the action becomes quite tense, sometimes downright desperate. The story moves ahead at all times without any flat spots, occasionally taking time out from the main chase storyline to explore a minor life experience that adds to the transformation from Mary to Nina. I found the book to be very entertaining, culminating in a poignant, satisfying ending.
Its a keeper.......2002-12-29
I read this a couple years ago and was thinking about it recently and wanted to read another like it. Thankfully Robert has written a sequel, I hope its as good as the last. Adventure, intrigue and a bit of excitement in Shooting Elvis. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next one.
Product Description
A bizarre death leads to discoveries about low-tech industrial espionage, but is selling details of your employer's customer base to their rivals a reason for murder? Appearances deceive, and it transpires the victim may have been the victim of a mistaken identity. DI Charlie Priest is content in his work, and his home life shows signs of improving. When his new girlfriend, a former world-class athlete known as La Gazelle, wins her comeback race his happiness overflows. But when a second mysterious death turns up on their patch, Charlie and his team find themselves under pressure to discover what catalyst motivates the killer. They suspect it might be Charlie himself, and this is confirmed when La Gazelle is kidnapped. Now it's getting personal . . .
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely Enthralling!!!
- this book
- One of the greatest books I've ever read!
- this is a great book
- A true page turner, this novel has it all
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The Jaguar Princess
Clare Bell
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Clan Ground (The Named)
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ASIN: 0312856733 |
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Enthralling!!!.......2005-05-19
Although meant for young adults, this book is certainly one that any adult could enjoy.
For starters, I don't believe there are many fictional books which are incorporated with information regarding the ancient Olmecs and Aztecs. Bell's book is the first I've come across that provides the reader with more than just a brief insight into those ancient cultures. Further, Bell takes her time in developing the plot, prolongs it as much as she can without boring the reader (but who could get bored with anything dealing with wondrous ancient civilizations anyway?), and leads us to a climatic ending. The combination of non-fictional history and a fictional storyline that is absolutely enthralling not only makes the reader not want to put the book down for a minute, but makes the reader feel one with the protagonist and leaves him craving for more. This book has fanned the flames of my love of the history of ancient civilizations. Anyone who enjoys anything to do with ancient history should read this book.
this book.......2001-04-25
This book is excellent. I read it in 6th grade and loved it. It's length daunted me at first but the content makes it a breeze. It's rich and detailed. You can at time almost believe you could be a were-jaquar as well. It is a rich tapestry. I recommend it to everyone. I was so upset when I found it was out of print.
One of the greatest books I've ever read!.......2001-04-13
I first read this book when I was nine years old, and even nine years later I hace never forgotten the gripping emotions I feel when reading it. I am quite an avid reader, usually going through as many as ten books in a week. Naturally, I have come across many different types of books ranging from horrid to wonderful. This story not only managed to enthrall me, it drew me into the story and made me feel like I was there with Mixcatl all throughout the story. I am currently reading it to my eleven-year-old and eight-year-old brothers, and they love it almost as much as I do! This is a fantastic story that every fantasy fan should not be without!
this is a great book.......2000-09-10
this book is a good book i have it already but i wanted to by another one i juat wanted to say this is a great book and i highly recomended it
A true page turner, this novel has it all.......1999-11-22
Intrigue, romance, and best of all, cats.. this book did the job well. I simply couldn't put it down after reading the first chapter or so. The characters are very well developed, and the imagery is wonderful, it truly takes you back to the age of the Aztecs. This book is *highly* reccomended to anybody who likes cats, or has ever wondered what it might have been like to live in the Aztec Empire.
Average customer rating:
- Good starter cookbook
- Easy And Delicious Low-Carb Recipes!
- The Carbohydrate Addicts Cookbook
- They call this a cookbook?
- No pictures
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The Carbohydrate Addict's Cookbook: 250 All-New Low-Carb Recipes That Will Cut Your Cravings and Keep You Slim for Life
Rachael F. Heller
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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| Special Diet
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Low Fat
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
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Low Carb
| Diets
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| Diets & Weight Loss
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Low Carbohydrate
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| Heller, Rachael & Richard
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The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting (Signet)
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Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0471382906 |
Amazon.com
Richard and Rachael Heller, both research scientists and professors, have taken the dieting world by storm with their bestselling Carbohydrate Addict's Diet and Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program. Now there's a companion cookbook, which adherents to their carbohydrate-cutting regimen can use from sunup to sundown without fear of straying from their dietary objectives. With only a short introduction on the basic goal of the diet--to limit insulin intake in order to lessen carbohydrate cravings and thereby lose weight--this cookbook presents 250 easy recipes that range from appetizers and breakfasts to meat, seafood, and vegetarian entrées and snacks.
Those who have not already read The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet or related titles and are not familiar with the program's strategy may at first find the many high-fat recipes included here counterintuitive to the notion of a diet. But the idea is simple: eliminate the foods that trigger overeating--starches, snack foods, and sweets--and replace them with protein-rich, fibrous meals that help to normalize blood-sugar levels and curb the impulse to binge. Such an approach allows for higher fat consumption--the body metabolizes fat more efficiently when there is less insulin in the blood stream--and even has the psychologically beneficial side effect of permitting a certain amount of indulgence. People usually leery of diets because they don't want to give up their weekly cheeseburger will be awed by recipes such as the egg- and cream-augmented Left Bank Burgers. Likewise, the Herbed Cheese Dip with cheddar, cream cheese, and sour cream is a startlingly deluxe accompaniment for the normally ascetic plate of raw veggies; the Crustless Spinach Pie entices with its rich mix of feta, Parmesan, eggs, herbs, and olive oil.
The Hellers' approach to cooking is by no means highbrow and their recipes are often simply no-starch variations on standard fare (Steak in a Blanket replaces the dough with romaine lettuce, for example). An unspecified teriyaki sauce is a staple in their kitchen, and experienced cooks may wonder if they really mean tamari or soy sauce. People who have health restrictions on salt and alcohol (a few recipes call for wine) will want to have the original Carbohydrate Addict's Diet book handy in order to look up suitable alternatives--they are not included with this cookbook. That inconvenience aside, dieters will have no qualms about these tasteful recipes as they eat their way toward a slimmer, healthier future. --Rebecca Wright
Book Description
#1 New York Times bestselling authors of The Carbohydrate Addicts LifeSpan Program and The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet
Lose weight and cut your cravings with the first cookbook from the worlds #1 authorities on carbohydrate addiction and weight loss
With 250 all-new mouthwatering low-carb recipes from Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller, the #1 New York Times bestselling authors and pioneers in carbohydrate-smart dieting, it is now easier than ever to shed those extra pounds permanently. Unlike many low-carb and low-fat cookbooks, which skimp on taste, The Carbohydrate Addicts Cookbook seizes on the dynamic flavors of a rich crop of foods, from tasty appetizers and hearty soups to succulent seafood and sinfully delicious salads, from vegetarian alternatives to traditional, down-home beef and poultry dishes and easy-to-make breakfasts. With a special section on "Quick Fix Dishes and Snacks," this is the one low-carb cookbook you will rely on every day.
•Herbed Cheese Dip • Hearty Breakfast Quiche • Mushrooms Allegro
Dijon Creme in Salmon Rolls • Curried Eggs • Baked Buffalo Wings
•Beefy Cream Cheese Roll-Up • Breakfast Delhi Delight • Peking Stir-Fried Beef
•Far East Beef Teriyaki • Paprika Pork Chops • Shanghai Pork Roast • Spicy Chicken
•Chicken Breast Apollo • Country Baked Chicken • Chicken in Cream Sauce
•Crustless Chicken Pot Pie • Breakfast Pockets • Island Lime Chicken
•Curried Basil Chicken • Baked Salmon with Herbs • Bounty of the Sea
•Steamed Mussels Peppercorn • Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
•Manhattan Mushroom Salad • Far East Tofu
•"Ham" and Cheese with Tofu • Parsley Buttered "Steaks"
Customer Reviews:
Good starter cookbook.......2006-09-27
I really liked this cookbook a few years back when I was just learning to cook. The recipes are simple, healthy, and pretty good.
These days, though, I hardly use it - now that I'm more experienced with cooking, the recipes seem a little bit *too* simple. They're not exactly bland, but they're not very exciting, either. The only thing I still regularly make is the Chicken Paprikash recipe, which is quite good (although I have to turn my stove a lot hotter than the book says or the chicken comes out practically raw).
Still, if you're looking for simple and healthy recipes, or if your tastes aren't too adventurous, this is well worth the price.
Easy And Delicious Low-Carb Recipes!.......2004-02-18
This was the first low-carb cookbook that I bought after choosing to lessen the carbs in my diet. It provides 250 new low-carb recipes, as well as guidelines on how to incorporate Health Agency Recommendations and American Heart Association's Recommendations into the Carbohydrate Addict's Program. After these recommendations, the book delves right into delicious low-carb recipes!
The recipes are divided in 12 sections:
Appetizers and Soups A few recipes from this section include Marinated Thai Chicken, Aromatic Shrimp Soup, Herbed Cheese Dip, and Holiday Meatball Appetizer.
Breakfasts Hearty Breakfast Quiche, Salmon Rolls With Cream Cheese, Savory Spinach Omelet, and Breakfast Pockets are but a few of the easy, mouth-watering recipes in this section.
Dips, Dressings, And Sauces Delcious recipes include Cucumber Cloud Supreme, Feta Vinaigrette, Creamy Clam and Crab Dip, and Roasted Green Pepper Sauce.
Beef and Veal Veal Marsala Burgers, Beef Provencal Stuffed With Mushrooms, Spicy Olive Burgers, and Peking Stir-fry Beef are but a few tasty dishes!
Lamb Recipes include Meditteranean Shish Kebob, Tarragon Lamb, and Herbed Leg of Lamb.
Pork Sumptuous Pork Salad, Roasted Pork With Rosemary and Garlic, Shanghai Pork Roast, and Paprika Pork Chops are just a few of the pork fare!
Poultry Crustless Chicken Potpie, Peppery Chicken Salad, Chicken Wings With Spicy Mustard Topping, and Christmas Hens are among the easy recipes featured in this section.
Seafood Classic Shrimp Scampi, Barnacle Bill's Scallops, Savory Fish With Vegetables, Steamed Mussels Peppercorn, and Broiled Swordfish With Cilantro Oil, are just a few of the many seafood recipes!
Salads California Greek Salad, Christmas Christmas Cabbage Salad, Taco Spinach Salad, and Tangy Cauliflower Salad are among the fresh fare in this section.
Vegetables Creamy Veggie Supreme, Super Stuffed Mushrooms, Asparagus-Egg-Mushroom Casserole, and Three Green Garlic Toss are several of the vegetable dishes featured in this section.
Vegetarian Alternatives Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, Asparagus Parmesan Soup, Stir-Fried Vegetable Special, and Cheesy Breakfast "Sausages" and Tofu Stir-Fry are some of the vegetarian alternatives shared in this inventive section.
Quick Fix Dishes and Snacks Poached Salmon Northwest, Low-Carb Mushroom Soup, Baked Flounder Italiano, and Creamy Asian-Style Scallops are but a few of the delectable recipes that are a snap to make.
What I love about this cookbook is that all of the dishes are easy to make, none of the recipes call for exotic food items that may be hard to find, and most of the dishes can be put together very quickly. Best of all, they're all low-carb and but high on taste!
The Carbohydrate Addicts Cookbook.......2003-10-26
Don't waste your money!! I would give it a zero if I could.
They call this a cookbook?.......2003-09-17
Ok, well maybe I'm a cookbook snob, but I couldn't fathom some of these "recipes". Baked Brie? I mean come on... who needs a recipe to put a wheel of Brie into the oven?? Or putting sausage in the oven with mustard slathered all over it, or rolling up some chicken and mustard in a lettuce leaf. These are more IDEAS but RECIPES??? I will admit to loving Bon Appetit and Jacques and Julia, so you'll need to relate there to get me. Plus, most of their recipes call for "teriyaki sauce"??? It's like my grandma making hundreds of recipe that call for Mrs. Dash. What do they mean "teriyaki sauce"? If they really mean that , it has sugar or corn syrup in it. If not, is this meaning soy sauce? If so, why is it in EVERYTHING??? I love low carb food, but this cookbook did not help me come to that love.
No pictures.......2002-09-15
It is okay, really simple but some of them is kind of boring and blah tasting
Customer Reviews:
A good book for juice recipes and treatments.......2002-07-31
This book is a nice addition for anyone who has a juicer. It provides an overview of the benefits of several different types of fruits and veggies. It also describes fruit juice "cures" for different ailments (including hangovers).
Julie Stafford also has written a solid book on juicing that might be an alternative. The advantage of Stafford's book (relative to this one) is that she organizes the recipe by the fruit or vegetable (rather than by ailment). When shopping, it is a bit more helpful to have the stafford book handy, though both books provide very similar recipes.
the rols royce book of that sbject!.......2000-02-07
there are many books on the topic juice book, and non of them that i have seen ,is coming near that book. this book is giving the reader the knoledge of the nutrition values, as well as the therapeutic aspects of each single fruit or vegetable, as well as for the mixed fruits and or vegetables as a healthy healing juices. there is also a section of diseases that are treated by specific fruits or vegetables juice combination.the reason of the healing properties for each juice is also explain in a very simple, and easy to understand,plus a small section that is telling you what kind of a juicer is the most suitable to your specific needs.in short, and in general, this book is a comprehansive yet simple and correct, and easy to follow book,and you have my best recommandation.i am on my way to the juicer.
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- Some Lie and Some Die (An Inspector Wexford Mystery)
- Strangled Prose: A Claire Malloy Mystery (Claire Malloy Mysteries)
- Sudden, Fearful Death (William Monk Novels)
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Books Index
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Digging James Dean: A Nina Zero Novel
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Gritos: Essays
