Fiction Literature Books

1984 is a great novel, even for the casual reader. What I think is terrifying is that it is possible in our time. Big brother could be watching (wiretaps with no court order) and if you don't share his view you might end up in room 101 (Guantanamo) as an "enemy combatant" with no rights.

It's a telling story about control and fabrication of information, fear mongering and make believe triumphs (top secret documents, proof of wmd, color label terror alerts, mission accomplished) sounds ridiculous - or maybe not.

The views expressed in the book 1984 are very unique and yet still relate to today. The story shown in the book accurately portrays the needs of the people and how they will never be met in the face of an oppressive government. It paints a clear yet disturbing picture that must be experienced. Very good read.

Put simply this is the greatest work of dystopian literature ever created. It's not filled with useless details like Atlas Shrugged and is more vivid than anything Huxley or London have ever created.Nineteen Eighty- Four shows the ultimate consequences of government intervention into the individual's life. The book takes place in a totalitarian state called Oceania where even the thoughts of the citizens are controlled and punished by the ruling party.Follow the life of Winston Smith, a mal adjusted government propagandaist, as he struggles to keep his mind, body and soul free for the death grip of the all encompassing state.A must read for all who value individuality, liberty and non-comformity.Come and discover why Orwell is one of the most influential and referenced author of the last century.

Orwell's 1984 is a novel that is truly frightening for those who cherish free expression and the power of individual thought. Dystopia literature owes it all to this classic of the genre. I managed to get through all my formal education without having read this text. However, picking it up now I am glad that I waited until I was a little older to read it.
The first thing one must marvel at is the brilliant construction of the novel. Orwell as an artist is at the top of his form and the structure of the novel is wound so tightly that readers would be wise to annotate the text as there is an almost cyclical nature to many of the themes and ideas presented. Orwell weaves the same ideas throughout the text, and each time he revisits them he shows them through the lenses of a different ideology or character and thus emphasizes for the reader how precarious (and precious) are the mores and ideals of the individual mind.
The idea of governments who yearn for power for power's sake is not so foreign to our early 21st century world, and although the text ends on a nihilistic note, the reader walks away from 1984 with the renewed impetus to revere and respect our individual thoughts, as these, and these alone, give us unique value. Read this text, not so you can fear "big brother", but rather so you can be reminded to respect yourself enough to think and form intellectual thoughts. It is Winston's loss of the self that should frighten the readers of 1984, not the dreary world that Orwell creates. We don't need totalitarian governments to become Winston Smiths. We can do it to ourselves if we are not careful!

Today's American is mentally incomplete if he/she has not read this book. If you haven't read it, please do so. If you have read it, please read it again. And keep in mind that reading it is not the goal. Knowing it is the goal.

The distinction is important because Orwell so masterfully describes the loss of truth, the loss of individuality, the loss of freedom so subtely and so effortlessly, that the crucial points are missed if the reader has a lack of focus.

with uncanny brilliance, Orwell describes the tactics used by a totalitarian state against its own people to gain submission and cooperation. The submission is so complete that the proles (the masses) no longer have ownership over their own thought! It is a subtle and painless process and only Alexis De Tocqueville, in his monumental work, "Democracy in America" has come close in the past 175 years of describing it, but even Tocqueville admits that he can't give it a name.

"In fact there will be no thought...Orthodoxy means not thinking-not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" writes Owell. Orwell later writes that "orthodoxy is stupidity". What the reader needs to understand with this point is that "orthodoxy" is the "news" we get from our mainstream media, our establishment press. Because our mainstream media is government controlled, as explained in the book: U.S. Television News and Cold War Propaganda, 1947-1960 (Cambridge Studies in the History of Mass Communication), naturally only government orthodoxy will be espoused.

In the novel, Orwell writes, "There is no possibility that any perceptible change will happen within our own lifetime".

There are so many unbelievably essential tactics described in this book that I can't do much justice to them in this review, but the reader needs to connect with Orwell's cleverness and understand how important it is to Big Brother to control the language and rewrite the history, in fact, write the history before it even happens. This, the torture to get confessions, attacking an ally and blaming an enemy (false flag terrorism) is all here and Orwell wrote this masterpiece 60 years ago!

This book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, is drawn from heavily in the book, Don't Weep for Me, America: How Democracy in America Became the Prince (While We Slept). Here, the relevancy of "Nineteen Eighty-Four" will blow a lot of minds...

It is absolutely amazing that any novel could be written in just three weeks, let alone this defining portrayal of the United States in the early 1950's. This is a true masterpiece.

I don't need to say much, because I see I'm not alone here. I honestly don't know how anyone can read this whole book. I picked it up really excited to read it and just couldn't get through it. I asked a friend what the big deal with Jack Kerouac was, if I was missing something, he said it was the shock of things he said for the timeso in other words, it's totally outdated!

I rather think On The Road is the kind of book that will either appeal to someone or it won't. I guess most books are that way. But I see so many disparaging reviews either here or in the discussion section that I wanted to start by acknowledging that point.

Personally, I loved the book enough to write a companion reader for it (The Beat Handbook: 100 Days of Kerouactions), so right up front I have a bias and thought you should know about that.

Objectively, it's important to note that most scholars agree that - contrary to what many believe - Kerouac did not write On The Road without editing it in a nonstop caffeine-enhanced frenzy. At least one scholar suggests that Kerouac wrote in three phases. First, he captured his experiences as they happened or soon after in notebooks. Second, he wrote about his experiences in letters. Third, he refined it all into his manuscripts. Even the latter he edited multiple times.

Regardless, Kerouac set forth - as he stated in his own letters - to invent a new way of writing. Most agree that he succeeded with his stream-of-consciouness style. Some say he changed the American novel.

In any event, to really enjoy On The Road as Kerouac intended, just read it. Fluently. Don't try to make sense of it intellectually at every turn. Experience the timing of his writing, how it slows down and speeds up and pauses. How it glides and stutters. How it wanders - just like our thoughts! Re-read sections. Much of it is like poetry - it's not just about the meaning but about the sound and the texture of words.

Of course, along the way enjoy the story. Keep in mind that the book involves drug use and sex and petty larceny and a whole host of other behaviors society deems "inappropriate." That was the point! It was the generation that first rebelled against the Ozzie and Harriet culture we'd become. The beat generation experimented with living!

And Kerouac chronicled it. Better than anyone else.

On The Road is required reading for anyone interested in the beat generation.

As far as I can tell, this book is about girls, hitchhiking, and partying. After 100 pages and no plot in sight, I put the book down. A total waste of time.

As I age, look back and revisit books and states of mind, I find my aesthetic interlocutor diminishing the significance of the beats and all things beatnik (along with other things that don't apply to this review). Too much of what was beat seems in retrospect self-promotion. Certainly, Kerouac was a passionate cat, but whatever truths he offered--buddhistic and otherwise--don't fit well with the alcoholic he became, or the anti-Semitic remarks that occasionally burst out of him. Ginsberg, according to Caroline Cassidy, was a misogynist, which the underground movie Pull My Daisy seems to confirm. Kesey, who was a bridge of sorts between beats and hippies, is mightily disliked as a sef-centered creep by more than a few who knew him, including the late Abbie Hoffman. And from another angle, my daughter, who is a good and serious writer, and appreciates such as Henry Miller, picked up On the Road at my urging and could hardly read it, so shallow did she find it.

I suppose there's enough sentiment left in me from those old rebellious days of finger-snapping coffeehouse readings to give Jack three stars for now, but next year, if the same retrospective critical trend continues, he might be down to two.

If you want to read something more moving, and far more accomplished, check out the following memoir of a hippie sensibility (that is, a mind on acid), one man;s intense year a youthful counterculture both influenced by and anagonistic to the hipsters (being more hot than cool, more joyous than deadpan): I Think, Therefore Who Am I?

I used to spend HOURS just looking through the book at all the illustrations. The stories didn't always grab me, but the pictures did. There was SO much going on. I remember especialy the picture of the castle with the moat and all the mice. Man hours and hours of fun! Now, at 35, I have my first son. I bought this book 5 years ago "just in case." Looks like I get to watch him have fun with it too!

I have loved this book since before I was old enough to walk. I bought this book to have a walk down memory lane and to remember my own road to literacy. This book was instrumental in my learning to read.

I recommend any Richard Scarry books to anyone with youngsters. They contain wonderful stories and are very educational.

This was one of my favourite books as a child - I can remember spending hours pouring over it, and I am convinced that it taught me how to read. (I was reading at three and a half years old.) The short stories are perfect for children with short attention spans, and the labelled diagrams give children to see the words that they are familiar with in print. I have purchased several of these for my friends' children over the years and am glad to see that this book is still a favourite.

This is a wonderful treasury of stories and pictures designed to keep young children amused and entertained. Gentle lessons in how to be polite and be a good member of a household are delivered with humor, questions to the reader, and brightly colored illustrations.

I used to read this book to my sister when she was very young for hours on end. My 2 1/2 year old son discovered it in our bedroom a few months ago, and now it has become, in his words, our special book, and we read from it night and day! It delights me that he enjoys it so much, and I enjoy reading it with him, and rediscovering my favorites.

This is a book I will likely be sending for Christmas gifts this year!

Love Richard Scarry, but the illustrations in this publication are a bit dull/faded. There is a lot of content here, but still I was disappointed by the faded look. I recommend Richad Scarry's 'I Am a Bunny' Board Book which has superior color and my baby loved it at 3 months! Her first favorite book!!!

If you like this series, you should know that this volume is printed completely in black & white, unlike the individual volumes which are printed in color. I think that would be significant to adults, but it's especially important to youngsters. My son was using his birthday money to buy this book and was hugely disappointed. He'll get the last couple of volumes in color instead.

this series is full of action,laughs and sadness. i rate it 5 stars. i enjoyed the character becaue they are funny and curious.

i think jeff smith is an awesome author because i can understand what he is writing about such as war is dangerous and lying gets you nothing but trouble.

i think more people should start reading the bone series it is amazing

This book is simply gorgeous. An adult or child alike will find this book captivating, and awesome.

Jeff Smith's Bone series, I can honestly say, is one of those occasions where a comic book series grows out of itself into actual literature (and not to bring up the question of what does the "genre" literature actually consist of, I hope you understand my meaning). It is a grand, sweeping, epic story interspersed with humour, tragedy and love. I have heard it compared in some ways to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and I can see that comparison (I've now described the book as Tolkien, Disney-style). It is a story of good versus evil, where the side of good can only hope to overcome the perils of evil, and yet they find a way. I'd love to be able to recount the entire adventure, but that would take too long.; the series consisted of 51 issues, and the One Volume Edition collects all 1,332 pages of the entire story in one huge tome.

The artwork is beautiful, all rendered in black and white line drawings. It has a cartoony feel to it, but it fits the feel and pace of the story. The dialogue is well written, the characters are fleshed out and believable and the flow of the narrative is perfect. I really can't recommend this more.

Bone is an enjoyable comic, and for many in my age bracket it was our first taste of a graphic novel that was not about superheroes. It is a serious yet still fun piece of literature, suitable for both children and adults, but a large part of its appeal is from the crisp visual style and bright colors of the original printings. The setting is beautiful, and the world's inhabitants are lively and fun. The art utilizes lighting effects and background color constantly to set the tone for each scene, and I can think of at least two characters who are hard to tell apart without the benefit of color. Seeing this collection in black and white made me very sad, because I know so many people will miss out on half the charm to the story. When I got this tome as a present, I only made it a few pages in before I had to put it down and go buy the color volumes myself.

The comic is a cartoon, illustrated by a talented artist, and it deserves to be seen as it was intended. Rendering it in black and white for this printing makes it less expensive, but you get what you pay for. Buy color.Bone Volume 1: Out From Boneville

maus is dated and still very upsetting, to people who really understand it bigoted and hurtful intent.

Don't waste time anymore, and read about what is going on right now - today! If you like the comic book form, then read and order PALESTINE, by JOE SACCO. It is about the present and ongoing -today, right now as you read this review - killing and murders of helpless and homeless Palestinian families. Although in graphic/comic form, there is 'nothing' funny about it. But if that genre motivates you to read, then you will learn a ton in an interesting way, especially the way Sacco has brilliantly portrayed it.

Unlike maus, PALESTINE tells a true and objective story about something horrible happening right NOW, not a horribly bigoted and confused version of what, might of happened 80 years ago!?

PALESTINE by JOE SACCO, is done with superior artistry and writing. It
makes maus look like, well a maus.

Many a student comes away reading maus and say: "Why would anyone depict the Jews as RATS, as Goebbels did. Spiegelman's bigotry is clear,i.e., he catagorizes people as certain animals, as Goebbels made jews the rats. A RACIST concept in and of itself.

What does maus achieve? The answer is easy: compounded ANTI-SEMITISM. These kinds of hate writings against Poles and Germans always backfire in the face of Jews like spiegleman - ALWAYS! Was Spiegelman expecting 200 million Poles and germans to rave about being mocked - NO. Will maus help healing between future generations - ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Poles deserved none of Spiegelmans mockery and got the most. Polish students today go home sick to their stomachs while being subjected to this torture by cruel and insensitive teachers: WHO-DON'T-GET-IT!. EVERY POLE ON THIS EARTH IS RELATED TO SOMEONE WHO WAS BRUTALIZED AND KILLED BY THE GERMANS - EVERY POLISH CATHOLIC. Five, 5 million Polish Catholics were slaughtered by thr Germans. Auschwitz' first 2 year only murdered Polish Catholic school children, teachers, professors, nuns and priests - NO JEWS. THE POLISH CHILDREN WERE TAKEN FROM SCHOOL, AND THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING ON AN OUTING - SKIPPING ALONG - NOT KNOWING THE GERMAN DEATH AND TORTURE THAT AWAITED THEM.

Fortunately, maus is being banned more than ever and most credible bookstores refuse to sell this hurtful bigotry. I thank them for getting it.

PALESTINE BY JOE SACCO, you'll read it in one sitting. PALESTINE is about TODAY. It is a general overview of truth, about an event that is effecting our image and safety in America. Perhaps spigelman should tell his Jewish spere of influence to stop murdering helpless Palestinians today. READ PALESTINE!

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale collects both volumes of Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel. The complete collection is how the book called the "first masterpiece in comic book history" is meant to be appreciated. A haunting piece of work, this story is part autobiography, part family history, and part personal and historical reflection on the Holocaust. This tale relates the effect the Holocaust had on the persons who survived it as well as their descendants.

Maus tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, the author's father, who survived the Holocaust in Poland and how his son, the cartoonist, comes to terms with his father and his tale. This is a paramount example of how the graphic form can be used more effectively to accessibly capture a horrific story. In Maus, the various persons and groups are drawn as anthropomorphic animals (the Jews are mice, the Nazi's cats, etc.) which gives the story an almost fairy tale quality, but by no means detracts from the story's haunting poignance. In some ways, the fairy tale is more painful in the fact that it all really did happen. Vladek's tale of survival, told slowly over the course of the almost 300 page novel, is layered with the author's own story of father as he knew him and his own personal feelings of guilt. Despite the use of animals as characters, the human qualities of these characters shines through and creates a tale that will linger with you long after you've finished the last page.

If you have never read a graphic novel, dismissing them as "comic book stories for kids," you owe it to yourself to read this book and to see the scope of what graphic fiction is able to accomplish. Likewise, if you are a fan of graphic novels, you owe it to yourself to read this book as it remains one of the greatest graphic novels of all time.

The Holocaust hangs over western society in the second half of the twentieth century. One man said that poetry was impossible after Auschwitz, but great artists in numerous mediums have dedicated themselves ot proving this wrong. The great crime has provided a great canvas for stories of humanity in the face of evil, such as Steven Spielberg's film "Schindler's List". "Maus" is the comics world's prime entry in this difficult field of literature. Writer and artist Art Spiegelman brings us the story of his father (and mother, by times), two Polish Jews who narrowly survived the war. Having already chosen to tell his story in the form of a comic, a medium often looked down upon as inherently childish by those who don't know any better, he further chooses to cast his characters as anthropomorphic animal, in the manner of an animal fable.

This choice has attracted some controversy (on display in many of the reviews on this site), in some cases because they believe it trivializes the subject-matter (to which I would say "Animal Farm"), or, more commonly, because they take issue with the seeming racialist use of different animals for different nationalities (Jews are mice, regardless of nationality, other Poles are pigs; Germans cats, the French frogs, Americans dogs, etc.). Spiegelman actually discusses the implications of the latter thing within the narrative, which includes an extensive b-story set in the then-present (from the 70s to the 80s), following Art, his wife Francoise, and his elderly father as Art writes "Maus". Francoise is a French Christian who converted to Judaism, and wonders what animal she should be cast as (he chooses a mouse, for the record). Spiegelman never casts all of one group as behaving the same way.

"Maus" reminds me a bit of Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book" in its depiction of wartime Europe's complexity, including the now-uncomfortable degree of collaboration or prejudice found in the occupied countries. Vladek and Anja encounter everything but solidarity with their fellow Poles on the journey through the war; fellow Jews rat them out to the Nazis, others require payment to help Jews avoid death, something that Art expresses amazement at, but Vladek seems to see as very reasonable. Spiegelman doesn't paint his father as a saint, indeed, expressing concern that his father comes across as a stereotypical miserly Jew; at one point, Vladek is shown to be strongly racist against blacks, again to Art and Francoise's amazement. The animal characterizations are never binding; for all Spiegelman's concern over France's history of anti-Semitism, the one French frog we see is an amiable fellow-inimate of Vladek's; even among the German cats we find a Polish Jew married to a German woman, the product of this union being peculiar cat/mouse hybrids.

"Maus" is ultimately a very affecting, personal work from Art Spiegelman, and does a fantastic job of communicating the life story of his father. it is a shining example of what the graphic novel form is capable of achieving.

Not to sound too cliche, but there really is no other way to describe Maus and brilliant. Using the medium of comic strips (often regarded as childish and immature) to tell a real life, adult tragedy impacts the reader in a different way from if it was just in print.

Do not dismiss this book as irrelevant because of the panels with pictures in them. A must read. However, I wouldn't recommend young children to read this very adult themed novel. Wait until they are a little older so they can fully (or even partially) understand the beauty and tragedy presented.

I went to a exhibition on the history of comics a couple of years ago. They had all kinds, from Little Nemo to Jack Kirby, and many things in between. One of the things featured was several pages from Art Speigelman's Maus. I was so intrigued by what I saw that I had to buy it off Amazon, and I have not regretted it. Don't be fooled by Speigelman's seemingly simplistic black and white work. His storytelling is powerful stuff, I tell you.

This has to be one of the best books! My kids- 5 & 2- love books, we read all the time and are always at the library and bookstore. They both instantly loved this book and we read it over and over. They both get up and dance and sing right along with me. I highly recommend this for any age. I'm positive it will be on our book shelf all year and not just at Halloween!

A wonderful book! My one yr old hands me this all the time- she loves it. A very fun Halloween themed book that can be read all year long!

This is a very entertaining and fun book to read aloud to a class or even one child. It is fast paced and interactive and I simply love it.

We had borrowed this book from the library dozens of times and realized it was time to purchase our own. This has been our children's favorite book since the moment we first read it. A family favorite at our house! Sing-song rhythm makes it fun too!

A friend told me about this book and shared a tune she made up for the words. I bought a copy and my son (2) loves it. He brings it out quite often for me to read or sing to him. The illustrations are a fun change from the usual kiddie fare.

I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, with the exception of two things.

First, the version that I read has a nauseating, fan-boy introduction. I don't particularly care which version of this book you purchase; you should skip the introduction. Just in case. This is not the fault of the author, but of the editor, and I will not ding the author because of its presentation - especially hundreds of years after her death. It would be dirty pool.

Second, there is a single passage in the novel which details Elizabeth's growth as a character, where she, introspectively, weighs in on how she feels she has developed. This was out of character for her. She spends much of the novel in angst about various things (such as Mr. Bingley's interactions with her sister Jane, Mr. Darcy's feelings for her, and vacillating between like and dislike for Mr. Darcy himself). The loss of this paragraph would have, in no way, mutilated the perception of Elizabeth as a cogent and erudite character with a mind of her own that was well-working. Nor would its absence have colored an intelligent reader's perception of her growth.

Mr. Bennet, however, was hilarious. His steadfast perception of all of the women around him (excepting Elizabeth) as being irredeemably foolish was, I think, a major highlight of the book. Not because it was accurate (although it certainly was in the case of the youngest daughter, Lydia), but because it highlights and gently satirizes the perception of ladies at this time in England. This is made particularly clear in the case of his wife, who is the most grasping fictional woman since Becky Sharp. The juxtaposition of Mr. Bennet's foolish perceptions of women (as themselves being foolish), and the intelligence of three of his daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary) faithfully, I believe, points out one of the main purposes of Ms. Austen's writing: To throw into stark contrast the difference between the commonly, culturally accepted perceptions of women (e.g., Mr. Bennet) and the reality of their perceptions and their intelligence (e.g., the three eldest Bennet sisters). This was, in my perception, one of the most important purposes of Ms. Austen's writing, and she performed it well.

The interactions between Elizabeth and several of the other characters, especially Lady Catherine De Bourgh, are often times hilarious. Other times, such as her frequent misperceptions of Mr. Darcy and her excercise of her sometimes rapier wit at his expense, are less amusing than they are painful; not because of their inaccuracy or their sharpness, but more because an astute reader will realize the reality of Mr. Darcy's character much earlier than Elizabeth does. And once that point is reached, and even before, it is hard to take her chidings with equanimity. Even if he is a jerk, he is still a human being, and it seems malicious of Elizabeth to treat him this way. Unlike some, I will not excuse her behavior as common for the times, because Elizabeth seems...transcendent of her times in some ways, much like the author herself.

This was, by and large, a very entertaining book. It is well worth reading, whether you are curious about the foundations of romantic comedy (which got their first big push in the public here), in the time period of the Napoleonic War (which doesn't figure in the novel, but the social interactions of the time are well detailed), a fan of novels of manners (such as this one, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, by the same author, Thackeray's Vanity Fair, or Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust), or just in the mood for a fun book. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.

A

Harkius

There isn't much else to say about this book that hasn't been said.

One of the best novels ever written, for its humor, plot, and excellent insight into the quirky-but-real relationships of everyday people.

Truly a classic.

This novel begins with one of the most recognizable lines in literary history: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." With that begins, perhaps, the most copied plot-line in human history. Sisters Elizabeth and Jane Bennett are of a marrying age. When a handsome and wealthy young man comes to stay in their neighborhood, the Bennetts waste little time making his acquaintance. It turns out the handsome newcomer, Charles Bingley, is a fine and friendly gentleman and he has a liking for Jane.

Mr. Bingley's cohort, Fitzwilliam Darcy, is, however, not nearly so friendly. Cold and formal, he quickly incurs the dislike of Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, though, appears somewhat taken by Elizabeth and makes some half-hearted advances. Despite his great wealth, Elizabeth distaste grows the more she learns of Mr. Darcy's past.

Just as the relationship between Jane and Mr. Bingley appears set for matrimony, Mr. Bingley suddenly leaves the neighborhood. Certainly, it seems, this is the doing of Mr. Darcy. Jane's hopes dashed and Elizabeth finding only comically unsuitable suitors, the Bennett sisters are headed for old-maidom. That is, unless the terrible events are due to improper pride and/or prejudice.

Though I am not a great Jane Austen admirer and find much of her writing overly ornamental and preoccupied with unimportant subject matter, there is no disputing the greatness of this novel. The language usage is clearly Austenesque, but this book is nevertheless genuinely a page turner. Moreover, the tone is pitch perfect - touching the emotions, but maintaining an appealing comic feel. I found myself delighted to be in the company of Jane Austen who, though her writing is over two centuries old and her experiences obviously much different from ours, has a surprisingly modern voice.

Even more importantly, this book is an invaluable cultural gift. Though perhaps not in the same league as the Bible or some of Shakespeare's works, the influence of Pride and Prejudice on our culture is simply vast. Familiarizing yourself with Pride and Prejudice will make literally hundreds of cultural products more comprehensible (or reveal them to be unoriginal). The plot-line alone has spawned countless imitations, slight modifications and commentaries. The characters, especially Elizabeth and Darcy, have become veritable archetypes. This is one of those stories that you are already familiar with through its imitators. None, however, has done the material so well and so thoughtfully as Ms. Austen.

Even if you don't have the stomach for Ms. Austen's other material, this novel is worth reading. It's both good for you and an enjoyable read - often a tough mix to find.

Never fear this is not a novelization. It's the classic story with a revamped cover. If you are interested in getting the book this is not a bad choice

I am so disappointed. Being a fan of classic literature I was looking forward to reading Pride & Prejudice. But what I got was moderately-well written chick lit. Think of Pride and Prejudice as the Bridgit Jones of the 18th Century.

The story-line is predictable - you know how the whole novel is going to play out after the first couple of pages. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that there would be some little twist. Maybe Jane would end up with Darcy, or something a little more interesting. Unfortunately not.

I honestly think Austin was writing a parody of women. The only concern of every female character in the book is to get married to a rich, well-to-do gentleman. Of course, some will argue that Elizabeth is different, but as she states herself, her interest in Darcy is only aroused when she sees what a wonderful estate he owns and considers that she may be the lady of it. Each of the female characters are shallow, self-centred (Jane excepted) and vacuous.

On the positive side, some of the characters are interesting - Mr. Bennet is amusing, and Darcy started out being intriguing before turning into a school girl-like idiot.

Perhaps, if you're a fan of straight-down-the-line, predictable romantic (semi comedic at times) novels then you might enjoy this. But don't expect to find a masterful tale, expertly told. Unfortunately that is what I was expecting (it being a "classic" and all) and I was totally disappointed. I really think this is one of the worst books I have ever read.

This Penguin Classics version of what is in my opinion is the best book of all time.
The translator even includes a chapter where Edmond returns to the Chateau de If to get a sign from God that what he was doing was just.
Please if you have never read this book, buy this particular translation and, do not get the abridged. Why cheat yourself?
This is such a wonderful story of love, and revenge.

I couldn't put the book down for the first 300 pages. It pretty much has everything - wit, wisdom, an interesting plot and a bit of History. It didn't get a five star rating because it seemed like it was a different author with a totally different style in the middle section and picked up back again at the last part.
I understand this is a good translation of the book.

As people have always said, life is not fair. It's up to people to have the courage to give everyone, including the former fiancee what they have comming to them. I think everyone should be required to read this book, because quite simply its the best novel ever written.

This is one of my favorite books ever written. Forget the deeply philosophical books that all the intellectuals like to pretend to enjoy. This is a great, exciting, fun read that has just enough psychology and spirituality to add to the flavor and keep the character believable.

I have yet to see a movie version of this book that does it proper justice. This is a deeply twisted plot with surprising, wonderful characters and the right amount of juicy action and melodrama, but all believable.

It also manages to focus on many characters at once, letting them work together in a beautiful literary tapestry. It's like an addicting drug, this book, as you become entranced in the total awesomeness of their lives.

Revenge, murder, romance, and lots and lots of money. This is everything necessary for true enjoyment.

Dear prospective Count of Monte Cristo buyer,

Having read and loved the abridged version of TCOMT, I expected the extra 800 odd pages of this version to be endless dissertations on armory and town history. Not so! This is 800 more pages of delicious PLOT, whole twists, conversations, and characters that are chopped out in the abridged-glued-back-together versions! It went from being my third all-time favorite to my all time favorite book.

As to versions: I LOVE hardbacks so after reading this one I *ahem* sold it to my sister and went about purchasing a hard back. I was unable to find a hard back in this addition and so looked at others. Thankfully I was able to compare other translations/editions that were hard-back on-line with *this* version (as it was still in the house) and I gladly proclaim that this is THE BEST VERSION OF COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO OUT THERE! It has richer, more natural, language (i.e. the difference between "see Spot run" and "the auburn Setter skipped down the steps towards me." -lol) and far more satisfactory paragraph divisions. Read it, I just KNOW you'll love it.

Twice bought. Twice loved.

Maus was a very engaging book. From the beginning I was pulled into the story. Maus is written in a very unique way. Art Spiegelman drew the Jews as mice, the Nazis as cats, and the Poles as pigs. Art Spiegelman told the story from the perspective of his father telling the story through an interview format. It is written in the form of a graphic novel. It is an interesting way to learn about history during the World War II era. Overall I liked this book, except I really didn't like the end. Also, there was a little bit of language.

i was one of the few among my peers who had never read one of the Maus books. When i finally got around to it, i was blown away by its excellence. This is a masterpiece (and i do not use the term lightly). Do yourself a favor and don't miss it.

I must say that I find this work hard to properly describe in terms of how I feel about it. I think that it was a fascinating look at one man's experience in the Holocaust, but an equally important aspect is Art's interaction with his father during their conversations. This seems like an honest portrayal, especially since Art isn't afraid to include things that may make him look bad (he isn't always the most sympathetic son). I think connecting the story of what happened then, and how it's effects are apparent for the rest of a person's life (although different people reacted in different ways) is interesting. The way this is written is especially effective, because it truly feels like Vladek is telling you his story first hand.
As for the artwork, although it isn't my favorite style, it seems to fit for this story. The simple, unpolished look is compatible with this story which is honest and raw. Finally, I would like to add that the second installment of this comic is darker, and more depressing and sad at times, but once you read Maus I, you must (and will want to) read Maus II in order to feel any closure with the story.

As a Jew Living in Israel, holocaust related books are important to read, but it's hard to do it actually. I can remember several holocaust-era semi-biographic novels which are great but those are the exceptions. Most of the books are a bit bothersome though true.
Maus just captured me.I consider it one of the best books I've ever read in my life. It was just breath-taking, adding to that the fact that this was my first graphic novel ever, not to say first comic ever.
I gave it to my wife, her parents, brother and so on. The book came back to me after 6 month. all worn out.
The book touched me in the deepest levels, and was able to do what many other holocaust books tried to do and failed. Take you inside one of the the darkest eras of human kind. You NEED to read to. You have to read it.

Maus, A Survivor's Tale is a son's pictorial version of his father's story of survival during WWII.

Both haunting and mesmerizing, sometimes funny and touching, this is a story of perseverance and about what the Jews had to suffer through at the hands of the Nazis in WWII Poland. Spiegleman never sugar-coats what his father had to endure in order to keep he and his wife alive. A true work of art.