i decided to take a java class @ a local college. its prerequisite is C, which i had convenced the instructor to forgo for me, since i am not studying for a degree.
i have never dealt with a 'real' programming language before, so now i have 2 weeks before the semester starts to give myself a jump-start on ood & java.
i don't have the time to read those 1200 pages books that everyone seems to be recommending in 2 weeks.

are there any "beginner" books that are relatively easy to read and will just teach me the basics?

i am thinking about
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761535225/qid=1042587852/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-0975326-9711901?v=glance&s=books - Java Programming for the Absolute Beginner
or
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072127422/qid=1042587852/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-0975326-9711901?v=glance&s=books - Java 2: A Beginner's Guide (there's also http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072225882/qid=1042587852/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-0975326-9711901?v=glance&s=books which seems to be a later version of the same book, but it has no reviews yet)

what do you guys think?
may be you have better books (or may be web sites) to suggest for me, but please remember, that i have to get the grasp on the basics ASAP.

THANKS!


also, what do you thin k of this book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0672318539/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_3/104-0975326-9711901 - The Object-Oriented Thought Process?