Book Description
The #1 electrical reference, the 2005 National Electrical Code®, is available through today's #1 electrical publisher, Thomson Delmar Learning! The single most important reference in the electrical industry, the National Electrical Code (NEC®), is updated every three years and outlines minimum standards for all types of electrical installations. The 2005 NEC®, available in softcover or looseleaf version, is loaded with solutions designed to provide better safeguards, add greater usability, and bring provisions in line with technology trends. A Âmust for anyone involved in electrical design, installation, or inspection, the 2005 NEC® provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code® and avoid costly errors in electrical installations of all types. Thomson Delmar Learning is pleased to make this authoritative reference from the NFPA available directly from us, for the convenience of our customers who work in and around the electrical trades. It may be used independently or as a companion to any electrical book, including DelmarÂ's best-selling wiring series as well as our guides to using the NEC®.
Customer Reviews:
nice one, amazon.......2007-09-08
Amazon is just lame sometimes. I've been asked to write a review of this book. Review the NEC? Uh, ok. I'm an electrician, so I guess I really like the NEC. There you go, Amazon.
NEC 2005 Softcover version.......2007-08-31
The Softcover version of the National Electrical Code 2005 is a must have reference for all Journeyman and Master Electricians. It is an essential tool for any students who are studying for a State License Exam.
How do you rate a code book?.......2007-08-31
The picture of the book I ordered looks exactly like the one that I received. Amazing! It actually has the NEC codes on the inside of the book which is exactly the reason I bought it. It is a really pretty book with lots of information.
I wish I had bought this years ago..........2007-08-09
I'm not an electrician so the price of the NEC delayed my buying a copy for too many years. I hunted for answers in forums and other web sources. (For advanced home improvers, Rex Cauldwell's excellent Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros) is a wonderful resource.)
I bought the spiral-bound edition 2005 National Electrical Code Spiralbound & Turbo Tab Set.
The 2005 NEC is as readable as and better than some codes. I recommend some highlighters and the 2005 NEC Tabs.
Millers Illustrated Guide to the NEC: Based on the 2005 National Electrical Code is a somewhat pricy but helpful companion. The coordinated descriptions and illustrations make the Code take on real-world meaning. There are almost no illustrations in the NEC.
Shipping fake.......2007-04-11
Just to let you know that i have ordered this book a month ago and I'm still haven't receive it !!! Of course they already charged my account. If you really need it just go over to the nearest Borders and buy it,Illustrated Guide to the NEC: Based on the 2005 National Electrical Code at least you will not have this headache waiting for something that may be in your house six months later !!!! I will never buy from this distributor again in my life. I have ordered things two weeks after this one and they are already with me !!!!!
Book Description
Produced by the NFPA, the popular National Electrical Code® 2005 Handbook contains the complete text of the 2005 edition of the NEC® supplemented by helpful facts and figures, full-color illustrations, real-world examples and expert commentary. An essential reference for students and professionals, this Handbook is the equivalent of an annotated edition of the 2005 NEC® that offers insights into new and more difficult articles in order to guide users to success in interpreting and applying current Code requirements to all types of electrical installations. A valuable information resource for anyone involved in electrical design, installation and inspection, the NEC® 2005 Handbook is updated every three years and provides 100% of the information needed to "meet Code" and avoid costly errors. Thomson Delmar Learning is pleased to make this one-of-a-kind reference - containing the most widely accepted and most frequently used criteria for electrical installations in the U.S. - available directly from us for our customers who work in and around the electrical trades. It may be used independently and also makes an excellent companion to books in Delmar's best-selling electrical wiring series.
Customer Reviews:
Electric Code Book.......2007-06-11
This book is required in order to obtain an electrical contractor's license in the state of Georgia.
Very Good Reference Book for Electricians.......2007-06-09
This book is fine, it was a little bit expensive though.
this is the top of the line.......2007-03-19
this is everything i would ask for in a code book. it has details and is very comprehensive. this code book is great for keeping everything up to code.in reality sometimes compromises need to be make for pratical sake, electical inspectors i've dealt with understand that too. sure follow the book to perfectlly in a test exam but in real life something are not going to be happening.
Important Resource.......2007-02-19
Wanting to make internal wiring systems safer is the right thing to do. However, knowing how to meet that goal has never been more difficult. And with internal wiring systems more complex than ever, having a resource that provides correct answers about the NEC rules along with details in a simple explaination, is even more useful. That's exactly what the NEC 2005 Handbook does.
I have used this resource for years and can always count on it to provide answers in a clear and concise manner. The latest Handbook continues to improve with the increased use of illustrations and expanded discussions to help the reader know the NEC rule specifics... while helping in its understanding.
The Handbook is a "must have" reference if you are serious about doing all you can to meet the safety goals of the NEC Rules.
student use.......2007-01-04
This book is far better than the standard red code book. this has more useful information with the pics and tables that is more helpful. and the tabs are great makes finding the sections alot easier.
Amazon.com
Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie.
Thus reads an ancient stone at Thermopylae in northern Greece, the site of one of the world's greatest battles for freedom. Here, in 480 B.C., on a narrow mountain pass above the crystalline Aegean, 300 Spartan knights and their allies faced the massive forces of Xerxes, King of Persia. From the start, there was no question but that the Spartans would perish. In Gates of Fire, however, Steven Pressfield makes their courageous defense--and eventual extinction--unbearably suspenseful.
In the tradition of Mary Renault, this historical novel unfolds in flashback. Xeo, the sole Spartan survivor of Thermopylae, has been captured by the Persians, and Xerxes himself presses his young captive to reveal how his tiny cohort kept more than 100,000 Persians at bay for a week. Xeo, however, begins at the beginning, when his childhood home in northern Greece was overrun and he escaped to Sparta. There he is drafted into the elite Spartan guard and rigorously schooled in the art of war--an education brutal enough to destroy half the students, but (oddly enough) not without humor: "The more miserable the conditions, the more convulsing the jokes became, or at least that's how it seems," Xeo recalls. His companions in arms are Alexandros, a gentle boy who turns out to be the most courageous of all, and Rooster, an angry, half-Messenian youth.
Pressfield's descriptions of war are breathtaking in their immediacy. They are also meticulously assembled out of physical detail and crisp, uncluttered metaphor:
The forerank of the enemy collapsed immediately as the first shock hit it; the body-length shields seemed to implode rearward, their anchoring spikes rooted slinging from the earth like tent pins in a gale. The forerank archers were literally bowled off their feet, their wall-like shields caving in upon them like fortress redoubts under the assault of the ram.... The valor of the individual Medes was beyond question, but their light hacking blades were harmless as toys; against the massed wall of Spartan armor, they might as well have been defending themselves with reeds or fennel stalks.
Alas, even this human barrier was bound to collapse, as we knew all along it would. "War is work, not mystery," Xeo laments. But Pressfield's epic seems to make the opposite argument: courage on this scale is not merely inspiring but ultimately mysterious. --Marianne Painter
Book Description
The national bestseller!
At Thermopylae, a rocky mountain pass in northern Greece, the feared and admired Spartan soldiers stood three hundred strong. Theirs was a suicide mission, to hold the pass against the invading millions of the mighty Persian army.
Day after bloody day they withstood the terrible onslaught, buying time for the Greeks to rally their forces. Born into a cult of spiritual courage, physical endurance, and unmatched battle skill, the Spartans would be remembered for the greatest military stand in history--one that would not end until the rocks were awash with blood, leaving only one gravely injured Spartan squire to tell the tale....
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Short & Spoiler Free Review.......2007-10-17
The language is thick, the story structure is thin, but pound for pound, Pressfield's Fire is the standard by which all other historical fiction is measured. A Must Buy Manbook.
Strange and wonderful.......2007-10-15
Saw Pressfield's comments on Thermopylae in the History Channel's "Last Stand of the 300" and was impressed by his obvious knowledge of the history of the Persian invasions of Greece and of Sparten attitudes and customs. The novel proved to be even better than I expected, giving the reader both a sense of how strange to us was the life, and war, of Greek antiquity and a sense of wonder for the people of those long-ago little cities and for their achievements: exactly the reactions which uncommonly good historical fiction arouses in its reader. This is the most authentic fiction about Greek-Roman antiquity which I've read since ColleenMcCollough's series on the Late Roman Republic.
A good historic fiction read.......2007-10-09
If you enjoy this time era and especially The Spartans, you will not go wrong with this book.
Powerful.......2007-10-01
I don't read much fiction, but a friend of mine bought this book for me. I read it and was impressed by how well written this historical fiction is. Anyone interested in warfare, modern or ancient, should look into this book. Pressfield gives such an authentic account of how Spartans would have acted on a day-to-day basis.
One of the best books I've ever read.......2007-09-25
This book is absolutely amazing. One of the best reads ever. Not only does it describe the battle but it also details the life of a Spartan. I wish 300 was based on the story presented here
Customer Reviews:
Essentials of Firefighting.......2007-03-08
This manual helps not only the new recruit, but the veteren firefighter to enhance their basic training or to review techniques on tasks & operations.
this is a very good book........2005-08-12
i've taught the fire academy using the textbook. it is a very good book for beginning firefighters as well as those who been firefighters for a while.
jim davis
Great Read.......2003-03-01
I recently joined a volunteer fire department and this book
truly helped me through the six months probationary period.
Great!!.......2002-12-02
This is a must have for anyone who aspires to being a firefighter. Vivid descriptions, Helpful tips, How-to Skill Sheets, and Clear illustrations help the student master otherwise difficult material. I'm currently going through firefighting class and would not be able to live without this book.
Firefighter Review.......2002-04-22
The book is excellent in its layout. Is easy to follow and is a very imformative piece of necessary literature for any firefighter taking firefighter 1. Is very informative on NFPA regulations and guidelines. I was impressed with the detail that was given in the book, our instructor was impressed with this book as well.
Book Description
From one of AmericaÂ's most celebrated educators, an inspiring guide to transforming every childÂ's education
In a Los Angeles neighborhood plagued by guns, gangs, and drugs, there is an exceptional classroom known as Room 56. The fifth graders inside are first-generation immigrants who live in poverty and speak English as a second language. They also play Vivaldi, perform Shakespeare, score in the top 1 percent on standardized tests, and go on to attend Ivy League universities. Rafe Esquith is the teacher responsible for these accomplishments.
From the man whom The New York Times calls Âa genius and a saint comes a revelatory program for educating todayÂ's youth. In Teach Like Your HairÂ's on Fire!, Rafe Esquith reveals the techniques that have made him one of the most acclaimed educators of our time. The two mottoes in EsquithÂ's classroom are ÂBe Nice, Work Hard, and ÂThere Are No Shortcuts. His students voluntarily come to school at 6:30 in the morning and work until 5:00 in the afternoon. They learn to handle money responsibly, tackle algebra, and travel the country to study history. They pair Hamlet with rock and roll, and read the American classics. Teach Like Your HairÂ's on Fire! is a brilliant and inspiring road map for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about the future success of our nationÂ's children. BACKCOVER:
Praise for Rafe Esquith:
ÂRafe Esquith is my only hero.Â
ÂSir Ian McKellan
ÂPoliticians, burbling over how to educate the underclass, would do well to stop by Rafe EsquithÂ's fifth grade class as it mounts its annual Shakespeare play. Sound like a grind? Listen to the peals of laughter bouncing off the classroom walls.Â
ÂTime
ÂEsquith is a modern-day Thoreau, preaching the value of good work, honest self-reflection, and the courage to go oneÂ's own way.Â
ÂNewsday
Customer Reviews:
A lack of balance..........2007-10-18
Anyone that teaches twelve hours a day, six days a week, has got to be missing a great deal of "balance" in their own life. Remember, every strength has a weakness. There are some good points that can be learned here by Mr. Esquith, but take all of this with a grain of salt, and know, that you can still be a great teacher without commiting seventy two hours a week to your craft. "There is no free lunch"
Too good to be true? I think so........2007-10-09
A couple years ago I wrote an Amazon review of Esquith's first book, which you can find at "There Are No Shortcuts." I liked some of its ideas while finding the author a manipulative loony.
Afterwards, a credible-seeming series of emails arrived to my email address from somebody who said he was a former student of Mr. Esquith. He spelled out in detail accusations against Esquith in terms of his controlling and inappropriate relations with students. He asked for help in exposing them publicly. I urged him to contact a journalist or school officials.
Now, I don't know if any of this was true, of course. And teachers are very vulnerable to being falsely accused. But now that I see Esquith put out another book this year AND that some Hollywood types put out a book about his Shakespeare troupe, I have to wonder if anybody is going to investigate this guy?
It is astonishing to me that his megalomania, so obvious to many other reviewers on here, is glossed over by his fans like it was just a mild flaw like "caring too much" or being forgetful. Megalomania in a teacher is a very dangerous thing! He is not a college professor but a teacher of 5th graders! Having read his work, I know I would not trust him with my child.
priceless.......2007-10-02
As a mom of a 3rd and 4th grader I can't say how grateful I am to have run across this book. Rafe has distilled years of experience and success with children into what amounts to a powerful guidebook for anyone raising kids. A previous reviewer recommended borrowing this book from the library. I am grateful I bought it, and, having read it, would be happy to pay a lot more for it if I had to. My copy is full of post-its, placed to remind myself of great pieces of information, advice and inspiration to follow up on. I have attended classes on parenting, read books on parenting, listened to radio programs on parenting etc, so I can honestly say: this book is a jewel. It was also very entertaining to read, with lots of moving anecdotes. I am so glad the author squeezed in the time to share his vast experience with the rest of the world.
Wish I'd Read This Years Ago.......2007-09-06
Rafe is the courageous teacher I wish I'd been in my career. He brings so much of himself and his passions into the classroom. While this book doesn't spell it out, it's obvious that he's had to find ways around school and district policies that could have kept him from creating a classroom environment of high achieving students year after year.
The sheer efficiency and effectiveness of his teaching is astounding! Not only should every teacher read this book, but so should every administrator, teacher educator, and policy maker. For parents, the book is full of practical tips for raising children and developing character. I'd have loved to have done my teacher training in Rafe's classroom.
Extraordinary.......2007-09-05
Rafe is an extraordinary person and teacher. He practices what he preaches and sets an incredible example for other teachers. Rafe knows how to get results. He has 25 years experience and is extremely willing to help up and coming teachers (I know this personally).
I highly recommend his books to all educators. We should all follow such an example of integrity, hard work and creativity. If we did, education would be changed forever.
Book Description
Welcome to the Custer Hill Club - a men's club set in an Adirondack hunting lodge whose members include some of America's most powerful business leaders, military men, and government officials. Ostensibly, the club is a place to relax with old friends. But one fall weekend, the club's Executive Board gathers to talk about 9/11 - and finalize a retaliation plan, known only by its code name: WILD FIRE. That same weekend, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is found dead. Soon it's up to Detective John Corey and his wife, FBI Agent Kate Mayfield, to unravel a plot that starts with the Custer Hill Club and ends with American cities locked in the crosshairs of a nuclear device. Only Corey and Mayfield can stop the button from being pushed, and global chaos from being unleashed... More chilling than yesterday's headlines and as prophetic as tomorrow's, Wild Fire will challenge you to question everything you thought you knew about your leaders and your country while thrilling you with suspense that builds with every page.
Customer Reviews:
Not Worth It.......2007-10-16
This was the first book by DeMille that I have read and I wasn't impressed. The basic plot was good, however, the incessant wisecracking by the main charactor was overbearing and obnoxious. And his prolific use of the f-word was crass and left the book severely lacking in terms of intelligent dialogue. Don't waste your money on this one; I'm sorry I did.
A must read.......2007-09-29
Wild Fire is the most powerful what-if scenario I've ever read in fiction. The intrigue and action are non-stop, and the novel is peppered with first class comic-relief. Not only was I unable to put Wild Fire down, but I also found it impossible to avoid laughing out loud every time the protagonist, John Corey, came up with another quip.
DeMille's view into the minds of fictional dangerous people at the top is frightening. He gives you the impression that this could happen. God help us all if it does, and pray that there's a Detective John Corey out there to stop it. This novel is a must-read.
not this time.......2007-09-27
I really wanted to like this book, but it was actually annoying. I really liked John Corey in Plum Island, less so in the Lion's Game, and hated him in Wildfire. the wisecracking was way over the top, and his wife came off as a lame straightman/sidekick.
I hope Mr. Demille doesnt do this in the sequel to his greatest work: The Gold Coast. That was the first book I read by him- luckily it wasnt this one!
The Usual Suspects.......2007-09-24
I read this book several months ago but held off writing a review, hoping my first impressions would improve with time. Alas, not so. De Mille's books are usually a reliable mixture of snappy dialogue and fast paced plots. The snappy dialogue is here in spades; John Corey is married and he and Kate engage in the usual banter. However, de Mille seems to think this is a substitute for a well thought-out plot. In this book we meet the bad guys (more on that later) and they proceed to lay out their plans in endless detail. In fact, the first 100 pages (at least it seemed that long) consist of the evil doers explaining all in a meeting that is laughable. We find that the bad guys (no spoiler here) intend to nuke one of our major cities. Just which one requires pages of discussion.
Once this meeting concludes the pace does pick up, but the "action" seems to consist of John and Kate driving around the countryside.
Now a word about the perps. Every author is entitled to his or her choice of bad guys. Is does help, however, if the choices are plausible and don't require too much of a stretch of ones imagination. In this case the proposed deed is the setting off of a nuclear device in one of our cities. Given recent history, one might suppose that this might be the work of Arab terrorists, etc. Not so. Here we have members of the FBI, CIA, and State Department. Heading up this group is, of course, a representative of the most evil group of all - - big oil.
De Mille can do much better than this sad sffort.
Wild Fier.......2007-09-23
Fun read interesting plot. It's a page tuner. If you are a fan of DeMille's other John Cory novels you will like this one. I read it in about a day and a half while on vacation.
Book Description
Modern firefighting is a continually evolving science. New technologies are constantly being applied to the fire service, both from within and without. In the latest edition of this perennial favorite, author John Norman examines these new technologies and how they affect fireground tactics. He also details the new role firefighters play in homeland security. What is offered here is a guide for the firefighter and the fire officer who, having learned the basic mechanics of the trade, are now looking for specific methods for handling specific situations.
Customer Reviews:
Practical and worthwhile, even if you aren't a member of the FDNY.......2007-04-08
It is widely discussed in fire service circles that this text is an amalgom of FDNY tactical bulletins and other internal documents, such as Ladders 3 and Ladders 4. If so, it offers useful information for fire problems most of us routinely encounter. The 3rd edition has hideously tiny print and is over run by wordiness, but does have additional chapters on WMD issues as well as townhouse/garden apartment fires. There is new text intersprised all through out the book. Norman is a tough read - passive voice, run on sentences and double negatives - but the material is still worth digging through. And hey, the bulding classification codes from the 1st and 2nd editions got corrected.
A must for any working firefighter.
Very informative!.......2007-03-17
I found this book to be very informative. It helps answer the "what if this happens" questions that every firefighter ponders when they have time to reflect. I definitely recommend picking up this book whether you are an actual officer or firefighter.
Good Book for Rook or Vet.......2007-02-10
I bought this as a text for a class but I'm finding it very thorough and easy to follow with tons of good info.
excellent resource.......2006-04-11
This book is full of valuable information, and has helped to fill in some gaps in my understanding of certain firefighting tactics that I simply have not learned in my five years in the fire service. This book simply has more valuable, pertinent information than any other fire/rescue text I have ever read. Incredible!
The books only flaw is the photos are of very poor quality.
It is full of a great wealth of knowledge and insight. Awesome text, very easy, interesting read.
I highly recommend this book.
The New Essentials.......2002-11-16
This is quite possibly the finest tactical instruction manual on the market. Despite regional variences in tactics, this book will expand your understanding of your current SOP's and allow you to try something new with a proven record. Masterfully written and not the boring text you're used to in textbooks. This is a must read for anyone wishing to advance in the fire service...truly a new essential.
Book Description
The #1 electrical reference, the 2002 National Electrical Code®, is now available through today's #1 electrical publisher, Delmar Publishers! The single most important reference in the electrical industry, the National Electrical Code® (NEC®), is updated every three years and outlines minimum standards for all types of electrical installations. Adopted as law by states, cities, and municipalities, the 2002 edition of the NEC® features newly adopted articles on transient voltage surge suppressors (Article 285), sensitive electronic equipment (Article 647), fuel cells (Article 692), and more! The latest administrative rules (e.g., Article 80) and safety rules (e.g., Article 100 on flash protection and Article 430 on motor disconnect locations) are also included. An excellent resource for anyone involved in electrical design, installation, and inspection, NEC® 2002 provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code and avoid costly errors in electrical installations of all types. Delmar is pleased to make this authoritative reference by the NFPA - containing the most widely accepted and most frequently used criteria for electrical installations in the U.S. - available directly from us for the convenience of our customers who work in and around the electrical trades. It may be used independently or as a companion to any electrical book, including Delmar's best-selling wiring series as well as our guides to understanding and using the NEC®.
Customer Reviews:
Not a basic wiring guide.......2006-09-21
This is THE guide book for electricians and engineers. Almost 700 pages of useful information. The layout, tables, and ease of understanding have all improved over past editions. But this is not a basic wiring guide and it will only frustrate those without some electrical background. If you need to meet code - you need this book.
National Electrical Code 2002.......2005-10-03
this book is very helpfull with getting the job done A+++++ book
easy to understand.......2001-10-19
Book contain useful topics, easy to understand, clear picture, helpful for practical work and passing exam.
Average customer rating:
- My least favorite of the Potter novels. The plothole killed it for me.
- The best of the series
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Going Strong
- A Catholic homeschool father's perspective
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
J.K. Rowling
Manufacturer: Listening Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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Similar Items:
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
-
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
ASIN: 0807282596
Release Date: 2000-07-08 |
Amazon.com
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling offers up equal parts danger and delight--and any number of dragons, house-elves, and death-defying challenges. Now 14, her orphan hero has only two more weeks with his Muggle relatives before returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yet one night a vision harrowing enough to make his lightning-bolt-shaped scar burn has Harry on edge and contacting his godfather-in-hiding, Sirius Black. Happily, the prospect of attending the season's premier sporting event, the Quidditch World Cup, is enough to make Harry momentarily forget that Lord Voldemort and his sinister familiars--the Death Eaters--are out for murder.
Readers, we will cast a giant invisibility cloak over any more plot and reveal only that You-Know-Who is very much after Harry and that this year there will be no Quidditch matches between Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Instead, Hogwarts will vie with two other magicians' schools, the stylish Beauxbatons and the icy Durmstrang, in a Triwizard Tournament. Those chosen to compete will undergo three supreme tests. Could Harry be one of the lucky contenders?
But Quidditch buffs need not go into mourning: we get our share of this great game at the World Cup. Attempting to go incognito as Muggles, 100,000 witches and wizards converge on a "nice deserted moor." As ever, Rowling magicks up the details that make her world so vivid, and so comic. Several spectators' tents, for instance, are entirely unquotidian. One is a minipalace, complete with live peacocks; another has three floors and multiple turrets. And the sports paraphernalia on offer includes rosettes "squealing the names of the players" as well as "tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves." Needless to say, the two teams are decidedly different, down to their mascots. Bulgaria is supported by the beautiful veela, who instantly enchant everyone--including Ireland's supporters--over to their side. Until, that is, thousands of tiny cheerleaders engage in some pyrotechnics of their own: "The leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at the veela across the field."
Long before her fourth installment appeared, Rowling warned that it would be darker, and it's true that every exhilaration is equaled by a moment that has us fearing for Harry's life, the book's emotions running as deep as its dangers. Along the way, though, she conjures up such new characters as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, a Dark Wizard catcher who may or may not be getting paranoid in his old age, and Rita Skeeter, who beetles around Hogwarts in search of stories. (This Daily Prophet scoop artist has a Quick-Quotes Quill that turns even the most innocent assertion into tabloid innuendo.) And at her bedazzling close, Rowling leaves several plot strands open, awaiting book 5. This fan is ready to wager that the author herself is part veela--her pen her wand, her commitment to her world complete. (Ages 9 and older) --Kerry Fried
Book Description
Read by Jim Dale
Running time: 20 hrs., 30 mins. 17 CDs.
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his fourth year of magical adventures in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This year Harry turns 14 and becomes interested in girls -- one in particular. And with Dark Magic comes danger, as someone close to Harry dies. You'll have to listen to learn more! The audio is available on July 8th.
Customer Reviews:
My least favorite of the Potter novels. The plothole killed it for me........2007-10-17
Without a doubt my least favorite of the series. I got into Potter back when only the first three books were out, and quite some time before this book came out, and I was all psyched for it. Then I read it, all 700+ pages of it. While I found it engrossing, it certainly wasn't as good as AZKABAN.
Actually, Amazon ruined the book for me. I was online reading reviews here after I finished the book (this was back in 2000), and one of the reviews pointed out the plothole that why didn't Mad Eye Moody just make a portkey out of anything, rather than make Harry go through all the trouble with the Triwizard Tournament, and I really didn't have any answer to that. So after I finished the book, I didn't read it again for seven years, because this plothole took out the whole point of the book.
When I reread all six books in preparation for DEATHLY HALLOWS this summer (which I finished them all with a week to spare before Hallow's release date), I picked this up again. It had been a long time since I read it, and the plothole always turned me off so much whenever I did reread the Potter books I never could bring myself to read this one.
Going through it a second time, in context with the rest of the series, this is definitely when Potter got into darker territory. But Potter was always dark anyway, and while this is always thought of as the turning point in the series as far as darkness goes, AZKABAN is pretty dark too.
Potter has been enrolled in the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous tournament that you must be 17 to enter. Potter is entered without his consent, and much too young. Ultimately the three events they must go thru are dangerous and at the end of the third we see Voldemort's plot unmasked.
As far as the plot hole, I've read several different theories on why Voldemort's agent wouldn't have used the portkey before then. One possible explanation, which I wish Rowling would have used, was you can't use portkey within the grounds of Hogwarts, but under this especial circumstance the use of portkeys was allowed at the end of the tournament. Another issue is Barty Crouch Jr. He must truly want to serve Voldemort to do what he did. Still, it would be a lot of work to drink polyjuice potion every hour for a school year straight.
We get the first real death in the series (at least, a character we have come to know and not offscreen or backstory deaths). Poignant, but the death appears more to be included so she can move the series into darker territory than any natural artistic progression.
There are some great scenes in this one, especially the Quidditch World Cup, and introduction of other international schools (a thing we have not yet seen - so far we only know of magic in Britain). Rowling also clearly lays more foundation to Ron and Hermione as a couple, a plotline that would not find full resolution until Book 7. Still, those who always thought Harry and Hermione should end up together, read this book more closely. It's pretty obvious from Book 4 on Ron and Hermione would end up together. There's a lot of sexual tension in the air between those two. Harry, on the other hand, is quite up in the air at this point, though we know in Book 7 who he ends up with.
While it is my least favorite of the Potter books, it's still an entertaining read. This is clearly the book where Rowling moves beyond children as a primary audience and bringing more complexity and maturity to the series, which is the reason why as the books progress they are more adult oriented than the early volumes.
Still, I find myself in the minority. I know a lot of people who love GOBLET. There are certainly some great scenes and memorable passages throughout the book. I just wish Rowling would have fixed the plothole better (and it wouldn't be that hard to fix).
These are my order of Potter books by preference:
Deathly Hallows
Prisoner of Azkaban
Order of the Phoenix
Philosopher's Stone/Chamber of Secrets (I rank them both the same)
Half-Blood Prince
Goblet of Fire.
The best of the series.......2007-10-04
Having read now the entire series, i have to say this is my favorite, its the turning point, when the plot begins, and the main story takes off, and its the funnier one.
Also the ending surprised me more than the other 6 books, dont know why
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-09-30
What can one say? Rowlings continues with her wonderful story, keeping her characters constantly endearing. The adventures continue and no matter what your age you will be caught up in the excitement and magic as Harry learns more about his background, his strengths and his weaknesses.
If you have not read Harry Potter at all, then you must start with the first book and read all seven of them, you will be transported out of this world and into one that will bind you as magically as it has bound me
Going Strong.......2007-09-24
The fourth Harry Potter is significantly darker than the first three. harrys is growing up, and is about to face some difficult challenges. Unlike the first three books, the fourth Harry starts not with Harry's departure to Hogwarts, but with a Quidditch tournament, during which some dark misteries are unveiled, misteries which are signs of the things to come.
The Quidditch tournament, another year at Hogwarts and a Triwizard tournament are the highlights. Harry comes face to face with his arch-enemy Voldemort, which is bound to split the wizarding world.
Though beautifully and expertly written, the fourth Harry Potter is just a tad too long, with descriptions that are more detailed and lengthy (sometimes unnecessarily so) than usual. Still, the fourth Harry is just as gripping as the first three, and keeps the reader wanting for more. And fortunately there is more. Order of Phoenix, here I come!
A Catholic homeschool father's perspective.......2007-09-17
It took four books, but Voldemort, the most powerful of the dark wizards, is back. And his minions, the Death Eaters, couldn't be happier. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tells the tale of how it happened--in about 750 pages. As with the previous novels in the series, the prose is generally crisp, the dialog is occasionally goofy, and the characters are wonderfully well drawn. Though quite a long book, the plot is tight, amusing and keeps you guessing. My only major criticism of the book as literary work regards the ending. As heroes go, Harry's main virtue in these final confrontations always seems to be dumb luck. Voldemort is a bit of a bungling super-villain for whom there's always an element of, "Oops, forgot about that." And not once but twice there were "Tuco" moments where the villain insists on lecturing the hero before doing away with him. "When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." While I suppose these types of scenes aren't quite as trite for young readers who haven't seen them done over and over in dozens of books, TV shows, and movies, for me they were something of a let-down.
On the plus side, this was the first book in the series so far that made me laugh out loud a few times. Something about Hermione's idealistic but naive obsession with her Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare struck me as highly amusing. I suppose it was Ron's insistence on calling the organization "spew" that did it.
This was also the darkest book in the series so far. In it we are finally given a more concrete idea of what constitutes "dark" magic. Dark wizards apparently use the three "unforgivable curses"--the imperius curse, which causes the victim to do the spell-caster's bidding, the cruciatus curse which causes the victim horrible pain, and Avada Kedavra, the killing curse. Now this last one looked so much like the "abracadabra", the all purpose Vaudeville magician word, that I went out and looked it up. It seems that J. K. Rowling herself said that it is an Aramaic spell meaning "let the thing be destroyed." Now why she chose to use Aramaic--the language of Christ--for this worst of all spells, and not Latin like she did for all the rest is beyond me.
Of course, it should be mentioned that Rowling's distinction between good magic and "dark magic" has never been accepted by the Catholic Church as Fr. Amorth, the famous exorcist, has repeatedly pointed out. That said, to this point in the series, all of the "good magic" has been of the comic-book variety--turning people into ferrets or making someone's nose grow tentacles. The "dark magic" is used exclusively by characters who are unmistakably evil.
One interesting little tid-bit in Goblet of Fire that may be thrown into the Christian-vs.-occult-influence debate happens at the Yule Ball. Up to this point, Christmas and Easter at Hogwarts have been mentioned at least in passing in every book. However, while the British are ever so much less stupid about actually calling the holidays by their proper names (unlike some in the U.S. who insist on calling them "Winter/Spring Break" or attempt to replace them with made-up PC holidays from the 1960s), Christmas and Easter have nonetheless lost almost all religious meaning to most Britons. And thus it has been at Hogwarts--Christmas in the first three books has been all about feasting, decorating, and getting presents. But for a split second in Goblet of Fire, Rowling has suits of armor singing, "O Come All Ye Faithful" (page 395). Given all the secular "holiday" tunes she could have inserted there, that she chose an unmistakably Christian one could be telling. Admittedly, it could also be complete coincidence.
Finally, the aspect of Goblet of Fire that I most appreciated was the introduction of the slimy, ethics-free journalist, Rita Skeeter. This character was such an on-target parody of a gossip reporter that you just know that J. K. Rowling was taking some shots at the media. That Ms. Skeeter worked hand-in-glove with the "Ministry of Magic"--a government agency populated with petty bureaucrats and place-seeking brown-noses--made the parody that much more on-the-nose.
Over all, as a work of fantasy fiction that has been marketed with young readers in mind, I found Goblet of Fire to be quite a foreboding read. The scene at the end where Wormtail mixes a potion in a graveyard for which the vital ingredients are a bone from Voldemort's father, some of Harry's blood, and Wormtail's own hand--which he, himself, promptly slices off--was border-line demonic. And for a book with so much discussion of death, I found it more than a little disconcerting that it lacked any notion of Judeo-Christian eschatology. So again, I will refrain from endorsing this book or the series as a whole as in any way suitable for younger Catholic readers until I see where all this is going.
Book Description
The First Responder Handbook: Fire Service Edition is an information-packed guide providing first responder education for fire service professionals. Written by emergency response experts and specifically designed for firefighters, this text presents information in a way that will feel familiar to anyone in the fire service. It covers safety for first responders, patient care principles, emergency response tactics, and even first responder actions for incidents involving terrorism. This street-smart book fulfills the U. S. Department of Transportation's requirements for first responder certification while offering firefighters valuable emergency medical training.
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