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Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

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Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Hardcover Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

* Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him. * When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists. * Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards. * Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius. * Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother. * The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'. * Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children. * The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them. * Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it. * Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge. * Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming. * Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone. * Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager. * Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape. * Dumbledore's confession to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* The introduction of the Horcrux. * Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur's answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles. * Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling's most ingenious inventions. * Fred and George Weasley's Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!" * Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator. * The effects of Felix Felicis.

Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child.

Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author.

Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer.

A Few Words from Mary GrandPré

"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.

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Price: $9.85 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Meggie's father, Mo, has an wonderful and sometimes terrible ability When he reads aloud from books, he brings the characters to life--literally Mo discovered his power when Maggie was just a baby. He read so lyrically from the the book Inkheart, that several of the book's wicked characters ended up blinking and cursing on his cottage floor. Then Mo discovered something even worse--when he read Capricorn and his henchmen out of Inkheart, he accidentally read Meggie's mother in.

Meggie, now a young lady, knows nothing of her father's bizarre and powerful talent, only that Mo still refuses to read to her. Capricorn, a being so evil he would "feed a bird to a cat on purpose, just to watch it being torn apart," has searched for Meggie's father for years, wanting to twist Mo's powerful talent to his own dark means. Finally, Capricorn realizes that the best way to lure Mo to his remote mountain hideaway is to use his beloved, oblivious daughter Meggie as bait!

Cornelia Funke's imaginative ode to books and book lovers is sure to be enjoyed by fans of her breakout debut, The Thief Lord, and young readers who enjoyed the similarly themed The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley. (Ages 10 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert.
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Whip Your Knitting into Shape

do·mi·kni·trix \"dä-mi-'ni-triks \ n, pl -trices [US, var. of dominatrix, re: knitting] (2005): a woman who dominates her knitting; broadly: a badass knitter

You have knitted your last bad piece. Let the DomiKNITrix show you the ropes. Yes, it may be painful to take the time to knit a gauge swatch, count stitches and fix mistakes. But just think of the pleasure you'll get when you knit a gorgeous, perfect sweater with no holes and no uneven stitches.

Learn the rules or else. Inside you'll find a no-nonsense, comprehensive guide to essential knitting operations and finishing techniques, including step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches used in the patterns in the book.

Get your hands dirty. The book features over 20 spicy projects to satisfy any knitting appetite. For a Knitting Quickie, choose from one of the smaller projects, such as the Mohawk hat or the popular Snow Devil cap. If you want more of a challenge, try the L'il Red Riding Hoodie or the Big Bad Wolf icon sweater, The Slink or City Coat.

Want to be a whip-smart knitter? Let the DomiKNITrix show you how it's done..
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Qiviut, or musk ox down, is a world-class fiber--luxurious, warm, and lightweight People who experience it become obsessed Qiviut makes perfect hand-knitted lace, as demonstrated by the Alaskan artisans of Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-op. This book presents how-tos for knitting and designing lace, projects suited to new as well as experienced lace knitters, yarn sources, and comprehensive cultural background..
Price: $10.49 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his novels, but in his lifetime, his fame stemmed from his prolific achievement as one of America's most gifted story writers "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," a witty and fantastical satire about aging, is one of his most memorable stories.

In 1860 Benjamin Button is born an old man and mysteriously begins aging backward. At the beginning of his life he is withered and worn, but as he continues to grow younger he embraces life -- he goes to war, runs a business, falls in love, has children, goes to college and prep school, and, as his mind begins to devolve, he attends kindergarten and eventually returns to the care of his nurse.

This strange and haunting story embodies the sharp social insight that has made Fitzgerald one of the great voices in the history of American literature..
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In The Natural Knitter, Barbara Albright takes readers on a rich journey through the joys of all-natural fibers–materials that can make an incredible difference, both in your knitting and in the health of our planet. From the animals and plants that produce the fibers to the artisans who work with them, The Natural Knitter presents the first-ever all-encompassing look at the world of natural knitting.

Tempted by the versatile and beautiful yarns produced from the fibers of llamas, sheep, cashmere-producing goats, and angora bunnies–as well as from cotton, hemp, linen, and silk–some of the most renowned designers in the textile industry have contributed patterns to this collection. There are more than twenty wonderful projects in all, and each highlights the softness, drape, and quality of the fiber used–from Norah Gaughan’s “Architectural Rib Pullover” in cashmere and wool yarn and Vicki Square’s “Uma Sweater” in silk yarn, to clever designs like Debbie New’s “Cast-Off Clothing” in hemp yarn and Barbara Albright’s “Lilliana’s Organic Cotton Poncho and Drawstring Pouch” design for organic cotton yarn. Meet the entrepreneurs who are creating beautiful products that are also non-toxic and earth-friendly, using plant-dyed fibers and unique processes. For the adventurous, step-by-step instructions are included for dyeing yarn naturally at home.

Lavishly illustrated and thoughtfully detailed, The Natural Knitter offers a thorough and engaging picture of the natural fiber industry–and a beautiful palette of designs for readers to knit, savor, and enjoy..
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Low inflation, high employment, a stock market that has reached unprecedented heights. The economy doesn't get any better than this. Clearly, for the seventy-six million baby boomers hitting their prime earning years, the "good old days" are right now, and there's no end in sight. Or is there?

In this powerful, prescient book, economists and financial wizards William Sterling and Stephen Waite take an indepth look at how America's baby boomers have transformed the nation's--and the world's--economy and how that transformation must inevitably--and radically--alter its course as the boomers age. Grounded in common sense, infused with the startling clarity, Boomernomics is a book you can't afford to ignore.

Yes, the good times are bound to go on rolling for at least another decade. The demographics fueling the current boom, coupled with the huge benefits of technology and globalization, will take us into the twenty-first century on a building wave of prosperity--and Sterling and Waite show us how best to capitalize on that. But when the wave crashes, it may crash hard and fast.

But the economic "big chill" won't freeze you if you're prepared for it. As Sterling and Waite show, there are strategies we can use, both as private individuals and collectively as a nation, to prosper during the "age wave." Privatizing social security, applying market principles to the health care system, rethinking the concept of retirement, tapping creatively into the potential gold mine on the Internet, using demographics to pinpoint growth industries: these are among the prescriptive suggestions that the authors use to successfully manage their thirty-billion-dollar money market fund--and that will now work for you.

The baby boom is the single most significant social and economic phenomenon of the twentieth century--but its full impact will only be felt in the decades ahead. This landmark book gives you the vision and the knowledge you need to stay ahead of the all-important demographics curve.
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Insurance Law 2008 discusses the key upcoming trends in insurance law for 2008 highlighting the major milestones over the past year and providing overall thought leadership for the year ahead. Featuring partners from some of the nation s leading law firms, these experts discuss recent changes in laws, decisions, and policies that have affected the practice of insurance law, as well as recent case decisions that will impact the future scope of this ever-changing area of law. These authors identify the major hurdles their clients will face in 2008 and the most significant changes they are looking to employ in their strategy over the upcoming year.

Chapters Include:

1. Marc M. Tract, Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman "Alternatives in Insurance Law"

2. Erika L. Blomquist, Partner, Haynes and Boone "The Impact of Recent Cases on Insurance Law"

3. Gerald V. Weigle Jr., Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP "Recent Mass Tort Developments Regarding Insurance Industry Liability"

4. Joseph G. Grasso, Partner, Thacher Proffitt & Wood "Current Issues and Trends for Insurer"

5. Kate Musso, Partner, Balch & Bingham LLP "Shake, Rattle, and Insure"

6. Barry N. Mesher, Partner & Gabriel Baker, Lane Powell PC "Applying the Insurance Fair Conduct Act"

7. Lon A. Berk, Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP "Effect of Recent Decisions on Insurance Disputes"

8. Marc Tepper, Partner, Buchanan Ingersoll "2007 Trends in the area of Bad Faith Litigation and Attorney Fee Recoveries"

9. Carlos Emiliano Needham, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips "The Evolution of Insurance Law"

10. Bradley J. Baumgart, Partner, Kutak Rock LLP "The Interpretation of Insurance Law"

11. Thomas B. Alleman, Shareholder, Winstead PC "Better Strategy through Reverse Engineering"

12. Fred R. Biesecker, Partner & Brent W. Huber, Partner, Ice Miller LLP "Reactions to Wrongdoing in the Insurance Industry".
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This is an excellent and VERY PRACTICAL resource manual. It offers real life solutions to real life situations. The ideas listed within this manual offers the details and tools needed to get you started and / or keep you successful your senior housing management project. It will not leave you guessing.Many people have benefited from this information and raised and maintained a census up to 95-100% from a history of about 80%-85% and have stabilized their payrolls and costs to create opportunities for growth.It hits the critical subjects in senior housing directly, and will help you change the culture of your staff and will help you impress your employer and investors greatly. Although it discusses many management issues, the marketing concepts and ideas listed are outstanding and worth the purchase alone.Your organization will compound its return on investment in this manual greatly. Contents include:Marketing and sales,Staff turnover costs reductions,Risk management,Food Costs and service,Growth and business planning strategies,Project financing and funding strategies,Market analysis,Hospitality, Environment, Service delivery,Revenue enhancement strategies,Compliance,Wellness,Work environment improvement strategies.This manual will help Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Livings, Care Home, Personal Care Home, Senior Apartments, and Independent Living project managers and administrators. Also, it will be very beneficial to both novice and skilled operators and lenders..
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