Amazon.com
In Lindsay Moran's Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy, the author comes across is an amusingly candid cross between Bridget Jones and James Bond, with a little Gloria Steinem thrown in to remind readers of the inherent sexism that runs rampant both in the US government and abroad. Moran, a few years out of Harvard and fresh from a Fulbright scholarship in Bulgaria, decides to follow her childhood dream of becoming and spy and, after a grueling interview process that involves several polygraphs and an abandoned foreign boyfriend, goes to work for the CIA. What follows is a surprisingly honest behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a real-life CIA agent, signal-sites and all.
Yet more than an insider's guide to the life and times of an undercover agent, Blowing My Cover is a story about a highly educated, obviously intelligent yet occasionally insecure young woman trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and who she wants to have beside her. As we follow Moran to the "Farm", a six-month training camp where new recruits are forced into alarmingly real POW situations and asked to perform death-defying car chases reminiscent of old Dukes of Hazard episodes, we also witness her extreme loneliness at being cut off from her friends and family and her fear that she'll never meet "the one" and settle down. One of the most poignant scenes happens early on in Moran's training, when she meets up with some friends in New York at a party and realizes she can't even tell her closest confidents what she does for a living.
For anyone who's ever wondered what it really means to be a CIA agent, Moran's tale is a worthwhile read. Better yet, for anyone who's ever wondered what she wants to be when she grows up (even at age 30), Blowing My Cover is an ultimately hopeful story of possibilities. --Gisele Toueg
Book Description
A clever, funny memoir from a young woman who fulfills her Mission: Impossible dreams by joining the CIA, only to discover that the life of a spy is not at all what she expected.
Lindsay Moran was a bright-eyed, idealistic Harvard graduate who hoped to serve her patriotic duty while living a life she'd first dreamed of as a child watching James Bond movies and reading Harriet the Spy. After applying to the CIA and passing lie detector tests, background investigations, and psychological screenings, she soon found herself in training at the Farm, learning how to crash cars through barriers at a hundred miles an hour, not to mention how to withstand interrogation.
But she was simultaneously learning that the life of a spy wasn't nearly the glamorous-not to mention principled-job she thought it would be. Her first posting, to Macedonia, confirmed it, as she witnessed firsthand the culture inside an organization whose intelligence failures led to tragic results during her own tenure. With a true story both thoughtful and funny, a wonderful new talent pulls open the doors to the CIA.
Customer Reviews:
Great idea, poor execution.......2007-09-13
I was very excited to read this book, and I did learn some interesting things about the workings of the CIA. As complete outsider, I knew very little about the recruitment process and training, and I appreciated Moran's descriptions. However, her personality was so repellent and her writing so juvenile that I had a difficult time focusing on the message.
As a 20-something who has spent several years working and studying abroad, I am sorry to report that Moran's attitudes and lifestyle are pretty characteristic of young expatriates. Moran constantly references her altruistic motivations, yet she constantly belittles and berates almost everyone she comes in contact with. How can she be as open minded as she claims to be when she feels comfortable generalizing about groups of people such as Mormons? She describes herself as cultured and educated, yet her biggest extra-curricular interests are partying and sleeping with unkempt drug abusers. Why does she like being someone's meal ticket?
After reading this book, there are some questions that I would like to ask the author:
Have you ever dated someone with stable employment?
Aren't you a little old for recreational drug use?
Did you use the GRE vocab list to randomly pick words that you obviously don't know how to use?
After reading your memoir/hagiography, why was I so surprised to see how unattractive you really are? I know that is irrelevant, but it does make me question her grip on reality. How scary are these foreign operatives if they want to hook up with that??
I admit that this review probably wasn't very mature, but I'm way younger than Moran, so at least I have an excuse!
Career in the CIA.......2007-07-23
If you are considering a career in the CIA this is a great book. It gives a realistic view of the apllication process, training and daily work life of a CIA spy. It gives you a good look at what life is like for a CIA case officer.
Can't Put It Down!.......2007-07-12
I'm amazed by some of the reviewers and how hard they are on this book. Contrary to what other reviewers have said, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable. I also didn't think Lindsay Moran tooted her own horn much. Are people jealous she went to Harvard, got into the CIA pretty easily and graduated at the top of her class? Sounds like it to me. She worked hard and it shows. I loved her self depreciating humor and laughed out loud several times at stories she told. I fell in love with her and sympathized in her struggle working for the CIA. She's also one heck of a writer grammatically! And if you call niave thinking how she thought the CIA was going to be, then I'm niave too because that's how I thought it was also...until I read this. I wish more reads were this effortless and fun for me. I can't wait until this spitfire comes out with another book!
Negative reviewers betray their own insecurities.......2007-06-06
Like many here I read the book in one sitting and found it a fascinating "alternative" view of life in the CIA. Unlike others here, I found her writing to be candid and engrossing. I think many of the negative comments posted reveal more about the poster than the novel.
"Her prose was riddled with fake self-deprecation that was meant to cover up a smug attitude."
"It was no wonder she didn't get very far in her clandestine career."
"Her elitist Harvard attitude"
"Moran constantly reminds readers that she went to Harvard"
"She also thinks she is better than everyone else because she has her Ivy League Rich Kid Harvard Degree."
"earnest twenty-something assurance that she knows best about everything"
She's a Harvard graduate, traveled the world on scholarship, speaks Bulgarian, was hired by the CIA and now makes a living as a professional writer - maybe she's not being "smug," maybe she's just cooler than you?
"Moran isn't exactly monopolizing the universe's supermodel genes"
Yes, that is certainly a wonderful reason to pan the book. Because of course, every CIA agent has the chiseled profile of a Hollywood movie star.
"to sleep with as many foreigners as possible"
As Moran discusses in the book, no one seems to care who the male agents sleep with (even with prostitutes and transvestites) - just as long as there is no "ongoing relationship." Interesting that the reviewers also perpetuate this hypocrisy.
"The damage to morale, if not security, done by this book to serving members of the intelligence community is far greater than any passing enjoyment it may provide to the pre-teen "chick lit" fan club."
"having written a book so wholly uncomplimentary about the brave men and women who actually do the important work which she was so manifestly unsuited for."
"Moran spent 5 years with CIA, with maybe 50% of that time in training. She was only on 1 overseas tour."
I think this is the crux of their discontent, Moran describes a CIA comprised of real human beings with real human frailties, not an endless series of James Bond and Jack Bauer clones. If you want to read what is essentially a young woman's journal of her years in the CIA, then you should read this book. If you want to experience a cartoon full of fictional two dimensional cardboard cut-outs then pick up the latest Tom Clancy potboiler or go catch up on those missed episodes of 24 on DVD.
Highly recommended for the "24" crowd... .......2007-04-14
Highly recommended for the crowd who forgets "24" is just a television show. Quick, easy read, informative, entertaining, and based on my experience, smacks of authenticity.
1. The book details Moran's entry into the CIA, the training required, and her subsequent assignment to the Balkans shortly before 9/11. If you're interested in the subject, her description about the initial training is fascinating. Also, I've been to the Balkans, and her descriptions of both the place and the people are spot-on.
2. Some are easily seduced by the acronym "CIA" and forget it's another large, bureaucratic organization doing the best they can, with what they have, not immune from petty politics, careerism, lack of competence, and wrong headed ideologues.
3. Obviously Moran struck a nerve with this book. If her tone is sometimes sarcastic or whiny, it's an anecdote to blowhards like Clancy-the truth is somewhere in-between for the reality based community. It's wrong to question her patriotism or her committment. To survive, organizations need creative types-those who can think outside of the box, who defy conventions, people who aren't afraid to say "the emperor has no clothes."
4. After 9/11, we entered a new era. We can adjust to those changes or continue business as usual. Sometimes you need stone throwers like Moran to force us to question the way we are doing business so we can make the necessary changes required to defeat a new enemy.
Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, February 2000: The versatile Hall is already responsible for two series: under his own name he has written the Stanley Hastings mysteries, a lighthearted series set in Manhattan and featuring a smalltime private eye, while as J.P. Hailey, he's penned the Steve Winslow courtroom mysteries.
Now he's switching course again, this time presenting what can only be termed a disreputable Jessica Fletcher: Miss Cora Felton, famed from coast to coast for her popular crossword puzzle column syndicated in many newspapers. Closer to home, however, Cora's as well known for her hard-drinking, chain-smoking ways. When one starts to look more closely, there's a real possibility that she doesn't even write her own puzzles and that she may be something entirely different from the public's perception of her.
But one will have to read A Clue for the Puzzle Lady to learn the whole truth. In the meantime, readers will also enjoy the small-town Connecticut ambiance and the challenge of trying to figure out what the two female murder victims have in common, aside from the fact that both have been found in the town's cemetery (where the bodies usually come in coffins) and that on their person are what appear to be crossword clues.
What are known in the trade as "cozies" generally are not my cup of tea, as it were, but I'm on record as being a longtime admirer of the author--as well as not being averse to a little-old-lady sleuth with a highball, instead of knitting, in her hand. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
Cruciverbalists, rejoice! Pick up a pencil and get ready to solve a puzzling murder-and an actual crossword puzzle-in this sparkling debut of a unique amateur detective: Miss Cora Felton, an eccentric old lady with a syndicated puzzle column, an irresistible urge to poke into unsettling events, and a niece who's determined to keep her out of trouble.
When the body of an unknown teenage girl turns up in the cemetery in the quiet town of Bakerhaven, Police Chief Dale Harper finds himself investigating his first homicide. A baffling clue leads him to consult Bakerhaven's resident puzzle expert-his first big mistake. Soon Cora's meddling, mischief-making behavior drives Chief Harper to distraction and inspires many cross words from her long-suffering niece, Sherry. But when another body turns up in a murder that hits much closer to home, Cora must find a killer-before she winds up in a wooden box three feet across...and six down.
Customer Reviews:
A real page-turner!.......2007-06-01
This is a great book! If you like crosswords and mystery this series is for you!
Not enough clues for the Puzzle Lady.......2005-12-20
This is a weak mystery novel. There are only a few crossword puzzle clues that are a part of the story and they are not very difficult. If you are a huge crossword puzzle fan I would not recommend getting this book on that basis. As far as the other parts of the mystery there are very few clues. I found the reveling of the mystery to be extremely unsatisfying. The characters themselves and the dialogue of the novel are also sub-par. The Puzzle Lady has some life but little depth and the other characters are almost completely flat. There are definitely better mysteries out there.
Witty.......2005-07-18
I can't say I'm a huge fan of mystery and crime novels; I kind of accidentally started reading it while looking for a good mystery series to be translated and published in Turkish. Although it seems difficult work in terms of translation (considering the puzzle clues to be fit in grids and various wordplay), I can easily say this was a very witty piece and I loved the characters, especially Cora Felton. I guess I'm going to read the rest of the series just for pleasure, with no intention to publish in Turkish unfortunately. Have fun!
Despite the Flaws, I Loved It.......2005-07-05
Cora Felton, the famed puzzle lady, and her niece Sherry Carter are hoping the nice quite life in the country will keep them in relative obscurity. But when a body turns up with what the police chief thinks is a crossword puzzle clue, they are suddenly thrust into the limelight. Did the killer leave behind a crossword puzzle clue? What does it mean? And how could it possibly lead to the killer?
I bought this book a couple years back after hearing the author speak, but then started hearing rumors about Cora. I thought I might be put off by the fact that she is a chain smoking alcoholic. While that did bother me, I couldn't help falling in love with all the characters in this book. I've heard in later books that aspect of her character is dropped, and I'll certainly look forward to that. In the mean time, I found her a fun character I could root for. My other problem with the book was the constant use of characters full names. Almost every time a new paragraph started, the author felt the need to refer to Sherry Carter or Cora Felton or who ever the current character was. That got very annoying in a hurry.
Still, this book provided a great puzzle I had a hard time putting down. Nothing made sense until the end when everything falls into logical place. The author spent the majority of the time with four of the characters, and the multiple viewpoints worked well to tell the story and build suspense at the end. As I said, I really liked all four of the characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the next book. Another aspect I enjoyed was the word play between characters, especially Sherry and newspaper reporter Aaron Grant. Fans of crossword puzzles will enjoy the puzzle at the beginning of the book. There is a solution in the back for those like me who get stuck easily. Just a word of warning, the puzzle is meant to be solved after the book is read since some of the clues have to do with the plot of the book and therefore could spoil it for you.
While this book has some serious flaws that will turn others off, I found the plot and characters engaging enough I could over look them. I will certainly be back to visit the cozy town of Bakerhaven.
Pretty slow read.......2004-10-19
I'm a huge murder mystery fan, so I was excited to read this book. The premise sounded good, but a few chapters into the book I wasn't hooked. I read all the way to the half way point of the book and just couldn't finish it.
There were pages where nothing happened. But the most annoying part to me was how the author keeps referring to the main character and other characters by their entire names throughout the book (well, as much of it as I read) I think an introduction of the characters full names once is enough. I don't need to read how 'Cora Felton' did this and 'Cora Felton' did that. I think that is what turned me off the most. Every time I would read an entire name, I would mentally roll my eyes. I wouldn't recommend this book.
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Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy, Volume 2)
Anne McCaffrey
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Similar Items:
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Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy)
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Dragonsong (Harper Hall Trilogy)
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Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern)
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The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3)
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The Masterharper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)
ASIN: 0689860072 |
Customer Reviews:
3 favorite Pern books........2007-04-26
These 3 Pern books, other than the trilogy of Dragonquest, Dragonflight, and The White Dragon, plus The MasterHarper of Pern are my favorite Pern books. I wish there were more Pern books about the regular people and the Harper Hall itself. I absolutely love the dragons and dragonriders, but I also love the Harpers and the Craftspeople.
If you're looking for Pern books to get a teenager, or anyone, and are confused; I recommend the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy(Dragonquest, Dragonflight, and The White Dragon), along with the Harper Hall trilogy.
Three Harper Hall trilogy books in one volume - not a new book.......2007-01-28
This book contains Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums. I liked the Harper Hall trilogy. These three books stand alone and take place concurrently with Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon. It is written as a young adult series but is definitely readable by adults as light reading. If you like McCaffrey's Pern series, these are recommended for you.
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DRAGONSINGER
Unknown
Manufacturer: CORGI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S6LJHE |
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Dragonsinger
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKG656 |
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Dragonsinger
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TXUYZE |
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Dragonsinger
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S5ZUBQ |
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Dragonsinger
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GTFX9S |
Book Description
ccording to a recent Time magazine cover story, 15 million Americans include some form of yoga in their fitness regimes-nearly twice as many as five years ago. This healing art balances the mind with the body, incorporating physical strength with mental fitness to reach a place of deep, lasting peace, harmony, and happiness. Christy Turlington discovered yoga at the age of 18 and has been a serious practitioner for 15 years. Lavishly illustrated and suited for practitioners of all levels, Living Yoga explores the eight tenets of yoga, including the various postures. Christy shows readers how to meditate and how to plan one's home according to vastu principles, and provides the names of yoga schools across the country. The book also includes beautiful photos of Christy in positions from basic to advanced. She discusses how to incorporate yoga into your everyday life-no matter how busy you are-and how yoga has made her own life more peaceful through stressful times and events.
Customer Reviews:
I love this book.......2007-10-08
Thank you Christy for writing this. It is heartful to know that you are willing to share yourself in this way. I admire your perseverance in finding yourself out there, steeped in the material world. I like the personal tone you write with for finding your path, it gives me strength. Thank you for being real and being yourself.
Life Is A River.......2007-06-08
I love the journey Christy Turlington takes you on in this book...it is very educational and inspiring to see how Christy transformed her life and has taken the spiritual path in the midst of all the things going on in her life...I feel compelled to stay the course I am on in my Yoga experience....she is a beautiful woman inside and out and I feel blessed to have found this beautifully put together book...the photos are amazing..
Thank You
Not what I expected.......2005-12-07
The title of the book may be misleading. Although there is some good information about yoga in general the book is mostly a personal story of Christy's life. It's not that her life isn't interesting, it's just a little distracting when you think the book is supposed to be about yoga. There are nice pictures of Christy modeling certain yoga asanas spread out throughout the book. The yoga information presented is also helpful and easy to understand. The book in general is nice but I don't think I would recommend it to anyone I know. It is not enough of a yoga book nor enough of a biography book.
Comment on Editorial Review.......2005-12-03
Just a note that Christy Turlington is *not* the first "mainstream celebrity" to write about yoga; Raquel Welch wrote a book on yoga back in the 1980s.
Model offers sincere insight into yoga.......2005-01-18
Dont dismiss this book simply because of the author is a famous model. Christy interweaves her personal journey with her yoga practice. I especially appreciated reading about how she incorporated her practice with her faith.She offers a brief synopsis of the main yoga methods. AT times I felt like she cut and paste theology term papers into the text but I appeciate the clarity she gave me on the very confusing differences in yoga from reasoned voice.
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